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odds and ends
https://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1746		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  jason24 [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:55 pm ]
Post subject:  odds and ends
My boat will be delivered May15th. What are some odds and ends that I should purchase before she gets here???

I want to put it in the water the weekend I get it and not be missing anything.
Author:  Eyekahn [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
Beer and women. :D
Author:  230 Mike [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
1) All your safety stuff
a) Life jackets - get nice comfortable ones for everyone who will regularly be on the boat
b) Minimum of one Type IV throwable
c) CG approved fire extinguisher if your boat isn't already going to have one (ask dealer)
d) VHF radio(s)
e) If you don't have dual batteries, strongly consider buying a jump starter pack. I love my $40 Husky from Home Despot, and even take it along even with dual batteries in case it might help someone else and keep me from having to tow them.

2) All your towing stuff
a) Enough vehicle
b) Enough hitch
c) The right draw bar to have the trailer sit level while towing
d) The right ball for your coupler (2" presumably)
e) Draw bar pin - I have a stainless locking one, but you can get very inexpensive ones.
f) The right adapter (if needed) to connect the trailer wiring to your vehicle. Last I knew, the trailers were still coming with a "5-flat" connector. If your vehicle has a towing package, it most likely has a "7-round" connector.
g) Stuff to change a flat on the trailer (depending on how far you'll be towing)
h) Spare pin for your trailer tongue - don't need this right away, but they've been known to be stolen, so for $10 it's a good idea to keep a spare in your vehicle.

3) All your mooring stuff
a) Fenders - get the biggest ones you can afford/have room to store. I love my 8"ers.
b) Dock lines - the nicest ones I've seen are the West Marine double-braided pre-spliced ones. They were on sale not long ago, not sure if they still are. Several 15' ones and a couple of 30' ones "just in case".

4) On-board tool stuff
a) Depending on who you ask, these range from a screwdriver to more tools than most machinists own. If you don't know a bolt from a bottle of muffler fluid, having a bunch of tools isn't going to help much, but generally people end up with enough tools to change an impeller (and have a spare impeller kit in their bag), tighten a loose clamp, change a burned out bulb, etc.
b) Prop wrench
c) Spare prop(s) - not necessary immediately
d) Bottle of the recommended power steering fluid (first time or two out especially)

No matter what you do, you'll think of things you wish you'd gotten, etc. Just part of the fun.

Add on here, guys...
Author:  jason24 [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
230 Mike wrote:
If you don't know a bolt from a bottle of muffler fluid,


Never heard of a bottle of muffler fluid!!! Where in the world would I pour a bottle of muffler fluid on my boat???????????????????? :mrgreen: :D

Thats a good one I will have to use it in the future.
Author:  230 Mike [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
jason24 wrote:
Where in the world would I pour a bottle of muffler fluid on my boat???????????????????? :mrgreen: :D


Anywhere you'd like 8)
Author:  BrentC5Z [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
Mike, good job.
+

Anchor, paddle, lock for draw bar, lock for trailer coupler.
Author:  pet575 [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
Good list, Mike. Great thread, too. I'm betting someone will mention an item that each of us either never thought of or have been putting off getting for ourselves (my confession is below :oops:) I would say that you should think ahead with regard to where you are boating when you are limited on storage space-as many of us rolling in bowriders are.

For example, my home lake is relatively small and the lakes that I trailer to within a few hours are ones where I'll be joining people and boating with them all weekend. Therefore, my "tools" that I take on the water on board with me are limited to a cell phone, one of those screwdrivers with the multiple tips stored in the handle, and a medium-sized crescent wrench. If I have a problem that requires more than that I'm either able to call for help, not far from a place I can get help, or I'm boating next to someone who can help me out. Yes, I'm playing the odds based on the fact that my 2007 has 50 hours on it and I'm assuming it is in good shape. But, it keeps me from overloading my storage areas so that I'll have plenty of room for beer and women. :mrgreen:

Obviously, boating alone on a large body of water would completely change that.

A few other things:

1. Sufficient sized Danforth anchor and sufficient amount of anchor rode (general rule is 7-10 times the depth of the water where you will be anchoring);
2. Water toys (tubes, rafts, skis, wakeboards, ski/wakeboard ropes & handles, 60'+ rope to pull tubes, etc.)
3. Beach towels, drink coozies, sunscreen, can of wet wipes, roll of paper towels, small container for trash (or a small roll of kitchen bags) and other "creature comforts" (to accommodate food, beer, and women on board)
4. A few hand towels/rags to wipe up spills, dirt, etc. that will bug the $H!T out of you since it is brand new.
5. Paddle, extra prop, proper tools for changing prop. Hey you never know... I don't carry these because I have a Bravo III drive and haven't made it a point to afford a spare set of SS props. Expensive. :shock: Everyone *should* carry an extra prop, especially anyone with a single-prop drive. (I know, I'm a bad boy.)

Check with your dealer to see if they'll be including any of the safety stuff Mike mentioned in his #1. My boat came with a "Coast Guard Package" that included the anchor, rode, fire extinguisher, docking lines, a six pack of Offshore Life Vests.

Even if you don't have your own comfy life jacket to start with, you MUST have a life jacket for every person on board. If you've got any kids coming out with you, check your state rules/regs. In Missouri, any child 7 years or less has to be wearing a life jacket WHENEVER on board-regardless of whether the motor is running or if they are out of the water. Make sure you know the rule for kids in Virginia.

Be prepared to take all of your registration information with you in a Ziploc (waterproof) bag. This is especially true if you won't be licensing it and putting your letters/numbers on the bow right away.

Finally, I'm not familiar with the area you'll be boating in but if there is any chance you'll be in federally controlled waters make sure you are familiar with ALL of the federal rules/regs. I think you said you're new to boating and I think someone recommended you take a course. I wholly agree with that. Even if you can't get out to one somewhere, at least take the online practice test for Virginia at http://www.boat-ed.com/. It is free, and you can take it 100 times if you'd like. You'd be surprised how much you can learn just by doing that.
Author:  230 Mike [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
Goooooood stuff. I'll add one thing. Whether your delivery will be on-water with the dealer or by yourself, take along a bottle of the correct power steering fluid. Some boats (mine included) have been delivered low on PS fluid. They appear to be full until the steering is exercised for awhile, but in reality the reservoir was full but the lines were all empty. So on initial use the lines fill up, the reservoir runs low, and the pump can be damaged. I think this is a FW thing, not a Volvo or Merc thing. So take a bottle along and check it after 15 minutes or so of running.

I added this to my first reply in case it's of any use.
Author:  pet575 [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
One other thing I forgot to mention: you should have a few extra life jackets on board if you're going to be boating with/near other friends with their own boats.

I saw my dad learn this lesson the hard way when I was a kid. We were anchored up with some friends and tied to their boat. My parents needed to buy a couple of bags of ice from the nearest marina, and their friends wanted to go grab a few things as well. My brother and sister stayed behind on the other boat, but took their life jackets because my dad made them. We took on 2 adults who didn't bring their life jackets with them (nobody thought about it). We pulled out of the cove and around a bend and Officer Friendly of the MO Water Patrol was right there and pulled us over so that he could perform what they like to call a "courtesy inspection." Needless to say, my dad received a ticket.

I've found that many people don't follow the life jacket rule, and think nothing of boarding your vessel from theirs without a life jacket. It doesn't seem like a big deal at the time, but it can put you in a bad spot. So, throw a few extras in the very corners of the boat's storage hatches in case you get a few extra folks on board somehow. Then you can have them out and "readily accessible" if you ever get pinched.
Author:  christiantrevor [ Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
Jason, my boat came with the essentials. Anchor, 2 fenders, 2 white dock lines, 4 bright 1950's style orange life vests, a throwable flotation device and a fire extinguisher. While I was waiting for my boat to arrive I purchased 4 color matching fenders, color matching dock lines, modern style water sports life vests for myself and the family, a box anchor and a spike anchor (from Slide Anchor), 2 American Outdoor soft ice chests, a 12 volt vacuum cleaner, a 12V mini high output air compressor, 2 wake boards, Air head inflatable towable, 3 different tow lines (for sking, tubing, wake boarding) and a hand crank blender. I highly reccomend the soft ice chest. Where I store the boat they have free ice. I use the soft cooler bag to transport ice from the machine to the boat loading the ice chests on board. Then I fill the bags to capacity and store them in the ski locker. I can keep ice cubed for three days in 100 degree+ weather. They dont leak! Now there's no more $2.75 half gallon bags of dock ice. The ice chest Four Winns supplied me does not keep ice very long.
Author:  jason24 [ Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: odds and ends
Wow this is a lot of good information. I have taken an online boaters exam already and plan to look through it here and there. I will be taking an in class exam when I can fit one into my calander.

The list keeps adding up like I knew it would. My boat does come with a coast guard package from the dealer like most mentioned a few life jackets, anchor, tube, a few ropes, fire extinguisher, and a few other things.

Thanks again for all the input so far, I'm sure I will forget something and please keep adding to this list.
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