The Boat Fanatic Thread

[G650 14074]

Going into mothballs.

[The Royal We 3065]

Got damn, that is a very expensive hobby.

My bass sled is in the shop at the moment getting a new lower unit.  I was running wide open trying to get to one more hole before dark (stupidly) and heard some god awful sounds when I powered down.  Idled back home and got the diagnosis from the shop last Friday.  It's a '96 Mercury 225, but the mechanic said they only use SEI lower units when replacing. It comes with a 3 year warranty.

I'm ready to get it back.  Those late evening therapy sessions are much needed at the moment.

[davidg 4025]

1 hour ago, G650 said:

Going into mothballs.

I assume that's in your yard.  The juxtaposition between the sleet carbon hull and the stack of old tires is real.

[G650 14074]

Just now, davidg said:

I assume that's in your yard.  The juxtaposition between the sleet carbon hull and the stack of old tires is real.

Correct. It's pretty much a metaphor for my life.

[G650 14074]

36 minutes ago, The Royal We said:

Those late evening therapy sessions are much needed at the moment.

Fuckin A man. All I got at the moment is pedaling my bicycle. Which is pretty peaceful I have to admit.

 

It's not quite as expensive a scene as you would think though, the crane is like 500 bucks and truck was 1500 inclusive of permits. I could have moved it with my lowboy, but my guys haul bulldozers and shit of a not so delicate nature, so I though better of that. This is the first time this one has come back to the shed, the last couple has trailers we pulled with an F350. And the only reason it's here now is because of the corona. Going to fit casters to the cradle and wheel it inside for the foreseeable future.

Edited April 7, 2020 by G650

[davidg 4025]

2 minutes ago, G650 said:

Correct. It's pretty much a metaphor for my life.

I didn't see a couple of broken down track hoes so I wasn't 100% sure.

[G650 14074]

7 minutes ago, davidg said:

I didn't see a couple of broken down track hoes so I wasn't 100% sure.

They're parked behind the shop.

 

[AUinHsv 576]

54 minutes ago, The Royal We said:

Got damn, that is a very expensive hobby.

My bass sled is in the shop at the moment getting a new lower unit.  I was running wide open trying to get to one more hole before dark (stupidly) and heard some god awful sounds when I powered down.  Idled back home and got the diagnosis from the shop last Friday.  It's a '96 Mercury 225, but the mechanic said they only use SEI lower units when replacing. It comes with a 3 year warranty.

I'm ready to get it back.  Those late evening therapy sessions are much needed at the moment.

had that happen back in the late 80's with mercruiser I/O.  Had just finished a ski run and a buddy that was driving said "engines making a funny sound".  Bearings were just toast somewhere in lower unit

[The Royal We 3065]

That sounds like what happened to me.  It would still fire up just fine but sounded like the whole thing was going to come flying apart when I gave it any throttle.  I thought it was going to be the powerhead, so I'm feeling a little lucky to get out with "only" a new lower unit.

[CycleTex87 2953]

1 hour ago, AUinHsv said:

had that happen back in the late 80's with mercruiser I/O.  Had just finished a ski run and a buddy that was driving said "engines making a funny sound".  Bearings were just toast somewhere in lower unit

Your story reminded me:  Mid 80's, I was living in an apartment off Riverside drive.  My dad (foolishly) let me bring our old Ranger bass boat to Austin to ski at the lakes and stuff.  My buddies and I enjoyed the heck out of it.  It had a 4-cylinder Mercruiser I/O, not too many of those around.  One day I got home from class, my buddies are like "Hey dude, did you take your boat motor apart?"  No, I didn't, but went out to find that the lower unit was gone, hydraulic hoses cut, 8 bolts loosened, and gone. /CSB

[Goofyboy 3194]

They're parked behind the shop.
 

What brand / model are those?

[G650 14074]

9 hours ago, Goofyboy said:

What brand / model are those?

The small one on the left is a 315 Cat. The bigger one is a 942 Liebherr. The Liebherr actually runs, I keep it around the yard for lifting shit like dump truck engines.

 

 

 

[Viking 299]

We left Samana, DR to head back to Florida on Monday. The Bahamas is closed to transiting boats so legally our route had to be around the Bahamas on the north or south side. I was tempted to cut through the middle and take my chances (its huge with limited naval resources, so 99% chance I'd go undetected) but eventually decided on the south route. Trip was 6 days, 900 miles from DR to Marathon where we rested 1 night and then another 150 up to Charlotte Harbor FL.

No idea what are options are for next year. I worry that even if countries are open what the reception will be like. Our current thoughts are that if the Bahamas is open by November that we'll head there for next season and spend 6 months there and then maybe 6 months in the US and Canada northeast (Nova Scotia, Maine, Chesapeake, etc)

[Sbbruin 21704]

When you say you "rested" one night, where?  Not hove to, right?  

[Viking 299]

56 minutes ago, Sbbruin said:

When you say you "rested" one night, where?  Not hove to, right?  

We dropped the hook west of Boot Key where a dozen other boats were anchored.

Funny you mention hoving to because the next night we tried to figure out how to do just that.  We were heading directly into a 12kt wind in Florida Bay. Night came and we could no longer motor since there's a god damn fucking ass ton of crab pots in SW Florida. We'd tried a few things to stop our motion without success and finaly just deployed the jib and slowly sailed perpendicular to the wind until it shifted. I need to figure out how to hove to in a cat.

[G650 14074]

7 hours ago, Viking said:

We left Samana, DR to head back to Florida on Monday. The Bahamas is closed to transiting boats so legally our route had to be around the Bahamas on the north or south side. I was tempted to cut through the middle and take my chances (its huge with limited naval resources, so 99% chance I'd go undetected) but eventually decided on the south route. Trip was 6 days, 900 miles from DR to Marathon where we rested 1 night and then another 150 up to Charlotte Harbor FL.

No idea what are options are for next year. I worry that even if countries are open what the reception will be like. Our current thoughts are that if the Bahamas is open by November that we'll head there for next season and spend 6 months there and then maybe 6 months in the US and Canada northeast (Nova Scotia, Maine, Chesapeake, etc)

Glad y'all made it safe and sound. If you do opt for the Bahamas, let me know, I can put you in touch with a couple harbours that would certainly be happy to have you. I think you did Staniel already? They certainly would give a good reception. So would Eleuthera.

 

If you come up here to the Chesapeake, definitely drop a line.

[Sbbruin 21704]

6 minutes ago, Viking said:

We dropped the hook west of Boot Key where a dozen other boats were anchored.

Funny you mention hoving to because the next night we tried to figure out how to do just that.  We were heading directly into a 12kt wind in Florida Bay. Night came and we could no longer motor since there's a god damn fucking ass ton of crab pots in SW Florida. We'd tried a few things to stop our motion without success and finaly just deployed the jib and slowly sailed perpendicular to the wind until it shifted. I need to figure out how to hove to in a cat.

Yeah, not sure if it would work the same in a cat, but on a mono it's pretty easy.  Backwind the jib, and then ease the main until you are +/- 40 -50 degrees off the wind and it should bounce back and forth within a 10-20 degree window, at a knot or so.

[G650 14074]

Safely in the nest. Takes a load off to know it's packed up safe and sound, but a real fucking bummer at the same time.

 

 

[CycleTex87 2953]

Cool toy box.  Fun toys. 

[BBQ2Bayou 807]

On 4/5/2020 at 3:11 PM, Texaus said:

I let the kids fish off the wake boat for the first time ever. Times are a changing

Is this akin to land folk not allowing food in the nice car? 

[davidg 4025]

Yeah, not sure if it would work the same in a cat, but on a mono it's pretty easy.  Backwind the jib, and then ease the main until you are +/- 40 -50 degrees off the wind and it should bounce back and forth within a 10-20 degree window, at a knot or so.

Also turn the rudder to steer the bow into the wind against the backwinded jib.

[Sbbruin 21704]

Snuck down to the boat, my only refuge from the claustrophobia of the house. Fam coming down for a sail tomorrow. This greeted me when I got here.

[Sbbruin 21704]

dp

Edited April 11, 2020 by Sbbruin

[Brew 3045]

One last wash before delivering to the new owner. I’m 99% certain I’m going to regret selling this one.

 

Edited April 11, 2020 by Brew

[Sbbruin 21704]

Yes, you likely will regret it. Then go get another.

Had to head to Wilmington to the Pumpout since the one by us is closed. Mercy hospital ship


Cops rolled up on me when I went by. Gunboat guarding it as well.

USS Iowa


Toured it with the Boy Scouts. Very cool. The fins are massive.

[G650 14074]

Yeah, we have the Wisconsin here. Massive ships all around.

[Sbbruin 21704]

Family came down and took the boat over to Cabrillo beach, grilled some burgers, chilled.  Nice day.  Then when we came back to the dock my wife said I could stay down here if I wanted as long as I was back reasonably early tomorrow.  Normally I’d hem and haw and feign resistance.  The words weren’t even completely out of her mouth before I said “sure!”.

[Texaus 372]

I hate to break this to you, but she’s probably got a date with the pool boy.

[Texaus 372]

Dp

[Sbbruin 21704]

18 minutes ago, Texaus said:

I hate to break this to you, but she’s probably got a date with the pool boy.

Whatever.  I’m cocktailing on board.  She just better not get the virus.  Or the herp.

[Brew 3045]

8 hours ago, Sbbruin said:

Yes, you likely will regret it. Then go get another.

I’m already looking for the next one. Trying to find a good 22-24 ft DC I can use at the beach as well as at home. However, that was the perfect lake boat. I probably should have just bought a boat strictly for the beach, but it just never made sense to add another boat to the stable. We’ll see what I can find.

[davidg 4025]

but it just never made sense to add another boat to the stable.

The words make sense and boat should not be used in same sentence.

[G650 14074]

15 minutes ago, davidg said:

 

The words make sense and boat should not be used in same sentence.

 

It's like trying to push together the same pole of two magnets.

[justhookit 4174]

The ______ on the boat is broken makes sense.

Fuck I have no idea when I’ll be able to go use the boat again. Maybe late summer just in time for the rainy season.

[Pescado_Rojo 19330]

If you guys aren't following Thequalifiedcaptain on Instagram, you're missing the best thing on the internet. Think Worldstar for boat owners. 

[fattyflattie 4636]

10 minutes ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

If you guys aren't following Thequalifiedcaptain on Instagram, you're missing the best thing on the internet. Think Worldstar for boat owners. 

I don't follow but get sent things every other day or so.  Good stuff.

[Handcruser 2805]

I’m already looking for the next one. Trying to find a good 22-24 ft DC I can use at the beach as well as at home. However, that was the perfect lake boat. I probably should have just bought a boat strictly for the beach, but it just never made sense to add another boat to the stable. We’ll see what I can find.

Get a mastercraft center console. Already has a swk.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Brew 3045]

2 hours ago, Handcruser said:

Get a mastercraft center console. Already has a swk.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Hard pass, I’m either buying a 22-24 foot offshore DC or I’m going back to the original plan of buying a 22 foot bay boat to leave there and I’ll pick up another wake boat to keep at the lake. We’re in SW FL, so I don’t really need a big center console. I’m hoping the DC can serve both purposes, but it may be asking too much. I already had a boat problem with the pontoon, wake boat, flat bottom and jet ski’s in the shop in the winter. I need to go 1 for 1.

[Brew 3045]

4 hours ago, G650 said:

It's like trying to push together the same pole of two magnets.

It all makes sense to me, not sure about the rest of you. It just may not make sense to normal people.

[Texaus 372]

Explain ow a dual console offshore boat can also serve as a wake boat on the lake.

 

 

[Brew 3045]

My kids just ride the wakeboard or the skate. With two girls who prefer tubes, I don’t see them ever doing much more than just riding them. My nephews still ride, but they are going less and less as they get older. I gave up my arsenal of tricks years ago when fear of getting hurt outweighed my interest in throwing something new, so I just ride now as well.

[justhookit 4174]

Tried to teach the Ticos “Hook ‘em”. Worst part is the gringo son of my captain is doing the worst job.

Edited April 13, 2020 by justhookit

[justhookit 4174]

Well I managed to fuck that whole post up

[The Royal We 3065]

I got the bass sled back at the end of last week and have been working it through the break-in process.  Has anyone done this before?

I've been letting it get really warmed up before increasing the throttle much at all and then don't exceed 3,500 rpms for the first 5 hours.  With the way this boat is set up, it's a pain to get up on a plane without exceeding 3,500.  It stands straight up and plows for a while before leveling out so I have to make sure I've got a wide open lake in front of me.

The difference in the strength of the tell tale stream with the new lower unit is incredible.

[G650 14074]

Looks like the Gunboat from our race had quite the adventure trying to get home.

 

https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2020/04/16/escape-from-the-bahamas/

[Sbbruin 21704]

Looks like the Gunboat from our race had quite the adventure trying to get home.
 
https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2020/04/16/escape-from-the-bahamas/

Those Gunboat cats are badass. Serious sailing cats and pretty luxurious as I understand.

[Sbbruin 21704]

So the fam was supposed to come down for a sail today. Got the call that too much homework was on the table. Fuck it then, I'm going. And it was nice and breezy. So headsail only and doing 6+kts . Catalina teasing me in the distance though. But it's closed to boaters so f'd.

[G650 14074]

20 minutes ago, Sbbruin said:

Those Gunboat cats are badass. Serious sailing cats and pretty luxurious as I understand.

Yeah they are nice as shit

[CycleTex87 2953]

Pretty cool video if you have the time to watch.  No telling how much this restoration cost.  Maybe seven or eight figures though.

 

[fattyflattie 4636]

That is fascinating.  It blows my mind the kind of craftsmanship those folks hold.  And the $$ the owner has. Oof.