1st time - newbie to all things boating ...

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bigimac
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2015 10:07 pm

1st time - newbie to all things boating ...

#1 Post by bigimac » Sun Aug 02, 2015 2:50 pm

Hello all - new to forum & all things boating, including pontoons (thankfully we do have family that's quite experienced … & opinionated) - last week, bought a Harris SL230 with lots of extras; has a Mercury 250 verado pro & tower. Got all the life jackets, ropes, flags, towels, & cleaning stuff ...

Friday was filled with 1st's … storing everything, dragging 35' of trailer (up the mountain), figuring out how to put up bimini's, unloading from trailer, docking, no wake zones, rpm-trim-speed, avoiding crazy-assed over loaded boats & jet skis, drifting, finding the 'best' seats, docking again, taking down bimini's, loading on trailer (took 4 shots but got it finally), wiping things down, putting on travel cover (with poles …), dragging some more (down the mountain), backing into space.

WOW! that's all I can say after our 1st day … just plain f'ing WOW! Everything was smiles, laughter & general wooo-hooo!

Living in the intermountain west, we drag up & down the mountains to get to any lakes - I'm pulling with a 2015 Chevy 3500 SRW crew cab long bed gasser loaded with a slide in camper; Truck & camper w/people & stuff = 10150; haven't weighed the pontoon & trailer but figure GCWR is going to be about 16,500, well within weight & axel GW's.

First modification: better wheels & tires (2000 LBS load C or D); 2nd first mod: electric disc brakes on both axels - I do not like surge; also having a Mercury SmartCraft gauge installed this week; then a custom full enclosure.

So … thanks in advance for the welcomes & more to follow, including pictures!

Next week we're off the Flaming Gorge for both formal christening & several days of figuring things out. We'll be visiting Lake Mead & Lake Powell just after labor day & hope to get in a few more local lakes (Strawberry, Starvation, Fish Lake & such). Oh boy - here we go!
2015 Harris Grand Mariner 23' tritoon
2015 Mercury 250 Verado Pro
2015 Chevy 3500HD crew long bed gasser
2013 Capri Camper El Grande (slide in)

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Coldbrew
Posts: 254
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:16 pm
Location: Bedford, NH

Re: 1st time - newbie to all things boating ...

#2 Post by Coldbrew » Sun Aug 02, 2015 4:50 pm

Wow!

Hi and welcome. :-)
2014 Premier Gemini 201
Tow Vehicle: 2019 F-150
Home Port: Newfound Lake, NH

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smltooner
Posts: 2814
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:53 pm
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Re: 1st time - newbie to all things boating ...

#3 Post by smltooner » Mon Aug 03, 2015 12:05 am

Welcome to the club.
That sure is a way to get your feet wet.
SMLTOONER
Ted & Emily
2019 Bennington 21SL Tri-toon
2019 Yamaha 150 HP
Smith Mtn. Lake, Virginia

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BobG
Posts: 1842
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 6:24 am
Location: Gilpin County, CO

Re: 1st time - newbie to all things boating ...

#4 Post by BobG » Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:05 am

Sounds like you're in Utah? Welcome!
2012 Tahoe 24' Fish-n-Fun Tritoon, with Mercury 115 HP 4-Stroke
"Trine SS Cape" (Trying 2S Cape)
Add a battery: viewtopic.php?t=13546&p=105893#p105893
I'm not a liberal, but I play one on this site.

bigimac
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2015 10:07 pm

Re: 1st time - newbie to all things boating ...

#5 Post by bigimac » Tue Aug 11, 2015 12:33 pm

the basic rig

Image

With 7-people & 3-big dogs on a smooth lake ...

Image
2015 Harris Grand Mariner 23' tritoon
2015 Mercury 250 Verado Pro
2015 Chevy 3500HD crew long bed gasser
2013 Capri Camper El Grande (slide in)

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