180 Sports - A few Questions ??

[Sth_Aussie_Pete]

Hi folks,
New to this site as I've only just purchased a 2004 SeaRay 180 Sports in South Oz. ( 4 cyl 3.0 litre Mercruiser ) .
I sit at a pc all day so I do spend time (too much ... ) on fishing , 4wding, boating etc sites here, so this site is a welcome surprise.
Briefly I have teenage kids and my boat is mainly used for fresh water river / lake water sports & cruising, but will fish in the salt in our protected gulf waters.
Now I have searched around for some answers but have not found any specific to my circumstances.
Please feel free to point me in the right direction if what I am asking has been previously covered.
Any comments or suggestions (or just a hello! ) much appreciated.
Here goes.

1. I will be installing a spare battery soon, looks to be a large space behind the existing one accessible via the engine compartment. Anyone done this ?
2. I have "dinged" my standard (original) prop and carefully bent it back into shape so will need to get it welded at some stage. Wondering what are others experiences of installing an after market SS prop ??
   4 blade - 19 pitch ??? Will this (does this) improve the starts on a heavier skiier ??
3. There is a rather large area under the dash on the port & starboard sides, thinking of installing some sort of elastic type netting to keep lifejackets etc here. Anyone done similar ?
4. I will be heading out fishing some time soon and with only 2 rod holders in the deck and no bait board as such I was wondering what others did to satisfy this? I know a few Bayliner mates who simply throw towels etc over the engine cover and work it that way. Fine in very calm waters I guess ??
5. So after a salty plunge ( and before I clean all my fat Sth Aussie King George Whiting !! ) I'll be needing to give the girl a thorough clean.
   Any tips apart from a good flush on the engine with fresh water via the scuppers/muffs/flushers etc and a good spray down & chammmy. ??

So there go.
Hope to find some answers soon,
More importantly hope to get the boat out & enjoy it more as the weather improves here.
Regards Pete

 

[Black180BR]

You should check out this thread http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24346

There is a lot of 180 info in there, and good people.

But to answer a couple of your questions....

1) I am thinking about doing the same thing. There was an excellent write up about adding a second battery, but I cant find the thread for some reason. (search works)

2) Very quickly and briefly..... 4 blade works well for skiing, a proper 3 blade works good too.

3) I have an elastic net under the port dash, I did not install it so I would have to look to get details for you.

4) Not much of a fisher, so not a lot of help to you.....

5) My boat is black so I gave her a good polish and wax with meguire products above the water line. I use a vinegar/quick detailer/water mix on the inside fiberglass. Its not very slick incase it gets on the platforms. I keep the vinyl stuff clean with a non-greasy vinyl cleaner... again a mequires product.

Good luck, check out that 180 thread, and have fun!!

 

[Sth_Aussie_Pete]

Cheers Black180BR !
Thanks for your comments,
And yes been thru that thread,
Plenty of info but no answers specifically.
SOmeone will have the answers I'm "shore"
So is Eastern WA , Western Australia mate ??
or is that USA .....
CHeers Pete

 

[beernutz]

Hi folks,
New to this site as I've only just purchased a 2004 SeaRay 180 Sports in South Oz. ( 4 cyl 3.0 litre Mercruiser ) .
I sit at a pc all day so I do spend time (too much ... ) on fishing , 4wding, boating etc sites here, so this site is a welcome surprise.
Briefly I have teenage kids and my boat is mainly used for fresh water river / lake water sports & cruising, but will fish in the salt in our protected gulf waters.
Now I have searched around for some answers but have not found any specific to my circumstances.
Please feel free to point me in the right direction if what I am asking has been previously covered.
Any comments or suggestions (or just a hello! ) much appreciated.
Here goes.

1. I will be installing a spare battery soon, looks to be a large space behind the existing one accessible via the engine compartment. Anyone done this ?
2. I have "dinged" my standard (original) prop and carefully bent it back into shape so will need to get it welded at some stage. Wondering what are others experiences of installing an after market SS prop ??
   4 blade - 19 pitch ??? Will this (does this) improve the starts on a heavier skiier ??
3. There is a rather large area under the dash on the port & starboard sides, thinking of installing some sort of elastic type netting to keep lifejackets etc here. Anyone done similar ?
4. I will be heading out fishing some time soon and with only 2 rod holders in the deck and no bait board as such I was wondering what others did to satisfy this? I know a few Bayliner mates who simply throw towels etc over the engine cover and work it that way. Fine in very calm waters I guess ??
5. So after a salty plunge ( and before I clean all my fat Sth Aussie King George Whiting !! ) I'll be needing to give the girl a thorough clean.
   Any tips apart from a good flush on the engine with fresh water via the scuppers/muffs/flushers etc and a good spray down & chammmy. ??

So there go.
Hope to find some answers soon,
More importantly hope to get the boat out & enjoy it more as the weather improves here.
Regards Pete

Hello and welcome Pete! I have a 190 so our boats are similar enough that I feel comfortable giving advice on some of your questions.

There are several good threads on second battery installation on the forum with other options described like this one http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11087. Based on a recommendation from a respected board member, I personally went with the option of using a Yandina combiner with a Blue Seas 5511 on/off/combined switch and love it. I like not having to moving the switch from 1 to 2 depending on how I'm using the boat, while still having assurance that I can call upon both batteries if need be to start the boat in an emergency. Blue Seas sells a combiner and 5511 switch package deal as well.

I replaced my original 3 blade aluminum prop with a 4 blade Stiletto Bay Pro II stainless prop and I am very pleased with it. I can't see that I lost anything off the top end (although at the same time I added Smart Tabs which are said to increase speed) while my handling has noticeably improved. When I'm trimmed right the boat loses very little speed making tight turns even when pulling water toys.

I am a big fan of using Salt-Away to flush the engine and rinse the trailer and outside of the boat after each trip into salt or brackish water. Salt-Away is one of those products that to me you have to take on faith that it is helping. You do see that there is no salt buildup on the outside of the boat or trailer, but it is hard to see the engine damage that ISN'T occurring because you use it. However after my friend, who boats in the same waters I do with his Yamaha jetboat, described how he had to completely rebuild an engine due to salt damage but hasn't had a single problem after many years of Salt-Away use, I keep the faith.

 

[Black180BR]

Cheers Black180BR !
Thanks for your comments,
And yes been thru that thread,
Plenty of info but no answers specifically.
SOmeone will have the answers I'm "shore"
So is Eastern WA , Western Australia mate ??
or is that USA .....
CHeers Pete

Eastern Washington state to be more specific. Hopefully you get more answers about your questions, so I will help keep this thread at the top!