Never had a boat, going to look at a Sea Ray 440 AC tomorrow. What should I pay attention to?

No problem.....just like driving a Winnebago without brakes on ice with your friends and family aboard. Unless you are just going to live on it......you might want to consider something smaller to start boating with.
 
Hit something cheap! Best advice I got when i bought my first one. And Don’t yell at the wife, it ain’t her fault you hit something cheap. Hey, all in fun. #1 rule pics or didn’t happen, send pics, good luck.
 
Best advice I truly can give. Learn the macerator system, cause you will need to know how to disassemble when your female crew, guest, flush a dam tampon down it and jam it up . Oh yeah, memorable boating experience. I got real good at that!
 
You are on the very steep part of the "I'm going to learn about boating" curve and you have somehow decided that "go big or stay home" is a good idea. Unless you are planning on hiring professional crew to educate you over the next year or two, leave it tied to the dock. You may not even find an insurance company ready to take on your present degree of audacity.
 
PlayDate said:
No problem.....just like driving a Winnebago without brakes on ice with your friends and family aboard. Unless you are just going to live on it......you might want to consider something smaller to start boating with.
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Part time live on, but looking for a school/instructor locally to learn. Will certainly hire a captain to drive the first few times for sure.
 
I think a common statement is buy your last boat first, so the biggest you can afford and drive safely is always a good option. Get a good survey and hire a captain to show you the ropes. Take a boaters course and a radio course and enjoy the water.
 
Good night. This board is getting more like the Hull Truth everyday. If you can not be supportive and answer the posters questions just do not reply. OP you are starting with a big boat but with instruction and patience its very doable. I bought a Glacier Bay 2685 as my first boat. Picked it up drove to Key largo and crossed to the Bahamas as my learning tool. I was told that the big red dragon of the Atlantic would swallow us up. We did just fine. 2 years later bought a 450DA and went back to the Bahamas. I took instructions for 3 days. Very glad I did and learned a bunch. The Boat your looking at is large and a wind magnet. It also has a bunch of different systems to learn about. Taking instructions will be a great help. Hopefully you know somebody that also has a similar boat to help you through the growing pains. This board has some great posters with a lot of knowledge who tend to shier very easily and thoughtfully. Do not be afraid to ask. Good luck and GOD speed. JC
 
Im with JC. Not everyone is a moron, and most people can figure out a boat. Find someone who knows how to drive twins, and have them show you how, then practice on your own. You can figure it out. As far as ships' systems, learn to read and you can figure those out too. I highly doubt you'll have any trouble getting insured.
 
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jzanthony said:
I think a common statement is buy your last boat first, so the biggest you can afford and drive safely is always a good option. Get a good survey and hire a captain to show you the ropes. Take a boaters course and a radio course and enjoy the water.
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It's a crazy statement when one has no idea of the requirements for safe, enjoyable boating, the types of boats available or the style of boating they may want to do. That comes with experience. There is also the Dunning- Kruger effect where people who imagine they know everything cannot be convinced otherwise.
 
I dont think the saying is meant as do unsafe acts, more or less if your buying a cruiser style boat and deciding between a 36 or a 40 buy the 40 if your budget allows. Anyways Teixican1911 i say go for it.
 
390x said:
Im with JC. Not everyone is a moron, and most people can figure out a boat. Find someone who knows how to drive twins, and have them show you how, then practice on your own. You can figure it out. As far as ships' systems, learn to read and you can figure those out too. I highly doubt you'll have any trouble getting insured.
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Oh, yeah.
Boat accidents can refer to a number of incidences and usually occur because of:
1) Inexperienced operation (negligence)
Many of the people on our waterways are operating vessels that are poorly equipped, the operators do not have proper, formal training or adequate experience in the operation of vessels or in the operation of vessels of a particular type or size.
2) Operator inattention (negligence)
A day out on the water is a fun way to relax but countless distractions mean some vessel operators may not be paying proper attention to other vessels, navigational aids, marine hazards and other safety concerns .
3) Boating while intoxicated (negligence)
Drugs, alcohol, and other substances can impair an operator’s judgement and reaction times, creating dangerous circumstances where accidents are likely to occur.

If you were injured by the propeller of a boat, were struck by a boat while using another recreational watercraft or were on a boat that capsized, collided with another vessel or had any preventable mishap, the owner and operator of the vessel causing injury may be proven negligent. You are entitled to at least, compensation for any injuries.

Make a rich lawyer even richer!
 
JC3 said:
Good night. This board is getting more like the Hull Truth everyday. If you can not be supportive and answer the posters questions just do not reply. OP you are starting with a big boat but with instruction and patience its very doable. I bought a Glacier Bay 2685 as my first boat. Picked it up drove to Key largo and crossed to the Bahamas as my learning tool. I was told that the big red dragon of the Atlantic would swallow us up. We did just fine. 2 years later bought a 450DA and went back to the Bahamas. I took instructions for 3 days. Very glad I did and learned a bunch. The Boat your looking at is large and a wind magnet. It also has a bunch of different systems to learn about. Taking instructions will be a great help. Hopefully you know somebody that also has a similar boat to help you through the growing pains. This board has some great posters with a lot of knowledge who tend to shier very easily and thoughtfully. Do not be afraid to ask. Good luck and GOD speed. JC
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I suppose you have an argument to make...however, I for one am just tired of paying higher insurance rates because boat owners are not held accountable. If the OP wants to buy a 65' boat and start driving it ......nothing stops him from doing so. There isn't a single hurdle in most States that he has to qualify for. If he sinks it tomorrow......who pays for it? At that point he gets his money back and probably only made one insurance payment. The rest of the boating community picks up the tab to give him his money back.

All of us have seen our insurance rates climb in recent years. Do you really believe brand new boaters buying 50' boats is a "great idea"?

No disrespect to the OP.....I have seen this play out over and over.
 
Texican1911 said:
This certainly seems like it might be an adventure.
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If you like the boat get a reputable surveyor for the boat... if diesel get a service tech from the Manufacturer to look up history and do the engine survey

if you want more specific info you need to tell the year, hours and engine configuration...salt or fresh water.
 
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