Happiest Day of Ownership !!!

[tpenfield]

It has finally come, all the bits and pieces of my boat search and logistics.

The boat was transported by a Captain Service from Long Island NY to my home port on Cape Cod (180 miles) The trip took about 6 hours, with a re-fueling stop along the CT shore. The weather was great and the seas were calm.

Here is the boat coming in and approaching the town dock . . .

.
I tied the boat up for the night, since the tide would be best for loading the boat onto my trailer in the morning.

.

.
We were up with the sun and dunked the trailer and retrieved the boat. The trailer was set up pretty well. The place where I got it does a semi-custom, so you tell them what boat it is and they set the bunk spacings, bow stop, and balance point accordingly.

I think the trailer is a bit tongue heavy, but I have not measured the tongue weight yet. Thankfully, a friend showed up as we were retrieving to lend a hand. The Admiral was in charge of the wheel chocks. My friend did the winching.

Anyway, just about a 1 mile drive back to my house, but I did have to back down about a 500 foot private road that leads to the house.
.

.
The boat seems a lot more massive than the Formula 330. It weighs about 2,300 lbs more than it.
.

.
The Admiral and I figured the name can stay. As a matter of fact, when we first looks at this boat, there was beer & wine in just about every cabinet, drawer, and re-fridge that we opened.
.
Here are a few pics of the cockpit.

.

.

.

.
I'll be coming up the learning curve a bit on the new engines and controls. I think the outdrives are not too much different than my previous boat, except these are SeaCore.
.
.
Anyway, this has been quite an ordeal, with lots of twists and turns. so, I'm glad it is done and the boat is happily in my driveway. Winterizing starts tomorrow. . . .

 

[alldodge]

Congrats
Not changing the name means we will miss the dance and homage to Neptune , bummer

 

[tpenfield]

I need to update my Sig Pic.

 

[Lou C]

Congrats and beautiful boat Ted! I knew the weather would be good so nice easy trip in a boat that size. Excellent!
PS just winterized my brother's 2020 Chapparal with the Merc 4.5 (raw water cooled) nice easy remote oil filter mount, easy water drain works well, filled it up with -100 marine AF and all done.

 

[southkogs]

Great lookin' boat Ted, congratulations.

 

[GA_Boater]

How many days 'til the 2022 launch, Ted. Too many!

Good lookin' boat.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Congrats on the new purchase.

 

[froggy1150]

You always seem to have such nice stuff!

 

[tpenfield]

Thanks guys.

This is the newest boat I've ever owned. Yet, I learned throughout the boat search/shopping, new does not always mean in better condition. It seems that lots of folks selling 5-6 year old boats are doing so because they have not taken care of them.

Although this boat has some issues, it was our best option, since other options would have cost a lot more and had a host of issues as well.

This boat is in need of canvas and upholstery repair, which is my wheelhouse. So, my time over the winter is spoken for.

Anyway, one nice thing is that this boat has a fairly comprehensive 'Owners Manual'



With lots for illustrations and diagrams.


I also have the Mercruiser manuals for these engines.

My task for today is to winterize the engines and fresh water system. The boat also has air conditioning, so that may need something as well.

 

[Lou C]

So Ted you’ll become the go to guy for new Mercruiser tech! Im thinking that to winterize these engines you’ll need the remote tank for the fogging fuel mix and a winterizing tank which can be used with closed cooling. I have one that I used as a brake flusher but will use for winterizing when I finally repower with a closed cooling engine. They also have a new style cartridge fuel filter design different than the typical can style

 

[Grub54891]

Nice ride! I see you will have to clean the garage, put in a bigger/taller door, and remodel the house to fit!

 

[tpenfield]

Hi Lou !!!

Just reading through the maintenance manual, it looks like the winterization procedure is pretty similar to my old boat. The new engine has a single point drain system for the raw water side and air pressure purging, but the manual also talks about having the raw water side filled with AF to prevent corrosion. So, I think I'll just run -100˚ F through the raw water side and call it good.

Fogging the engines is the same 10% mix and running off an aux. tank for about 5 minutes.

I am also glad that I had the boat brought by sea, as that used up all of the old gas and then some.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Congrats on the new boat, Ted! Looks like a nice upgrade!

 

[tpenfield]

I was looking to remove the garboard plug at the transom to let the bilge drain over the winter. . .

There is no garboard plug in the transom . . . It must be a thing now , or perhaps just a Cruisers Yacht thing.

 

[Grub54891]

Sometimes they are under the motor. And some have another in the v-berth.

 

[Lou C]

Hi Lou !!!

Just reading through the maintenance manual, it looks like the winterization procedure is pretty similar to my old boat. The new engine has a single point drain system for the raw water side and air pressure purging, but the manual also talks about having the raw water side filled with AF to prevent corrosion. So, I think I'll just run -100˚ F through the raw water side and call it good.

Fogging the engines is the same 10% mix and running off an aux. tank for about 5 minutes.

I am also glad that I had the boat brought by sea, as that used up all of the old gas and then some.

In the last few years I started using Sierra PG antifreeze mixed 50/50 with water because it’s about half the cost of -100 and still gives freeze protection down to -30 or so. I use a refractometer to measure it which is more accurate than the eye dropper style hydrometer which they do sell for PG mixtures but they are not very accurate…with 2 engines at $16 a gallon it adds up!

 

[Scott Danforth]

I was looking to remove the garboard plug at the transom to let the bilge drain over the winter. . .

There is no garboard plug in the transom . . . It must be a thing now , or perhaps just a Cruisers Yacht thing.

Its a cruisers thing.

Bilge plug is vertical, should be between the motors

 

[Texasmark]

Very nice "large trailerable" boat. Design seems to be very well engineered and thought out I like bow compartment functionality and access being on the side leaving room for access to the below area. Surely good times are ahead.

 

[bruceb58]

We sold our cuddy cabin boat last year and switched to a Cobalt bow rider. Such a great choice for us since we are lake boaters only these days. We do not miss having a cuddy anymore.

My new Mercruiser also has the pressurized single point drain although they kinda lie about that...there are still a few plugs that you have to take off near the water pump. Since my boat stays in a heated structure in Nevada now, I really don't have to worry about freezing. I don't do any fogging since I have cats.

What are you towing that with?

 

[tpenfield]

Its a cruisers thing.

Bilge plug is vertical, should be between the motors

OK, I'll have a look. Folks on the Cruisers FB group say it does not have a plug and they merely vacuum up any water. I'm not thinking that will work out in some situations where lots of water gets in there.