All Things Boats, Ships, Yachts, Skiffs, Dinghies... (2024)

Wow.

Unfortunately, I now just no to wood decks.

Anybody familiar with the old Bombardier boats? Near me is a little Fish Hawk 170 center console from 2002 that looks pretty clean for what I estimate doesnt sound too crazy of a price. I always thought that would be a little small for the bigger lakes, but I spent last weekend on Erie with two other guys in an 18 foot CC and it worked out pretty well. This wouldn't end up as some hardcore fishing boat - more of a cruiser that I could toss some casual planar boards off and troll in the bay.

This thing does strike me as maybe a little narrow from the photos. I'd go out and pick up a T-Top and probably just roll with it from there. This would get used in the rivers around Green Bay / Appleton and near shore on Michgan / Superior.

Took the ferry from New London to Orient point to look at a boat in Hampton bays. Just sent them a deposit. Is it common practice to just do the deal with the marina/broker like buying a bike or a car? No lawyer involved like a house closing?

I’ve not bought a boat with a loan, so just paid cash and walked. I’d rather have a “Marine Surveyor” than a “sea lawyer”, but you do you ;-)

Nice dock, what are you going to tie to it?

Ive never used a lawyer but the surveyor is a must. Your insurance will require one anyway and if you plan to finance they will require it also. So hard to find a good surveyor but eastern Long Island probably has quite a few. More importantly... we need pictures!

One more thing, a recent survey is not good enough, you want your own by a surveyor that is working for you.

While insurance and finance companies do want surveys, and there are a few good ones, most aren’t worth their fee and miss way too much for their reports to be worth anything.

My brother has the 21' version of the same thing. It's a wet boat, managing to toss buckets of spray over the bow all the damn time. It has a shallow Vee and rides like complete ass in any kind of chop. I can't speak for the 17', but I'd recommend you insist on a ride in it when the wind is getting up before you give them any money.

Thanks, not financing, but definitely want a survey. I found a guy right in the same town as the boat. He's well thought of on the hull truth. Some very satisfied people that used him. He's a little hard to get a hold of though. I never spent this much money on a boat. Could buy a decent house, so I thought it might work like one. with a closing and all.

Well, it's been an effing couple of weeks at work. I mean, really, really difficult.

But headed down tonite with a new low lift pump and a vacuum gauge for the racor. We're going to install the gauge, run a test with the existing pump and get a baseline. Then install the new pump and run it again. This will all happen in the slip. Then I guess we'll have to take another test run. Already texted the tow company a head's up.

Looking for suggestions for offerings to the god of diesels, the sea, or whoever else might look favorably upon us.

Have you a replacement Racor filter element? Maybe two?

Heh - yeah, I have a couple. Are those the sacrifices?

What you iedeally do is put a (refundable) deposit down and the remainder hinges upon a proper sea trial/good survey.

Assuming that all goes smoothly, you pay them too much money, sink a fortune into upgrading anything that could possibly be upgraded, and then have an engine conk out three days later.

This is different than how I do it which involves wiring a large sum of money to someone I've never met for a boat I've never seen, and then hoping I like it when I get it shipped out.

Two for two, so far

If it conks out at sea then before calling for a tow I'd replace the element. Or just by-pass the Racor entirely.

I've guess that running it up to full power while well tied in the slip would be strongly frowned upon, but it's what I'd be looking for a safe place to do in the harbor before any sea trial.

Yeah, thats the plan. They did say refundable. Yes, WAY to much money.

It will helpfully become much cheaper when you go to sell it.

Well it's a beauty, and it's a Whaler. They do a good job of holding their value and are just awesome boats. I have had a 13', 17', 21' and a 22'. Had a 25' as a work boat for a while and they were all just super boats. Yours is next level stuff and I wish you the best of luck. It is kind of scary when you go to the big ticket boats at first. I went to look at a used boat in Hampton Bays at Spellmans. It needed a ton of work but while I was there a new World Cat caught my attention. I called my wife to get the voice of reason and she talked me into it. It was 10 times the price of the boat that I went to look at. That being said I have no regrets and it was the best decision that I made. We now have 2300 hours on the Yamahas and have not had any problems. If the survey is good, go for it and don't look back. Best of luck it is a sweetheart of a boat.

After staying up entirely too late last night to attach rubrails and make a Greenland paddle, it's ready for the maiden voyage this weekend.

It looks impossibly narrow compared to the plastic one next to it. Should move pretty easily through the water which was the goal. Figured a 6ft plastic kayak that most kids start with would be too frustrating and slow to paddle and might discourage her.

Will spend plenty of time in ankle/knee deep water on the beach having her test how tippy it is before setting out. And I'll bring some dive weights to lash to the keel as ballast if needed.

whether the grand likes it or not, I applaud your efforts. Thanks for sharing along the way. Interested to hear her name if named.