Advise please!

[LippCJ7]

Re: Advise please!

Congratulations Salty, I hop you get to see many more smiles on the beautiful faces of your wife and kids in the days to come!!

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Advise please!

HOLY SHAZIZAL!!! That makes twice this week that I was right,lol Congrats man!!!!! Now first things first, go around the boat and look for plastic thru hull fittings. If there are any, replace them all with stainless. Get the bow rail fixed so your kids have something to hang onto when climbing around on her in and out of the water.

Ohh, forgot to say, the cabin is probably a bit small for sleeping being a 20 footer. Just kidding, Just make sure you have the boat properly chocked if you take the wife in there with you. By the way, you must have missed the rule about sending a case of beer to everyone that helped, thats one of those unexpected expenses we were talking about.

Last but not least, start saving for a Hardtop, it will make the boat twice what it is.

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: Advise please!

Congrats Salty!! Nothing like having your own powerboat! Now put a lot of TLC into it, do some homework on your boat, and then take it out and try it out!!

 

[southkogs]

Re: Advise please!

SCORE!!! Welcome home to the GRADY and check out the grins on everyone!! Sleep in it weird? Heck no, dude. Sit in it and make the motor noises until spring - who cares? Start teaching the kiddos to cast from it ... have a ball, man. (not that I do any of that kind of uncouth thing ... :facepalm.

Congratulations.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Advise please!

Congratulations on your find Salty! That looks like an awesome rig. I think it will serve your purposes very well, and you have a tremendous support system here. Enjoy!

 

[nigels]

Re: Advise please!

Well done and Congrats Salty thats one heckava boat for for just over 2ks the canvas is worth 1k! This forum is tops without it you could have bought a 2k sieve. Do you mind posting my case of beers to Portugal?

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: Advise please!

First things first....buff out that gel coat!

 

[Philster]

Re: Advise please!

As I said, Grady or Mako all day and night, baby. And spending more was best.

So much relief that you didn't get a generic, rotted old I/O bowrider.

Ride that family enthusiasm to gain commitment from them all to help! Put 'em to work!

GOOD LUCK!

Now... ain't ya glad ya came here and got slapped upside the head with a wet fish?


Cheers!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Advise please!

Congrats! I think you got a really nice deal there and that boat should serve your family well. Trailer looks pretty cherry to! And yeah, if I just bought a cabin boat, even a small one, I'd totally sleep in it

 

[Rockmere1]

Re: Advise please!

Congratulations Salty!! Looks like a fine rig, Happy Sailing!

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Advise please!

Congrats Salty. Been watching this thread from afar and just love to see a boat hunt turn out good. Terrific vessel you got there and I'm sure you and the fam are in for good times. Heartily second the advice to chase down, check and replace all through hulls and put a hardtop at the top of the "someday list".

Now get that camera clicking and give us the full tour!

 

[Philster]

Re: Advise please!

Suggestion, Salty: Get a sitter so you and your wife can "Christen" that boat/cabin.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Advise please!

If you find yourself in my area....come on by....will buy you a round!!!

Now back to my boat.....don't matter that it is 10 at night.....would it be weird if I slept in it????

Free beer? Sammich droppin' time! I didn't contribute anything but I'd hate to turn you down on a free beer. I've been known to say "I've driven further for less" lol.

And no, it's not weird if you sleep in it, sit in it and drink beer, or just pull up a chair and stare at it for hours. Keep the vroom noises to a minimum or at least down while others are within earshot.


OK, I'm gonna contribute a little bit. My boat was free and water ready but I overlooked a few things...namely flares, lifejackets, replacing all the lines, rewiring a rat's nest of wires, installing fuses (who needs those anyway?) fire extinguisher, trailer wiring, registration for the boat and trailer and INSURANCE. Yes, you need insurance. First things first!

BTW, nice find. Finally someone who didn't get burned...probably because of the crew here, aye?

 

[SaltyBlood]

Yes, half, my list for West Marine is growing by the minute! I was there this evening......took restraint to buy a bunch of stuff I really don't need....

Got the life jackets, but still need safety gear (emergency kit, etc), a few bulbs, registration, insurance, plates. Then on my soon but not right now list is new marine radio, cd player, new navs, etc.

And yes, my brother and I sat in it last night and drank beer

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Advise please!

if you aren't going to run the boat in a while, hold off on buyng the stuff you don't need yet, and look at whether you need to buy "marine" grade at twice the price. Sometimes you do, but not, for example, for the fire extinquisher, cleaning products and lots of electical stuff--go to autoparts store.
Look for stuff that doesn't matter if it's old (anchor, toys, lines, extras, pfd's) at yard sales, estate sales, second hand boat stores, etc.

Nothing is more dangerous than a new boat owner in a store like West or Bass Pro. You'll charge like a wounded rhinocerous, and half of those wonderful things you'll never use.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Advise please!

ALSO when you are buying gear... REMEMBER that the company that pays for and provides this forum SELLS boat gear....

 

[SaltyBlood]

Yes, everything at West was very expensive!! I walked out with a magazine.......

 

[southkogs]

Re: Advise please!

Boats and women ... rigging costs more than the hull

Take your time. Get the critical stuff for your first few safe rides out on the water and then start building your list. I didn't do much on mine at all for the first year. I was able to prioritize that way and figure out what order I want to do things in ... and budget.

 

[SaltyBlood]

I think I'm going to just pick up a nice leatherman for now......I know I won't regret that and I know I'll use it.....

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Advise please!

Just so you understand what you have gotten yourself into....

You will not be the first person to have a party in your boat.....

In your front yard with a sprinkler going....


However if you chose do have this party with a clothing optional theme, do yourself a favor and become good friends with the PO-PO in advance...