How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

[agallant80]

Bought a new boat. Was thinking of all of the projects I did to it last year and all of the things I want to do to it this year. Does it ever end? Are you always tinkering with it trying to make it yours?

 

[Slip Away]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

Some do, some don't tinker. I never did. I did my research before buying, and purchased boats that came equipped with what we needed/wanted. That
virtually eliminates the tinkering, which costs more money, and detracts from time on the water. For some people, it never ends. For me, it never began, and
I am on my 4th boat, and likely the last.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

Nothing is ever perfect, or perfect enough. I'm on 7 years and still counting. It's a labor of love. If you put value on your time spent tinkering as an entertainment expense, and you actually enjoy doing it, it doesn't really cost more.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

ever end, heck no!! here's what I plan to do...

1) hope the motor starts and runs as it should- my first winter on this motor testing the air dont freeze method...
2) assuming it runs fine.. gonna install a water/fuel separation filter, w/ new fuel lines
3) flip the axle 180 degrees, due to my stupidity of installing the new axle last season with camber in wrong direction...(wondered why my tires only wore about 1 inch from edge...) what a dope I am... If I actually payed attention to the directions.......oh well...
4) replace winch cable to strap,, my fingers will thanks me..
5) rear bench seats get new plywood base..
6) check bearings, breaks on trailer... Im sure I will come up with more,,,, some of the best times with friends and family,, is that not what drives us? to enjoy such times together........

 

[OllieC]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

Never ends for me either, however I like to tinker - gets me out of the house. Last year I spent a shiny penny on an upgraded sound system, GPS/Sounder, Sea Deck for my swim platform and a ShureHold polisher - I also repaired some gel coat dings, changed the belt, and installed new bellows and gimbal bearing, added LED's, 2 new group 29 batts........

This year it's;

New Tires for the trailer
Fix my GPS Mount
Install a new SS wear plate on my water pump
Polish, Clean, Polish, Clean, Polish, Clean.....on and on.....
Install new Spark Plugs.....

.......and I think that's all I'm going to TRY to do this year.

The Sara Belle saved our butt's last year when I was dumb enough to get caught in a storm on Lake Superior with my family aboard. The pucker factor for me was about a 9. She didn't hiccup once! She deserves being taken care of.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

If I only treated my lawn tractor with such regard.. course I cant fish in that... glad it's a Deere..

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

It never ends. Even my best boats need constant attention

 

[gm280]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

With all the boats I've owned, I constantly upgrade them for options to make my fishing easier and more comfortable. So yes you can finish, but no there is something to do to make your time on the water enjoyable. I can not stand to have anything interrupt my water time. So I do everything I can to avoid it on the water. but that does mean constant vigilance while resting on the trailer at home... As for complete refurbishing boats, I seriously hope they come to a finish some day...

 

[OllieC]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

I'm happy that it doesn't end for me......some guys have Hot Rods to tinker with....I have a boat! (some have both)

 

[Bondo]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

Bought a new boat. Was thinking of all of the projects I did to it last year and all of the things I want to do to it this year. Does it ever end? Are you always tinkering with it trying to make it yours?

Ayuh,.... For Me, it Never ends,.... I've got 15 years into the barge I was gonna scrap or sell 5 years ago,....

2 more barges in the driveway in various stages of almost ready,.... :lol:

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

I'm happy that it doesn't end for me......some guys have Hot Rods to tinker with....I have a boat! (some have both)

I tinker with the Hot Rod and maintain the boat.........

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

I'm another chronic tinkerer, but also believe that preventative maintenance is the key to reliability. In the two years that I've had my Tahoe Q4, which was a well maintained boat to begin with, I've done spark plugs, cap/rotor, wires, fuel filters, fuel pump, full fluid change, full machine polish and wax, new trailer tires, new steering cable, and probably some other stuff that I forgot. Except for issues associated with my own stupidity, our family boating excursions have been flawless. If I keep it this year (looking to upgrade) I will do the impeller, as the current one is nearing two years old.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

Bought a new boat. Was thinking of all of the projects I did to it last year and all of the things I want to do to it this year. Does it ever end? Are you always tinkering with it trying to make it yours?

When it was new? Drove it off dealer lot and put it in the water - that is why you buy a new boat.

The used one I just bought - only thing I'll do is some required maint and buy a spare prop. Nothing really to putz with on it.

 

[dingbat]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

If your talking about preventative maintenance it never ends, especially running in salt.

The installation of new equipment and upgrades took about 5 years. Tackled one major project per season becouse of the cost.

Planning to install a windlass this year if I don't cave to my desires to upgrade my sounder with CHIRP

 

[inthedirtagain]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

ever end, heck no!! here's what I plan to do...

1) hope the motor starts and runs as it should- my first winter on this motor testing the air dont freeze method...
2) assuming it runs fine.. gonna install a water/fuel separation filter, w/ new fuel lines
3) flip the axle 180 degrees, due to my stupidity of installing the new axle last season with camber in wrong direction...(wondered why my tires only wore about 1 inch from edge...) what a dope I am... If I actually payed attention to the directions.......oh well...
4) replace winch cable to strap,, my fingers will thanks me..
5) rear bench seats get new plywood base..
6) check bearings, breaks on trailer... Im sure I will come up with more,,,, some of the best times with friends and family,, is that not what drives us? to enjoy such times together........

I have almost the exact same list to go through. Paid a whopping $100 for my Invader and did my first winterizing. Havent had it in the water yet. My solar panels have been on the batteries maintaining them, so hopefully they wont need replacing. Cant wait to finish the shop so it doesnt need a tarp anymore.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

I have a "to do list" that I keep on Dropbox that is constantly being added to. Wherever I am, home, work or on the road, I can call it up and add to it. The number of tasks never go to 0. I just prioritize them and knock them off as soon as I can. This list also contains all the things I need to buy as well.

I have another list that shows all the maintenance that I have done, the date I did it and the part numbers of everything so I have it for next time.

 

[Silverton34c]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

Bought a new boat. Was thinking of all of the projects I did to it last year and all of the things I want to do to it this year. Does it ever end? Are you always tinkering with it trying to make it yours?

last year was about 150 hours to get the boat wet!..this year I am hoping for about 20 hours before I can use her again!

 

[Brian 26]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

Every winter I make a laundry list of stuff I want to do, then I take a few weeks while the snow is melting to get it done and usually don't work on the boat much in the summer.

If you really want to torture yourself with todo lists, buy a pair of older high performance two stroke jet skis!

 

[lamphega]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

Half the fun of having a boat in tinkering and maintenance. Of course if the boat you fell for is a 39 year old classic Aristocraft...

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: How long did it take you to get your boat in running order?

running order mmm about a week and 3 years to finish up the rebuild, i took off the summers to use it.