Conference vicki::boats

re <<< Note 1136.0 by NWD002::WIELAND_DE "Dogs, Cameras, Boats - what else is there?" >>>
>                            -< Boat going in soon! >-

	Lucky U !

>    Does anyone have any good advice about what to watch out for when
>    putting one's boat in the water (as opposed to keeping it in dry
>    storage)?  I'm going to put my boat in the water this ski season
>    (starting at the end of Jan. for me!) for easier access.  It's fresh
>    water (Lake Washington) but I'm sure there's salt water in there from
>    the Puget Sound.  Any thing special I should do?

	Other than  "de-winterize"  it first and make sure all the 
	plugs and hoses and things are right  - -  No (-:

	By de-winterize I mean errr,  whatever it is that people who 
winterize their boats have to undo in the spring time - like getting 
the anti-freeze out of the block without dumping it in the 
lake/river/ocean/wherever, (re)charging the battery, maybe replace the 
pump impeller, etc.

>    Thanks!
    
>    Deb

	Y'Welcome

	Reg

hmmmm, "end of Jan."  sez she....   hear that Rick ? (-:

    
    	I'd say other than "recommisioning" it would be quite important
    to know that the bilge pump was going to work if called upon, meaning
    that not only should the pump itself be in good shape and of the right
    capacity, but the battery needs to be up to the job also. BTW: Might
    want to double check what console switches control what pieces of
    hardware, cuz on my Nautique they wired the bilge pump to the "Ignition"
    breaker on the dash. In this scenario, if the captain thought he was
    merely shutting off all the electrical  stuff to the dash, s/he might
    not realize that the Auto-bilge pump was also being disabled.
    
    	Also, minimize the pump's work by covering the boat with a proper cover
    that keeps most of the rain out.
    
    Rick
    
    Skiing in January, huh????

    i don't know you climate in washington state. if your ready to lauch
    
    (i'm envious) if your near some shore power, stay plugged in,
    
    if you have a battery charger, keep it on. this way a bilge pump
    
    is sure to stay running. also as rick mentioned a cover is ideal.
    
    an extra line or 2 wouldn't hurt either, in case of some unexpected
    
    wind or storms. if you used ethelyne glycol antifreeze, recover it
    
    and dispose of it properly.  also how far do you have to travel to 
    
    get to the boat?
    
    i would like to be of more help but again don't know you jan climate.
    
    here its real cold in jan, usualy for extended periods of time.
    
    we're not usually recomssioning until spring, can you say May.
    
    JIm

    Fenders -- Fenders -- Either these or some sort of rub rail on the
    dock.
    
    The bilge pump should have some sort of float switch on it to turn on
    when the level in the bilge gets to a pre-set level.  There are two
    kinds -- The electronic one for about $50.00 and the mechanixal one for
    about $28.00.
    
    You may wish to wire the float switch into a separate console switch
    connected directly to the battery -- That way you can enable/disable
    the float switch when U want because U have a parallel connection to
    the pump --  This gives U the option to turn on the pump when u want.
    
    January boating -- Hmmmm.
    
    Regards,
    
    
    Dennis
    pump whenever U want -- 

    Folks,
    
     I'd look at all the standard start of season stuff - tune-up if
    needed, clean up interior / vinyl treatment, check for all paperwork
    (registration, maps, stuff some emergency fluid money in the glove box 
    ( this can be gas or beverage!), look at you prop one last time, wax
    the bottom of the hull ( or bottom paint ), teak oil on the swim
    platform.
    
     When you firt launch / start, lift the engine cover and look at all
    the hoses / stopcocks that were loosened to winterize to be sure they
    aren't leaking.
    
     Check quantities of all the accessories, ski slime to get the ski on,
    sunglasses, hats, towels, sweatshirts. 
    
     Have a blast!
    
     Chuck

    Thanks for all your help, gang!!  I know you're all seething with
    envy, however, it's not like I'm going to don my two-piece bathing suit
    and put plenty of #20 lotion on or anything!  We're talking get out the
    slicker and duck boots, ok?  
    
    The weather is usually around 60 degrees
    in Jan./Feb but the water is like glass and not a soul is on the lake. 
    In the winter or spring I can shoot across the lake in 15 minutes to my
    favorite restaurant, in the summer, it can take 45 minutes!!  
    
    Happy boating and holidays!
    
    Deb
    

    
    In the case you just stated, just launch you boat as you normally
    
    would.  To me, in my case i have a routine i've followed for 
    
    many years.  60 degrees hmmmmmmm, not bad.
    
    
    JIm

    If freezing of the water around the hull of the boat is an issue you
    will need a method to stir the water via one of those electric pumps
    that sits on the bottom of the lake or air injection into the water.
    I guess freezing isn't an issue for you?
    
    I think your biggest issue is the bilge pump and making sure it has
    a reliable source of power. If your checking the boat weekly tht
    won't be much of an issue, but if your leaving the boat a month or
    more unchecked you better give this issue more thought. Using a 12
    volt battery with a trickle charger will help but if you have a steady
    leak the trickle charge won't be able to keep up with the demand. If
    you 'float' the battery on a charger you will overcharge the battery
    and damage it.  If you leave the battery un trickle charged on its own
    you run the risk of it running down completely.
    
    If you have a reliable source of 120 volt AC you might want to consider
    hooking the bilge pump up to the CHARGER and bypassing the battery.  OR
    you could install a 120 volt submersible pump (with automatic
    actuation) directly to shore power.
    
    Jeff

    Gee I don't know 60 deg. Kind of cool to me. Course I was thinking of
    running the boat this weekend just to keep the cobwebs from forming. 
    I just hope it doesn't COOL Down to 60 degrees. Tee Hee. Sorry we are
    setting temp records here in So Cal.We haven't been below 73 in 3
    weeks.

re:-1

>>Sorry we are setting temp records here in So Cal.We haven't been below 73 
>>in 3 weeks.

	It was +8deg on my way to work this am and it dropped
	2 more as I drove in :-(

	I believe you when you say your sorry........NOT ;^)
	Wish I was there too.....How far are you from ocean lauch?

	-< Tuna Tail >-
	

    Yup, we are supposed to get a foot of snow tonight... eat your heart
    out Southern Calif.
    
    BUT, we don't have mudslides, huge brush fires, big earthquakes,
    volcanoes, or any of that stuff. I think I prefer the snow.
    
    Jeff
    

    If I stand on my roof I can see the ocean and Anacapa island, 11 miles
    off shore. I have a low profile Tahiti ski boat so it doesn't go in the
    ocean. By the way yes we have all the above "natural disasters" but we
    don't have pipe freezing, icy roads, driving sleet or hurricanes.
    We all have our disasters to bear.

    Boys, boys, boys, stop bickering.  We all have *boats*, that's what's
    important - no matter where we live!!  Both sides of the coast have
    what's most important, water!

    Yes but at least I can plan on my boat still existing in the Spring
    having not been consumed in a fire, earthquake, mudslide, tasmanai,
    or sliding in to the Pacific.
    
    Just ribbing.  Smile
    
    Jeff

    Jeff
    	just a note to let you know I'm still here. Neither Living on the
    fault line or the TFSO got me. To tell you the truth I sweat the latter
    the most. My office is now my car but thats the way it should be. Hope
    you guys are finally thawing out.
    :,>. Ray