New boater

[Davedough]

Hey everyone,

I've been lurking on this site for a couple of days now and figured its probably time to register. I'm a new boat owner. Picked up a 1994 Larson 17' Open Bow boat in really good shape and for a price I couldn't turn down. The guy threw in all the fun stuff like tubes, wakeboards, kneelboards and such as well as dang near brand new life vests of varying sizes (7 in total). Its got an I/O motor with a MerCruiser 4.3L V6 powering it that has 135 hours on it. The thing runs really smooth and clean.

Although this is my first boat I've owned personally, I'm not new to boating. I've been around them most of my life through friends and such. Arizona (where I live) offers an online safety course that I took last night and although I knew 90% of what was said in there, it felt good to complete that much in the same sense as it did when I completed my motorcycle safety course way back when.

Against all better judgement, I'm going to try and maiden her this coming Labor Day weekend with my wife, 2 daughters and my dog at a watering hole called Saguaro Lake just outside of Phoenix. I know the crowds are going to be horrendous, I just hope the majority hang out at the more popular Lake Pleasant to the west. I've got a topographical map of the lake with all the shallows marked and hope to have a good time out there.

Oh, and without further ado.. here's some pics of the boat. http://imgur.com/a/titXd

I've already learned a decent amount just from lurking on this site and I hope to pick up more from you fine people going forward.

 

[pbgeneral]

Re: New boater

Welcome to Iboats. Congrats on your boat, it looks great.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: New boater

Sounds like a great boat to start with and beyond. I am still on my starter boat. Have been for 21yrs! It serves me well so I havnt moved up as I had expected I would. As far as your plans for its maiden voyage...... ya gotta do what ya gotta do I guess.

 

[Davedough]

Re: New boater

As far as your plans for its maiden voyage...... ya gotta do what ya gotta do I guess.

I was going to wait until the following weekend, but seeing the boat in my garage, coupled with my wife egging me on every night that we should go out on the water makes it difficult to resist... even with the crowds.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: New boater

Against all better judgement, I'm going to try and maiden her this coming Labor Day weekend with my wife, 2 daughters and my dog

Just a quick word of caution, don't take them all with on the maiden voyage. Even if you just make a 20 minute spin around the lake without them on board, do it [alone]! Having that many extra people will not help you, and will add all kinds of danger/frustration/risk to it. I know it sounds like I'm being over cautious, but if you are around boats long enough, you realize that murphy loves a good boat ride!

Unload it, and have them get the dog/coolers/bathroom break done while you make that 20 minute spin. You will really thank me if something does go wrong!

(I've owned my own boat since about age 12, thats 20 years years of boating. My wife is almost as experienced, and I STILL follow this rule with a new boat, or even the first run of the year in my current boat.)

 

[Davedough]

Re: New boater

Just a quick word of caution, don't take them all with on the maiden voyage. Even if you just make a 20 minute spin around the lake without them on board, do it [alone]!

Thats a good idea. Thanks. I'll make sure I plan for that.

 

[mpdive]

Re: New boater

Just a quick word of caution, don't take them all with on the maiden voyage. Even if you just make a 20 minute spin around the lake without them on board, do it [alone]! Having that many extra people will not help you, and will add all kinds of danger/frustration/risk to it. I know it sounds like I'm being over cautious, but if you are around boats long enough, you realize that murphy loves a good boat ride!

Unload it, and have them get the dog/coolers/bathroom break done while you make that 20 minute spin. You will really thank me if something does go wrong!

(I've owned my own boat since about age 12, thats 20 years years of boating. My wife is almost as experienced, and I STILL follow this rule with a new boat, or even the first run of the year in my current boat.)

Great advice there. By the time the woman go to the bathroom, primp, and whatever they do out there you'll be back. Make sure you both have a phone so you can call her if you get stuck, or if you decide to stay out there by yourself.LOL Don't overtrust lake maps either. Take your time because changing lake levels can be tricky. Enjoy yourself and take it slow especially in a chop. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: New boater

That's a nice looking rig you have there. As far as going out for the first time on Labor Day weekedend, don't get frustrated or stressed out by the crowds, before you even get to the landing go through in your head what steps you will take and when, when you do actually lounch your boat. Perhaps even make a check list to go over, and maybe even do a "dry run" in your driveway. Don't launch the boat in your driveway but just go through the steps. If you haven't started the boat yet, get some muffs and fire it up on the garden hose, you never want to be that guy that has a big day planned and you get to a busy landing and she doesn't start.
One last thing, if your rusty on backing a trailer, take the rest of the week to practice at home, it will be worth it.
One more last thing, totally enjoy your day out with family on your new boat!!

 

[jmarty10]

Re: New boater

Very nice! I have a '08 180 with the 4.3. YOU WILL LOVE THE POWER IN THAT SIZE BOAT. That size is also very easy to trailer load and unload. Enjoy

 

[JWFails]

Re: New boater

Awesome boat. A 4.3L in a 17' boat should haul a**. Make sure to load everthing in boat, put in plug, etc. before launching. You don't want to be the one at the ramp. Alot of people at the ramp on busy weekends are very stressed and not very friendly. I find on holiday weekends (which I avoid) if you get to ramp before 9am it's usually pretty empty. Everybody else is hung over and don't get up until 10-11 am. I also try to get off the lake by 6 or so before the hung over one's are drunk again. Don't get me wrong, I like a beer or two, but some people don't know limits and put the rest of us in danger. Have a fun and safe trip.

 

[AZSenza]

Re: New boater

Hi and welcome to the forum! As a East Phoenix (Mesa) boater, i would stay far far away from Saguaro on busy weekends. Canyon's not as bad and I'd recommend Roosevelt VERY highly. Saguaro is 15 min from my house, Canyon 20, Roosevelt 1 1/2 hrs. On a busy weekend they limit boats on Saguero, my first trip to Roosevelt was due to the estimated 2 hr wait in the holding area. Saguaro is the first lake East from Phoenix, Most of Mesa, Chandler, Tempe and Gilbert. Its where most people go from downtown -east, downtown west go to Pleasant.

I've got a 22 foot 1997 Larson 226LXi, we love it and get tons of use out of it, mainly in Canyon! Oh ya, go to the back past the no ski zone and look to the north for Big Horn Sheep on the cliffs.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: New boater

I have been boating since I was 12. I was born before Pearl Harbor was bombed!!!!! I am giving you some serious advice here and you would be wise to heed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do not take your loved ones out till you know your boat, know what it can and can't do and know how to operate it.

Secondly, do not go out on a National Holiday, especially on your maiden voyage.

If you do, don't bother posting the consequences on this site!!!!!!!

Mark

 

[SDSeville]

Re: New boater

How far are you from the lake? What I usually do at the beginning of the season, or more recently after a major repair or restore is:

1. Take the boat down to a lake or lagoon close to home -- Go early with my son or a friend.

2. Be sure to check for major problems once in the water, but while still attached to the trailer.

3. Launch and take a long cruise to make sure everything is good -- motor running well, no leaks...

4. Call my wife on the cell phone and tell her all is good.

5. She comes down with my 2 daughters and we pick them up at the dock.

I usually leave a couple hours before the girls do. This way, if something goes wrong (and it has), the ladies never even come down. This works especially well when I go to a lagoon just 4 miles from home. I even go early sometimes in the middle of the season. It usually takes forever to get the wife and daughters out of the house at a decent hour.

 

[produceguy]

Re: New boater

Congrats, nice lookin boat!!!

 

[Davedough]

Re: New boater

Well, I've decided not to go out this weekend. I think the crowds are going to be way too packed anywhere I go and I dont want a knucklehead ruining my voyage.

As far as the people saying to test the boat first. While I understand the consideration, I went on a ride with the previous owner before I bought it. He and I met at the lake and went out on the boat for approximately 45 minutes. I drove it, he showed me its quirks and everything. I'm pretty confident of the worthiness of the boat.

I'm actually going to take this week to prep the boat for the weekend AFTER Labor Day holiday to maiden it. I'm using this time to try and find a replacement for my tired 1993 Jeep Cherokee that, although pulled it home just fine, didn't really do it with the kind of vigor I would have hoped for with its 20 year old inline 6 cylinder.

Thanks for all the advice and compliments everyone.

 

[cobra1476]

Re: New boater

I had there same exact boat. Although mine was a 3.0. with a 21p prop I was hitting 45mph by myself (verified by gps).

I miss that little bugger. easy to tow and operated and due to the deadrise it went through waves with ease. The motor always started on the first turn.

As it got older the biggest problem was the floor ski area area, it simply started rotting out. also, from what I have found out, they tend to leak water through the transom area. There is a gasket that needs to be replace. Gasket was cheap but labor was killer.

Overall it was a great boat! Wished that it had a fiberglass floor though.

Have fun with it!

 

[not enuf toys]

Re: New boater

i second the first trip by yourself!!

i make the first trip of each year by myself. you never know when snags happen and people just get in the way!