catfishjon123
New Member
- Mar 16, 2024
- 15
- Boat Info
- 2001 Sea Ray 190 Bow Rider
- Engines
- Mercruiser 5.0 EFI
Hi all,
I've been looking around the forum ever since I bought this boat (October '23) and glad to see such an active forum here!
When I bought the boat, the previous owner hooked it up to the muffs and it started right up. Everything else seems to be in good order except for a few things:
* Some of the snaps for the cockpit cover have rusted, which I will look to replace. (looking forward to trying my hand at installing snaps and snads!)
* The bottom of the boat is pretty rough, and will look to paint it after prepping it - soon, or this fall after the season (I already posted on that earlier today, and can't say I'm excited about getting all the old paint off - layers and layers of it!)
I have good reason to believe the boat was salt-water, given that the trailer the boat currently sits on was sold by a marina down at the Jersey Shore. I hope that doesn't cause me too much trouble down the line. The person I bought the boat from actually didn't end up using it and had to sell it because he was moving so I got a good deal. (Assuming there aren't some major hidden issues with it.) I took a bit of a gamble too, since his name wasn't on the title - it was a skip title. Fortunately, I had no issues getting it titled and registered in my name. Anyway, if there is any advice on what I might look out for as I test it out this season, I'm all ears.
From what I've read, it sounds like anyone aspiring to be a boat owner should prepare to become a mechanic as well. Fortunately I have some good experience, so I'm as excited as I am anxious!
I've changed the gear oil and will do the engine oil very soon before putting it in the water. I was thrilled to see the oil filter on TOP of the motor versus being buried in the recesses of the bilge, as well as threaded dipstick, allowing me to pump the oil out instead of draining it. The fuel filter looks like a pain to get to because of some plastic housing on it, but not sure if I should change it this year or not? Probably prudent to do though, given my limited history of the boat.
I will be keeping it on a freshwater lake during the summers in northern Jersey.
Cheers!
Jon
I've been looking around the forum ever since I bought this boat (October '23) and glad to see such an active forum here!
When I bought the boat, the previous owner hooked it up to the muffs and it started right up. Everything else seems to be in good order except for a few things:
* Some of the snaps for the cockpit cover have rusted, which I will look to replace. (looking forward to trying my hand at installing snaps and snads!)
* The bottom of the boat is pretty rough, and will look to paint it after prepping it - soon, or this fall after the season (I already posted on that earlier today, and can't say I'm excited about getting all the old paint off - layers and layers of it!)
I have good reason to believe the boat was salt-water, given that the trailer the boat currently sits on was sold by a marina down at the Jersey Shore. I hope that doesn't cause me too much trouble down the line. The person I bought the boat from actually didn't end up using it and had to sell it because he was moving so I got a good deal. (Assuming there aren't some major hidden issues with it.) I took a bit of a gamble too, since his name wasn't on the title - it was a skip title. Fortunately, I had no issues getting it titled and registered in my name. Anyway, if there is any advice on what I might look out for as I test it out this season, I'm all ears.
From what I've read, it sounds like anyone aspiring to be a boat owner should prepare to become a mechanic as well. Fortunately I have some good experience, so I'm as excited as I am anxious!
I've changed the gear oil and will do the engine oil very soon before putting it in the water. I was thrilled to see the oil filter on TOP of the motor versus being buried in the recesses of the bilge, as well as threaded dipstick, allowing me to pump the oil out instead of draining it. The fuel filter looks like a pain to get to because of some plastic housing on it, but not sure if I should change it this year or not? Probably prudent to do though, given my limited history of the boat.
I will be keeping it on a freshwater lake during the summers in northern Jersey.
Cheers!
Jon