Helomech
New Member
Hello shipmates! I just joined your fraternity of Sea Ray owners with the purchase of a new, to me, 1977 SR V-185. I picked the boat up in Iowa last month after winning an ebay auction. My father -in-law is a big Sea Ray advocate so my wife is as well. He has changed his preference to pontoons but he still talks up Sea Rays, Anyway, I'm very new to boating myself, and although my wife has a lot of boating in her past, she is most experienced as a passenger. This leaves me to learn the piloting aspect of the experience.
The boat was in very decent shape, sound hull and floors, clean engine, and worn and faded upholstery. The Ford 302 seems bit hard to start, but nothing I wouldn't expect from a thirty year old carbureted V-8. Also, the ball gears are pretty worn out and in need of replacement this winter.
We finally put the boat on the water yesterday, We put in the Chain of lakes in Clearwater on the Sauk river public access. My first outing was a hard lesson on prop strikes and I beat the heck out of the new prop. I guess I will need to find deeper water next outing.
From what I've seen this forum the members are just as good and helpful as on those on my Yamaha Venturiders.org forum.
Now, if only I could trailer the boat with the bike.....
The boat was in very decent shape, sound hull and floors, clean engine, and worn and faded upholstery. The Ford 302 seems bit hard to start, but nothing I wouldn't expect from a thirty year old carbureted V-8. Also, the ball gears are pretty worn out and in need of replacement this winter.
We finally put the boat on the water yesterday, We put in the Chain of lakes in Clearwater on the Sauk river public access. My first outing was a hard lesson on prop strikes and I beat the heck out of the new prop. I guess I will need to find deeper water next outing.
From what I've seen this forum the members are just as good and helpful as on those on my Yamaha Venturiders.org forum.
Now, if only I could trailer the boat with the bike.....
