new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

[93civEJ1]

Hi all...I am new to boating...I wanted something to fish from, and 2 weeks ago picked up a 12' jon boat....took my girlfriend out the following weekend, and boy was she ever in a panic from the tippyness of the boat....so I sold it and was going to picked up a wider jon boat and longer. I looked around craigslist, and found a boat close to my price range and close to my work, but it was a fish / ski boat. I was like "hmm...best of both worlds? one she can sun bath on, and I can fish and play when I wanna"..so I checked it out and ended up leaving with it. I picked this gem up for 1200$ cash. I got lots to do as far as cleaning the carpet and interior...can you guys recommend some products to do this really good? Here it is....87 Bomber classic II fish/ski with 90hp evinrude

here is the before and after boat:

 

[KnightWolf]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

Wow heck of an upgrade from a 12 ft jon! I think its win/win for you. You get to fish and when the girlfriend is with ya you get eye candy of her sunbathing.

 

[93civEJ1]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

Wow heck of an upgrade from a 12 ft jon! I think its win/win for you. You get to fish and when the girlfriend is with ya you get eye candy of her sunbathing.

yep, i feel its a decent boat for a new boater as myself....cant complain with the whole sunbathing thing either!

 

[takirb]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

Awesome boat! I too purchased my first fish and ski this year. I had the exact same thought process too, "hmm...best of both worlds? one she can sun bath on, and I can fish and play when I wanna". I'm jealous of your bimini top and rails LOL

Kinda backfired on me though, i now have so much fishing stuff on it, she won't come out with me. Suits me just fine though, her sunbathing would be in the way of my fishing equipment

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

good upgrade!
One reason that 12' was so tippy are the highchairs on it--not a good idea for a small and/or skinny boat.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

Wow you stole that Bomber. The engine alone is worth $1200!

 

[KnightWolf]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

Just think if the GF had liked the old jon boat! Have to give her a big thanks. Wish I could get a boat like that for 1200 around here that might have bought the jon boat.

 

[93civEJ1]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

im not too crazy about the bimini top....I dont really like the looks of it...but oh well...maybe it will come in handy.. I need to get some clearer pics...you cant really tell from my phone picture the actual color of the boat.....here is one from the previous owner:

 

[ezmobee]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

That's a convertible top not a bimini. Here's a bimini http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/IMG_0460.jpg Biminis are more for shade and convertibles are more for bad weather.

 

[lncoop]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

And one day you will suddenly come to love that convertible top. Nice find.

 

[takirb]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

The top on my pontoon came in handy quite a bit, i stay on the water 10-12hrs at a time during the summer and a lil' shade was always welcome. Not to mention when a freak rain comes in, you'll be thankful it's there. That's the only thing left i really "need" for my boat now. Again, nice looking boat! And i have to agree with ezmobee, that's a steal of a price!

 

[takirb]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

That's a convertible top not a bimini. Here's a bimini http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/IMG_0460.jpg Biminis are more for shade and convertibles are more for bad weather.

Ohh, didnt' know that. Thought they were all just "biminis".

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

I had convertible tops on previous boats similar to yours and found them to be a pain, except when I slept on the boat (stretch a tarp all the way to the stern). I'd take it off, but hang on to it. But I was seldom far from home, and young and waterproof, so I didn't need the protection from a sudden storm.

 

[93civEJ1]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

I too am young, at a new 27....well....that may or may not be young to some.

 

[93civEJ1]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

well...I ended up spending a lot of yesterday working on the boat. I have to clean up the seats a ton...build some new mounts for the main seats of the boats....clean the mounts up that the fishing / passenger seats sit on...and I want to clean the carpet up sooo much more........and I found the worst thing yesterday that I didnt want to. ...right next to the lid in the middle of the floor (ski cabinet maybe?...dunno what its called)...i found a small soft spot...its not huge..just right next to the lid where there is not much bracing on the floor...I wonder if there is a way I can stiffen that up? the rest of the floor is strong and sturdy.

Here is what it looks like right now......but it looks much better than it did....before there were leaves everywhere and just filth and trash, etc.

 

[93civEJ1]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

btw...the section here is where I found the soft spot...the floor is damp from it being in the rain during a huge storm we had here down south week before last and tons and tons and tons of rain....the spot is maybe 6" long if that...I havent found any other areas that are bad....i can get to this area from the ski locker...and there is no support under the bad spot at all...I dont want to replace the floor yet...as I am new to all of this...nor do I want to have the boat down all summer....Id rather use it this season, and then maybe see later on in the off season about fixing.....Thoughts?

 

[saumon]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

...Id rather use it this season, and then maybe see later on in the off season about fixing.....Thoughts?

Agree. If your rip the deck now, you'll find nasty things and you won't be boating this summer, beleive me.

 

[93civEJ1]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

Agree. If your rip the deck now, you'll find nasty things and you won't be boating this summer, beleive me.

Oh I am sure on that....but in the mean time...is there a band aid to get by until then? I wasnt able to step in this area when I checked out the boat, due to the passenger seat being mounted...so when the seat is there, you dont really have room to step in that section of floor.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

Stick your seat back in there and go boating and fishing... Fix it in the fall if you want..

 

[93civEJ1]

Re: new boater....2nd boat in 2 weeks!!...picked this up:

Stick your seat back in there and go boating and fishing... Fix it in the fall if you want..

I like this method!...haha

Ok...so I have a few other questions. My boat, has a battery on it...my tilt / trim etc work...I havent found my bilge pump and whatnot...anyway, how does the battery on a boat stay charged?? Also...I am going to start looking at the motor too and put it on the muffs and whatnot maybe do a water pump, etc. When starting my boat, is there a certain step process I should go through? Im not used to this electric start stuff...I am more used to the pull the choke, pull a rope, and turn the choke off...haha.

I also have an area for a second battery, and for there to be a jumper to the two...Why use two batterys? Thoughts?

Thanks for all of your answers.