First Boat

[Old Coward]

Hi everybody. I just bought my first boat last week. It is a 1981 Glastron SSV-176 with a 1981 Mercury 140 outboard. I have taken it out a few times now and enjoy just cruising around with it. First off the boat is kinda rough shape as as in soft spots in the floor and none of the electrical stuff worked. Figured out most of the electrical but I still do not have a working tach. I only paid $700 for the boat and trailer and I am a mechanic anyway so I figured how much harder could a boat be to work on than a semi-truck. The engine was real tough starting the first few times i took it out but is getting easier to start now the more I run it. I would like to pull a tube and possibly skiers with it as the main things that I do and just cruising. I am not too much into fishing so it is just mainly for the family to get out and have some fun with. Would like any thoughts or opinions on the boat model and engine and whether or not it will suit my purposes. For what I paid I figured I could still make my money back by selling it for more than I paid for it after doing some fixing on it. Any input is appreciated. Thanks. I am also looking for some input on a depth sounder. Not looking to do fishing but would like to know the depth of the water I am in as I will be boating in the Missouri River mostly and there are sand bars everywhere out there.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

:welcome: to iboats and the boat people life!

A cheap fish finder will get you a depth finder but even with that you'll want spend some time carefully scouting unfamiliar river sections as you're only seeing what's under the boat right that instant. At speed on a river with sandbars relying on a sounder/finder will most likely lead to being beached on a sandbar in 12" of water. DAHIKT

Also they will do little to show you a log/stump before it's too late.

 

[roscoe]

Congrats on your first boat, and welcome to iboats.

That motor is a cold hearted beast.

That, and each one seems to have it's own custom starting ritual.

Primer bulb, throttle advance, choke.

How much depends on the motor.

Careful, choke it too long, and it will flood quickly.

The boat should be fine for family outings, but as with any boat, know the waters, get some local maps that show depths.
But beware, rivers are ever changing and sandbars can magically move over time.

 

[littlerayray]

A depth finder only tells you what you've already passed over since most depth sounders are mounted on the transom I would invest in a depth finder GPS with navionics card so that you have the charts which show depths

 

[littlerayray]

Oh and welcome to I boats

 

[Old Coward]

That motor is a cold hearted beast.

What exaclty do you mean by that? I have noticed I can drain my 17 gallon fuel tank in only a couple of hours.

 

[Old Coward]

A depth finder only tells you what you've already passed over since most depth sounders are mounted on the transom I would invest in a depth finder GPS with navionics card so that you have the charts which show depths

I was more thinking of putting in a thru hull transducer for the depth sounder. But i also realize that is still going to show what is behind me somewhat but i still think it would be better than not knowing at all. Was out in the river today with it and was just going along at just over an idle and my hit bottom with the lower unit. If I would have had a depth sounder I would have known that the water was that shallow where I was at. Won't be moving very fast in unfamiliar waters. Do have a spot that I can go to that I don't have to worry about the depth though but it does get kind of congested there with all the tubers and skiers. I can also go up to the lake where I can scoot around as fast as I like without worrying about the depth or the congestion.

 

[Old Coward]

I am currently hitting about 38 mph at WOT and trimmed out. Would like to get to 40 mph. Would doing a prop change help that out with a different pitch?

 

[roscoe]

motor is a cold hearted beast.


What exaclty do you mean by that? I have noticed I can drain my 17 gallon fuel tank in only a couple of hours.

The engine runs cold and is a hard starter, as all the in line 6's were.
Also, they have no thermostat, so they take longer to warm up.

And using the typical 2 stroke fuel usage formula, yes it guzzles gas, could be as high as 12-14 gallons per hour at wide open throttle (wot) .

Best fuel mileage is attained at approx 3/4 throttle or 4000 rpm, if the motor has the correct prop, which allows it to hit 5400 rpm at WOT with a light load in the boat.

We really can't tell if a new prop will help you, until we know what your wot rpm's are with your current prop.

 

[roscoe]

A depth finder only tells you what you've already passed over since most depth sounders are mounted on the transom I would invest in a depth finder GPS with navionics card so that you have the charts which show depths

Except that would cost him about what he has into the entire rig. And depending on what area of the river he is on, may not be accurate for more than a month.

 

[Chris1956]

Is your motor an inline 6? Do not be afraid to flood the motor when cold starting her. Those motors never flood when the carbs are set properly. To start her: Pump primer up 'till hard, motor fully down. Cold start lever all the way up. Hold choke button down and crank until she fires. Now feather the choke until she is warm.

 

[Tnstratofam]

:welcome: To the best place on the web for everything boating.

First off the boat is kinda rough shape as as in soft spots in the floor and none of the electrical stuff worked.

This has me a little concerned. On a fiberglass boat soft spots in the floor are an indication of rot. Boats rot from the inside out. Meaning your stringers ( the support structure for the deck ), and possibly the transom ( the stern piece that supports the motor as well as the rear of the boat) could be rotten offering little to no real support. Before I did much tubing or skiing I would try to do a little investigating on the condition of your boat below deck. A rotten transom can break under stress which can lead to loss of the motor off the back of the boat, or water intrusion that can overwhelm your bilge pump ( if you have a functioning one ). You can check the transom by seeing how much your motor bounces by trying to pull up and down on the lower unit of the motor. If you see any flex then you should be planning on replacing the transom.

On your motor one thing you should do is replace the impeller. If you don't know when the last time it was replaced or if it's been more than a couple of years it should be replaced.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Correction... Stringers are the support structure for the entire hull... The deck sets on them but that is a secondary purpose... Rotten stringers can quickly and without warning lead to catastrophic failure of the hull. Can go from fun day on the water to life n death in an instant.

 

[littlerayray]

Except that would cost him about what he has into the entire rig. And depending on what area of the river he is on, may not be accurate for more than a month.

Yes but simple math will help fix the depth on the charts ie: if the chart reads 10ft and your actual depth is 8ft you know the entire body of water is 2ft lower then what the chart is you adjust accordingly since the water level will change evenly

And I bought a brand new Lowrance Mark4 with a GPS fish finder depth sounder with navionics card for 350 dollars it's the best investment I did for my boat the bargains are out their it's all in how much your willing to pay

 

[Tnstratofam]

Yeah that was what I was trying to imply. The stringers are the main support for the hull/deck. Sorry I miss stated the seriousness of the support of the stringers.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Yes but simple math will help fix the depth on the charts

Not in a river... The bottom contour changes all the time as the current moves sediment around... It's not just a question of water level.

 

[littlerayray]

It all depends on which river I guesse mine also shows Mr where there are hazards like rocks and obstructions which is also really helpful

 

[Old Coward]

Thanks for all the input guys. I did have a friend go with me who owned a marine at one time and is very familiar with boats and he did tell me that the transom and stringers seemed okay. The transom does feel strong still and I do plan on ripping out the flooring and redoing it all this winter along with building lounge seats to put back in it. Whoever owned it before me had made a poor attempt of turning it in to a fishing rig. I did get the electric stuff working and installed an automatic bilge pump in it. The tach still does not work but I have a new one coming that I ordered. Should be here this week. I believe it is just the tach that is not working because my battery is charging fine. But I will find out when that gets here. As I said before I am a mechanic (although I work on semi-trucks) just need to learn the outboard engine and I believe I will be fine. I have downloaded and printed off wiring schematics for my motor too. I am on a tight budget so a depth sounder is about my best option. Once I get this boat in the shape I want it and get comfortable with the boating side of things I will look into getting a nicer boat with more stuff on it. But in the mean time, with as little as I have paid for this rig I do not plan on putting much money into it and if it sinks or blows up or whatever I will not be too heart broken. BTW how do I add a signature line with a pic in it?