checklist help please...

[DouglasMB]

Ok can anyone help me out... I get my first real boat next week... I do have someone to take me out and give me a (forgive the pun) crash course. The boat is not huge it's a 25.5ft sea ray amberjack 255 with 2 185 inboard mercs.

I am trying to ready myself for this new member of my family... I am looking at this almost like having an elderly family member come over to live with me... they are going to need a lot of care... cost a lot of money... but once they are in your life you can never ever think about your life without them. But I am not a nurse lol so can you folks help me with a checklist.

I want to create a checklist of things I need to do on a regular, semi regular, anual, semi anual basis.

like how often to you wax it, change the oil, fuel aditive, all that...

Anything you maybe take for granted as common sense, you have to realize I have never had a boat so it will not be so common to me at the moment... first step is asking the questions... second... leanrning the answers.

thanks​

The boat is comming from a freash water area (lake Erie) and will be used in NC in brakish/salt water...

because of the 10 ft beam I will not trailer it at the moment. It is getting deliverd to the boat yard and they are going to put it in the water and I will keep it in a slip.

the engines?? I don't know anything other than my father told me it has 2, and they are in board 4 cy 185 mercruisers.

it has a 120 gal tank and 3 battries... a head, a stove, is set with all the eletronics it needs but I do not know what models or the age of them at this point.

It was used for fishing on lake erie, but he was a factory worker not a comercial fisherman so its just a casual cruiser cudy cabin i think you would call it.

I can not think of what else to say... ask anything...

 

[Lord Farringdon]

Hi Douglas and welcome to the Amberjack club...I'm a little biased as you can tell:grin:. If you are not mechanically inclined you may want to link up with a local Mercruiser dealer somewhere near your marina. He should be able to give you a checklist of items for your engine and stern drive maintenance. Maintenance on the hull and fittings will be self evident but if you have any sea water or rainwater leaks get working on those otherwise your cabin will be a mouldy mess before you know it. In this regard, sealant around deck fittings and the like is the major problem. I wax the hull every six months when I take the boat out to have the stern drive serviced and zincs replaced. Anti-foul periods will depend on your location, salt or freshwater, and the type of anti-fouls used etc and could be every 12 months to two years depending on these factors. But the first thing you need to do is go out in your boat and form a relationship with her. You can get intimate later. :grin:


Terry

 

[ZZ13]

Check out these two posts in the 300DA forum. Its just one person's opinion and its specific to their engine(s) and Bravo III stern drives, but its a start for you to modify/build from.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/458-300-Sundancer-questions?p=564769#post564769
http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/458-300-Sundancer-questions?p=564882#post564882

 

[Gofirstclass]

Douglas, the first thing you should do is take a boating safety course. They're offered all around the country as well as onlline. I'd recommend for a new boater to take it in a classroom setting because the discussions that go on in the classroom will give you as much information and insight as you'll get from the book. Having that boater safety course will save you money on your boat insurance but more importantly, will make you feel more comfortable with your new boat.

 

[Pack66Dad]

I agree with GFC, the boating safety course helped me a lot. I got my first boat not too long ago and I understand your apprehension. One other thing that has helped me is being in a yacht club. Many new friends with tons of boating experience and eager to help the "new guy".

 

[just me]

Please don't think of her as an elderly family member, think of her as a new girl friend. Good luck.

 

[Nehalennia]

Douglas, the first thing you should do is take a boating safety course. ...........

I agree with GFC, the boating safety course helped me a lot. ............

I agree with the advice to take a course. If boating is new to you there is much that may seem like common sense after the course, but will definitely keep you, your passengers and other boaters around you safe.
Annual:
Service the outdrives and align annually.
If you trailer, check and service the brakes and bearings.
Update your safety gear and required USCG safety equipment, ie Flares, signaling device, horn

Semi - Annual
Some wax twice a year...I'm constantly touching up after getting a spring shine on.
Check you safety gear, test bilge pump, horn, anchor and rode

Periodically
I change my oil every 30 hours. It may seem excessive, but oil is cheap in the big picture.

Every trip
Check the oil, fluids, fuel (it’s not cool to run out)
Inspect the bilge for any fluids, gas smell or anything that doesn’t look right
Carry spare oil, rags, tools etc

The main thing is to get to know your boat(new girlfriend). Get in the bilge and understand what everything is, what it does and take lots of pictures. If you post them here there is tons of great advice and some that you or other members here will question, but it’s all in a quest to make you a better safer boater. Have fun, welcome aboard and good luck.

 

[Lucky's]

But the first thing you need to do is go out in your boat and form a relationship with her. You can get intimate later. :grin:


Terry[/QUOTE]

I love this!!!!!



Shaun
Sent from my iPhone

 

[blaster]

Some other things to consider, a chart of the waters you plan to cruise on. Even if you have a plotter there's nothing like seing things on paper. You also may ask the previous owner to go out on a sea trial with you to familiarize you with the boats systems while underway. If the PO isn't available you may consider paying for a little on the water training from a experienced captain. Docking is one of the biggest issues for a beginer. Good luck and congratulations on the new used boat.

 

[William R. Thomas]

Hey Doug,

If I may suggest, get on your computer and locate the nearest United States Power Squadron Chapter. Not only are the Squadron members a wealth of information, but boating, piloting classes are also offered. I'm sure they will take you under their wing and answer all questions.

Bill

 

[AMFM3]

Great advice. I've been a volunteer instructor for the Canadian Power Squadron for over 10 years. Great courses and great people.

We've just started the US Squadrons Marine Maintenance text for use here. It's great stuff!


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