My first real boat...what should I know?

[airwolf222b]

Hey guys. This is my first post. I would appreciate any direction you guys could give me.

If all goes according to plan, by this time next week, I will own my first real boat. The only boat I've owned in the past is an old aluminum boat with a 10hp 1950's johnson.

I'm looking at a 2004 Stratos 486 sf with a 150hp Yamaha Vmax.

I know NOTHING about maintaining a boat like this. Never had one. I can't really seem to find any website that caters to new and ignorant boaters. I have millions of qustions, probably most of them stupid, and don't know where to get the answers.

The motor I think is a 2 stroke. do I or how do I mix the gas oil? There are so many nautical terms I'm reading on this forum...and I don't know what any of them mean. If I can get this boat, I don't want to mess it up right out of the gate by doing something stupid. How did you guys learn?

Thank you very much in advance for any advice given.

Sincerely,

Nick Smith
"Airwolf222b"

Here's what I'm looking at.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

Real nice boat. At that age, it certainly has an oil injection system so just make sure you keep the oil tank full with the specified oil.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

If you are buying from a dealer, get him to go over everything. If not, take it straight to a reputable mechanic and get him to go over everything with him and pay him an hour's time.

When you first take it out, take an experienced boater with you. If you don;t know any, hire one. Do NOT take the family on the maiden voyage.

 

[cr2k]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

I agree with Home Cookin', you should take to a mechanic (marine) for at least a mechanical check out, Compression test, spark test, steering, controls, etc. Any deficiency here would be negotiating fodder. It is a 2 stroke and does have (unless it's been messed with) oil injection. WISE NOTE: DO NOT put cheap 2 stroke oil in it. Use Yamaha or Mercury QUALITY 2 stroke oil ONLY it will save an overhaul in the long run.
Ask the seller to go over the starting and running of the boat. NEVER start it without water hooked up.
If it's been over 2 years (or unknown) have the impeller replaced first thing.

And YES DO have someone experienced go with you for at least the first trip. There are things like how to launch and retrieve and ramp and dock etiquette you NEED to learn.

 

[sschefer]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

All three answers are correct in my book. The first thing you did right was ask questions? Keep doing that and you'll be well ahead of 90% of the boaters you'll meet at the ramp.

It's not the best time of year for this but if you can, go to the lake without the boat and watch people launch. The guy's to watch are the ones that are by themselves and pay special attention to those that are in and out of the water quick and easy. They've learned the tricks and you'll learn best from them.

Get to know your boat in your driveway not at the dock. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for someone to clear a space at public dock that hasn't got a clue how to operate their vessel. If you have the owners manuals great but if not, get them from Stratos before you even think about getting it wet.

Your trailer is just as important as whats on it. Make sure it is in perfect condition before you set out. Any good marine shop should be able to give it the once over. Get it done now before the season starts and you'll probably pay less and get a better job.

Have the engine serviced now. Thank the seller if he say's he just had it done and then go have it done for your own peace of mind. You might just save yourself a ton of headaches down the road. My boat and motor is only a year old and I maintain it meticulously but I don't have all the service bulletins and such that a dealer has so it's scheduled to go in next week. My trailer is also in perfect condition but I'm having it serviced too. These are things you learn over time. It's always best to learn from the mistakes of others rather than learning from you own.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

I know NOTHING about maintaining a boat like this. Never had one. I can't really seem to find any website that caters to new and ignorant boaters. I have millions of qustions, probably most of them stupid, and don't know where to get the answers.

How did you guys learn?


View attachment 134055

Seems to me like you found the right place!!!

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

And go take a boating course. If you have never taken one you will learn a lot, if you have, a refresher is always good. Besides a lot of states now require a boater education certificate or have a mandatory test. By taking the course you will satisfy the requirements.

 

[BonairII]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

Some people like VROs...and others hate 'em from what I've read. If I ever bought a VRO, the first thing I'd do is bypass the VRO and go premix. I don't like the idea that if the VRO fails, the motor fails.


I'm surprised nobody has asked this, but what is the price?

Gas prices are pretty high, so be prepared for the cost of fueling a 150hp.

JMO

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

Some people like VROs...and others hate 'em from what I've read. If I ever bought a VRO, the first thing I'd do is bypass the VRO and go premix. I don't like the idea that if the VRO fails, the motor fails.

That really doesn't apply to a newer motor like this. Modern oil injection systems are quite reliable.

 

[Philster]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

Hey guys. This is my first post. I would appreciate any direction you guys could give me.

If all goes according to plan, by this time next week, I will own my first real boat. If I can get this boat, I don't want to mess it up right out of the gate by doing something stupid. How did you guys learn?

Thank you very much in advance for any advice given.

Sincerely,

Nick Smith
"Airwolf222b"

I learned by making every mistake and messing up a whole bunch of stuff from when I was a kid right on up to adulthood. Since none of those mistakes killed me, I'm here to call myself smart.

Find an experienced boater who is mechanically inclined. In other words, find someone near you who has screwed up as much as most of us and lived to tell about it.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

I know NOTHING about maintaining a boat like this. Never had one. I can't really seem to find any website that caters to new and ignorant boaters. I have millions of qustions, probably most of them stupid, and don't know where to get the answers.


Thank you very much in advance for any advice given.

Sincerely,

Nick Smith
"Airwolf222b"

Here's what I'm looking at.

View attachment 134055

Looking for a place that cater's to new, ignorant boaters? Welcome aboard !!!

There have been hundreds of people just like you that have come here for help, advice and answers. there are lots of threads that you can search through, and you are already getting advice on your purchase consideration.

I got my first powerboat 7 years ago . . . I had mostly sailboats before and a couple of dinky outboard boats when I was a kid. They were nothing compared to what I was buying - 24 foot, deep-V with a 454 engine.

The first thing that I did was to buy a maintenance manual for the engine (actually engine & outdrive) and read through it extensively. I found that it helped a lot and got me up the 'learning curve' much faster. Then, I started to hang out on boating forums like this . . . .

Anyway,

That boat looks OK, you should go for a ride in it.

 

[airwolf222b]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

Thanks guys. Great advice. I've got a friend who happens to be a mechanic and does own a house boat so I'll probably have him come look at it with me one more time before the purchase, then have him go out on the maiden voyage. It's from a dealer, they got it in on a repo a while back and apparently whatever had to be done is done and now it's going up for sale. I'm getting a really good deal since I know and work with the dealer a lot. I'm just hoping it all works out. This has been something I've wanted my whole life, never thought I could afford it, and then suddenly this boat just shows up. I'm trying not to get too excited about it yet, they're running it through the shop first to double check everything. So I'll hold my breath until thats done.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

Once the dealer has checked everything at the shop, the salesman should take you for a spin, trailering the boat to the water, launching, and running the boat through it's paces so you can see that everything works ... from the trailer bearings to the navigation lights. All this should take place before your final payment is made. This is known as a sea trial, and the dealer should be glad to do it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

ALot of new boat owners go into it thinking that it will be just like owning a car but the only similarities are that they both have steering wheels and burn gas beyond that everything is different.

Imagine a 1000 acre parking lot with no marking or traffic lights, there are 200 people in the lot on everything from bicycles to Ferraris going any speed and direction they want again with few rules and no signs, start with a safe boating coarse and keep your head on a swivel.

 

[lprizman]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

nice little rocket ship there,,,due diligence my friend
best of luck!!

 

[airwolf222b]

Re: My first real boat...what should I know?

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I should be picking it up next week. They're changing the plugs and a few other things before I sign the papers. Also going on a sea trial with them before too. I'm extremely excited for this boat. Went by again today to just take pictures and look around some more. Anybody near Kentucky Lake let me know and we'll head out.