newbie looking for advise

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alilley

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 7, 2010
Messages
327
i am a newbie here to the point where i just purchased my first boat about 2 weeks ago and have yet to put it on the water as i have been repairing it an making sure things are a go before her maiden voiage which i am hoping to do before next weekend my questions here are what tips/advise can anyone give me as far as driving, loading/unloading (will not happen that much as i have a lake lot) and what things should i have on board with out the ovious things such as pfd's anchor fire putter outer the secandary horn bailing bucket the c g approved lights the dock lines and bumpers i am not concerned about the trailering portion as i am very comfertable pulling a trailer since i drive a truck to pay the bills so pulling a trailer and backing a trailer is not an issue at all for me o i forgot the boat is a 1988 sunchaster 17 ft deck boat 3.0 mercruiser alpha 1 and will be used on inland lakes only (illinois area) thanks again in advance for your help here
 
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spikeitaudi

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
306
Re: newbie looking for advise

Congrats and welcome. First off if you haven't done so already, do yourself a favor and take a Boaters Safety course. This will go over everything you need in detail.

After that, when you do take your boat off the trailer make sure you start up the engine in the water before you launch. And most importantly make sure you bilge plug is in. :)

Just a bit of advice please use some punctionations in your next post as this was alittle hard to read.

Good luck with your maiden voyage on your new boat.
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: newbie looking for advise

do not take the family on the maiden voyage. take an experienced boater instead.

Either use periods or back off the coffee
 
seaboo

seaboo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 8, 2008
Messages
300
Re: newbie looking for advise

Just some advice, Remember the first run is a TEST run (not a maiden voyage), treat it as such (watch gauges closely, look for problems, ect.). Don't be surprised or upset if something pops up and you can't take the family outing the next day on the boat.

Go early (when the ramp isn't crowded) to launch (of course read everything you can first on launching) and don't worry about it. Like you said it is the first launch you have done so it isn't gonna be as smooth as your 1000th launch. Float the boat off and on the trailer (don't worry with trying to power load/unload yet), it might not be as "pretty" looking to do it this way, but it is safe (for you and your boat).

If you do not know the maintenance history of your boat I'd recommend checking (or replacing) the bellows. This is a standard but often overlooked maintenance item on older I/O boats.

Adding to your list of items to have onboard.
Spare fuses
cold beer.
 
C

Cuyose

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jan 19, 2006
Messages
90
Re: newbie looking for advise

Second the advise, don't take family or pleasure boaters with you. As tempting as it is, it's stressful, and they are a distraction to things you want to pay attention too.

Take tools. I always take a tool bag with me. Every time. I would also bring a 50 FT rope to be towed in worse case. Cell phone. Also a heat gun, one of those things that point and shoot temperature. Awesome for gauging manifold temps and comparing them to gauge, etc.

Spare charged battery as well wouldn't be a bad idea.

Most importantly, your patience. Things can go wrong, and you will probably find something that needs attention.
 
D

dsiekman

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
798
Re: newbie looking for advise

If you've never launched or loaded a boat, bring someone who has. And do yourself a favor...STAY AWAY FROM THE WINCH HANDLE. I learned this the hard way with my first boat. I had backed too far in, the bow hung up on the roller, so I jumped up on the tongue to push her free. Didn't think about the fact that I hadn't unhooked the winch cable yet. The handle spun back hard, snapped two teeth and cracked six more. Ten stitches in my lips. Knocked me about 10'.

You might also want to go to your local ramp on a busy day and watch people launch and load for a couple hours. Always better to learn from someone else's mistakes.

Oh yeah, and ditto on the safe boating class.

Good luck!
 
duped

duped

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 26, 2009
Messages
307
Re: newbie looking for advise

Working bilge pump and charged batteries are critical. Get a marine radio if you dont have one. Current flares? Horn work? Nav lights work?

Check or better yet change engine oil, drive oil. Start out slow, listen for odd noises. Feel the exhaust manifold while running, make sure its cooling. Dont rely on gauges alone for anything. Think ahead. If it can go wrong it will. Get insurance!

Make sure you have fun too!!!
 
Bifflefan

Bifflefan

Commander
Joined
May 27, 2009
Messages
2,933
Re: newbie looking for advise

In MI, I think you required to have a plactic whistle. I got told by DNR to get one, when they asked of I had one, and I didnt.

A boat lift with a roof will be a good investment, the lakes around here I run on seem to eat the anodes up.
 
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occarvers

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 3, 2010
Messages
41
Re: newbie looking for advise

Make sure to run your blower for 4 or 5 minutes at least before starting the engine to clear gas fumes from the bilge. As to the comment about power loading don't do it! It washes out the bottom of the ramp and someone will end up dropping their trailer off of the end of the ramp! In Michigan it is posted at the state operated launches " No Power Loading". Good luck and happy boating!
 
A

alilley

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 7, 2010
Messages
327
Re: newbie looking for advise

i do not think that any one in my area monerters (please forgive the spelling) marine raido on my the lake that i live on. i do know that the lake patrol do make his rounds very often and pays close attention for stalled boats.

thanks for the advise on not bringing the family with me on the "test run". with that in mind i have considered bringing two people with me when it does go out first being my father, whom has turned many wrenches in his time. i am confident that he would be able to notice somthing that i would not. the second is a family friend whom has had boats ever since i can remember (i know for sure at lease 20 plus years). only thing is the ones that he has had have all been outboards. i am assuming that it would be same basic proscudires as far as launching, driving, controling and what not

i do like the idea on the 50ft rope for towing.

i am thinking of putting 2 batteries in her wired together would i still need to carry an extra one??

question about running the blower. i know it should be down before first fire up but i do lift the cover before i fire it up now to hook battery back up. would i still need to run the blower?? or would that just be a good habit to get into??

as far as the maintaince on her, no i do not know a lot about it i have checked the bellows on it and they all seem to be in good shape as they are not cracked or anything of the sort. i will be changin the oil in at leats the motor of it monday. then i am going to take a glass jar and drain a little of the out drive oil into that to check if for water. Or would i be better off just changing it out even though it will get changed in prob in about mid october or before during the winterizing process?? any thoughts there. i am going to be changing the spark plugs in it. it currently has bosch in it. the tips are black like it has been running rich. i was thinking of putting a c delco's back in there. any thought there would be nice as well. after doing all this i hope it takes care of the idle issue that it has

as far as the guages go, where should they be sitting at?? it has oil pressure and it reads about 45. water temp, i have had it to where it read just over 100 but shut it down after, how warm should it get, where should it read after being on the water for a wile?? the tack is not working right now but will be before i put it on, it had a guage for the battery but i forget it is amp or a voltage

thanks again for all the help that i have gotten off of this sight/forum as it has been very informative
 
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occarvers

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 3, 2010
Messages
41
Re: newbie looking for advise

I would get in the habit of running your blower any time the boat has been sitting more than a few minutes. After all this is a safety procedure. Opening the dog house is good but gas fumes lay at the bottom of the bilge and may not be vented until the blower is running. Once the boat is under way the forward motion of the boat will vent the bilge. I have also heard of running the blower to help cool a motor with a minor heat problem.
 
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