89 Sunbird first ride

[steelespike]

Well we took out my friends 89 16'Sunbird open bow w 48 Evinrude for a first ride.
You may recall we discussed it this winter.A beautiful day!
Boat is beautiful in person.Started perfect idled nice out of the marina.
fairly solid hole shot considering our weight 430 ,12 gallons of gas and battery in the stern.Manual trim set nicely handled the light chop on Onieda lake well. 31 mph speedo indicated ( seemed faster)cruised nicely at indicated 20.
Had a gps but couldn't see it in the sun.Tach didn't work, motor seemed like it could use a little less prop.Were stopped by the coast guard for a safety check.Got a warning for no night flares,reg. not on board,Motor idled beautiful through the stop and responded well when time to go.
Touch of the key warm start later on.
All in all a great first days run.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 89 Sunbird first ride

Saw a boat exactly like that at the ramp end of last season. I thought it looked really sharp, much nicer than the equivalent Bayliner entry level boat from the same time period. Won't be a speed demon but those are extremely reliable motors and I'm sure just sip gas. I'm sure he'll have much fun with it.

Where were you boating that they required night flares? I'm asking because when I was preparing my boat I researched whether I needed to have those or not and I thought I didn't.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: 89 Sunbird first ride

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: 89 Sunbird first ride

Saw a boat exactly like that at the ramp end of last season. I thought it looked really sharp, much nicer than the equivalent Bayliner entry level boat from the same time period. Won't be a speed demon but those are extremely reliable motors and I'm sure just sip gas. I'm sure he'll have much fun with it.

Where were you boating that they required night flares? I'm asking because when I was preparing my boat I researched whether I needed to have those or not and I thought I didn't.

You need a visual signalling device. A floating waterproof flashlight, with working batteries, qualifies. Signal flares are great, but I am always a bit uneasy with them, and disposing them when the expire is a giant PIA around here.

Ian

 

[steelespike]

Re: 89 Sunbird first ride

The officer named a couple of options one a high intensity flashing beacon but he said a flare kit was probably easiest to buy and use.He said a flag for daylight is ok.My firend indicated he had one pointing to what was actually his tool bag.I was bright orange and a little over a foot square.
I did notice that while the boat seemed to be fairly deep as small boats go
the floor seemed high and the seats very low. say 8 or10 inches.