Very first post! (Though i have been reading Iboats forums for some time now) I just feel its time to put myself out there and see how others can help me.
I have owned a boat for about 3 years now (1994 18' bayliner capri) and have loved it. Unfortunately when i bought my bayliner I was inexperienced and ignorant in what to look for. Lets just say in three years I have learned a lot more about the inner workings of boats then when I started. Mostly from having to constantly rebuild this and that. My father also owns a large houseboat docked at the Bullfrog Marina, Lake Powell and I have spent a time or two on that floating monster. Especially when i was "volunteered" to help replace one of the Mitsubishi Diesel engines.
Well, getting to the point, I have a 2 year old daughter and no longer feel comfortable riding in my bayliner with her on board. So last weekend I purchased a 1974, 22'6" fiberform San Juan with the Waukesha 351 (255hp) and Volvo outdrive. This boat was kept in amazing shape for its age. I purchased it from an older gentlemen that tore a ligament in his arm and could no longer handle a boat of this size. After 3 years with my bayliner, I made sure to look this Fiberform up and down, inside and out. I even took my mechanic (huge perk of having a mechanic work for me that loves boats) and spent 4 hours going through the engine, outdrive, and other mechanical systems. My mechanic was quite confident that the motor was in good working order and the outdrive was well taken care of. Even the interior was in good order (if ugly 70's orange can ever be called "good"). I am much more confident in this craft then my bayliner. I was not able to get it in the water before I purchased it but feel confident that she is solid all around. I think the seller was getting frustrated since I ended up making numerous trips over a 3 week period before I committed to buy her.
I would post pictures but the interior is in kind of a mess. This is what I have done to it so far:
- New paint job on the top (again ugly 70's orange is not my style)
- My wife is redoing all the interior so that is all out. (i knew that expensive sewing machine she wanted for Mother's Day would pay off)
- some parts so my mechanic to rebuild a couple items like the engine water pump and hydraulic pump.
- more parts to bring the fresh water system up to something i would actually drink out of.
- New captain's chair for me
So here is my question for everyone; is there anyone on these forums that owns or has owned one of these before? What am I in for? There appears to be little information on this boat from what I can find online. I read a few back stories about Fiberform itself but am looking for more boat specific.
The other question is what should I expect going from a 18' to over 22' and a large difference in dry weight? I am thinking launching would be different as well as how it handles in the water. Also the frame of view from the helm is very different. I am sure that the best way to learn these things is to get it out (1 more week for the water pump parts and a couple more for my wife to finish), but the more information I can gather before hand will make my first trip more successful, fun, and safer.
And if there is any other items of advice let me know. I enjoy learning as much as I can about things I love.
Thanks guys!
Justin
I have owned a boat for about 3 years now (1994 18' bayliner capri) and have loved it. Unfortunately when i bought my bayliner I was inexperienced and ignorant in what to look for. Lets just say in three years I have learned a lot more about the inner workings of boats then when I started. Mostly from having to constantly rebuild this and that. My father also owns a large houseboat docked at the Bullfrog Marina, Lake Powell and I have spent a time or two on that floating monster. Especially when i was "volunteered" to help replace one of the Mitsubishi Diesel engines.
Well, getting to the point, I have a 2 year old daughter and no longer feel comfortable riding in my bayliner with her on board. So last weekend I purchased a 1974, 22'6" fiberform San Juan with the Waukesha 351 (255hp) and Volvo outdrive. This boat was kept in amazing shape for its age. I purchased it from an older gentlemen that tore a ligament in his arm and could no longer handle a boat of this size. After 3 years with my bayliner, I made sure to look this Fiberform up and down, inside and out. I even took my mechanic (huge perk of having a mechanic work for me that loves boats) and spent 4 hours going through the engine, outdrive, and other mechanical systems. My mechanic was quite confident that the motor was in good working order and the outdrive was well taken care of. Even the interior was in good order (if ugly 70's orange can ever be called "good"). I am much more confident in this craft then my bayliner. I was not able to get it in the water before I purchased it but feel confident that she is solid all around. I think the seller was getting frustrated since I ended up making numerous trips over a 3 week period before I committed to buy her.
I would post pictures but the interior is in kind of a mess. This is what I have done to it so far:
- New paint job on the top (again ugly 70's orange is not my style)
- My wife is redoing all the interior so that is all out. (i knew that expensive sewing machine she wanted for Mother's Day would pay off)
- some parts so my mechanic to rebuild a couple items like the engine water pump and hydraulic pump.
- more parts to bring the fresh water system up to something i would actually drink out of.
- New captain's chair for me
So here is my question for everyone; is there anyone on these forums that owns or has owned one of these before? What am I in for? There appears to be little information on this boat from what I can find online. I read a few back stories about Fiberform itself but am looking for more boat specific.
The other question is what should I expect going from a 18' to over 22' and a large difference in dry weight? I am thinking launching would be different as well as how it handles in the water. Also the frame of view from the helm is very different. I am sure that the best way to learn these things is to get it out (1 more week for the water pump parts and a couple more for my wife to finish), but the more information I can gather before hand will make my first trip more successful, fun, and safer.
And if there is any other items of advice let me know. I enjoy learning as much as I can about things I love.
Thanks guys!
Justin
Good Luck!
