Would you do motor 30 miles on a used boat?

island808 · Post by **island808** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:33 pm

So, my "new" 2002

is finally ready. It's at a marina about 1 hour ( in perfect traffic) away by land, about 30 miles up the Chesapeake.

It has a 2002 Honda 50 that's running like a top, so it seems, but it's been sitting for 2 years. The seller had a mechanic go through it and make sure it was ok. Got a new impeller, and About half a skeg, prop and shaft are fine.

Problem is, I want it now... And I don't want to be driving 2 hours to see it and clean etc. (broker said he'd let me hang out in a slip till i get a trailer)I have a marina 10 minutes from my house I want to put it at, but the trailer won't be ready for a week or so ( spanking new venture tandem axle aluminum). I'd love the opportunity to bring it down to the marina by sea, but this will be nearly it's maiden voyage since a couple years of disuse by a stranger ( it still has a current registration till next year, so maybe not all that disused, get my info rough a broker. )

So, is that crazy? I don't trust my sailing to get me very far and I need to replace all the lines/halyards etc.. They're pretty worn but not broken). Should a fairly novice seaman, albeit decent mechanic and technician go that far after just a few minutes/hour put putting around a marina? I can spend all day Friday testing and go down Saturday I suppose, but next week, it's back to work, no time to be running up to Baltimore.

Just looking for someone to talk me in or out of it. Or at least some considerations. I've got the simple things (clean gas, good plugs etc)

fouz · Post by **fouz** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:49 pm

At worst get a seatow/boat us tow membership and get going. $160 iirc. I like the peice of mind.

island808 · Post by **island808** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:54 pm

Was going to get towing on my regular insurance, but I went to the boatus web site, might be a thing... For peace of mind.

Crikey · Post by **Crikey** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 4:37 pm

Not single handed - but I'd suck it up and go for it, if half an hour (or so) of puttering around seemed ok. How about tow insurance coverage first?

R.

Post by **dlandersson** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 5:17 pm

It's what they know.

island808 wrote:Was going to get towing on my regular insurance, but I went to the boatus web site, might be a thing... For peace of mind.

Johnacuda · Post by **Johnacuda** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 5:30 pm

I live about 32 miles up river (The Hudson) from where I work, and I will take my 2000

down on Friday mornings so I can go out after work.

Fast cruise, (well, pretty close to WOT) , I can make it dock to dock in just over 2 hours. it is not a bad trip at all. Make sure you have your basic tool kit plus phone, radio and safety equipment. (2) 6-gallon gas tanks and a spare 5-6 gallon can under the helm, Take it easy, don't push it, 12-13 knots and you should be planning (semi-planning) without really stressing the motor. Keep an eye on your gauges for temp and oil pressure. and you will be fine.

If the mast is up, check the standing rigging. I personally don't like motoring with the mast down, and I'm certain I'd hate having it fall.

Take a friend, or better yet, if you have a friend with a boat you can caravan.

Good Luck!

island808 · Post by **island808** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 6:54 pm

Just quoted up my boatus insurance and checked out their coverages for the "membership". Seems like a thing.

I'm building a plan. This might happen. Good shake down.

Still have to finalize plans/contract with my marina guy. But its all picked out. Rent a slip or just a ramp pass? or ramp pass and lot storage. Sure would be nice to get done with a friday evening of boating and just leave it there till saturday morning.. then come in for lunch and go out again to watch the sun set without stopping to pay a guy or trailer the boat. Then head out again sunday.
Probably pay for the slip this year then see how much I use it before I do the same next year.

Sorry, this is an incredibly vain and self centered "discussion". I'm just excited and well, you know how it goes. Wife's watching "america's got talent" and kids are playing video games. No one wants to just run around the house yelling "boat boat boat boat" like I do. I shouldn't have gone up to see it today. Its like a little girl going to see kittens.

island808 · Post by **island808** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 6:56 pm

Who hoo. Wife "just remembered" a coworker with an

has his in a slip and a currently unused trailer just down the road that he offered. Overall it would mean more driving.... But spread out over several shorter trips. So... I have a plan b... Or plan a. Depending on how I want to do it. (wife is a bit anxious about me running it down solo, and i don't know how long boatus takes to consider you active.)

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 3:11 am

You can drive a car anyday. Carpe Diem and do the solo trip.

File a float plan with the Admiral so she knows you are ok. Evaluate weather before you depart.

I've motored from Baltimore to Elk Neck at night, watch for pots on the edge of the channels.

You will use a lot less fuel at hull speed of 6 knots, maybe cruise half at 6, half at 12.

Johnacuda · Post by **Johnacuda** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 3:45 am

Catigale wrote:You can drive a car anyday. Carpe Diem and do the solo trip.

File a float plan with the Admiral so she knows you are ok. Evaluate weather before you depart.

I've motored from Baltimore to Elk Neck at night, watch for pots on the edge of the channels.

You will use a lot less fuel at hull speed of 6 knots, maybe cruise half at 6, half at 12.

I've tried keeping it at 6 to save gas, then I find myself at 15-17 going boat boat boat boat boat.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 3:51 am

Isn't there a huge Mac Muc-about on the Chesapeake this week? Good time to go if you need assistance!

See DESTINATIONS forum

island808 · Post by **island808** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 5:36 am

There sure is. Sandy point is just around the corner.

And yes... What's the phrase the middle age moms are using?.... " Yolo?"

Normally I would argue, though true philosophically, not an excuse for trudging ahead carelessly. But It is what I feel like doing, and probably won't kill me.

Heck the wife will be at work. She won't have to know about it till I call her from kent island, grounded on some random beach. At least I wouldn't be waiting or towing the boat that's bigger than my van through Baltimore highways and tunnels. I don't know my way around up there. I can compensate with turbo and quick turns in my car. Not so much in a van, carrying a house on a single axle trailer with no sway control.

Boat boat boat

Tomfoolery · Post by **Tomfoolery** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 5:54 am

If it were me, I'd go for it, but not by crashing ahead blindly. I've also been playing around with sailboats of various sizes for a while now - I don't know what your experience level is.

Float the boat, and make sure it's not leaking. Run the engine, hard, and make sure it's not overheating. Clean fuel, fuel filter, lower unit oil, and motor oil.

File a float plan with someone, and take your time. Have charts and know how to use them. GPS will help, but you shouldn't rely on it solely - good if you can read lat/lon so you know where to tell Tow Boat US where to find you. Using the VHF radio that you should be carrying, and make sure it works before you need it. Standard (which is also USCG required) safety gear, including flares, PFD(s), sound device (Freon horn, for instance), bailing bucket, fire extinguisher, etc.

Which brings me to TBUS (or Sea Tow) - have insurance, and a tow policy, and have the phone number(s) and know how to reach them by radio. It's cheap, and on the off-chance you need it, you'll be glad you have it.

But if you choose to tow it, using a trailer you know nothing about, BoatUS insurance can include towing coverage, which is also cheap. Drum brakes can be counted on to drag and burn up, boiling the grease out of the bearings. Make sure you know what to do about that, or rebuild them before moving the boat. It's actually cheaper to just buy the backing plates with shoes and hydraulics already installed than it is to mess around replacing individual parts, and it's harder to get wrong that way. Bearings and lights also - likely to be bad. Lights can be fixed or replaced easily, even in Harbor Freight's parking lot, but wheel bearings take a bit more effort and tools, so be prepared.

island808 · Post by **island808** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 6:15 am

Yea, blindly was a bit hyperbole. I'm hoping to spend the better part of today cleaning up and shaking down. We'll see.

But today's small craft advisory today and threat of one tomorrow... Curse you Poseidon!!!

I'm all about getting rained on. not so much being blown hither and yon or topside down. We will see what the weather will bring.

And if that will slow down the Muck about.

Considering the condition of coworker's boat, I may just wait to get my new trailer rather than try to go 1 hour on the freeway on his. Doesn't mean I won't drag it a few flat miles to my house from a nearby ramp.

Tomfoolery · Post by **Tomfoolery** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 6:29 am

island808 wrote:Yea, blindly was a bit hyperbole.

Oh, sorry - on rereading it, it looks like I was suggesting that's what you're doing, which wasn't the intent.

It was just a generic admonition; hyperbole for effect.

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