What's your process?

C

CDA205SP

New Member
Oct 10, 2011
13
CDA, IDAHO
Boat Info
2011 205 SP
Engines
4.3 MPI
Hello,

I am picking up a new 205 sport on friday. This is my first brand new boat and I have not owned a boat in over 15 years. I am going to keep it in a slip on a fresh water lake. Are there any recommendations on what to do before putting the boat in the water for the season. Do you typically put at least a couple of coats of wax or more before launch, treat the carpet or vinyl with a protectant (scotch guard or something), treat the engine with silicone spray, etc. Any thoughts would be appreciated or your own personal rituals with a new boat would be great.

Thanks
Derek
 
Derek,

Congrats. Even in fresh water your bottom is going to become fouled with growth. Just a suggestion, either bottom paint the boat or plan on scrubbing it each weekend when you head for the beach. You could scotch guard the carpet but I would not bother. You could spray a protectant on elecrical connections like T-9 but your not in salt water so you should not have a problem. I would follow the break in procedures and change the oil and lower unit lube when they tell you. Don't forget to christen it or the water gods will be unhappy. That calls for many libations for both the gods and yourself.

Good luck,
Dan
 
Welcome aboard
 
Hello and welcome
Are you in a marina where there may be stray current from shore power I know when I had out drives they changed my anodes from zinc to I think magnesium for fresh water for better protection from galvonic corrosion I'd just check with the dealer other then what's already been posted happy boating and good luck
 
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Welcome to CSR from a member who is about 175 miles SSW of you. Did you get your boat at Trudeau's? Nice folks to deal with.

Lake CDA is a nice clean lake but I second the comment about bottom painting it. If you don't want to use black paint, there are other colors (including white) of bottom paint you can use. Watch the ads for West Marine and you can get them at their store on Sprague in Spokane. I'd put a couple of good coats of wax on it, also put 303 Protectant on the vinyl surfaces, and I'd make sure I had a good cover for it, one that you can secure well not only for keeping on the boat but also if you decide to trailer it to other lakes.
 
All good answers. May want to brush up on your water safety through a class or some reading. Make sure you have all the necessary safety gear on board- life jackets, fire extinguisher, flares, throwable etc

Welcome to CSR
 
Based on my marine neighbour in Mexico this past winter wax on the bottom will stop most hull build up. He pulled his boat a few times and all the material washed off. Based on my fresh water boating many years ago no one ever painted fiberglass hulls and in the fall they looked clean. If I were to put a new fiberglass boat in freshwater I would wax (he put on two coats of good stuff) and monitor it to see how it holds up. Magnezium is correct for fresh water based on what I have seen.
 
all good suggestions, just to add a few randoms; for your dock lines be sure you are using the correct kind to resist mildew. which sadly I'm pulling a blank on what the proper materail is haha. Lines that sit outside coiled up can really start to stink and get nasty...last thing you want to do is fling wet slime all over your nice clean boat why coiling a line to store on board. I always keep a small scrub brush and sponge on board so that I can rub the inevitable scum line that forms at the waterline. Also I'd get a few small chunks of spare carpet to lay on the corner seat/sun pad for boarding to help keep shoe prints off the vinyl. some see that as being Anal Retentive but as I tell all my guests "Hey, do you walk on your couch with your shoes on?" other then that make sure you got all your safety equipment, enough life vests for all passengers, don't forget the sunscreen and don't forget to have fun:thumbsup:
 
Any chance you can put it on a lift? For that size boat I wouldn't leave it in the water if at all possible. Keeping a boat on a lift will do wonders for keeping the boat looking nice.
 
Congratulations on the new boat. Sea Ray offers a really nice custom fit mooring cover that provides excellent protection from the elements. It trailers very well and is easy to secure. It will provide more coverage than the cockpit and tonneau covers since it cinches down at the rubrail. I highly recommend it to preserve the boats interior and top deck. I'm happy with mine.
 
When I got my first new boat I had it detailed every three months and serviced X2 recommend.

The dealer told me to have fun and drive it like I stole it..... so go have some fun.
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions and all the responses. Looks like I will be spending some time under the boat waxing this weekend. Good to see someone for the Pacific NW on the forum, I did buy at Trudeau's. I will be keeping her on Hayden Lake instead of CDA which is even cleaner, so hopefully I won't run into much bottom fouling. Interesting about the anodes. Hope the dealer has taken care of this.

I plan on installing a depth sounder this weekend. Hurts to drill a hole in a brand new hull but must be done. Looks like using a couple of layers of masking tape over the hole and start drilling from the outside to the inside??
 
You don't have to drill. For a boat your size, they make a sounder that you place flat on the hull and it sounds through it. No hole.

Dan
 
I installed a depthfinder on my 180 when it was new and I know how you feel about drilling into a brand new boat. I used tape when I drilled and I also started the holes in reverse first before drilling thru. I feel like that helps to minimize cracking. As far as the shoot thru transducer goes, they can be tricky to install properly.
 
Depending on the lake is the amount of growth you will have but you will have it. WE kept our 23' in the water but I was under the boat every week with a sponge keeping it clean. IMO a new boat needs 3 to 4 coats of wax prior to going in the water. My boat still gets 3 coats every year. If it were mine I would have throw rugs to go down on the deck to help protect your carpet. If you do not have two batteries get them prior to going in the water. have your dealer instal a battery switch. make sure you have a tool kit. But most of all have fun..congrats on your new boat !!!
 
Do you put your coats of wax on back to back or do you allow cure time between coats? I already bought the transom mount depth sounder. Wanted this one because it gives water and air temp along with depth. Time to make swiss cheese out of my new boat!
 
Welcome, and enjoy your new Sea Ray. Remember you don't need to do everything at once. Take your time on the nice to haves, so you have more time to relax.
 
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