Home Cookin'
Fleet Admiral
- Joined
- May 26, 2009
- Messages
- 9,715
So I saw this ad on Craig's list that seemed too good to be true, but everything was accurate: I was able to buy a 25 year old Bayliner bowrider 16' for $600 in perfect condition, even though it had been left outside in the rain uncovered all its life. it hadn't been run in 6 years (owner had died in a bank robbery shoot-out) but it started right up (tank was full from before and the untreated gas was fine). The OMC drive shifted like velvet. My marine surveyor took core samples of the stringers and transom; all like new.
No titles for the boat and trailer but I stopped by the DMV and the clerk said, no problem, I believe you and issued tags and titles on the spot. And the trailer tires, 10 years old, were still holding air at 50 PSI.
Got to the ramp and no children were playing in the water and no people picnicing and fishing off the dock. Remembered to install the plug and remove the straps; slid right in and off I went. My family of 6 with all their gear fit comfortably with room to spare, even with the tube and wakeboard the girls could lay out on the sunpad. The marine police came by but they didn't check me over because I shared my beer with them.
it got a little rough--4' chop with curling white tops and 25 knot wind against the current, but not one drop of spray touched us and no water over the bow as we ran through the swells. When we stopped, my mushroom anchor on 20' of old ski line held us fine, and we caught a mess of fish. (Later, all the fish blood, bait and slime washed right out of the carpet and it looks and smells like new). Boat ran so well I threw my tool box overboard and canceled my Sea Tow membership; who needs that if you have a perfect boat?
Back at the ramp, the Army Corp was there working on it and asked me please to power load because they wanted to excavate the end of the ramp. My brother in law gave me $50 for gas, too, and his children cleaned up all the Cheeto crumbs in the seat cushions without me asking.
Drove home, pulling it with my Corolla over Afton Mountain, and had no trouble driving into my underground parking garage with 6' clearance, steep ramps and big humps at the curb. Then the HOA guy came by and said it was fine parked outside in the front yard as long as I put a cheap blue tarp over it.
So take it from me: April 1 is the best day to start the boating season!
No titles for the boat and trailer but I stopped by the DMV and the clerk said, no problem, I believe you and issued tags and titles on the spot. And the trailer tires, 10 years old, were still holding air at 50 PSI.
Got to the ramp and no children were playing in the water and no people picnicing and fishing off the dock. Remembered to install the plug and remove the straps; slid right in and off I went. My family of 6 with all their gear fit comfortably with room to spare, even with the tube and wakeboard the girls could lay out on the sunpad. The marine police came by but they didn't check me over because I shared my beer with them.
it got a little rough--4' chop with curling white tops and 25 knot wind against the current, but not one drop of spray touched us and no water over the bow as we ran through the swells. When we stopped, my mushroom anchor on 20' of old ski line held us fine, and we caught a mess of fish. (Later, all the fish blood, bait and slime washed right out of the carpet and it looks and smells like new). Boat ran so well I threw my tool box overboard and canceled my Sea Tow membership; who needs that if you have a perfect boat?
Back at the ramp, the Army Corp was there working on it and asked me please to power load because they wanted to excavate the end of the ramp. My brother in law gave me $50 for gas, too, and his children cleaned up all the Cheeto crumbs in the seat cushions without me asking.
Drove home, pulling it with my Corolla over Afton Mountain, and had no trouble driving into my underground parking garage with 6' clearance, steep ramps and big humps at the curb. Then the HOA guy came by and said it was fine parked outside in the front yard as long as I put a cheap blue tarp over it.
So take it from me: April 1 is the best day to start the boating season!
