OT: buying boat

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12414206#post12414206 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ladyfsu
Thanks VERY much for all the info here guys! I hope you don't care, but I have LOTS more questions to ask in the coming dates (like Dunedin reef?).
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http://www.pinellascounty.org/UTILITIES/reef/default.htm


Well...we bought the boat :o We pick it up Wednesday. I took it out yesterday about 3 miles and it was actually pretty rough and windy out at 4, and it was AWESOME! I didn't want to test drive on a super smooth day. I can't believe I can see things in Hudson and see Tarpon at the same time!!!!!! Driving on US 19 makes it seem so far! I think my husband feels bad now. All we used to do on the east coast is play on boats, but he grew up over here. He never realized that I've never been out on the Gulf even though all I ever talk about is fishing/boating etc - we've been here since '98!!
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Congrats... you'll love it!



It comes with the latest USCG "package" -- lots a goodies.
A cool fishing/ski package.
Compass, sink and another freshwater holding thing, little potty, storage, livewell, stereo, canopy, rod storage under floor, depth and fish finder (not a GPS), 150 free days of SEATOW.


I'm going out today to buy charts, first aid type stuff and cleaning supplies to try to keep it nice. It will be kept in the in-laws big yard. GPS and radio are on the list soon.
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GPS, GPS, GPS... the best investment you'll make for your boat! Also a VHF marine radio...


Spray Nine (walmart in the boating section) is a great cleaner.

303 protectant will keep your vinyl looking good and protected from the sun.

Put Star Tron gas additive in the tank between trips. (always leave your gas tanks full of fuel).

Run salt-away through the engine EVERY TIME when flushing. It's great stuff and will save you lots of money in the future!

"fluid film" is a great lubrication and protectant for external metal parts (used anywhere you would use WD40). It's kinda hard to find locally though but worth ordering.




Friday we have no school, and we'll go play. This is funny --- hubby wants to practice a couple hours on Thursday in his parents yard backing in and parking the boat because he doesn't want to look like an idiot at the boat ramp (hee hee that's makes me laugh).
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Thats what everyone should do! practice, practice, practice...

Remember, when you pull up to the ramp area, go away from where people are launching their boats and do all of your pre-check stuff. Drain plug in, straps off, unplug trailer lights, mooring lines and bumpers hooked on,, coolers, towels, etc go in the boat. THEN go to the ramp area and put the boat in. Especially on the weekends or during busy times.

Don't rush yourself at the ramp though. It's better to look like an idiot, then to actually be an idiot and do something stupid.

Put a note on the dashboard "DRAIN PLUG IN? MOTOR TILTED UP?"

Everyone has done it... either you forgot to put in the plugs at launch, or you forget to pull the motor up when taking the boat out of the water.


My next thing will be to:

1. find boat ramps from Hudson to Dunedin mostly, but we also spend some weekends south of that with family.
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A little south of that is the Seminole boat ramp in Clearwater. Thats really the only good public boat ramp in that area (north of Tarpon Springs, I'm not sure about). The Belleair boat ramp is closed for the next ~2yrs or so. Ft. Desoto ramp is nice and a great area, at the South tip of Pinellas county.

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/ramp_fee.htm



2. Find cool places to go. Places to fish, snorkel, learn to scallop, goof off with the kids!
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Anywhere on the water you can do most of that... Just watch out for the scalloping though. During open season (July 1st-Sept10) you must be NORTH of the Pasco-Hernando County line the ENTIRE TIME. You cannot bring your boat south of that line with any scallops on board, even just to dock it.


...live from the Dunedin reef! (yes, I bring my laptop sometimes!) :D
 
OMGOSH OMGOSH The video from the artificial reef is AWESOME! I think a group of us are going to get certified in the next month for the artificial reef project we're doing at our school.

Are there any cool places to snorkel under 10 ft? Or can we just scoot around and hop in and look? I'm still a little freaky about sharks, but I know that's an "in my head" type of thing.

Isn't there a ramp thats OK near the powerplant in Tarpon? I heard that somewhere. - or is that the Anclote Park one?

Laptop? Really??? Sadly, I can't stand going anywhere without it. It's free in Clearwater and Dunedin, right? How far out, and north and south, can you go and still use it?

Thank you for all of this info. I haven't gone through it all yet.
 
OK, next questions. I guess I could research it for a while, but you guys have already had to learn all this so I'm going straight to the local "experts."

Where can I find good marine forecasts, and tide prediction charts?

Have things come back pretty well yet from the red tide 3 yrs ago?
 
the ramp near the power plant is in the anclote park but as someone else mentioned you might want to get some experience before you use it because the current there is very strong making it a difficult ramp to use. the ramp next to hooters in port richey is easy to use and when you go out to anclote that way you get to see all the stilt houses at the mouth of the river. good luck and have fun boats are a blast
 
Anytime your out on the water its well worth it! My wife and I occasionaly frequent the Anclote area in our 16' center console 'Key Largo' when we arent sailing our other boat. Another great area is up the Anclote..on the other side of Alt 19. Great fishing!

Our fishing boat has a 50hp Merc and gets us up to 25 knots, with 2 people. Its really only made for up to 4...but its economical, we can typically go for two all day fishing trips and only use 20 gallons.

I would highly reccomend some sort of boating safety course such as Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxilliary, with will help your confidence level and help with situational awareness when your around other fast moving boats, regarding who has Right-of-Way. Also helps with explaining the complexitites of of idle zones, power boat zones...etc etc.

GPS is great but chart reading is essential, as well as weather prediction. Its all fun, just be a good Scout..and be prepared before you go.
 
Thanks! How far do you ever take your 16' out? What size waves?

We actually feel pretty confident with the boat driving. We used to drive and gas-up boats, and take them out plenty, for the boat rental people that worked below our boathouse. You should have seen the hubby park in a tropical storm - no kidding - and it was impressive.

He's just scared of the trailor.
 
We will take our 16 footer out in the Gulf about 3 miles to the artificial reef offshore at Anclote. When the wind is down under 5 knots and it's going to stay down for a few hours, its usually safe. Mostly we hover around Anclote..and the back bay areas. We also spend time around Egmont..and the Skyway. we have to be real carefull with winds..if its going to get over 12+ we tend to find lee shores or go sailing. We have had occasions where we took small waves over the bow..in 4' seas and its not fun to repeat that, so we get cautious in wind in the 16 footer.

However when we take our 32' sailboat out, we go out in anything...12+ is preferred, big seas are not an issue then. Safety and being cautious and smart are the key. Know your boats limitations.

Tis time of year you can run into huge schools of Bluefish and Spanish Mackeral between Anclote and the mainlaind..so going farther out isn't really required to catch fish and have fun. Plus it's a good place for Trout all along the grass beds.

Have fun!
 
We went out yesterday. Dropped in at Hooters, and all went well. We watched another boat and learned a couple tricks.

We went out and headed to Anclote Island. I think we went out way farther than we had to because we were worried about the unknown and sandbars. We drove 5 minutes past the last stilt house before heading south. We were headed almost directly into the wind (gusts to 25 we found out later), and waves were pretty big. We had fun but my folks would have hated it.

We hung out for a bit on the north/west side of the island and then later on the south east side. Couldn't believe all the dolphin near us at so many times! We goofed around several places around there. I caught baitfish everywhere.

Later we went to Anclote Park/powerplant to check out the ramps. There was no current and it was very nice. On our way home we contemplated cutting through the northeast side of the island to save 20 minutes. Then a big boat hauled passed us that way, so we just followed. That saved us lots of time. The wind/waves had completely died by 2:30. My son and I (life jackets on) jumped in with masks at 5 ft. and held on to the roaps and drifted for about 10 minutes. That was amazing but I started getting spooked so we got out.

The ride back took 1/2 the time as getting there.

We're going out tomorrow with some friends. My husband's sitting at Anclote this morning watching people and where to park etc. The current is very strong. It's like listening to a game on the phone with him. A boat starts to slip from someone, he's yelling to me "can she save it? it's going to hit the other boat. OH! she saves the boat just in time." It's really funny!

Our next thing will be a GPS. Does this one look OK? We never plan on going out past 10 miles, but I seriously doubt we'll ever go past 5-ish. Definately depends on the day. We're not looking for fancy, but just to get the job done.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...rue&storeNum=5003&subdeptNum=3&classNum=10881

Thanks.
Can you believe I'm sore today? I don't even know what I did yesterday to cause that!!!!...probably the rough ride out there, and then throwing the cast net so much too.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12414206#post12414206 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ladyfsu

Friday we have no school, and we'll go play. This is funny --- hubby wants to practice a couple hours on Thursday in his parents yard backing in and parking the boat because he doesn't want to look like an idiot at the boat ramp (hee hee that's makes me laugh).
Click to expand...

How did it go?
 
before GPS, I would get maps, marking sandbars (in pencil), bring two cellphones (in plastic bags) and a portable marine radio (no installation)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12461788#post12461788 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BlitzK
How did it go?
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Check last post on 2nd page. The kids woke up at 6 today and said "Is today another boat day?"

We did have 2 cell phones in bags, and hubby is on way home with a new handheld radio.
 
I saw the post, that is why I mentioned the handheld radio, also a fire extingusiher is a great idea, even if you don't do any cooking on board, but then so are spare gas cans and a second battery (charge it with jumpers from the first one, but keep it offline), oh, and also a hand operated bilge pump for when the powered one fails...

sounds like a lot of fun, my freind just sold her deck boat for way too cheap, I am so mad at her!
 
doah! I don't know how I missed the post about you going out...

The 76CSx is a decent GPS and will get the job done for sure. Don't forget that the cost of it doesn't include the Bluechat GPS maps ($150-$350) if you want waterway details.

I would suggest Garmins new "colorado" line (the 400c to be exact). It comes preloaded with the bluechart G2 data. It's got a bigger screen, better software, and is their new/current GPS.


I went out friday as well. The water was rough up that way and also south of sand key. Between Sand key and three rooker, it was much nicer.
 
I'm glad to see we did OK in the rougher water. That gave us an idea what we are comfortable with.

We DO have a fire extinguisher, hand bilge pump and a second battery.

Apparently my husband changed his mind while at West Marine. He came in withOUT a radio (he's getting a different one next week), but came in with charts and the Garmin GPSMAP 400 - now THAT'S kind of ironic! Is that the same is the 400c? When he found out that we had to buy those other maps, he decided that wasn't the way to go.
 
They make a 300, 400i, 400c. If you got a "400" from West Marine, it was a "C". the "i" model is for inshore lakes and rivers, "c" for coastal waters. The 300 is the same but without any detailed maps loaded.

It's a great GPS. Just remember to bring extra AA batteries!
 
I messed up on the name. It's a GSPMAP 440. Reading about it now. I don't see anywhere for batteries (yet!).
 
Yes, when is our raft party now that I have a raft???? :dance: :beer: :dance: SOON I HOPE :) so far I know how to get from Hooters to Anclote to Howard Park and back, lol! That's about it. I keep hearing about other places and I plan to find them ALL this summer!

Where do you think I should go next? Shoot me some GPS numbers to find places...and if you insist, you can even tell me your best fishing hole
:strooper:

I really want to go to Caledesi...never been there.
 
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