After three months of CL pain..

[gozierdt]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

Video shows a beautiful boat, I'd be glad to own one. You've had lots of good suggestions above. The only thing I'd add is that if you can't find a surveyor, be sure to take a good look at the transom while the boat is on the trailer. Take a screwdriver along, and tap the handle all around the transom, especially near the outdrive and any through-holes. Should get a good hard "tap" sound, not a "thunk". Also step hard all around the floors inside. They should all be hard, not soft.

It is possible to find good boats. I just bought a 1988 Sea Ray 20' Seville this Summer, and the only thing I've had to do was change impeller, oil, and grease in the outdrive. The boat had a history similar to yours, a trailer queen most of her life, indoor storage almost all the time. So they are out there, they just take (as you found) patience to find and quick action to buy.

 

[Gromulin]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

More than likely, it's in the floor, under a lift-up panel. Raw water in and a capped pump out? Easy. pump it out at the fuel dock at the end of the day and rinse it out with fresh water. If not, you're gonna need a gallon of Febreeze.

Ok, so here's how clueless I am about boat blackwater tanks. Do the "pump out" stations on the lakes actually have the "pump" or do I need to buy some sort of...err..pumping device? The cap on the "waste" port looks exactly the same as the gas filler. Wonder how many noobs fill up the pooper tank with gas?

I'm scared to think what might be petrified in that tank...

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

Do the "pump out" stations on the lakes actually have the "pump"

Yes. . At our marina pump outs are free.

 

[1960vw]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

Union Valley is nice, I prefer Ice House for some odd reason. If you are a trout fisherman, pick up yourself a brass/red tip Super Duper 503. Use ultra lite from shore with 4lb test, no weight. If trolling , use it with med. pole with 8 lb test , half to 1 ounce with with 16-18 ft leader. Don't tell anyone what you used to catch them! Just say' Oh, just a spinner" . Oh, and the bug was my first car bought 1972 and still running!

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

what might be petrified in that tank.

Just add 5gal of water to the holding tank and go for a spin to mix it & All will come out.

 

[Gromulin]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

Union Valley is nice, I prefer Ice House for some odd reason. If you are a trout fisherman, pick up yourself a brass/red tip Super Duper 503. Use ultra lite from shore with 4lb test, no weight. If trolling , use it with med. pole with 8 lb test , half to 1 ounce with with 16-18 ft leader. Don't tell anyone what you used to catch them! Just say' Oh, just a spinner" . Oh, and the bug was my first car bought 1972 and still running!

Thanks! We will be stopping by Sportsman's Warehouse on the way out for misc stuff...I'll add that to the list. My son caught his first fish there 2 years ago. I hope the CDEC data is right, and the lake is only down 10' from the top of the dam...that would be great for camping near the water with a new boat.

I'll be the guy with the headlight, reading manuals and pushing buttons at 10PM, cocktail and cigar in-hand, in the boat (anchored safely next to the campsite..not under power of course...), under the glow of the courtesy lights...can't wait.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

The pump out station has the pump. For this first time, take the cap off, add some water, then have the tank pumped out. Should only take 5 minutes. Add a little more water through the waste cap and pump it back out again. If he didn't use it originally, more than likely the tank is empty. If there is any "petrified" material, once you start using the head again, it will soften up (eewwww) and be easily pumped out.

After you do any of these things once, you'll laugh at yourself wondering what you were worried about in the first place.

 

[tmh]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

First off, that is a very nice boat - both quality made and practical for family fun. Nice power package as well. For those who say "you could find better for the price", I always have to ask "AND miss more of the boating season" - for what? MAYBE finding a similar boat for $500 less!?!?!? Nah...if it's a boat design you want for a fair price buy it - IF it's in good shape.

As has been stated, pump out is no big deal. You will want to track the hoses for your water systems to simply "have a look" at what the condition is.

Fresh water : Add a bit of bleach and some fresh water before going out then run it thru when you get back to flush lines. Do a rinse cycle the same way and you're good to go most likely. They sell additives to keep the fresh water tank water fresher as well. Usually a simple system. Fill - Tank - pump - faucets. IF it has hot water as well, then a water heater tank is also after the pump. Some have an "accumulator" after the pump as well to even out the pressure. Again, much more complicated to discuss that it really is when you look at it.

btw, that's a lot of "stuff" to cram into a 23' bowrider. I hope you have decent access to it all. I'd expect good design from Doral.

 

[Gromulin]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

After you do any of these things once, you'll laugh at yourself wondering what you were worried about in the first place.

That's the story of my life, Brother...

Thanks for all the info and encouragement, All. I'll post some pics after the test drive and closing (hopefully!) tomorrow.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

I learned this trick in my RV about black tanks. If there is anything stuck in there or something, add a half bag or so of ice to the tank. Drive around for a little while until the ice melts and then go pump it out. The ice will bounce around in there and knock the crud off and then melt so you can pump it out. Worked for me.

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

This is just MY opinion only !!!.
I think you can find alot better boat for that kind of money.

Its still a buyers market out there !!! .

Hmmm.....not sure what you mean.......This is a top quality boat.....and the price is almost scary low!!

Gromulin - Let me know if you pass on it.....I'll be up there to take a look. Under 16k??? You can fix everything on it, and still make money on it.....shoot - sell it to me!!

Nice find! Hope it runs good and long!

 

[Gromulin]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

Hmmm.....not sure what you mean.......This is a top quality boat.....and the price is almost scary low!!

Gromulin - Let me know if you pass on it.....I'll be up there to take a look. Under 16k??? You can fix everything on it, and still make money on it.....shoot - sell it to me!!

Nice find! Hope it runs good and long!

Thanks! I'll find out tomorrow....

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

And......the result is?

 

[gozierdt]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

Aww, come on, you can't let us sit here without knowing how the test went...
What happened??

 

[Gromulin]

Re: After three months of CL pain..

Oh Yeah Test went very well. Brought her home last night and this is the second time I've sat down since. Was at West Marine at opening time for misc. stuff for the 5-day camping trip that starts tomorrow. Batteries fully charged. Storage vacuumed. Ropes, fenders, anchor rodes. Check.

As soon as my brain stops spinning, and I get back from the lake, I'll have a more detailed impression (and pics)

I know from the test drive that I'll be adding trim-tabs, but thats about it. This thing has just about everything else you could want. Room to move around like a Pontoon, but with the balls of a V-hull with a 5.7 and duo-prop motor. Would just like it to flatten out a bit earlier, since I'll be towing kids on tubes and wakeboards at slow speeds.