Bought my first boat... (pics)

[DBall]

(I just wrote a giant 3 paragraph intro and closed the tab. Time to start again...)

...and I'm a total newb. Never even drove a boat (save for the few minutes while I was testing it out) prior to getting it. I don't fish (yet) and bought it primarily for tooling around on the bay.

I look forward to interacting with you all here and learning tons. Any insight, tips or anything (even the most basic-seeming things), would be more than greatly appreciated.

Attached are a couple pictures of the boat... chances are you will know more about it based on the pictures than I do by operating it... What I do know is that it is a 1975 BeeCraft with a 40HP Johnson motor.

By the way, don't worry about mentioning to put the plug in. I took it out for my first time yesterday and forgot. Calling it a hassle would be an epic understatement, but hopefully that won't be happening again...

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Sure looks to be in great shape! Welcome to iboats!

 

[rndn]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Nice boat and I see we're from the same area. I assume you were talking about Irondequiot bay? Welcome to iboats as this is one great site. Nice baot by the way I hope you enjoy it as I've enjoyed mine.

 

[tritonfaststrike]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

welcome to i boats .congrats on the boat she looks good .2 years ago my first boat .1987 eagle bowrider 70 hp johnson .took it out the first time talked about it all the way to the dock dont forget to put the plug in bla bla bla .well guess what i didnt do .thank god i noticed it sqauting at the dock jumpedn in and put the plug in .felt like a dumbass it hasnt happend since .

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Nice looking little starter boat. The cathedral hull is very stable, just be aware that it is going to be a little rough when the water is choppy.

Nice place to start though! Next season when you're looking at 18'ers....​

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Nice boat! Good luck with it. You guys ever boat Oneida Lake? Had a tradegy on the lake the other nite. An 85 yr. old gentlemen out fishing on his boat got hit by another boater near Frenchman's Island. Poor guy got killed. The worst part of it is the offender took off. But, the S.P. know who did it. I'm headed up there in a little while. Temps in the 80's & no chop, which is a bonus on Oneida. Get a west wind, forget it.

 

[DBall]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Nice looking little starter boat. The cathedral hull is very stable, just be aware that it is going to be a little rough when the water is choppy.
​

Yeah, that little guy bounces a bunch when I catch someone else's wake...

 

[jddenham]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Do you have any pics of the front showing the V and sponsons?

 

[DBall]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Do you have any pics of the front showing the V and sponsons?

Not yet, but I can take one today after I get it out of the water...

Is the one in your picture the same boat? It looks that way, except mine has no cover on it.

 

[jddenham]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Is the one in your picture the same boat? It looks that way, except mine has no cover on it.

No it is a different make, check out the lines on the side. Mine is a 1984 Olympian.

Mine has a narrow V so I'm thinking it will be harsher in chop. I wanted to compare to yours.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Nice boat! Good luck with it. You guys ever boat Oneida Lake? Had a tradegy on the lake the other nite. An 85 yr. old gentlemen out fishing on his boat got hit by another boater near Frenchman's Island. Poor guy got killed. The worst part of it is the offender took off. But, the S.P. know who did it. I'm headed up there in a little while. Temps in the 80's & no chop, which is a bonus on Oneida. Get a west wind, forget it.

I spoke to my parents last night and they told me about this accident. They're in Oneida, too (big trawler named "Slow Dancer"). What a shame. They said the S.P. know who did it, the driver is 22yo, and there were three people on the boat but they won't release the name(s). This happened ~5:30pm-6pm. They were docked at the Waterfront when all the commotion started...

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

No it is a different make, check out the lines on the side. Mine is a 1984 Olympian.

Mine has a narrow V so I'm thinking it will be harsher in chop. I wanted to compare to yours.

You do know that thing is supposed to float in water not grass right??

 

[JimMachinery]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

My first boat was a Bee Craft with an 85hp Evinrude. Not really pleasant in chop, but otherwise it was a fantastic boat. Did lots of fishing, skiing and cruising.

I sold it because I thought I wanted a bigger one. Three boats later, I have a similar sized boat again.

It looks like it's in great shape, enjoy!

 

[DBall]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

I took it out last night for a longer period of time... not knowing any better, I almost went from the bay to the lake until a couple waverunner-riding kids said "don't go out there, those waves will flip that little boat right over...". I'm pretty glad they mentioned it and for the most part, I'll probably be staying in the bay...

 

[4Winns2]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Nice boat! Good luck with it. You guys ever boat Oneida Lake? Had a tradegy on the lake the other nite. An 85 yr. old gentlemen out fishing on his boat got hit by another boater near Frenchman's Island. Poor guy got killed. The worst part of it is the offender took off. But, the S.P. know who did it. I'm headed up there in a little while. Temps in the 80's & no chop, which is a bonus on Oneida. Get a west wind, forget it.

I've been on Skaneateles lake my whole life. I took my 13 ft (w/a 99' Johnson) up to Onieda a few times over the years. What scares me about that lake is how shallow it is. You can be a couple hundred yards offshore and step out of the boat into knee deep water. Another thing that bothered me was the amount of times I had to back wash my prop from all the vegetation- -zebra mussels are helping that pain in arse. Beautiful lake but if you don't know it well you'll be buying a new prop at the end of the day.

 

[Tmtmtl666]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

DBall,

I knew i saw that boat somewheres else! Nice to have another BOTL here on the iboats message board.

John

 

[DBall]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

DBall,

I knew i saw that boat somewheres else! Nice to have another BOTL here on the iboats message board.

John

hahaha... nice! Same handle as on CS?

 

[cougar1985]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

nice boat i hope you enjoy it .its amazing how many of that particular style are still in use today.see them all over the place up here.

 

[Tmtmtl666]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

Absolutely......

Nice boat, i hope to be storming Lake Mead here shortly in my own boat with some ISOMs......

Take care
John

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Bought my first boat... (pics)

very cool boat, like my last one, a 1984 thundercraft with a merc 60hp