Bought my first boat!!

[TheRealBigBear]

I have bought my first boat. Pick it up next week. It's a 1981 Ranger 360V, 18ft 175HP, in great shape. The motor was rebuilt in 97 & the owner has added all sorts of extras. Anyways, I have 2 main concerns headed into this: <br /> <br />1) My lack of mechanical skills (will someone tell me not to worry about it!?) <br /><br />2) My towing vehicle. I have a 99 Chevy blazer with a 4.3 liter V6 & 4WD. My wife has an 02 4runner with a V6 & 2WD. I'm thinking the blazer will be used initially. I'd like to hear from some folks that have towed a boat with either vehicle or believe I shouldn't have any problems. Both have tow packages. <br /><br />Thanks guys - I'm sure I'll be leaning on some of you for some much needed advice in the future.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bought my first boat!!

Both vehicles are short wheelbase and by the very nature makes them a bit twitchy and potentially dangerous in emergency situations. If the ramps you typically use are improved (no mud, sand or marine growth)you might get by with the 2WD. Forget that unit if does not have a locking rear differential. As for power, the 4.3 Blazer will be more than adequate. I would add brakes to the trailer if it does not already have them. Just because you can pull the rig, doesn't mean it can stop it. Blazers came with axle ratios of 3.42, 3.73, and 4.11:1. The axle ratio you have will determine how the vehicle works for towing. Same applies to the 4Runner. I've used a number of GM 4.3 V6 powered vehicles (currently use a 4.3 S10 crew cab) for my towing and they have excellent grunt and generally get better fuel economy when towing than the high-reving import V6's.

 

[QC]

Re: Bought my first boat!!

I agree with UIS on the towing comments.<br /><br />As far as question #1 is concerned, you need to realize that boats need constant attention and they break sittin' on the trailer . . . If you just accept this, then you can stop worrying about it Find someone locally to help you as it will need some mechanical work from time to time.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Bought my first boat!!

About short wheel bases and towing. Honda hatch back and a Lowe 16' Aluminum fish boat filled with a week of vacation gear. First boat. First trip. 20+ years ago. 10 hours of round trip driving, came to a 1 lane bridge on a blind curve. I stood on the brake pedal so hard I had cramps in my back,arms and legs for 2 days. GET some local marina people to size up the whole rig in front of them and test ride it if possible. I used up a lot of my luck on that stop. I did not know squat at the time.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Bought my first boat!!

The transmissions are not real strong in the Blazer if it's an auto. I blew mine out in a 97 S-10 ZR-2 a few years ago towing a 16' Sylvan with some gear aboard. Dealership said to never tow in OD.

 

[TheRealBigBear]

Re: Bought my first boat!!

It is an automatic. Tow in 3rd?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bought my first boat!!

First, Blazers do not have weak automatics. Chances are the people at dealerships, including the sales person has never towed anything and all the tranny guy knows is that heat killed the tranny. Heat kills automatic transmissions regardless of manufacturer and its generally lack of driver knowlege, inexperience, inattention, or all three that contributes to tranny failure. What gear you tow in is dependent on a number of factors. #1) The load. #2)engine size, #3) axle ratio, and #4) the terrain you drive in. Of those, axle ratio is extremely important if you do a lot of towing. It takes a lot of horsepower to overcome a poor selection. Manufacturers generally install a ratio that's a compromise between fuel economy and power. That's not a good selection for a tow vehicle. A vehicle with 3.73 or 4.11 differential gears on relatively flat ground pulling anything less than the maximum load will be fine in OD UNLESS you detect frequent locking and unlocking of the torque converter. If you are in hilly country, 3rd gear is required regardless of load. I have owned two S10s and one Astro that have all gone over 100,000 miles with absolutely no tranny trouble. My current 2002 crew cab has 50,000 and routinely tows (in overdrive) a 2004 Alumacraft Navigator with a 75HP Merc. It takes a pretty steep hill to cause the torque converter to unlock. On secondary roads and slower speeds I will shift to 3rd to avoid frequent OD/3rd gear and converter activity.

 

[JB]

Re: Bought my first boat!!

Why ask the same question in 2 different places?<br /><br />It is confusing and annoying.<br /><br />My reply is where the question belongs, in Trailers and Towing.