Our new to us 300DA

[1hot87gt]

If the cockpit cover was ordered for the camper option then it should have cutouts to clear the framing. If you happen to have the tag still attached with the part numbers I can tell you exactly what it is.

Also, if you have an specific questions regarding the factory canvas setup please feel free to ask. We are distributors for Great Lakes Boat Top and we sell a lot of these.

Thanks,
-Kevin

Ok. That’s great. Camper top assembly is with the boat right now, but I will try and grab it next time I’m down there which should be this weekend.

Thank you

 

[1hot87gt]

I had an '06 with what I assume was the same generator. Bought it with low hours. It would run, then it would quit, then it would maybe start, or not for a while, then it would start and run perfectly, then shutdown for no reason. Drove me nuts for almost two seasons. I got to the point where I knew it was fuel related.

If I remember well, the main components are a main solenoid at the fuel tank, the main filter, an inline filter, a reciprocating fuel pump, then an anti-dieseling solenoid / needle valve right at the carb.

I was convinced it was the anti-dieseling solenoid (it's apparently a common problem). I think it was intermittent, however (and this was a big however), it was also the fuel pump.

Something to think about if you get intermittent shutdowns and you still have spark (the easy way to check if it's sensor-related, by the way).

Hmm. Great. Something else to look forward to. Lol. I will keep you in mind in the spring when I fire it up. I will say it started without a problem, but didn’t want to stay running. But my mechanic started it from the bilge. And if he manually manipulated what I believe was the choke, it would keep running. Maybe we were doing something wrong, or maybe something on the panel needed to be switched on or over. I don’t know. Again, it was a rush job. The whole process. Do I think there will probably be an issue or two? Likely. But I’m not going to stress over it. I think I got a good boat. Time will tell. Will try to take it in stride.

 

[1hot87gt]

Anyway, you got a real nice boat. Congrats. Go slow. When docking if people can walk faster than you are approaching the dock you are going too fast. when in doubt about the weather don’t go out, it’s not your wife’s fault you hit the pier cause you can’t dock properly. When coming into a marina watch the flags, all boats have flags, it will tell you how the wind is blowing.
Good luck.
Oh, PS. You will hit something, just like a car, you will encounter a scratch a gouge. If you don’t, you ain’t using the boat. Don’t freak and don’t blame the wife.

You have a great attitude toward boating. You have no idea how much I’m stressing about taking this thing out, bumping something, putting a scratch in the hull, etc. I could dock my last boat with my eyes closed and a beer in my hand. This one definitely scares me. But I can’t let it stop me from using it. It can’t stay at the dock all season.

From what I’ve read so far from a lot of you is, SLOW. Slow, slow, slow. That’s where I’m gonna start. I just have to get used to using the throttles more than the wheel around the dock which I think is what I’m gonna have the toughest time with. Never had to do that.

 

[Nater Potater]

As you may have read in my post, it appears that either I had a fuel shutoff solenoid sticking, or (more likely) a fuel filter full of four-year-old fuel that took forever to run out. Until that all flushed through, it would start, come up to speed, then die just as if you'd pulled the spark plug wires.
Watch some videos on maneuvering a twin. Just remember that knowledge doesn't equate to experience, but it'll get you thinking about it for when the time comes.

 

[1hot87gt]

Wow. I will say this. It amazes me that the steering wheel doesn’t even factor into the equation in any of those videos. Just straight throttle manipulation.

Thank you very much for the videos. Very helpful. Will watch them over and over again all winter. Like you said nothing beats experience, but at least they explain the strategy and gives me an idea of what to do when that time comes.

Thanks again

 

[bajturner]

Wow. I will say this. It amazes me that the steering wheel doesn’t even factor into the equation in any of those videos. Just straight throttle manipulation.

Thank you very much for the videos. Very helpful. Will watch them over and over again all winter. Like you said nothing beats experience, but at least they explain the strategy and gives me an idea of what to do when that time comes.

Thanks again

I found the steering wheel could still be useful at the very end of docking. Here's an example:
- you're in the slip but not against the dock, and you are port-to (docking with the port side against the dock),
- differential throttles, port reverse / starboard forward (or even just one or the other) to push the bow to port,
- this inevitably rotates the stern further away from the dock, or at least stays the same distance away,
- in neutral (very important), steer towards the dock,
- arrest the counter-clockwise rotation and pull the stern (and to an extent the entire boat) to port with one or both engines with a nudge into reverse gear and back to neutral (while steering stays hard to port).

If you are already too far aft in the slip, you can accomplish the same thing by steering hard to starboard (again, while in neutral), and bumping in and out of forward gear with one or both engines.

My main advice would be to always be going in and out of gear and back to neutral. I call it bumping. You can leave one engine in gear, let's say port reverse, then bump the starboard in forward, neutral, or reverse to adjust your angle and track, or bump them both in and out sequentially. I do the same with my 44 (on which the steering wheel really doesn't exist for docking!).

EDIT: And make sure you have a method for determining when your drives are straight.

 

[mrsrobinson]

My best docking advice: GO SLOOOOOW.

Only throttle if you absolutely have to. If the first attempt doesn't work, try it again, and again, and again...nobody is watching, or judging you. If they are, eff them. And yes, you will bump into things, do it slowly and there should be no damage, that's what your rub rails and bumpers/fenders are for. If you freak out, go to neutral and sit.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I bough an 06 boat once in 2020 with 9 hours on the genny. It vibrated a little too much for my comfort level. I paid a genny mechanic to look at it presale. IO forget the part, a big internal one, but from sitting so long it had flattened out. A $1500 bill the PO paid for, not me.

 

[1hot87gt]

I found the steering wheel could still be useful at the very end of docking. Here's an example:
- you're in the slip but not against the dock, and you are port-to (docking with the port side against the dock),
- differential throttles, port reverse / starboard forward (or even just one or the other) to push the bow to port,
- this inevitably rotates the stern further away from the dock, or at least stays the same distance away,
- in neutral (very important), steer towards the dock,
- arrest the counter-clockwise rotation and pull the stern (and to an extent the entire boat) to port with one or both engines with a nudge into reverse gear and back to neutral (while steering stays hard to port).

If you are already too far aft in the slip, you can accomplish the same thing by steering hard to starboard (again, while in neutral), and bumping in and out of forward gear with one or both engines.

My main advice would be to always be going in and out of gear and back to neutral. I call it bumping. You can leave one engine in gear, let's say port reverse, then bump the starboard in forward, neutral, or reverse to adjust your angle and track, or bump them both in and out sequentially. I do the same with my 44 (on which the steering wheel really doesn't exist for docking!).

EDIT: And make sure you have a method for determining when your drives are straight.

It’s funny you say that because I was thinking about that last night. After dinner was watching a few docking with dual engine videos and they all stressed rudders or outdrives need to be straight. On my old boat it wasn’t an issue. I could see the drive as there was no platform. This boat, different story. I will figure something out, but you are right, it’s very important.

 

[1hot87gt]

My best docking advice: GO SLOOOOOW.

Only throttle if you absolutely have to. If the first attempt doesn't work, try it again, and again, and again...nobody is watching, or judging you. If they are, eff them. And yes, you will bump into things, do it slowly and there should be no damage, that's what your rub rails and bumpers/fenders are for. If you freak out, go to neutral and sit.

So if I were approaching my slip, I’m figuring I would coast at it until I am pretty much in front of it. A little before it or a little after it based on wind, current etc. But then put one throttle forward and one backward so the boat rotates til the stern is facing the slip. Then bump them backward accordingly as she glides home. At least that’s the plan. I think. I’m sure I made that sound a lot more simple than it is going to be, but, am I on the right track.?

 

[Nater Potater]

...am I on the right track.?

Yep; pretty much. as @bajturner mentioned, turning the wheel can make a difference. Even with twins, the overall effect of turning the wheel will be the same as with your smaller, single-engine ride. Having twins just gives you that much more flexibility in maneuvering. Also, you may find the "Forward" outdrive has more power over the boat that the "Reverse". I find myself leaving the one outdrive in reverse, then bumping the other in and out of forward, and possibly even adding a touch of throttle to the reverse. It all depends on current and wind. Just like in driver's ed, go out to the middle of the lake and play with it, all at an idle speed. Watching your wake will give you a pretty good idea of what the different combinations will give you.

 

[1hot87gt]

Yep; pretty much. as @bajturner mentioned, turning the wheel can make a difference. Even with twins, the overall effect of turning the wheel will be the same as with your smaller, single-engine ride. Having twins just gives you that much more flexibility in maneuvering. Also, you may find the "Forward" outdrive has more power over the boat that the "Reverse". I find myself leaving the one outdrive in reverse, then bumping the other in and out of forward, and possibly even adding a touch of throttle to the reverse. It all depends on current and wind. Just like in driver's ed, go out to the middle of the lake and play with it, all at an idle speed. Watching your wake will give you a pretty good idea of what the different combinations will give you.

Ok. Makes sense.

 

[nelson Gay]

That display is a Raymarine e90w Hybrid Touch GPS/fish finder/radar combo. Looks nice, but don’t know squat about it. Lol. Another thing I will have to play with.

Yes, we love Mt Sinai too. Marina is like a 5 minute drive from our home so it’s very convenient as well.

As it sounds like you are from CT, are there any nice places over there to go by boat? We have been to Blackrock once with the old boat, and that was pretty cool. Wife wants to explore more with new boat. I told her to relax. I’m not going anywhere until I know this boat inside and out and feel comfortable maneuvering it like I did my old one. Lol

get it insured and drive never know what tomorrow may bring go slow til you get the hang of it. I'm jelly by the way beautiful boat

 

[1hot87gt]

get it insured and drive never know what tomorrow may bring go slow til you get the hang of it. I'm jelly by the way beautiful boat

Thanks buddy. Appreciate it. Yeah, she looks good. Hope she acts the part. I’ll know after the first season whether I got a good boat or not. Hope I do. Think I do. Time will tell. And yes, sloooooowww. Got it.

And she’s already insured. Made sure that was squared away before I had it transported home.

 

[Fill Ess]

Lots of good advice here!

When I had a 300 I would always dock with the steering wheel and 1 engine at a time ( shifting, no throttle ). You'll learn to do what's best for you. This era of stern drive had clunky shifters where I could never get the hang of reverse. I think it's because neutral position is so far back.

It may be the size of a floating school bus but you will master it.

 

[1hot87gt]

Was at the boat this past week doing some work with the stereo on. Noticed in the forward most part of the cabin by the bed hidden by a fabric curtain on both sides were two audio speakers. They were playing what I had on the stereo but the volume was substantially lower than the rest of the system and did not seem to fluctuate as I made the system louder or lower. Are they preset as an accent or background speaker not meant to blow your ears out while you are in the cabin or am I missing something?

 

[Chillaxin']

I crank mine up when showering, they get loud. Make sure the amp for the cockpit speakers is off, otherwise everyone will hear your bathroom jams.

Might have to play with fade or something.

 

[1hot87gt]

It was weird as all of the speakers in the cockpit were cranking but these two all the way up front in the cabin by the bed were very low. They seemed to not get any louder as I made the speakers in the cockpit louder. I thought maybe that was how it was designed as I could find anything in the settings of the radio that would seem to control them.

 

[Nater Potater]

...the volume was substantially lower than the rest of the system...

Again, referencing an older boat, but there's a "Mute" button (I think that's what it was called) in among the dash switches topside that would toggle some of the speaker's volume independent of the others. Maybe something like that on yours.

 

[1hot87gt]

Again, referencing an older boat, but there's a "Mute" button (I think that's what it was called) in among the dash switches topside that would toggle some of the speaker's volume independent of the others. Maybe something like that on yours.

I will definitely check that out. Don’t remember seeing anything like that, but again, boat is so new to me I might just have missed it.

Thanks