Newbie please help

[Guest]

Re: Newbie please help

Ronald,

The FR version is much pricier than the 350 Zoom model, best price size sib if being on a tight budget, anyway you're not manhandling solo the boat, probably you have added launching wheels by now or count with a boating mate. If at a launching ramp anyone can give you an extra hand or even taking him for a spin. I'll assure you that everyone on this inflatable forum has begun that way. That's an excellent roomy size to power ratio, boater will be vey pleased when the beast has been tamed..

Weimed,
If rolled sib & floors occupies too much horizontal space inside suv, try placing them horizontal each one in it's respective transport bag. Sibs usually comes well packed from factory, are vacuumed to fit nicely inside carrying bag, once it's been inflated & defleated and rolled, it's another story. Both electric mentioned pumps are very nice to vaccum well the entire sib...

Happy Boating

I have a dolly, I am going to foot pump for the my launch 3 ft from the water. Good part is the ramp do not allow boats more then 21ft so its always empty except for the people launching kayaks which still leaves a boat load of space. Car parked 10 ft from the area where I will pump. I have 2 10lb weights i plan on using as my anchors but cant find the ropes to hold it (2 anchors 1 in the front and one b the transom). I was thinking of either going to home depot or lowes and try to find 100ft rope. my local sporting goods store did not have the rope.

 

[IraRat]

Re: Newbie please help

What did you get--bell anchors?

I only used one 10lb bell for my 11ft inflatable, but I didn't have anywhere near the size motor you do.

I think you're gonna find though that you just need one anchor for where you're going and what you're doing. And you're not going to have to anchor both bow and stern--because why?

You gotta let the water do what it's going to do and go along for the ride.

What happened at the DMV?

 

[Guest]

Re: Newbie please help

What did you get--bell anchors?

I only used one 10lb bell for my 11ft inflatable, but I didn't have anywhere near the size motor you do.

I think you're gonna find though that you just need one anchor for where you're going and what you're doing. And you're not going to have to anchor both bow and stern--because why?

You gotta let the water do what it's going to do and go along for the ride.

What happened at the DMV?

Used a 10lb weight u put on a curl bar seemed to work fine but I think the deepest I went was like 12ft, went out to the bay, boats hauling arse causing crazy waves. the throttle handle broke (pin broke) had to row back. Thank god It broke before my engine fully warmed up and I didn't cruise around yet. the park police came and started busting my chops for launching in Floyd bennet field told me its federal property and I am not allowed. I'm thinking of buying a trolling motor and just do lakes in jersey and not haul my 70lb engine. Really bad experience not to mention got a little sick from the waves. Maybe just going through my rookie mistakes. I will not make the same mistakes twice ill tell you that much! I found an electric motor from an inflatable mattress, hopefully it will work (has different attachments so looks like I will be able to pump up and top off with foot pump). going to buy transom wheels** a must I cant drag that floor across the cement floor and into the water, rather scratch my self then my boat! wood floor is a nightmare to carry around it crazy heavy.

 

[fbpooler]

Re: Newbie please help

We have followed your adventure from considering a boat until actually getting it in the water. As you live in a large city, you have to deal with problems which most of us do not face, but your situation is far from hopeless.

First off you have to do whatever is necessary to get the boat and motor from the car to the water. An electric air pump and transom wheels aid this greatly. Depending on the ramp or beach available, these may be all you need. The little mattress pump you have may be all you need, but one made for inflatables may be worthwhile if it does not work out.

The metal parts of the floor are probably the lengthwise stringers which tie the floorboards together. You need these properly installed before using the boat.

As far as motion of the boat being a problem, that will go away with time on the water. Mechanical problems can be overcome without too much trouble. Engine size is a variable and can be alleviated if a problem from dependability or weight standpoint.

Boat weight is a problem for some. You look at a certain weight and think you can handle that in a suitcase. Once assembled, the weight is not as easy to handle.

Keep chipping away until you have solved your problems. Then go out and enjoy the rig.

 

[IraRat]

Re: Newbie please help

Oy vey, what a day! At least you're okay.

First, I'm surprised you didn't investigate that it was okay to launch in Floyd Bennet, but didn't you have to drive through a guardhouse there?

I should have told you to take Dramamine. Everyone gets sick first time out, even if the waves aren't bad. It's the slow and smooth movement of the surface which can kill you. Were you with your woman during all this? You didn't mention her cursing and screaming at you.

Ask around and find another place to launch. There has to be a good spot. There's a little beach (or USED to be a little beach and parking lot) just west of Canarsie Pier--in other words, between Rockaway Parkway and Flatbush Avenue on the Belt Parkway. There's actually an exit there for the parking lot. And while it's a little beach distance between where you park and the water, depending on the tide, at least it's sand you're dragging the boat on. Won't hurt anything.

Also, keep Long Island in mind, for both saltwater AND lakes. The problem is, you have to investigate about residency in order to use the lakes. But I'm SURE there are some good ones where you can, with picnic facilities and such.

Be careful with those pumps. Don't spend any money unless you know it's going to do the job. 99% of those air mattress types will take you a year and a half to inflate (and make sure it also DEFLATES), and they will NOT get it up to proper pressure.

For now, get the outboard fixed. You HAVE the damn thing so you should figure out a way to make it work. You bought a quality inflatable, and although the trolling motors will certainly get you around in some conditions, you're not taking advantage of the capabilities of the boat. You could have bought a $100 Sevylor and accomplished the same thing.

And I HAVE to stick in at least one I-told-you-so here--the inflating and deflating is a PITA, not to mention the launch problems. Find yourself a cheap used trailer, ANY cheap used trailer, and rig it to hold your boat. Then find a place to put it:

Unless you're retired like me (well, unemployed, but same thing as far as boating opportunities go), you're going to want to say to yourself in the morning, "Think I'll take the boat out today," and you're going to want to just jump in the car, pull to a launch, and get on the water. (You're also going to want to get OUT of the water real fast if bad weather rolls in.)

Mind you, I recently refurbished an ancient EIGHT FOOT WOOD PRAM (like a Dinghy) that I got off CraigsList for 20 bucks because that's how I look at it. But here's another option:

Have you heard about this place? This is where I used to dock my inflatable in the water, but if you don't want to spend that kind of money, I'm sure they have an option to at least park it on their grounds, with trailer or not:

Welcome to Sebago Canoe Club - sea kayaking canoeing sailing rowing flatwater racing in Brooklyn, New York

Do you know where Paerdegat Basin is? It's a basin right between Canarsie Pier and the the bridge at Flatbush Avenue. And if you don't want to leave the boat there, maybe they offer a launch service for a small fee.

The thing is, your weather window for boating is kind of small, and you want to make the most of it however you can. Find a solution that will work for you for the next few years.

 

[IraRat]

Re: Newbie please help

I just read Sebago's membership information.

If you join before July 31st this year, it's $245 membership--with a $90 annual fee to park your boat there. It's like $160 if you join after July 31st. Subsequent renewals are $175 a year, plus that $90 parking fee.

For New York, that's not bad at ALL. You're talking 28 bucks a month for the first year, and $20 monthly after that. It's a private 501 C 3 foundation, like charities.

I'm pretty sure the place is open year round, but you have to find out if they'll still accept inflatables. It's basically a place to promote kayaking and canoeing, but these days, money talks--and I doubt they're going to turn down anyone walking in with a check.

 

[IraRat]

Re: Newbie please help

This is bringing back some great memories:

Before I had my boat docked there, I belonged to the club when I was like TEN--which means we're talking 45 years ago. (Okay, 46, but who's counting?) We used to go out in 5-, 6-men wooden Indian canoes, and pull up that island out there in the bay, off Canarsie Pier, and cook hot dogs.

I later discovered girls and quit the club.

That whole area is supposed to be beautiful now, part of Gateway National Park, with a lot of wildlife. On the site, there's a brochure to download which shows that island.

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Newbie please help

Here is the power source I use for my boat.
It powers the electric air pump
It charges my marine radio
It powers my gps/fishfinder

I placed the air pump gauge that the Zodiac dealer gave me on the power source
The second picture is of my gps/fishfinder
I got the elite5 inch because the thhe elite 4 was to small. I have old eys
The maps for new york are included as is the eastern seaboard. The main reason I got it .I put a cigarette lighter plug on the gps and I plug it into power source





sorry it took so long . I was having trouble uploading the image

 

[Guest]

Re: Newbie please help

This is bringing back some great memories:


Before I had my boat docked there, I belonged to the club when I was like TEN--which means we're talking 45 years ago. (Okay, 46, but who's counting?) We used to go out in 5-, 6-men wooden Indian canoes, and pull up that island out there in the bay, off Canarsie Pier, and cook hot dogs.

I later discovered girls and quit the club.

That whole area is supposed to be beautiful now, part of Gateway National Park, with a lot of wildlife. On the site, there's a brochure to download which shows that island.

I did called Floyd Bennett field 2 days before I went that's the only reason I went there to launch. As for that island u can't set foot there anymore they made it into a bird refuge. If that sebago place works out ill let everyone know. They said I can launch from breezy point for free but u still paying for that metal bridge 4 dollars each way.

 

[Guest]

Re: Newbie please help

I did called Floyd Bennett field 2 days before I went that's the only reason I went there to launch. As for that island u can't set foot there anymore they made it into a bird refuge. If that sebago place works out ill let everyone know. They said I can launch from breezy point for free but u still paying for that metal bridge 4 dollars each way.

I seen you your post earlier about the car boost pack, I went to an auto parts store looking at it " advanced auto parts" gonna go to autoZone also. I am debating to either go that route or inflate by the car, issue will be is if I go to a lake I am sure my parking spot will not be right next to the boat so I will need a foldable hand truck either way. I will buy a GPS as soon as I have At least 2-3 sucessfull launches

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Newbie please help

Is there a Harbor Freight near you
You can get the car boost pack, the dolly wheels and some more rope
You can also get a hand truck and an axle

 

[Guest]

Re: Newbie please help

Is there a Harbor Freight near you
You can get the car boost pack, the dolly wheels and some more rope
You can also get a hand truck and an axle

There is a HF not to far but other stores like lowes and Home Depot has this stuff also I already bought all the PVC pipes, wheels and an axle just gotta cut the PVC to the size I want it. I think I'm going to go a total of about 18" off the ground just like yours. I will post pics once complete

 

[Sinistre1]

Re: Newbie please help

Man we have to talk!!! I keep finding older threads that you are on and reading some of the things you posted and a lot of these things i have already figured out from trial and error. Floyd Bennet field you HAVE to launch from the old airplane ramp or they WILL give you a hard time. There used to be a permit for that area and Breezy Point but they did away with it starting last year. There is also the North Channel Bridge launch. As for anchors, get rid of the gym weight. The perfect anchor is a claw style, the smallest one works phenomenally well and weighs 4lbs! The trick is a small length of chain to make it grab and dig in. If you look at my video where the boat is anchored up... you can see the orange chain. Trust me on the anchor. Best ting is it is only $15 or so at West Marine. In either case I also have an old mushroom style anchor. You can have (free of charge). I bought it at walmart and it is NO contest the claw anchor is kick-arse for less money (well not less than free). One of the tricks I wanted to show you but I will tell you since I don't know when we will get to meet up is to use a shop vac. Yes, a cheap shop vac. I can inflate the boat 85 percent of the way to full in under 4 minutes (clocked!!!). Since you already have an invertor in your SUV the only to purchase item is the vac and the cheap ones are about $25 at home depot maybe be less at harbor freight. You move the hose from the front end of the vac to the rear end and instead of sucking up things your shop vac now blows out a TON of air (think leaf blower!!) You leave your boat valve in the locked open position and manually hold the shop vac hose over the opening. The only trick to it is when it is getting full you have to remove the vac hose quickly and release the valve pin manually, but at this point the bulk of the air is in. The only faster way I have ever seen is a scuba tank and that's somewhat dangerous AND expensive. Sounds trickier than it is in reality. Trust me. The best part is the vac sucks air out JUST as fast so it is great for the end of the day.

Let's see what else, as you have probably figured out you aren't registering your motor. You are registering your boat because it HAS a motor. If you ONLY ever rowed, no trip to DMV would have been required!!!

I have a little tool box that has in it a small 12 volt battery (the battery is either a motorcycle or childs ride on scooter battery and fairly small with good power) for my gps (the gps mounts to the top of the tool box) I mounted marine speakers to the sides of the boxes and a small marine amp is inside (there is even a little space for accessories, lol). I hook up an mp3 player to it. I call it my mobile command center, lol. The idea was/ is great but the first tool box didn't take to well to salt water spray and the hinges are rusting. I have since bought a new box and will transfer over all the goodies as time allows... did i mention I am a DIYER?, lol.

Oh, as for cleaning the boat off at end of the day. I have recently started carrying a large cooler/ ice chest that i fill with clean water at home. At the end of the day you can use it to wash the boat before you put it away. I try to plan the day such that I can rinse it and give it 20 mins or so to dry. When I fold it up... i'm done!!

You CAN make this work, I know because I'm doing it! In the same area to boot.

 

[Sinistre1]

Re: Newbie please help

To the poster that asked about the snapper and crab runs. The answer is yes to both, but not to the same extent as used to be. Snappers have had lean and boom years. The crabs are fairly consistent. I heard but haven't actually tried it yet you can go out at night and just net them at a certain time as they come off the bottom to spawn and feed. You scoop them up!! No muss/ fuss!! And in an inflatable it has to be easy since you are already at waters level!

I have fished the bay on and off since I was 14 (48 now).:sleeping:

 

[Guest]

Re: Newbie please help

Man we have to talk!!! I keep finding older threads that you are on and reading some of the things you posted and a lot of these things i have already figured out from trial and error. Floyd Bennet field you HAVE to launch from the old airplane ramp or they WILL give you a hard time. There used to be a permit for that area and Breezy Point but they did away with it starting last year. There is also the North Channel Bridge launch. As for anchors, get rid of the gym weight. The perfect anchor is a claw style, the smallest one works phenomenally well and weighs 4lbs! The trick is a small length of chain to make it grab and dig in. If you look at my video where the boat is anchored up... you can see the orange chain. Trust me on the anchor. Best ting is it is only $15 or so at West Marine. In either case I also have an old mushroom style anchor. You can have (free of charge). I bought it at walmart and it is NO contest the claw anchor is kick-arse for less money (well not less than free). One of the tricks I wanted to show you but I will tell you since I don't know when we will get to meet up is to use a shop vac. Yes, a cheap shop vac. I can inflate the boat 85 percent of the way to full in under 4 minutes (clocked!!!). Since you already have an invertor in your SUV the only to purchase item is the vac and the cheap ones are about $25 at home depot maybe be less at harbor freight. You move the hose from the front end of the vac to the rear end and instead of sucking up things your shop vac now blows out a TON of air (think leaf blower!!) You leave your boat valve in the locked open position and manually hold the shop vac hose over the opening. The only trick to it is when it is getting full you have to remove the vac hose quickly and release the valve pin manually, but at this point the bulk of the air is in. The only faster way I have ever seen is a scuba tank and that's somewhat dangerous AND expensive. Sounds trickier than it is in reality. Trust me. The best part is the vac sucks air out JUST as fast so it is great for the end of the day.

Let's see what else, as you have probably figured out you aren't registering your motor. You are registering your boat because it HAS a motor. If you ONLY ever rowed, no trip to DMV would have been required!!!

I have a little tool box that has in it a small 12 volt battery (the battery is either a motorcycle or childs ride on scooter battery and fairly small with good power) for my gps (the gps mounts to the top of the tool box) I mounted marine speakers to the sides of the boxes and a small marine amp is inside (there is even a little space for accessories, lol). I hook up an mp3 player to it. I call it my mobile command center, lol. The idea was/ is great but the first tool box didn't take to well to salt water spray and the hinges are rusting. I have since bought a new box and will transfer over all the goodies as time allows... did i mention I am a DIYER?, lol.

Oh, as for cleaning the boat off at end of the day. I have recently started carrying a large cooler/ ice chest that i fill with clean water at home. At the end of the day you can use it to wash the boat before you put it away. I try to plan the day such that I can rinse it and give it 20 mins or so to dry. When I fold it up... i'm done!!

You CAN make this work, I know because I'm doing it! In the same area to boot.

All your stuff sounds like its going to be me within the next 5 trips. once this dolly is complete and I can successfully get my boat inflated filled with my stuff and get it to shore within 15 min. I will start doing adds and mods. Tool box with a battery sounds bad arse. I am going try the mattress inflating before I buy a shop vac, I live in a private house so I have to haul the floor boards and engine downstairs from second floor no elevator (I rent so backyard and driveway = not mine) not to mention full of cars. i keep my boat in my trunk so it is PACKED!! AND I MEAN PACKED. half my back seat is also packed with stuff. The 3.2g gas tank in my car it freaking stinks every time i get into my car. As it is (total of 4 trips to go boating and back) with boat upstairs i do not think i can do 6 trips total. I think my next trip will tell me a lot more on my situation. But yea we have to talk more and or go fishing together, as for cleaning, i think a spray water bottle with a small hand towel will be good enough.

 

[IraRat]

Re: Newbie please help

I fished off Canarsie Pier since I was around 8, and I'm 56 now! Been in Florida about 20 years though.

There used to be a barge WAY back in the day where you could rent rowboats (ask an older relative!), so if anyone thinks it's ridiculous to row or paddle the bay in a canoe, they're wrong.

Yeah, it can get funky! But if you're sensible and plan your route correctly, you can book it to shore pretty quickly,

I used to fish that pier in WINTER, and while I didn't catch anything 99 times out of a 100, being near the water and salt air was still better than walking around Kings Plaza!

And what about that beach I mentioned between the pier and Flatbush Avenue? Is that still there?

Well, I know the beach HAS to be there, but whether there's access and parking is a different story.

 

[IraRat]

Re: Newbie please help

When my older son was a toddler, he would kiss me goodbye when I went fishing.

And before I went home, I'd buy a few lobsters at Jordan's in Sheepshead Bay and tell him I caught them with my rod!

 

[Guest]

Re: Newbie please help

I fished off Canarsie Pier since I was around 8, and I'm 56 now! Been in Florida about 20 years though.

There used to be a barge WAY back in the day where you could rent rowboats (ask an older relative!), so if anyone thinks it's ridiculous to row or paddle the bay in a canoe, they're wrong.

Yeah, it can get funky! But if you're sensible and plan your route correctly, you can book it to shore pretty quickly,

I used to fish that pier in WINTER, and while I didn't catch anything 99 times out of a 100, being near the water and salt air was still better than walking around Kings Plaza!

And what about that beach I mentioned between the pier and Flatbush Avenue? Is that still there?

Well, I know the beach HAS to be there, but whether there's access and parking is a different story.

its still here but closed. typical new York decided to renovate during the summer.

 

[Guest]

Re: Newbie please help

Man we have to talk!!! I keep finding older threads that you are on and reading some of the things you posted and a lot of these things i have already figured out from trial and error. Floyd Bennet field you HAVE to launch from the old airplane ramp or they WILL give you a hard time. There used to be a permit for that area and Breezy Point but they did away with it starting last year. There is also the North Channel Bridge launch. As for anchors, get rid of the gym weight. The perfect anchor is a claw style, the smallest one works phenomenally well and weighs 4lbs! The trick is a small length of chain to make it grab and dig in. If you look at my video where the boat is anchored up... you can see the orange chain. Trust me on the anchor. Best ting is it is only $15 or so at West Marine. In either case I also have an old mushroom style anchor. You can have (free of charge). I bought it at walmart and it is NO contest the claw anchor is kick-arse for less money (well not less than free). One of the tricks I wanted to show you but I will tell you since I don't know when we will get to meet up is to use a shop vac. Yes, a cheap shop vac. I can inflate the boat 85 percent of the way to full in under 4 minutes (clocked!!!). Since you already have an invertor in your SUV the only to purchase item is the vac and the cheap ones are about $25 at home depot maybe be less at harbor freight. You move the hose from the front end of the vac to the rear end and instead of sucking up things your shop vac now blows out a TON of air (think leaf blower!!) You leave your boat valve in the locked open position and manually hold the shop vac hose over the opening. The only trick to it is when it is getting full you have to remove the vac hose quickly and release the valve pin manually, but at this point the bulk of the air is in. The only faster way I have ever seen is a scuba tank and that's somewhat dangerous AND expensive. Sounds trickier than it is in reality. Trust me. The best part is the vac sucks air out JUST as fast so it is great for the end of the day.

Let's see what else, as you have probably figured out you aren't registering your motor. You are registering your boat because it HAS a motor. If you ONLY ever rowed, no trip to DMV would have been required!!!

I have a little tool box that has in it a small 12 volt battery (the battery is either a motorcycle or childs ride on scooter battery and fairly small with good power) for my gps (the gps mounts to the top of the tool box) I mounted marine speakers to the sides of the boxes and a small marine amp is inside (there is even a little space for accessories, lol). I hook up an mp3 player to it. I call it my mobile command center, lol. The idea was/ is great but the first tool box didn't take to well to salt water spray and the hinges are rusting. I have since bought a new box and will transfer over all the goodies as time allows... did i mention I am a DIYER?, lol.

Oh, as for cleaning the boat off at end of the day. I have recently started carrying a large cooler/ ice chest that i fill with clean water at home. At the end of the day you can use it to wash the boat before you put it away. I try to plan the day such that I can rinse it and give it 20 mins or so to dry. When I fold it up... i'm done!!

You CAN make this work, I know because I'm doing it! In the same area to boot.

how many amps is your battery pack??

 

[IraRat]

Re: Newbie please help

Unbelievable. It's stupid stuff like that which drove me out of the city.