1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

Check in here and say hi!

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
Mr. Eric
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 5:23 pm
Location: Chicago burbs

1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#1 Post by Mr. Eric » Fri Jul 29, 2016 5:35 pm

I am picking the boat up August 12th.. :drool . Can't wait! 24' sun tracker party barge 2016
Unfortunately I am not getting too much help/guidance on typical things I will need.
I.E. Anchor,fenders, dock lines (type, length), certain tools to keep on board.... Etc,etc.
If some folks on this forum would chime in and help me out that would be great. Looking for particulars on any items. Way too many options and I have zero experience but I want good stuff that will last.
I will make a list of all the desired/necessary equipment and purchase all at once before I get the boat. :biggrin2. All help is appreciated!!!

jediger
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 8:24 am

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#2 Post by jediger » Fri Jul 29, 2016 5:59 pm

Box anchor, fish finder for depth and gps speed, battery jump kit if you don't have a spare battery, prop wrench, life jackets.
Pinawa Bay, Manitoba
2014 Premier Cast-a-way 231, PTX; 2014 Evinrude 250HO ETEC

User avatar
teecro
Posts: 1028
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:23 am
Location: Sunset Bay, TN

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#3 Post by teecro » Fri Jul 29, 2016 7:34 pm

If your buying from Bass Pro they will have everything you will need...

4 each 1/2" x 15-foot Double Braid Nylon Mooring Lines
4 each 3/8" x 5-foot Fender Whips
4 each 6" x 23" or larger Docking fenders
1 each 3/8" x 100-foot Nylon Anchor Line
1 each 3/8" x 4 or 5 foot plastic coated Anchor Chain with Screw-Pin Shackle
1 each Anchor suitable sized for your boat
Depth Sounder or Fish Finder (GPS is nice if your lake is large enough to get lost on)
Least 4 (or more) Comfortable Zip Life Vest
Least 1 (or 2) Throw-Able Floatation Devise
Paddle
Boat Hook or Paddle Boat Hook Combo
General First Aid Kit
Good Quality Flashlight not some Dime-Store POS
Basic Tool Kit
Roll of quality electrical tape (Scotch brand 33+ Super)

ROLL OF TOILET PAPER !!!
Last edited by teecro on Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
T CRO
2017 Berkshire CTS 24 RFX with Yamaha F150/Simomized 200
2015 Caravelle 16 EBo with Mercury 90

User avatar
Strake
Posts: 294
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2014 5:17 pm
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, VA

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#4 Post by Strake » Fri Jul 29, 2016 7:47 pm

Welcome, and congratulations on your new boat !!!

First, you might want to ask, or verify with your selling dealer if they are providing you a new boat "safety" package, or equipment package. Mine did, and many dealers do on a new boat purchase.

Included with my boat was 8 life jackets ( orange standard type); 1 Type 4 throwable; 100 feet of 3/8" or 1/2" anchor line; 3 or 4 ft of vinyl coated anchor chain with a shackel to attach it to the anchor. Anchor..... my dealer asked me what type of anchor I preferred. As we are on a sizable lake, the best option for me was a 18 lb River Anchor. First Aid Kit; 2 fenders (medium size: 6.5" X 22"), 4 dock lines ( 1/2" dia X 15 ft long). Adjustable length boat hook.

Depending on where you are boating, you might want to have a GPS on board, or paper charts.

I personally believe in having 2 Marine batteries, WITH a switch. Run the boat on one battery, NOT both. If you stop for hours to swim or fish you can switch to the second battery.

I also keep a Prop Wrench on the boat along with a 10" piece of 2 X 4 wood to use to jamb in the prop when using the prop wrench. I also keep a basic tool kit like you can buy from West Marine in a plastic case.

Here's a picture of the River Anchor type that I use:
Attachments
river.anchor.jpg
river.anchor.jpg (14.94 KiB) Viewed 5058 times
"Strake"
Richard and Angie
Smith Mountain Lake, VA
2015 Berkshire 233 RFX STS
Yamaha F200 LB

User avatar
wwind3
Posts: 1515
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:03 am
Location: Lake Livingston Tx

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#5 Post by wwind3 » Sat Jul 30, 2016 2:46 am

Extra prop---sometimes you don't break one but over time you will spin the hub-esp if you tow people. Pontoon boat is hell on props--it's like pushing a giant loaf of bread thru the water...

Spun aluminum prop out last week-fortunately I was near home and could motor back to my boathouse. Had my SS prop checked and it was slipping also after 2 yrs since last rehub. Cost about 200 bucks to get both back to new condition including repitching my SS prop

Good luck and welcome to the group!
2009 LOWE SS204 25in logs
90 Merc Optimax
Motorguide W55 Wireless
Underskinning
28 GPS

User avatar
Slow Movin Outlaw
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:19 pm
Location: Oklahoma

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#6 Post by Slow Movin Outlaw » Sat Jul 30, 2016 10:36 pm

Short list of what I keep on my toon:
Prop wrench
Extra prop
Bumpers
Rope
Med kit
Toolkit
Drivers
Sockets
Pliers
Test light and multimeter
Good tape
Zip ties
Electrical kit (small) w fuses
Flashlight/spotlight
Rain jacket

I carry some other stuff, but really, have some basic tools, a light, and some stuff to self help yourself and you'll be good. The basics of boat carry is a wide and varied topic that will be dictated by where you operate.
2016 SunTracker 20DLX
Mercury 90HP CT

User avatar
joe20toon
Posts: 867
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 3:59 am
Location: Central Florida

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#7 Post by joe20toon » Sat Jul 30, 2016 11:20 pm

Get a cell phone charging cord that works either USB or the 12 volt receptacle. On some boats, the USB will not charge but, just play music, etc. Make sure yours will charge the phone. Keep the cord/cable onboard at all times - meaning a duplicate, not just one borrowed from the car. :thumbsup
2016 20 foot Sylvan RPT (V Pontoons)
Yamaha Vmax SHO 115HP
80 Pound Thrust RipTide Trolling Motor
Humminbird Helix 7 Side Imaging

User avatar
teecro
Posts: 1028
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:23 am
Location: Sunset Bay, TN

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#8 Post by teecro » Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:25 am

joe20toon wrote:Get a cell phone charging cord that works either USB or the 12 volt receptacle. On some boats, the USB will not charge but, just play music, etc. Make sure yours will charge the phone. Keep the cord/cable onboard at all times - meaning a duplicate, not just one borrowed from the car. :thumbsup
For as much as we rely on our phones today the absolute first thing that I added to our pontoon was a 2nd power outlet and several USB power adaptors as well as extra cords for my phone and the wife's phone too as it used a different plug. To be honest I recently bought a couple more power outlets and plan on installing another so that the front seated passengers can charge their phones too. A 2nd power outlet will be one of the first holes I'll drill for when we bring home the new bow-rider boat too, going to put one over on the passenger dash so the co-pilot can charge up their phone without bothering for mine. On the pontoon I have Blue-Tooth so I use my phone to provide music as well as running a Nav-App or even just Google Maps and/or Speed-App. Guess now I needs to go purchase some extra cords and power adaptors for the new boat... Does it never end?
T CRO
2017 Berkshire CTS 24 RFX with Yamaha F150/Simomized 200
2015 Caravelle 16 EBo with Mercury 90

Mr. Eric
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 5:23 pm
Location: Chicago burbs

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#9 Post by Mr. Eric » Sun Jul 31, 2016 6:27 pm

Thanks Everyone!! Definely some things I wouldn't have thought about. Picking her up on Saturday! Looks like I have my shopping list now as well. Perfect 8)

User avatar
zoom650
Posts: 659
Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:14 pm
Location: Macon, Panama City Beach

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#10 Post by zoom650 » Mon Aug 01, 2016 7:20 am

I don't know where you plan on shopping, but when I "bought big" to equip my boat, two of the big box stores offered a first-time boat buyer 10% discount.

Ask!

Have fun and good luck!
Michael and Laura
'12 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Ecoboost
'14 Harris Solstice 220, P3 tritoon, Mercury Verado 150, Enertia 14p.
prior boat: '02 Century 2600CC, twin Yamaha EFI 200's, full instruments.

User avatar
teecro
Posts: 1028
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:23 am
Location: Sunset Bay, TN

Re: 1st time boat owner picking boat up soon . Need advise

#11 Post by teecro » Mon Aug 01, 2016 7:27 am

zoom650 wrote:I don't know where you plan on shopping, but when I "bought big" to equip my boat, two of the big box stores offered a first-time boat buyer 10% discount.

Ask!

Have fun and good luck!
This was a given when I purchased my Sun Tracker from Bass Pro and came with a card for future purchases in store.... Today I always keep an eye on www.overtons.com as they frequently offer 10, 15 & 20 percent discounts along with free shipping....
T CRO
2017 Berkshire CTS 24 RFX with Yamaha F150/Simomized 200
2015 Caravelle 16 EBo with Mercury 90

Post Reply