SPLASH!

[CJ Martin]

Full Circle II is back in her slip, ready for a new season.

It was somewhat painful getting to this point, as we had a fair amount of preventative maintenance to deal with. While changing the main raw water pump impellers the pumps were discovered to have significant internal scoring - both pumps were replaced. Just getting the pumps out is no little task on the 320 - labor ended up being more than the pumps themselves. Lots of other little things, nothing major but it all added up to a somewhat shocking final bill. Unfortunately they wouldn't take my firstborn as payment. :grin:

It was a perfect day on the water, and the boat ran great. I had the props reconditioned and wow that made quite a difference. Skip - that prop sing at 1200 rpm is gone. Didn't get to really wring her out as we had to get the boy to a scouting function. Also, the wheel felt "spongy" and back at the slip I confirmed the fluid level was low. I'll burp it tomorrow.

The Smartcraft gauges worked well, I'll write up more about that in a seperate post later.

Bonus - got the new Chesapeake Bay magazine, and saw one of our favorite spots (Broome Island) was a feature. Open up to the spread and there is the bow of our boat! Plus the boy and I are in another picture eating at Stoney's. We remember that day, there were two beautiful blue hull Sea Ray's also tied up at Stoney's and they are featured in the picture. We saw a guy running around with a big camera but didn't know what was going on. :thumbsup:

-CJ

 

[Shining]

Congrats :smt038 I'm still looking at one and half more months! :smt013
-Mike

 

[osd9]

Congrats CJ....it was a rainy day here in NJ....glad you had better weather on the Bay....

 

[Skip]

Hey Chris,
Absolutely great news, and I am glad the fresh water usage saved the risers!.
We were out today as well. Left work at 1400 (er, sorry, 2:00 p.m.) and headed to the Marina. Go the A/C units recommissioned, re-commissioned the fresh water system (boat is now sitting with about 60 gallons of fresh water and 3 cups of clorox to sanitize the system). To my surprise, the harbormaster had run a hose to my dock for a liveaboard a few slips down, so I was able to tap into the hose and get the boat washed as well. Cockpit carpets are all down, and all we have to do now is provision her. I got four new 5/8 black double braid nylon dock lines on as well. Once all that was done we cranked up and headed out for a short run. Cummins are running superbly and we got around 32 knots at WOT. Powerwed all systems with the Onan and the air in the fuel issue is resolved.
Tomorrow we head to DC, and next weekend is the Cherry Blossom Cruise..the only way to see the Cherry Blossoms is via the Washington Channel.

regards
Skip

 

[Nehalennia II]

Oh my man, you clearly are on the table of envy tonight. I have seen in the last 82 minutes, the Puget Sound in three different spots in my commute home. Sorry for your steering issues but the fact that you're wet is the issue we all members of CSR should hail as reverent. I, looking at 8-9 days of forecasted rain, seem reluctantly frustrated knowing that others are looking at a solid month of either frozen temperatures or non-idealistic conditions. I am happy for you seriously and hope you recognized the feeling of floating, propulsion and/or the fact that you’re not at work or mowing a lawn.

 

[CJ Martin]

Dom - It was 70-something and sunny here, 83 under the canvas according to my spanking new Smartcraft air temp sensor. :grin:

(sorry - don't worry, you'll be out in your new ride soon enough)

Todd - Not to worry about the steering. I'll check the lines this weekend but I'm pretty sure it's nothing major. I had added some fluid late last season and didn't do the full "burping" procedure - I'm sure that's where the air came from.

Skip - What a glorious day to be on the water! Glad you were able to break free and enjoy it too. :thumbsup:

-CJ

 

[Nehalennia II]

Dom - It was 70-something and sunny here, 83 under the canvas according to my spanking new Smartcraft air temp sensor. :grin: .................-CJ

That's just braggin..... :smt021














:wink: I
I'm happy for you :smt089

 

[Stray Cat]

CJ - Skip, burn a couple-a-gallons for us will ya? :smt043

Skip - If you take some pics of the cherry blossoms in DC, could you post them?? That has to be a neat cruise.

Jeff

 

[jrirvine1]

Full Circle II is back in her slip, ready for a new season.


Bonus - got the new Chesapeake Bay magazine, and saw one of our favorite spots (Broome Island) was a feature. Open up to the spread and there is the bow of our boat! Plus the boy and I are in another picture eating at Stoney's. We remember that day, there were two beautiful blue hull Sea Ray's also tied up at Stoney's and they are featured in the picture. We saw a guy running around with a big camera but didn't know what was going on. :thumbsup:

-CJ

Always great to be back on the water.

When I read your post the magazine happened to be on my desk, so I opened to the Broomes Island article. Your boat must be the one next to “Fundayâ€. Looks like a great destination and one we may visit this year.

 

[CJ Martin]

Always great to be back on the water.

When I read your post the magazine happened to be on my desk, so I opened to the Broomes Island article. Your boat must be the one next to “Fundayâ€. Looks like a great destination and one we may visit this year.

Yeah, that's us. :smt001

Stoney's at Broome Island has some of the best crab cakes on the Bay, and is well worth the trip. They have a lot of outdoor seating with great views. Also worth the trip is the remodeled Vera's White Sands up St Leonards Creek. Vera herself just passed away, but she had recently sold the place and the new owner has done a lot of work inside and out.

Let me know when you will be heading this way and we'll try to meet you. Always great to hang out with a fellow Sea Ray owner.

-CJ

 

[CJ Martin]

Update - bled the steering and took her out for a brief sea trial. Steering is great, and it wasn't my imagination before - the boat really hops up on plane quickly now. When the wife comments on somethng like that, I know it's not just in my head. :grin:

I set an easy cruise at 3450 RPM / 20 kts / 12.5 gph (per engine). Last year that speed would have needed 3600-3700rpm to maintain. Looks like the prop work I had done in the off season will pay off nicely. This is with full fuel, 1/4 water, 2 adults and most of our gear back aboard.

Having the digital readouts is great - you can really see the effects of the tabs, and it's nice to have digital backups to my analog engine guages.



-CJ

 

[widowmaker]

We had 70 degree weather this past weekend and I spent the day getting her ready, trailering to the lake and putting her in the slip.

She started right up! All gauges normal and ran about 3 hours over the weekend. Life is good... Hope everyone has success with their shakedown cruises and a good '07 season.

 

[Bridog]

Great to see that your back in. Seems like the prop reconditioning was well worth it. Now that you and your son are celebrities doesn't mean you will be leaving us ..right? Take care, Brian

 

[Gunn]

CJ, glad to see a fellow southern Marylander out on the water! I still have a few maintenance items to take care of before I can get my little 175 on the water.
You boat makes me jealous. :smt001 My wife and I can imagine cruising the Chesapeake someday... You brought renewed images to my head.
On that Friday you were first out, I was watching the first wakeboarder of the season out on the river (St. Mary's). That really got me going as I'm ready to get into some watersports this year...before the sea nettles infest the area.

I'll have to look you up some time over at the West Basin.
Enjoy!

 

[CJ Martin]

Brian - I ain't going anywhere.

Gunn - Sure thing, stop down. We are on B dock. The wife and I ate lunch aboard today...it's good to be back in the water and able to escape from the office, even it is only for a little while. :thumbsup:

-CJ

 

[CJ Martin]

Ran her up to 4800 rpm yesturday and hit 33 knots! Fuel flow was 25 gals / hr / per engine. This was with 7/8's fuel, 1/4 water (well, antifreeze, water still not on at the marina), 2 adults and all our gear. Winds were calm and current was minimal.

I decided not to push her all the way to WOT as I never ever run that fast. She had more in her, I just lacked the courage to push harder. Besides, gas prices are back on the rise. :smt089

-CJ

 

[Hampton]

We were talking gas mileage the other day at the dock. My 250 gets about 2.5 miles per gallon, and my 340 gets almost 1. But, I've always kept my 250 on a trailer while my 340 is in the water on the floating docks.

Someone mentioned the difference in cost, but I feel that the 340 provides a lot more time on the boat, even if only at the dock. We even compared operating costs of the 340 to a twin engine airplane.

So, I came up with a relatively new term, at least for us - Smiles per Gallon. The 340 provides a lot more time on the water than the 250, and not many people hang around their airplane when they get "there." The 340 is therefore a lot more efficient than either of the other two.