New Cabin Cruiser owner!!

[automaticj5]

Hello All -- not many posts on here but have read a bit... I just purchased (from having an openbow) a 2004 Rinker 250 Fiesta Vee.

Never have owned a cabin cruiser but wanted to join the Dock living community and spend weekends at the lake!

Big question is -- going from an openbow to a weekend cruiser -- What are the necessities and wants that I should bring down to keep on the boat and things I should look out for?

Thanks in advance!

 

[JoLin]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Congrats! Not sure what you're asking. Can you be more specific?

 

[automaticj5]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Thank you! Just trying to figure out what I will definitely need as I start living on the weekends...

A couple things I know of:

Power cable
Adaptor for the sewage pump


Any certain kitchen items, etc.... the must haves

 

[JoLin]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Power cable, yes. You likely have a 30-amp single receptacle on the boat. If you have air conditioning you may have a second receptacle dedicated to the AC. That's what I have. I use a single cable with a splitter (instead of 2 separate cords) and watch the power consumption, i.e., I shut off the AC if I'm cooking.

Depending on where you dock or visit, you may need a 50-amp adapter to work with the available dockside power. I never bothered- the adapter costs about $150. and the only place I visit that requires it, rents it for a few bucks a day. I also carry aboard a regular 110 V extension cord- I can use that off the outlets on the boat.

I carry a fresh water hose aboard (25').

You don't need an adapter for sewage- you need to empty out at a pumpout station, and their equipment will fit.

Less is more in a small express cruiser. You don't have much storage space, so don't bring that dinner service for 8. I do have 2 coffee makers, tho- a small electric for when dockside power is available, and a percolator I can use on the alcohol stove.

 

[automaticj5]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Awesome. It does have ac/heat. So ill need a shore power cord with a splitter? I will be staying at the dock nightly so what would I need an adapter for? I think it's 220 at the dock...? What do you use the power cord for?

Thanks!

 

[Dee Jsaan]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

If you don't already have them, I'd suggest fenders suitable to this Cabin Cruiser in terms of weight and size.

If you are plan to take the boat out, and again if you don't have one:


A telescoping boat hook pole:

These are often overlooked when a boatman goes from a small runabout to a larger craft. But these make protecting your hull and
maneuvering your boat around other boats much more easy thus affording peace of mind. And rest, relaxation, & peace of mind on the water is largely why we are there.

 

[automaticj5]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Two great ideas! I'm on them both!

 

[JJwithaSearay]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

I'm in the same boat (haha) went from 21'open bow to 27 ft Wellcraft cruiser. So much stuff you need. All the cleaning supplies including bucket, cleaners brushes, brooms mop. You probably have water so a hose for sure with a pressure nozzel. We have an 8x12 decked area so we put in a cabinet with sink and then built a combo bar/storage unit. Small frig bought off CL. Electric skillet. coffee makers.

For the boat you need ropes, fenders, a rear/shore anchor. We invested in molded plastic bumpers that attached to all the support poles on the dock. Makes it very easy to bump and bank off them with the boat, especially if only one person.

Dock life is wonderful. Sometimes it's so relaxing that I don't even take the boat out on the water.
Enjoy !!!

 

[MarkSee]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Here's a few things just to get started; you'll learn as you go.

Electrical:
You really need to find out where you'll be docking what the power is at the dock and what your onboard electrical system is.

Docks at various marinas here in SoCal that we've stayed the night are all standard house 120v and so is the system on the boat; I would doubt on a boat your size it would be different and the marina should have the same.
The marina should have a connector that a typical marine yellow shore power cord would plug into.

You want to verify the boat electrical system includes a battery charger/converter and that it is working properly and charging the batteries when plugged in.

I've heard it's not a good idea to start your boat while plugged into shore power. I can't explain why I just overheard a couple older guys talking where one guy caused some severe damage by doing that so I just decided not to take a chance and just adhere by that rule.

Water:
What capacity is your fresh water tank and does the boat/marina have typical house type connectors and service? Makes a difference.
Having done 10 years of RVing with a fresh water tank and the precautions suggested for storing water and bacteria, we use gallon jugs of store bought water for drinking/cooking and the fresh water tank water for washing dishes, showers, flushing. Up to you.

Waste system:
Holding tank with pump-out or just a removable porta-potty type? Capacity for how many people and days? Pump-out at the marina easily accessible?

Food storage:
Probably has a small fridge so what you bring, what you buy at the marina, size and quantity of ice chests you'll work through.

Carry some tools and spare parts.

Mark

 

[JoLin]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Awesome. It does have ac/heat. So ill need a shore power cord with a splitter? I will be staying at the dock nightly so what would I need an adapter for? I think it's 220 at the dock...? What do you use the power cord for?

Thanks!

Needing a splitter for a 30-amp cord, or 2 30-amp cords, or one 50-amp cord depends on how the boat's power is arranged and distributed. Mine has a pair of 30-amp receptacles. I get away with using a single 30-amp cordset and a splitter because I manage my power consumption and don't use more than the 30 amps available at the dock. AC, electric stove, microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, battery charger.... you can't use them all at the same time unless both the supply side (dock) and demand side (boat) are configured for it.

My home dock has a 30-amp dockside supply, as do most of the places I visit. When I go to Sailors Haven on Fire Island I need to rent a 50-amp to 30-amp adapter, because S.H. supplies 50 amps dockside and the 'prongs' are physically different. You can't plug a 30-amp cordset directly into a 50-amp outlet, and vise versa.

I keep the 110V extension cord aboard just for 'whatever'. Lets say I want to make my morning coffee without waking Linda, so I make it in the cockpit instead of the galley. If the boat is plugged into dockside power I can run an extension cord from the outlet in the galley or head, and use the coffee maker outside of the cabin.

 

[JoLin]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

How's your cocpit enclosure (camper canvas)? Is it in good condition? Have you figured out the best way to put it all up? Every boat is different. You'll want to be able to use it. Don't know where you live, but the mosquitos and green flies can make life miserable unless you keep them out of the boat.

In that same vein, OFF mosquito coils do a fantastic job on damned near every flying critter we've ever encountered. Don't bother with the fancy $10. coil holder unless you're into it. It's gonna get broken on the boat anyway. The end of the coil fits neatly into the neck of an empty beer bottle.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

In that same vein, OFF mosquito coils do a fantastic job on damned near every flying critter we've ever encountered. Don't bother with the fancy $10. coil holder unless you're into it. It's gonna get broken on the boat anyway. The end of the coil fits neatly into the neck of an empty beer bottle.

Whenever I'm on the boat docked or anchored around sundown, I light one or two of these up. I keep a bunch of them in the cuddy, they work great.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

On the 250 FV, there is only one 30 amp shore power connection. So no need for a splitter on that boat. It's a lower BTU reverse cycle AC/Heat system, and will run fine at the dock on the single cord.
One thing, if you put dinner plates on board, do not buy regular size plates, get ones that are smaller or larger in diameter. The WILL get stuck in that darn round sink, and are a beeotch to get out sometimes.
Make sure your fridge latch locks securely, it will open in rough conditions and dump the fridges contents onto the cabin floor.

 

[JoLin]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

One thing, if you put dinner plates on board, do not buy regular size plates, get ones that are smaller or larger in diameter. The WILL get stuck in that darn round sink, and are a beeotch to get out sometimes.

LOL! We bought 9" dinner plates, and my sink is (yeah, you guessed it) 9" in diameter. We've been through the 'how the eff do I get that out of there' drill, too. Usually needs the tip of a steak knife and a lot of finaglin'... :facepalm:

 

[automaticj5]

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Re: New Cabin Crusier owner!!!

Looks like ill be taking this thread with me to the store and the dock!
Thanks so far guys!

 

[automaticj5]

Re: New Cabin Cruiser owner!!

By the way - what about all the legal docs?

Bill of sale, insurance certificate, what else?

 

[KnotConnected]

Re: New Cabin Cruiser owner!!

Ayuh, an on board tool kit is a must. A small stock of non perishable food, granola bars, pretzels, is nice to keep around. I also find it's nice to have a spare set of toiletries, shampoo, deodorant, soap, etc.. Nothing worse than getting out to the marina, ready to spend the weekend, and find you forgot that junk. Keep plenty of extra blankets, and MOST importantly! A folding chair! one of the nice things about spending the weekend on the boat is chilling on a chair, by the marina fire pit, or out on the beach with a folding chair and cooler of beer.

 

[JoLin]

Re: New Cabin Cruiser owner!!

You need to have your registration aboard in NY.

If you've taken a boater safety class, I'd keep the certificate aboard, too. Insurance docs? I keep the declarations page aboard only so I'll have my policy number and contact phone number handy in case something happens. Otherwise there's no need for it. I'm not aware of any state that requires that you have insurance.

 

[agallant80]

Re: New Cabin Cruiser owner!!

I went from an open bow to a 25 foot cabin cruiser. Most of the stuff that I have on the boat has been covered above. The one thing I would HIGHLY recommend is bringing your own hose. I have several times seen someone use the marina/dock provided water hose to stick down their pump out to "flush" the holding tank then to see the next guy use the same hose to fill his fresh water tank.

Also portable generator is nice.

 

[Natesms]

Re: New Cabin Cruiser owner!!

Dock Fenders / Bumpers. Once you get your slip picked out, put fenders on the poles (or whatever your setup calls for). I put fenders on the dock poles all the way down. I had about $120 in fenders and hardware for my 40 foot slip and it was worth every penny. Gives you some peace of mind while docking as you adjust to your new and larger boat. At minimum put them on the corners at the very end. My slip will get some cross wind and it's often easiest to just put the back of the boat against the corner and walk it around the corner.

That and sometimes I'm the only one "capable" of tieing the boat up and the fenders allow me extra time to get the ropes on without worry.

Speaking of ropes, get a set that are permanently on the dock. That way you get the boat in the perfect spot and don't have to redo your tie job every trip out. I've got my spring lines on the driver side setup in such a way I can grab them while backing in. Once I get that one spring line on I don't have to worry about the boat drifting back into the dock.