New ski boat owner

[93TXspitfire]

Hello all, Thank you for the forum first. Looking forward to learning new things from fellow boaters.
An old friend of mine sold me this boat (my 1st) last october for the price of a trailer. He bought a second food truck and has no room for it. I had been harassing him about for the last 5 yrs. Which is how long it was sitting unused covered on his back drive under the oak trees.
We moved to Granbury Tx last July from DFW when he called and said "come get this boat".
My grandfather had a boat and cabin at Lake Eufala Oklahoma growing up. Best times of childhood!
I wanted to share that experience with my kids before they all grow up. My eldest of 3 went off to college this year. Now we realize more than ever how short life is and how fast it's speeding by.
Anyways, i've had 4 nightmares of taking this boat out for the first time. Forgot to put plug in, taking on water, forgot gas etc. Enough. Its in great shape, but i am nervous as a cat.
I changed impeller, fuel pump, oil, trailer lights, full tank of gas needs siphon and treatment of new, spilled beer on carpet twice, used wifes steamer, husky chewed speedometer guages on rear bottom.
Need fuel line swapped. Hoses look good etc etc. New battery.....long post...you can imagine the rest. Looking to put it in the water in a couple weeks. Trying to decide whether or not to have a good mechanic look at it but I'm heterosexual. I'll keep you posted. Any advice is welcome. Thanks again guys and gals!

 

[93TXspitfire]

 

[ColoSR]

Nice find, a buddy of mine has a ski ray and he loves it. They do sit pretty low in the water, I would wait for good weather before putting it in.

I would check the bilge pump before you go out. That will handle most of the leaks provided that you put the plug in If you have 1 battery, you can bring the car lithium jump starter for issues.

Faria makes a cheap GPS speedometer, they are far more handy than the pitot tube type for water sports. Little kids like to tube at 15-18 mph, while bigger kids are in the 22-28 range.

 

[ColoSR]

Also, make sure the engine is running before you pull the trailer strap and float away. Ask me how I know

 

[93TXspitfire]

Also, make sure the engine is running before you pull the trailer strap and float away. Ask me how I know

Thanks for the advice. I'm really just praying it fires up with no big issues. You answered about 3 questions/concerns already.
Whats a good way to test the bilge pump? Should i be in the water, and if there's no water in the bilge from splashing around how do i know it's working...or not?

 

[ColoSR]

It should be wired to a switch, but also has a float. Easiest way to test full functionality is get a 5 gal, bucket, put the plug in, turn the switch on and put water in the bilge and the pump should push it overboard. Turn the switch off and repeat to check the float. Don’t get too carried away with the water.

 

[ColoSR]

One other quick thought, turn the blowers on for a couple minutes at the ramp before you start the engine. It’s a confined space so you can get a fire if you have any leaks.

 

[TSteed_Spitfire]

Congrats on a nice find. It looks great. Did you have it professionally detailed and reupholstered? I am the second owner of a 93 Spitfire that I bought in 98, and it is still going strong. If you are worried about initially putting it in the water, get a fake-a-lake and try cranking it on land first. My most frequent issue has been with the raw water pump eating impellers and running hot, but I’ve finally learned to replace it every spring. Otherwise, with 850 hours, lots of love and regular oil and tranny fluid changes, she has been a solid boat that grew up with my two sons (one skied competitively while in college) and still continues to make me smile when I strap on the slalom and step off the swim platform.

 

[93TXspitfire]

Tsteed, all original upholstery with 912 hours. Changed out about everything on it and became very intimate with her. I'm pasting this reply I had from another related thread I just responded to....I took it out for 1st run 2 weeks ago.....
(Paste)
I ran it at home days b4 with buckets of water as it ate way more water than fake a lake could produce. I burned up an impeller for about 30 seconds twice. Was scratching my head as to why water wasn't coming out exhaust. It dawned on me after pacing for a couple hrs to pull Intake hose and use buckets later cussing while putting in yet another new impeller from Amazon a few days later. Was able to get new thermostat up to temp. I had backup buckets running on 1 faucet and had my son shuttling water from a 2nd faucet it was sucking it up so fast.
Couldn't have guessed it hasn't run for five years other than 1st launch the boat was sticking to trailer. A good samaritan helped us rock it off.
Great boat in all.
I am the 4th owner. I'm friends with 3rd owner who kept it well. I was able to meet 2nd owner who said he kept it in garage so did 1st owner.
Thanks for sharing Steed! Happy boating!

 

[93TXspitfire]

I have to add this for info purposes. Not to brag but to express thanks to my good friend who sold her to me for $2700 all toys included, wakeboard, slalom ski, new tube, ropes, 6 vests, fire extinguisher, flares.
It was a great investment i think at a friend price. Considering pre covid price hovers around 8k.
I brought it home in october. It took until we went out on the lake the other week for my wife to apologize and say thanks for a boat I brought home anyways after we decided to hold off on the purchase and she didn't speak to me for 2 days. Iceberg slim eat your heart out.
Done and done boys. Lol
Self: Don't let wife read this

 

[WinkBuilt]

I have to add this for info purposes. Not to brag but to express thanks to my good friend who sold her to me for $2700 all toys included, wakeboard, slalom ski, new tube, ropes, 6 vests, fire extinguisher, flares.
It was a great investment i think at a friend price. Considering pre covid price hovers around 8k.
I brought it home in october. It took until we went out on the lake the other week for my wife to apologize and say thanks for a boat I brought home anyways after we decided to hold off on the purchase and she didn't speak to me for 2 days. Iceberg slim eat your heart out.
Done and done boys. Lol
Self: Don't let wife read this

The great delayed pay off!

looks awesome. Here’s to many happy memories!