What I learned my first day of my first boat

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Mikecouil1

Cadet
Joined
Apr 10, 2003
Messages
25
1. I learned that I'm SOOOO glad that my first boat cost me 175.00 total for the boat, motor, and trailer.<br />2. I learned that when buying a boat, you DO have to look at the trailer tires, which is the last thing in the world I would have thought of. Otherwise you will sit at the auction site for about an hour and a half (in a Minnesota January, temps in the single digits, with improper tools) in the auction site parking lot taking the tires off and getting the filled, then putting them back on 1 at a time. <br />3. You can't "pop" the ignition, like an automobile. The boat was purchased with no key and rather than make the logical decision to go to the dealership and pay 10.00 to have a key made, I figured if I took apart the ignition control box the ignition would pop out and I could start it with a screw driver. Little did I know everything was spring loaded and surrounded by linkage ends. After spending an hour taking it all apart, neither me nor the dealership could get it back together (I theorize they could have but decided not to because of the bent linkage). Total cost of this mistake: 125.00, 75.00 for the parts and another 50 for the labor to install a used control box and new linkage.<br />4.Pulling a boat for the first time is scary as hell.<br />5.Launching a boat in 40MPH winds is damn near impossible when you are a newbie.<br />6.Nothing is a "VERY easy" job when doing self repairs for the first time on a marine engine. <br />7.A marine engine is NOTHING like an automobile.<br />8.You should have a topical map of any lake you launch your boat in. I was in 20 feet deep water at LEAST and then all of a sudden the water was ankle deep. I scraped the hell out of the bottom of the boat getting it back to deep water. Fortunately I got the motor out of the water in time.<br />9.Getting that boat on the water after EVERYTHING I went through was SOO rewarding.
 
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chads15

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2001
Messages
136
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

And just think... Now you know what NOT to do when you go out next time. Glad you found it was rewarding, Glad no one was hurt. now get back out there and have some fun!
 
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Mikecouil1

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Joined
Apr 10, 2003
Messages
25
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

It's pretty overcast and windy today with like an 80 percent chance of rain so I was going over the boat today (daydreaming for the most part). I saw that I damaged my prop and the lower fin on the motor from the shallow water. I dont know how I'm going to get the fin straightened and the prop is chewed up pretty bad.<br /><br />Oh well...<br /><br />Mike
 
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KennyKenCan

Commander
Joined
Aug 26, 2002
Messages
2,501
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

Hey Mike,<br /><br />You have to watch those shallows, they love to eat props.<br /><br />As far as the prop is concerned, if its aluminum, its trash, probably not worth fixing.<br /><br />The skeg on the otherhand can be repaired.<br /><br />Try to massage it back into shape with a soft hammer.<br /><br />If you get it back relitively to a good shape, you could purchase a skeg guard that will go over the mangled one, and it is held on with some glue and skrews.<br /><br />Worked on my motor.<br /><br />If it breaks off, you can purchase another skeg, relativly inexpensive, and have it welded on by a qualified aluminum welder.<br /><br />Welcome to the world of boating...
 
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Mikecouil1

Cadet
Joined
Apr 10, 2003
Messages
25
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

Thanks for the input :) I went and looked at props today. 125.00 or so for a used one. Not exactly my idea of cheap, since I'll probably be taking the motor in for repair (not getting enough fuel). Kind of a bummer, but yet another great reason to own a 175.00 boat as my first boat :) <br /><br />Mike
 
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crestcraft

Cadet
Joined
Mar 28, 2003
Messages
25
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

If you are not getting enough fuel I would first check the fuel line for correct size blockage or a fuel filter that is clogged.
 
Valv

Valv

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 12, 2001
Messages
391
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

Mike,<br /><br />where in MN are you located ?
 
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FELIXTHECAT

Cadet
Joined
Apr 9, 2003
Messages
16
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

It sound like you and my husband so hook up.... He is going on this on his own too. The only thing that has sorta helped was finding a used johnson/evinrude manual to help him look for stuff. Otherwise, he is completely freaked. And we spent 600.00 but we had to pull the old seat out wood and rotten, his dad left it outside in the rain. Put new swivel seats in, had to buy transom saver, rebuild carburator, put new trailer lights on.. Oh gosh, alot of crap, His dad wanted 1200 for it, but we had to do alot of crap to get it to where it is now. Only problem left is how to set the idles, and my hubby has no idea how, the manual helps a little, but he has to get his 72 year old dad out on the lake to help him.. which is not an easy task. <br />I just hope for our sake and yours, it goes more smoothly...
 
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Mikecouil1

Cadet
Joined
Apr 10, 2003
Messages
25
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

I'm in Alexandria Minnesota.<br /><br />Your husband sounds like he's in the same situation as me :) My dad isn't 72 but getting him over to do anything is a monumental task. He likes his beer and when he's drinking he doesn't want to do anything else.<br /><br />I'm going to have to put new seats in as well, and I'll have to rebuild this carb myself. The fuel lines are new. I'll replace the fuel filter when I run sea foam through it next time I get it out on the water. I also have to rewire the trailer myself :) <br /><br />Mike
 
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muskyone

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 17, 2003
Messages
814
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

hey mike i'm not sure how far away you are but try warnersdock.com for a used one i bought one there last year and it was 70 email nate
 
Valv

Valv

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 12, 2001
Messages
391
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

Mike, I wish you were closer, I coul help you with no problem, but I am near Owatonna.<br /><br />Beware, this year there are many sunken fishhouses in our lakes, and they will get your prop very easily, I already had a friend in same condition of you, he was fishing in 10ft when all of a sudden a big "clunk" and the prop was gone, fishfinder still said 10ft, when he looked over better he could barely see a roof under water.... :eek:
 
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Mikecouil1

Cadet
Joined
Apr 10, 2003
Messages
25
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

Living in small town Alexandria it's big news if a fish house sinks. We had a couple go under but the local DNR makes sure that the owners take care of hauling them back out. Thanks for the heads up though. <br /><br />I think for the first time in my life I'm looking forward to fishing. I cant wait for the walleye opener.<br /><br />Mike
 
rogerwa

rogerwa

Commander
Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,339
Re: What I learned my first day of my first boat

Hey Musky.. I bought a pontoon trailer from them a few years back.. Great guys.
 
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