Help Please!!

[TheRealBigBear]

I just inherited a Sea Ray. I have ZERO boating experience. I haven't picked it up yet, but here goes: <br /><br />Here's all I know: It's an older model either 70's or 80's, around 24ft, inboard, sleeper cabin, has been sitting for almost 2 years. The owner only took it out a couple times & then got really sick. It was towed to a new location & they couldn't get the prop to rise, which tells me it probably needs a new battery. They had to rig the prop up to tow it. Don't know the engine size, hoping to find out more & come back here within the week. <br /><br />QUESTIONS: What would your very first move be when picking up the boat? What are things to look for? Is all you would do is change the fluids & battery & head for a local ramp? <br /><br />Please help! <br /><br />Thanks

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Help Please!!

I would do all that you have mentioned and also carefully inspect all rubber bellows in the belhousing for cracks or tears.Make sure you have an auto bilgepump that works.I would get it started up using earmuffs and let it run at idle for a while keeping a look at the temp gage.Carefully shift from neutral to fwd and then back to neutral and then to reverse.Carefully means that no one and nothing is in the way of the prop.Make sure you have a drainplug and make sure you install it.Dont leave the dock w/o a vhf radio and a cell phone and proper floation devices.Dont be in such a hurry to get on the water.Take your time and be careful.Since you have never done any of this before,I would consider having a marine mechanic check some of this out.Charlie

 

[bayman]

Re: Help Please!!

Welcome to iboats TheRealBigBear!<br /><br />Crazy Charlie did a great job at summing things up. I would also read a lot on this forum...especially in the "Stupid Human Tricks While Boating/Fishing". That area will give you many ideas on where to be careful, how to be more careful, and what not to do.<br /><br />Good luck with the boat and enjoy boating!

 

[TheRealBigBear]

Re: Help Please!!

What do you mean by starting it up with earmuffs? And what is a bilgebump? Not only am I not a boater, I'm also not a mechanic. But I really think I want to get into boating, just need to learn. <br /><br />Thanks for the advice, glad to be hear.

 

[TheRealBigBear]

Re: Help Please!!

Oh yea, what are bellows again?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Help Please!!

You may want to consider a new boat.An older used boat in unknown condition can be a sure money pit for someone with basically no boating knowledge.The size of this boat is also too big for a beginner.I would consider selling it and buying a small boat with an outboard motor to start boating with.Dont take my advice the wrong way but there is also a BIG safety issue for you ,the people you take with you and the other boaters on the water.Charlie

 

[Jeff Quigley]

Re: Help Please!!

"Earmuffs" are a device that hooks onto the stern drive. You connect a hose to them to ensure the impellor pumps water thru the engine. Without earmuffs NEVER start your engine out of the water. The bilge pump is located, naturally, in the bilge or just below the engine where water can get in... yes, boats can leak. The bilge pump pumps out any water that might get in due to bad seals etc. If it's a float switch it will come on automatically if it's connected properly and you have a good battery. If it's only a normal pump, you should have a switch somewhere on the instrument panel. <br /><br />If your boat is on a trailer right now and the drive is raised, go look under it and you'll see rubber bellows. Check for cracks in the rubber and make sure they have not come off. They should be tight and stretched while the stern drive is in the up position. <br /><br />Before holding up a launch, I'd suggest getting some earmuffs and a hose, checking the fluids and topping them off and try getting it started in your driveway. The beerfridge is a lot closer if it doesn't start than it would be at the local ramp.<br /><br />Best of Luck.<br /><br />Jeff

 

[bayman]

Re: Help Please!!

I always recommend that people take a boating safety course. Safety courses are even good for those who are fairy familiar with boating. Here is a site on the subject:<br /> http://www.boat-ed.com/

 

[TheRealBigBear]

Re: Help Please!!

Thanks for the advice. Jeff, I had planned on a safety course first + my brother in law is an avid boater & very knowledgable. If it becomes overwhelming, ebay here I come. But the last thing I'll do, is put my family or other people in harm's way.

 

[reddog349]

Re: Help Please!!

Dont forget to put some time in your trailer! A bad bearing or tire can mess up a day of fishing before you ever get to the ramp.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Help Please!!

get the boat home. spend several nights looking it over and taking notes. get your brother-in-law to visit and spend as many hrs possible going over the boat. have him cover terminology, how things work, etc. i am certain you will come back 100 times more knowledgeable and asking a whole new set of questions. the advice you have gotten so far is good, but it is obviously not helping you one bit. need to get down to the basics first. good luck and enjoy, i promise you will.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Help Please!!

mattttt nailed it. In fact what you might do is contact every guy (or gal) you know who knows anything about boats and invite them all over for a cook out. You provide the food and their favorite beverage - they provide a ton of information and I bet more than one will volunteer to help you get started.

 

[tommays]

Re: Help Please!!

the B I L factor is in your favor he will get you going saftely <br /><br />BUT free or not i would get the boat surveyed no point in fixing the trim if the transome has rot<br /><br />a boat that age could be fine or could be the most expensive thing you every got for free<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[TheRealBigBear]

Re: Help Please!!

All good advice. <br /><br />I haven't seen this boat yet. Anyone know where I can look at pictures of late 70's early 80's Sea Rays? <br /><br />Thanks

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Help Please!!

Before towing it home, I would jack up the trailer and spin the wheels. If you feel roughness or grinding, you might not make it home. You would need to service the bearings before towing it depending on how far it is.<br /><br />You might be able to find your boat in the Searay archives. They have brochures for all their boats in PDF format.<br /><br /> http://www.searay.com/archives.asp?tab=6&

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Help Please!!

1) Find somebody with experience to show you the ropes and help educate you.<br /><br />2) Go buy a manual for your package and start reading and/or find a qualified marine mechanic to go over the boat.<br /><br />3) Get some good beginner power boat books and videos and start reading and watching. Your first book should be: "Getting started in power Boating" by Bob Armstrong. It's a classic and should be read cover-to-cover.<br /><br />4) Take a boating safety coarse. You can even take one on-line: http://www.boatsafe.com/ <br /><br />5) Come to iBoats often and read the posts and ask questions.<br /><br />Remember, fools rush in where angles fear to tread. If you go out unprepared it could be very expensive especially in a 70s era boat that's been sitting for 2 years. Worse, you could get hurt or hurt someone else. Oh ya, don't go out without being fully insured especially for damage to others! They will probably require a survey on a boat that old. the Surveyor will give you a report on the condition of the boat and an estimated insurance value.

 

[inthesticksnow]

Re: Help Please!!

Originally posted by TheRealBigBear:<br /> I just inherited a Sea Ray. I have ZERO boating experience.

BigBear,<br /><br />There are many newbies out there reading right now… like you, including myself.<br /><br />Don’t be shy to ask questions when the terminology hits you, either in reading or upon responses to you posts. Experienced people sometimes forget how to get basic and explain stuff to those who have clearly made it known they aren’t up with the terms… as you did right away… and it can be annoying… but what they say is nevertheless valuable… mostly.<br /><br />Try to understand as best you can through Google. MANY times I have sought to understand terminology from forum posts by highlighting, then Googling the term or phrase. If all else fails, post back asking clarification.<br /><br />You said you inherited a boat. I take that to mean that someone who left this world, left this boat to you… so you aren’t going to find another boat… this was the one left to you. If I have interpreted “inherited” correctly, then someone thought of you, and this boat. Or maybe the boat was one of many things. It doesn’t matter. It was left to you, and it is a boat and you are obviously interested enough to get started with this boat!<br /><br />Whether or not this is one of many things left to you, or just this one thing, the former owner just may have passed on to you something significant. <br /><br />Good luck to you!

 

[tangent]

Re: Help Please!!

In addition to checking the trailer wheels for roughness, you might want to just pull the hubs and check the bearings and grease. I learned my lesson the hard way - on the side of the road in the dark...

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Help Please!!

As was already mentioned indirectly...get someone, a friend, whatever, that knows inboards and have them look over the engine and components very well. need to figure out if it's a closed system (cooling) or open, as in pulling lake water for cooling, running directly through the engine. There are several systems in the engine compartment that need a trained eye to look over.<br />That vintage of Searay was built like a tank, and if it has had any care, it should be something that you can learn as you go-type boat, and I mean learn as you work on it until every system is working properly before attempting a lake test of which you should have a knowledgable operator helping you.<br />The books are good, as are the tapes, but hands-on beside an experienced boater or "mariner" is priceless when it comes to learning.<br />Stick with these guys here when you have a question as you go, and your rewards will be a boat of significant trade-in value, or a keeper you can trust.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Help Please!!

Not only am I not a boater, I'm also not a mechanic. But I really think I want to get into boating, just need to learn.