www.iFourWinns.com

Well its finally here - the day I pick up the new boat from the dealer!

I'm having trouble concentrating at work it's so exciting!

I've got a list of things to check the dealer has provided and done - does anyone have any tips as to what questions I should be asking or checks I should be making before I drive off with the boat?

Cheers

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti

No suggestions except to make sure that once you get home and really start going over your boat, that you can contact the dealer with a list of items for them to complete....

Congratulations!

Oh - and make sure you have your tow hitch and electrical connectors before you go to the dealer today....

_________________
2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Ha ha ha sounds like the voice of experience!



I've got my tow hitch - I'm presuming they will supply the electrical connectors as they asked whether the car was flat or round electric connector.

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti

WOW!! I can't believe the day is here already. Went by so fast (for us).

Don't forget the boat is behind the car when you take your first corner.

HAVE FUN!

_________________
2010 H190 4.3VP
Tow Vehicle:
2007 F150
Previous boats:
2009 H180 3.0VP
1996 Horizon QX 3.0VP

- Check the ball size matches the coupling size
- Check all your lights work
+1 on going over your boat at home to get used to where everything is and how it works.
- Also, RTFM (Read the F*#g Manual). I spent a few nights doing this and got a better understanding of the boat
- Check you have all the safety gear to meet the regulations. If you don't check, the water police will, but it will cost you!
- Put together a checklist of things to do when towing, and another when launching and retrieving
- Dont forget the drain plug!
- Get together a simple tool box of bits and pieces including a spare key and spare drain plug
- Pick a quiet day (maybe midweek) and go to a local boatramp and practice unloading and loading a couple of times until you get a bit of a system going.
- Once you get the hang of it, then just wait for the good weather to arrive!!

Enjoy, and I'll see you on the bay!

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Foster the best possible relationship you can with your dealer. Your need for their help won't end when you drive away.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Ain't that the truth Mike...!

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Another important tip.... air pressure. Make sure your trailer tires have the proper pressure. Those tires run pretty warm and if the pressure gets too low they overheat and self destruct. Having a blowout on your trailer while driving down the highway sucks... trust me.

A spare tire would be at the top of my list too if you don't already have one.

_________________
2008 FW F204 - 5.0 VP "Stand On It"
Former Boat: Larson 186 LXI - 4.3 VP

How'd it go?

_________________
Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Yeh good thanks, and thanks for all the tips guys. Towed the boat home fine (about 1.5 hours on mixed urban roads). I figured my first big challenge was going to be backing it into the garage, we have an entrance about 3m wide with high gateposts, then an uphill slope of a drive and then the garage. I arrived home at dusk and thought I'd sneak in while everyone was having dinner. No chance! My wife and kids were outside, the lodgers were outside with their cameras and the family across the road were out in their front yard all having a gawp.

Anyway, we got it in OK, although the last few adjustments were a bid hard as manual maneuvering with a tandem trailer is hard going. Will need more practice.

First day on the water in 3 hours!!!

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti

Isn't it cold there?
Still, I'd go out too!

_________________

H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

Not too bad at all -

Melbourne Metropolitan Area - Forecast for the rest of Friday
Partly cloudy. Isolated light showers in the southeast clearing this morning. Light winds. Max 14 Celsius

Port Phillip Local Waters Forecast for Friday until midnight
Winds: Variable winds to 10 knots tending north to northwesterly up to 10 knots later in the evening. Seas: Below 0.5 metres.

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti

How did you go?? You know we are all going to want a full report JB..!!

One thing I forgot on my list - if you're in the bay, you may want to consider using Salt Away or similar when you flush your engine to remove any salt... http://www.salt-away.com.au/pro3.asp

Ships from NZ - takes abut a week or I think you can buy it locally from JV Marine. (I always get mine shipped - lazy!).

I run my engine flushing with fresh water until the thermostat opens (you can feel the water temp that runs out go up and/or the temp gauge will read 170), then switch across to Salt Away for a couple of mins until it starts coming out (you'll see what looks like soapy bubbles). Turn everything off and the job's done. With the leftover Salt Away I hose down the trailer (especially the brakes) and the boat, let it dry then pack it away until next time.

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Great tip! Thanks for that.

We actually didn't end up getting out into the bay. We did our 2 hour course which was excellent and all about launching/retrieving and close quarter maneuvering. Then my wife went off to get the kids from our friends. We decided that after last weeks horrendously rough trip on someone elses boat we wouldn't take them out in the bay again yet if it was rough - and the guy taking the course who is a water policeman stated that although the waves were under .5m the wind was from the West so it would be choppy. So we poodled round Patterson Lakes instead which was OK but I'm not bothered if I don't do it again!

So the forecast for tomorrow for Port Philip is -

Winds: North to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots. Winds tending northerly 15 to 20 knots by early evening, locally reaching 25 knots. Seas: 0.5 to 1 metres increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres later in the evening.

Whereas Westernport is -

Winds: Northerly 5 to 10 knots tending north to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots around midday then tending northerly 10 to 20 knots later in the evening. Seas: Below 0.5 metres increasing to 0.5 to 1 metres later in the evening.

I'm reckoning WesternPort might be a better bet tomorrow - What do you reckon?

Cheers

JB

_________________
2010 Crownline 180BR
3.0 litre Mercruiser
Onyx black Narrow hull and middle deck band
Bimini/Targa, Bow and Cockpit canvas
2000kg tandem Dunbier trailer

Tow vehicle - Nissan Pathfinder Ti