New Boat Maintenance Questions

[jpg.crna]

Hello,

I originally posted these questions in another thread but I am going to edit that post and put these questions here, as I feel they are more appropriate for this section of the forum.

My wife and I just purchased a "new to us" 2008 Sea Ray 205 Sport. It has 156 hours on it and appears to be in great condition.

I have been around boats my whole life and my family has always owned boats. But this is "my" first boat, and also my first sterndrive. Since I've been old enough to learn anything we have had outboard fishing boats. So I have a few questions.

1. The previous owners have a hydrofoil installed on the outdrive. I've heard these can place a little undue stress on the outdrive. The boat is low hours and everything looks great so I'm not concerned about the condition of things now.

• But, I am wondering if I should leave it, or remove it?
• If I remove it, what should I do with the installation holes on the outdrive? Leave them empty, fill them with bolts, fill with Marine Tex then sand and paint?
• Basically what would you do to repair the cavitation plate if you removed it?

2. Would any of you be apprehensive about installing smart tabs if I do remove the hydrofoil? I like the idea of them. Straighter tracking, quicker to plane, plane at a lower speed for watersports. But... Any time I think about drilling through the hull, it makes me nervous.

• Is this a legitimate concern?
• I'm not sure how thick the hull is in the transom of this boat, and if you even have to drill all the way through?
• What would be best to fill the screw holes with before installation?
• Is it easy to strip out fiberglass?
• If you did do smart tabs, what pound piston would you choose for this boat?

3. I have a good couple of months here before we get her on the water. I'd like to make sure everything is tuned up real well considering its a used boat. I plan on replacing the impeller, the battery, and the plugs. As well as doing an oil and filter change. Anything else I should consider doing maintenance wise before taking her out for the first time?

4. I'm used to fishing boats more than pleasure boats, which means I'm used to having redundancy in batteries. This has a single battery with switch. Should I consider a two battery system with a dual switch or am I expressing a bit of overkill? We will be running the radio a lot while anchored, however it is just the stock clarion system.

Thanks for any help!!

 

[sibnai1]

Hello,

I originally posted these questions in another thread but I am going to edit that post and put these questions here, as I feel they are more appropriate for this section of the forum.

My wife and I just purchased a "new to us" 2008 Sea Ray 205 Sport. It has 156 hours on it and appears to be in great condition.

I have been around boats my whole life and my family has always owned boats. But this is "my" first boat, and also my first sterndrive. Since I've been old enough to learn anything we have had outboard fishing boats. So I have a few questions.

1. The previous owners have a hydrofoil installed on the outdrive. I've heard these can place a little undue stress on the outdrive. The boat is low hours and everything looks great so I'm not concerned about the condition of things now.

• But, I am wondering if I should leave it, or remove it?
• If I remove it, what should I do with the installation holes on the outdrive? Leave them empty, fill them with bolts, fill with Marine Tex then sand and paint?
• Basically what would you do to repair the cavitation plate if you removed it?

2. Would any of you be apprehensive about installing smart tabs if I do remove the hydrofoil? I like the idea of them. Straighter tracking, quicker to plane, plane at a lower speed for watersports. But... Any time I think about drilling through the hull, it makes me nervous.

• Is this a legitimate concern?
• I'm not sure how thick the hull is in the transom of this boat, and if you even have to drill all the way through?
• What would be best to fill the screw holes with before installation?
• Is it easy to strip out fiberglass?
• If you did do smart tabs, what pound piston would you choose for this boat?

3. I have a good couple of months here before we get her on the water. I'd like to make sure everything is tuned up real well considering its a used boat. I plan on replacing the impeller, the battery, and the plugs. As well as doing an oil and filter change. Anything else I should consider doing maintenance wise before taking her out for the first time?

4. I'm used to fishing boats more than pleasure boats, which means I'm used to having redundancy in batteries. This has a single battery with switch. Should I consider a two battery system with a dual switch or am I expressing a bit of overkill? We will be running the radio a lot while anchored, however it is just the stock clarion system.

Thanks for any help!!

I would GPS test the performance of the boat with and without the hydrofoil and go from there.

If you decide to remove the hydro foil I would Marine-tex sand and paint it.

I purchased the Bennett trim tab system (I have not installed it yet) and like you I'm nervous about drilling into the transom. Its been done 800 gazillion times before we should both grow a pair and just do it, but of course it still makes me nervous!

If you use the right hardware fiberglass is really tough to strip-out, but even if you do strip it out in my experience its very easy to do permanent repairs and re-tap.

Use liberal amounts of 3M products the fill the holes before installing the hardware. The hardware screws into the transom it does not bolt into/onto it.

The Bennett trim tab website has a useful tool (length of boat and weight etc.) to help you make the decision regarding specs for the pistons.

You could change the outdrive lube since you are going to do the impeller, also you should remove the propeller and re-grease the propeller shaft,

repack your trailer wheel bearings while you are at it, re-grease/pack the trim tab sensors and all re-greaseable parts equipped with grease fittings and change your fuel/water separator filter if equipped

The group 24 battery is designed to run a 25 amp draw for approx. +/- 100 ah, how long will you be tied off and partying?? That will tell you if you need a 2 + battery setup.

If you go the 2 battery set up be aware there are starting batteries, deep cycle batteries and dual purpose/hybrid type batteries and apparently they all charge/discharge at different rates so there is some science in doing a 2 battery setup (at least that is from what I read)

 

[Dave 205]

There are numerous lubrication points on your boat. If you don't have all the factory maintenance manuals, most should be available on Sea Ray's website.

I would try your boats performance before worrying about Smart Tabs. I tend to run a pretty full boat, so staying on plane at lower speeds can be a bit of a challenge. Smart Tabs are a consideration for me.

I still have the stock Clarion (two speaker) and the draw is minimal. We usually don't sit for more than an hour, and I check things periodically. I do replace my battery after every three seasons, it works out to about $40.00 a year - cheap insurance to avoid a spoiled day on the lake due to simple battery failure. We tend to run high on passengers and toys on board, so the added weight of another battery has been hard to get excited about.

Regarding your cover questions from your other post:

I do my short haul (45 minutes each way) trips with the snap on covers. The pole under the bow cover or it would flap too much and a sudden rain would cause water to bowl up. I don't bother with the pole under the cockpit cover. I always cover while trailering to keep items, including the rear seat cushions, from flying out (happened to a friend of mine). I purchased a custom Sharkskin cover from Overton's for long haul trailering, especially when the boat will be parked outside at times. I always use both poles when I have the extra cover on. The boat is normally always garaged at home, so I don't have long term outdoor parking concerns. I've been satisfied with the Sharkskin cover for my use.

Congratulations on the new boat!

 

[WazzuCMGrad]

Hi:

I wanted to follow up with more on the Smart Tabs. I inquired about them a while ago, and they don't recommend the composite ones for our 205's - from memory, they recommended 8"x11", 80lb. I did inquire about mounting options, and they said it's been done, but you need special brackets to deal with the curved transom.

I never ended up pulling the trigger on the Smart Tabs for 2 reasons; first, I ran out of season, and secondly, I do fish out of my 205 sometimes on the Columbia River and so I wanted the option for their "ProTroller" quick adjustment lever. The trolling lever has to be 100% perpendicular to the ground in order to work, so I'd have to mold/make a mount that drilled into the transom (curved to match) and then attach the lever to that. Seemed like a lot of work and experimentation to get right, so I passed on it.

I did end up buying 2 large (36" diameter) drift socks to slow my trolling, which took about 1.5mph out of the troll (nice). Hope this helps.

You had two other questions - I'll try to add my thoughts.
- Batteries: I'd just get a voltmeter gauge (or use one in your depth sounder/fish finder if you have one, which is what I do). I run a Garmin 200C with a custom mount that fits where one of my spare gauge blanks was. It has a voltage alarm that is customizable, so I can run with no issues, then fire off to recharge when the alarm sounds.

- Covers. I tow with both covers attached for all the reasons you've heard already. I do try to ensure the carpet is in before towing, so it doesn't pound on the floor as much (if it moves at all). I have a Sunbrella travel cover for off-periods, and a Hangtyte assembly that suspends the travel cover off the watersports tower.

Good luck!

 

[Banagy]

If you install trib tabs it will be a complete different boat. I waited two years before installing, what a mistake, should have done it sooner.

 

[Bama Boater]

Just a quick comment on the trim tabs: I can't live without mine. Absolutely love them.