Newbie with 2002 230 Signature

Hello Gary, and welcome to the forum.
you are in the right place to post, but if you look outside, it isn't exactly boating weather yet :)

Congrats on the boat. I think you'll like it. I have a 240 Sundeck which is a similar size. It handles the waves and cruiser wakes on Grand just fine. Since you mention Tulsa and Hydrohoist, I am assuming that is where you are too?

As for your cover, here is my version…
My boat came with snap on cockpit covers. I hated them.

I ordered a sunbrella custom fit full cover from Overtons. It is about $600, minus whatever coupon/special that they might be running. Since my boat is on a lift in a slip, the straps were not an option. I made 14 sandbags, about 5 lbs each, that clip on where the straps would go, I just used the buckles from the original straps. The cover also has a drawstring that tightens it up just under the rub rail. Then I added some support poles, one in the bow and two in the cockpit.

I can remove this cover in 2 minutes when we are ready to go out. We just roll it up from the stern and put it in a dock box. Takes about 5 to put on and adjust the wrinkles. We use this cover year round. so far no troubles, even with snow loads.

I even trailer with it. No straps, just the bags. We go up and down I-44 with it about 4 times a year that way, since I take it home to winterize.
 
randmhall said:
I even trailer with it. No straps, just the bags. We go up and down I-44 with it about 4 times a year that way, since I take it home to winterize.
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OK... I think we need to see a picture of this! :smt001
 
SeaRide - Good to know info. Thanks.

Nehalennia - Thanks for the welcome. We plan to enjoy this boat for a long time, so hope it is all everyone says it is.

randmhall - Thnks for the welcome. But, it is in the 50's today, the sun is shining, and the sky is now blue. Why isn't this boating weather? Slacker. :grin:

Yes, Tulsa area but Skiatook actually. Slip is at Cross Timbers on Skiatook. As for handling waves and cruiser wakes, I do remember those on Grand. My wife and I were married at Butler Baptist Church, which is SE of Grove, 45+ years ago. We'd stashed my parents' boat on Honey Creek and went to Shangrala for our honeymoon. Next day we went out in the 16' aluminum boat and encountered those cruiser wakes, the likes of which I'd never seen as all of my boating was on smaller waters. Ouch!

Lazy Daze said:
OK... I think we need to see a picture of this! :smt001
Click to expand...
Amen! And, speaking of posting pics, can someone enlighten me on why I can only post really, really small pics? Do I need to be a supporter? (No jokes, please. :lol:)
 
Ok, 1956Olds told me how to post pics, so here's one of my new-to-me baby:

 
Nice boat, if you looked at the 06 220 Select at Cross Timbers, that's the one I just bought.

Congrats on the new boat!
 
jbowling said:
Nice boat, if you looked at the 06 220 Select at Cross Timbers, that's the one I just bought.

Congrats on the new boat!
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Thanks.

We didn't look at the '06 at Cross Timbers, but one out at Canton. The 230 is in OKC. So, are you in T-town, Skiatook, or...?
 
Don't know yet. I'll be splitting time between Skiatook and Grand.


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jbowling said:
Don't know yet. I'll be splitting time between Skiatook and Grand.


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Click to expand...

Talked to the folks at Cross Timbers on Friday and they said the slips will be gone by mid-March. So we hurried out and got ours.
 
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I may regret not getting one but I know we will be at Grand quite a bit this year. I'll probably settle in and get one next year.


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Hopefully we will have more water by then. The Corps has agreed to lower the minimum discharge significantly, which should help. But the lake is currently 17' low, so we badly need a good rainy season this spring.
 
Yes the last time I was there the lake was about 16 feet low and it was tricky at Cross Timbers. Lots of trees sticking up.


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They are removing the south 50' of slips, meaning those on the deep end, and moving the remaining part of the marina 50' south. So all the slips will have better water.
 
The guy at the boat dealership called today to say the boat checked out perfectly. Showed 55 MPH at 5000 R's, although probably not GPS. I would have liked a full 5200 R's so it could shed a bit when loaded, but it sounds like it is dialed in pretty close. And those BIII props are pricey, so these may do - at least for a while.
 
Nice looking boat, Gary. 55 MPH is pretty impressive, even if it is on the speedometer. FYI, I think I have the only boat in the world with the speedometer reading on the low side. My speedometer is reasonably accurate up to about 25 - 26 MPH. From that point forward it reads about 2 MPH low per the GPS.
 
Thanks, SeaRide. I'll check it with the app on my iPhone when I can. But, the 5000 RPM has got me thinking about props. Obviously I won't do anything until I try these out as it may be he didn't have it trimmed properly. But apparently Mercury changed to a 4-blade front prop as standard a few years after mine came out. So, I've been reading up on props and keep getting conflicting info - which isn't unusual with the Internet. Anyway, if anyone has recommendations …
 
Gary,

I think i would do the same. You are right in the middle of the wide open throttle range. Try it for yourself when able. If you are still able to turn 5,000 rpm during the summer, i would leave the propellers as they are. If this really bothers you or there area few nicks in the propeller, a reputable prop shop can tune the propellers and find 200 rpm.
 
SeaRide - We shall see how it runs when I trim it the best it can be. But, one of the reasons I went with this boat is the ability to put the family in it and still pull a skier. And I can't imagine that adding about 600 lbs of people plus many pounds of fuel and gear will result in the engine still reaching 5000. Maybe not even the 4800 RPM lower end of the WOT range. Then, there's my dream of taking the family to Lake Powell in a few years and that's at 3,700 ft where the test was run at about 1,000 ft. So that'll hurt the power and, therefore, the RPM.

So, have I rationalized the expenditure of $750 for new props well enough? :grin: I found these Hill Marine Four x 4 props and they have pretty good reviews. (These aren't necesarily the right pitch.)
 
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