[Jeff_H2O]

For all you boat owners out there, I need your help/brains

I am very interested in buying a boat (nothing huge, just a 5 seater speed boat). Anyways, I'm a complete noobie when it comes to owning a boat. I've been out on the water many times with friends and family but have never owned or operated one myself.

Can you fill me on how what all is involved? Is there more to it than I think?

I've heard someone say "a boat is a hole in the water you pour money into" or that BOAT stands for Break Out Another Thousand.

Is it really that bad? Just curious as to what I'd be getting myself into.

All advice and input is appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Jeff_H2O]

This is what I'm looking at, It's nothing big, Maxum 1900XR 19' open bow fish/ski boat, 120hp. Rated for 7 people, but I'd only have about 5.

Again, being a noob, I really know nothing about owning or maintaining, so anything else you can share with me would be great! I'm worried I'd get it and then not realize till later what mess I got myself into when issues start popping up. Are they fairly easy to maintain or will it eat my checkbook before I know it?

 

[Jeff_H2O]

What all do you have to do after every outing? All I know is Clean the exterior gunk off and flush the engine. Anything else?

 

[Jeff_H2O]

I didn't know about the marine grease on the throttle/shifter cables, good to know!

 

[Jeff_H2O]

Wow yeah sounds like alot more involved than I thought. Thanks for the insight.

Also, I'd be boating fresh water.

 

[Jeff_H2O]

When were the trailer bearings repacked and does that swim ladder swing up?

I'm not sure about the bearings and good question about the ladder. The ones I've been on in the past they fold up, but I didn't examine this one that closely to know for sure. I'm assuming it folds up, but looking through my pics it does appear to be a solid ladder. I'll have to double check.

Not a fan of open bow small boats in waters that can be rough. The industry came up with these so they can advertise more seating, but in waves: 1) Kids seated in the front of windshield can become airborne (I was in a boat where this happened). 2) You can take water in the boat over the bow. Just my 2 cents. Enjoy.

Yeah I hear where your coming from, but I will be mostly boating on a flat smooth lake where the only waves created are by other boats. So I don't mind the open bow. I actually prefer it, more room for passengers and everyone always liked sitting up front in my uncles boat who has a similar one.

One thing I have noticed is people, kids especially, tend to wear life jackets much more often if they aren't the cheap orange ones. Spend the money and get the "cool" neoprene ones that people will want to wear, it's worth it.

haha funny story, but I already have 4 of the cool neoprene life jackets by accident. Over fathers day weekend, I was driving to my fiances parents house for dinner and on the way I passed a life jacket in the middle of the road and didn't think anything of it. Then within about 5 miles I ended up passing 4 more. There is a lake about an hour away from there so I'm assuming someone was hauling their boat and the life jackets kept flying out of the back. Anyways, I turned around and went back and retrieved them all except 1 (someone else already grabbed it). To my surprise, they were all the nice life jackets, didn't look cheap. I felt bad for whom ever lost them. Especially after they got to the lake and realized they were missing. My finances father lives right off the road and I watched the entire time we were there to see if anyone with a boat came back for them, no one did, and now I still have them. Maybe it was another sign that I should get a boat lol.

 

[Jeff_H2O]

Who much do those Malibu's run for? They look pretty nice.

 

[Jeff_H2O]

Ok wow, so I'm learning a lot here. Remember I'm a noob here... so what is a force engine? How do I know what is what?

And the plug under the motor, what's that for?

 

[Jeff_H2O]

Ahh got it, thank you very much for the insight!

 

[Jeff_H2O]

Thanks Guys! All this info has been very helpful! Already learned a lot more than I knew before.