A couple of Boating Questions

[Bluegills Unlimited]

Hello, I am a newer boater, and I have learned much from you fine folks, and also learned many things "the hard way"

I have a 1988 Blue Fin Sportsman 17" (Fish and ski aluminum) with an 85 Force. Boat, motor, and trailer are in very good condition, and I am very proud of it.

However, I have a couple of questions

1.) What is the frequency when I should check/fill the lower unit lube?
2.) What would be the ideal prop pitch? I do fish from this boat, but on the weekends we want to water ski and tube.
3.) It seems that when I anchor, I tend to move, I think my anchors are too small, or maybe the wrong style. What style and wheight anchors should I have?
4.) What kind of routine maitenance should I preform? I spray the boat and trailer off with the hose after every use, and obviously remove all seaweed etc. (PS I boat only in freshwater)

THANK YOU!

 

[5150abf]

Re: A couple of Boating Questions

I change my lower unit oil at the end of the season and just check it a couple times through the year by cracking the bottom drain plug after it has sat for awhile, if oil comes out I am alright if it is water I know I need to change some seals.

For the prop, you are looking for a specific RPM, you don't want to be over or too far under that RPM.

Don't know what that RPM is for your motor though.

I have a 16' and fish a river with a decent currant and use a 15lb mushroom, I also have an old brake disc I throw out if the current is tto strong but the main anchor usually holds.

You want to use about twice the rope as you depth so if you are in 15' of water you want to have 30' of rope out.

In fresh water you really don't need to rinse the boat although it won't hurt anything.

 

[Shife]

Re: A couple of Boating Questions

Proper anchoring requires a scope of 5:1 in good conditions and 7:1 or more in bad. That means at a minimum if you're in 10ft of water you need to have 50ft of anchor rode out. Using too little scope will guarantee you can't hold bottom. Adding a few feet of chain to the end of your rode will dramatically increase holding power, even on small runabouts like yours. Chain is required on larger boats if you want a prayer of staying hooked up.

They sell little plastic markers to insert in your anchor rode every 10ft to make this very easy.


Purchase a good shop manual for your outboard. It will pay for itself the first time you use it.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: A couple of Boating Questions

Hello, I am a newer boater, and I have learned much from you fine folks, and also learned many things "the hard way"

I have a 1988 Blue Fin Sportsman 17" (Fish and ski aluminum) with an 85 Force. Boat, motor, and trailer are in very good condition, and I am very proud of it.

However, I have a couple of questions

1.) What is the frequency when I should check/fill the lower unit lube? I would check it twice a season and re-fill it at least one time per season
2.) What would be the ideal prop pitch? I do fish from this boat, but on the weekends we want to water ski and tube. Unknown but I would stick with the stock prop for now that came as the original
3.) It seems that when I anchor, I tend to move, I think my anchors are too small, or maybe the wrong style. What style and wheight anchors should I have? Depends on where you are boating and the type of anchor... a Danforth will give you great holding power with the "proper" length rope attached in a regular bottom but not big rocks... it varies.
4.) What kind of routine maitenance should I preform? I spray the boat and trailer off with the hose after every use, and obviously remove all seaweed etc. (PS I boat only in freshwater) Use some sort of cleaner to remove the scum line on the hull with a brush (toilet bowl cleaner works ) ,get the proper manual for the motor and keel an eye on your trailer tires/bearings too.

THANK YOU!

Easy stuff!

 

[Bluegills Unlimited]

Re: A couple of Boating Questions

Thanks guys for your help. I was definitely not using enough anchor rope, I think that was my problem. And I will pick up a shop manual!

 

[Shife]

Re: A couple of Boating Questions

If you like to read pick up a copy of Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship. Not a small book but it is the definitive guide for all things maritime. Should be required reading for anyone who operates a boat.