eavega
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2008
- Messages
- 1,377
Just wanted to share my new-to-me boat experience with folks who can appreciate it.
Yesterday was "splash day" for my new-to-me 1988 Stingray 176 SVB. This was the first time I had ever bought a boat that was water-ready on the day I bought it. The only thing wrong was that the bilge pump was seized up (replaced now) and some of the bow seating wood (nothing structural, just the cushion backing) had rotted out due to improper draining (in the process of being replaced now). This was my first I/O, and I was very nervous about going out, mostly because other than mechanical checks and running on a hose, the boat was a total unknown to me. Well, I got to the lake, put in the plug (at least I covered the bases), backed the trailer into the water (another new process, as this boat sits much lower on the trailer than my previous tri-hull), Lowered the drive (again, new to me as I have never had PTT) did the start-up procedure I read about here (electronic choke activated by pumping the throttle handle). I don't think the motor chugged twice before it started right up. once warm, I dropped it into gear and idled smoothly away from the ramp and over to the courtesy dock to pick up my wife. Next new experience was going over to the fuel dock as all my previous motors ran off of a 6-gallon plastic tank. That went fairly smoothly (helped out by very courteous dock staff), and away we went to put boat through its paces. She runs WOT at 4500 RPM, 40 MPH on smooth water. Fooled around some with the motor trim and got a feel for both starting out and trimming while underway to avoid porpoising or bouncing too much when hitting some chop. Met up with a friend later on during the day and as an added bonus, got up on water skis for the first time in my life (dropping 100 Lbs of weight had a lot to do with that!)
It was a great day on the water. Air temp was about 80, and no wind. Water temperature was about 78 or so, and sun was shining brightly. Could not ask for a better day to go boating. At the end of the day, got the boat on the trailer and off the ramp in less than two minutes. When the boat was secured on the trailer I pulled the plug, and about a medicine-cup full of water came out of the bilge, which I can attribute to wet people getting in and out of the boat.
It was just a great day, and the type of day that would make a life-long boater out of anyone!
Rgds
Yesterday was "splash day" for my new-to-me 1988 Stingray 176 SVB. This was the first time I had ever bought a boat that was water-ready on the day I bought it. The only thing wrong was that the bilge pump was seized up (replaced now) and some of the bow seating wood (nothing structural, just the cushion backing) had rotted out due to improper draining (in the process of being replaced now). This was my first I/O, and I was very nervous about going out, mostly because other than mechanical checks and running on a hose, the boat was a total unknown to me. Well, I got to the lake, put in the plug (at least I covered the bases), backed the trailer into the water (another new process, as this boat sits much lower on the trailer than my previous tri-hull), Lowered the drive (again, new to me as I have never had PTT) did the start-up procedure I read about here (electronic choke activated by pumping the throttle handle). I don't think the motor chugged twice before it started right up. once warm, I dropped it into gear and idled smoothly away from the ramp and over to the courtesy dock to pick up my wife. Next new experience was going over to the fuel dock as all my previous motors ran off of a 6-gallon plastic tank. That went fairly smoothly (helped out by very courteous dock staff), and away we went to put boat through its paces. She runs WOT at 4500 RPM, 40 MPH on smooth water. Fooled around some with the motor trim and got a feel for both starting out and trimming while underway to avoid porpoising or bouncing too much when hitting some chop. Met up with a friend later on during the day and as an added bonus, got up on water skis for the first time in my life (dropping 100 Lbs of weight had a lot to do with that!)
It was a great day on the water. Air temp was about 80, and no wind. Water temperature was about 78 or so, and sun was shining brightly. Could not ask for a better day to go boating. At the end of the day, got the boat on the trailer and off the ramp in less than two minutes. When the boat was secured on the trailer I pulled the plug, and about a medicine-cup full of water came out of the bilge, which I can attribute to wet people getting in and out of the boat.
It was just a great day, and the type of day that would make a life-long boater out of anyone!
Rgds
