Just Purchased a Boat --- Anyone here have one?

[Sugarcubesea]

Make sure you have a bimini or other shade structure. You can get burned quickly on the water.

@CalGalTraveler , Thank you - Ours has a bimini and after using it for a season, I will see if we want to get a double bimini

 

[TUGBrian]

@Sugarcubesea Yes, we have a power pump that inflates and deflates with all kinds of adapters for inflating the toys. Ours is at least 20 years old, so I’m sure there are better more efficient options now.

i started using a 20v portable shop vac. maybe the size of a small tackle box (from harbor freight). it both inflates and deflates even the largest toy in just a minute or two.

 

[DancingWaters]

Yep, the day you buy it and the day you get rid of it!

Nah, we love our boat……..

 

[DancingWaters]

Nah, we love our boat……..

24 foot Sea Ray Sundeck

 

[Sugarcubesea]

i started using a 20v portable shop vac. maybe the size of a small tackle box (from harbor freight). it both inflates and deflates even the largest toy in just a minute or two.

@TUGBrian , thanks for this info, I'm going to head to Harbor Freight and see if they have one of these, I like this idea so much

 

[TUGBrian]

the harbor freight one was under 50 bucks (and they have 15% off everything right now).

its even on sale! https://www.harborfreight.com/20v-cordless-3-12-gallon-wetdry-vacuum-tool-only-58310.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiOTYxMzY4MjUiLCJza3UiOiI1ODMxMCIsImlzIjoiNDIuNDkifQ==



the downside is you would need to have a harbor freight battery for it to work as it will not come with one! I personally just buy the cheap dewalt to hf 20v battery adapaters on amazon (like 12 dollars) so i can use my dewalt batteries in all the harbor freight bauer tools!

 

[DrQ]

One thing to remember with a boat in a colder climate is to properly winterize them. If they freeze with water in the engine it'll most likely break the engine block. Also, I think that most outboard motors are 2 cycle and you have to add a special (that is, 2-cycle) oil.

I think most modern outboard engines are 4 cycle (Thanks to the EPA)

I inherited my dad's boat which has a 2 cycle 35 hp Mercury that uses an oil injection pump so you don't have to mix the oil and gas together,

 

[mentalbreak]

@Sugarcubesea when is/was the maiden voyage? Super excited for you!

 

[Sugarcubesea]

@Sugarcubesea when is/was the maiden voyage? Super excited for you!

@mentalbreak , Our dealer is giving us a 2 hour boat instruction / demo of our boat and that will be on May 11, 2024 and then delivery of our boat will be the following Friday, May 17, 2024. It's still cold and rainy in Michigan and our boat dock for our condo complex does not go in till May 1, 2024 and then we have to put in the docking poles for our boat slip before delivery on May 17th, so May 17th will be our maiden voyage... I'm so excited

 

[mentalbreak]

Just saw that Costco has this 4-pack of Type II PFDs. I’m pretty sure the ones we keep on board are from the 90s, so I’m going to go ahead and replace ours.