D i w

boats3po

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
45
am a first time boat owner, am new to all this, i have a 1988 23ft sea ray sundancer i/o and a whole lot of questions, i have not put the boat in the water yet. any suggestions on anything would be greatly appreciated
 

Summer Fun

Banned
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
2,251
Re: D i w

Welcome to iboats :). Ask away fellow Sea Ray owner. :)

You need to give a little more info on what you want to know. :confused:
 

veritas honus

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
1,876
Re: D i w

am a first time boat owner, am new to all this, i have a 1988 23ft sea ray sundancer i/o and a whole lot of questions, i have not put the boat in the water yet. any suggestions on anything would be greatly appreciated

Welcome to iboats!!!:D
First thing... Take a boater safety course. Stock the boat with PFD's and ALL the safety equipment you'll learn about at the boater safety course. Post a few pictures of your new boat. Let us know what engine it has, what outdrive, condition, any problems we may be able to help with, ect...
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,064
Re: D i w

Welcome to iboats!

You will get any information you need here..... just ask

We have many brother's here ;)
 

BIGALF

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 31, 1969
Messages
242
Re: D i w

Living in Philly this time of the year gives you a lot of time to work on your boat before you can take it out again. Take some pictures and send it to us with any questions you have.
 

macsfriended

Seaman
Joined
Jul 20, 2003
Messages
63
Re: D i w

Ahoy and Welcome to the great world of boating.

"Chapman Piloting and Seamanship" is THE BOATERS BIBLE. Don't be scared off by publisher's MSRP of $60. Iboats and other big sellers will often have it on sale in the $25 - $29 + or - range, sometimes less. It is up to its 66th edition. So its longevity tells you it is valued and a keeper.

The answers to most boating questions and lots of good advice, practices and tips ARE there.

I heartily recommend it You will not be disappointed!

Christmas is coming - start dropping your hints for it now.

Good Luck.
 

boats3po

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
45
Re: D i w

Welcome to iboats!!!:D
First thing... Take a boater safety course. Stock the boat with PFD's and ALL the safety equipment you'll learn about at the boater safety course. Post a few pictures of your new boat. Let us know what engine it has, what outdrive, condition, any problems we may be able to help with, ect...

i took the boaters safety course passed 97% waiting on certificate, yes am on the pfd's, extinguisher, ring floatation device, waiting for some stuff to be delivered, the boat is shrink wrapped for winter, all i know is that has a mercruiser 5.7L i/o. im not sure which outdrive it has either alpha or bravo. the cover for the boat is on its way. should i wait til it gets warmer to take the wrap off, rough winters in phila. i want to hear the motor run test it so if anything is wrong i can fix it by season begins
 

shrew

Lieutenant
Joined
Dec 29, 2006
Messages
1,309
Re: D i w

If the boat is shrinkwrapped already then there is going to be little point to unwrappping it in November. If you can get a set of muffs on the outdrive you could probably fir the thing up, provided the outside spigots where it's stored haven't beenn shut off yet. It will require that you re-winterize the engine when you're done.

It sounds like you bought a boat that you haven't seen float or run. I assume you didn't take it on a seatrial prior to purchasing?
 

SigSaurP229

Commander
Joined
Oct 1, 2008
Messages
2,123
Re: D i w

Biggest advice

Don't forget the plug

You will do it anyway.

But KEEP A SPARE PLUG
 

boats3po

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
45
Re: D i w

If the boat is shrinkwrapped already then there is going to be little point to unwrappping it in November. If you can get a set of muffs on the outdrive you could probably fir the thing up, provided the outside spigots where it's stored haven't beenn shut off yet. It will require that you re-winterize the engine when you're done.

It sounds like you bought a boat that you haven't seen float or run. I assume you didn't take it on a seatrial prior to purchasing?

you would be right. but i got it from a trustworthy individual, (go ahead say it---dumba@%)
 

boats3po

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
45
Re: D i w

Welcome to iboats!

You will get any information you need here..... just ask

We have many brother's here ;)

i need info on launching and retreiving the boat, first timer. can you sugest any web sites or videos where i can get some serious info on that. been to youtube but a bunch of comedy stuff
 

1fishbone

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 9, 2010
Messages
476
Re: D i w

Welcome to iboats...a great place!

Try YouTube look for the launching/retrieve techniques...don't spend too much time looking at all the fiascos!!

I just bought a boat with a float on trailer ...my first float-on trailer, so I went there to find some videos...I found some and have a better idea.
 

jcupo6

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
512
Re: D i w

what would you suggest i do

Although it does stink to remove the wrap right before winter, I would. Being that you don't really know what condition the deck is in, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check everything out now. If everything is good then you just wasted some time and shrink wrap, but if the deck needs to be replaced I would rather know now then next spring when you want to take her out! Winter is a great time to work on the boat cause you can take it out on the water!

Where do you plan on taking her out, delaware river?
 

boats3po

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
45
Re: D i w

Although it does stink to remove the wrap right before winter, I would. Being that you don't really know what condition the deck is in, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check everything out now. If everything is good then you just wasted some time and shrink wrap, but if the deck needs to be replaced I would rather know now then next spring when you want to take her out! Winter is a great time to work on the boat cause you can take it out on the water!

Where do you plan on taking her out, delaware river?

ok, actually i cut a small slit in the shrink wrap and went inside, the deck and everything inside is clean. i mean nice. the seats are not weather beaten, they are leather. the only thing that i see that i can bring up is the teak wood on the swim platform and the door to the galley, the engine has been maintenanced since he got the boat by a mechanic. once i was done i sealed the slit up that i cut in there. i want to be able to go all over with it. salt/fresh water
 

boats3po

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
45
Re: D i w

Welcome to iboats :). Ask away fellow Sea Ray owner. :)

You need to give a little more info on what you want to know. :confused:

what was the standard outdrive for a 1988 sea ray sundancer 23ft with a 5.7 l mercruiser engine
 

Summer Fun

Banned
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
2,251
Re: D i w

If you have a Merc motor more than likely you have a Merc outdrive also.


OMC = Cobra's & Stringers & King Cobra's and a few more I can't remember. :redface:
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: D i w

since you asked about launch retrieve, if you can get to the boat, use the winter down-time to practice trailer-backing and other manuevers, and teach your family members as well. Good to learn without pressure--like an iboats member in a lawn chair at the ramp with a 6 pack and a video camera
 
Top