What Was First Thing You Did In Your New Boat

[Tom Stormcrowe]

First thing? Spent some money.

[jaxmariner]

Drove down to get my first look at her with every tool I own and delusions of grandeur that I would be able to get her home (from St Pete, FL to Jacksonville, FL) with minimal effort. After getting overwhelmed with EVERYTHING systems wise, bought a bottle of Sailor Jerry's and sat in the cockpit thinking "what the hell did I get myself into". Just then fireworks started going off (literally - and for no apparent reason - it wasn't a holiday or anything) from downtown St Pete. And I thought, "ok, THIS is what I signed up for...

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by jaxmariner

Drove down to get my first look at her with every tool I own and delusions of grandeur that I would be able to get her home (from St Pete, FL to Jacksonville, FL) with minimal effort. After getting overwhelmed with EVERYTHING systems wise, bought a bottle of Sailor Jerry's and sat in the cockpit thinking "what the hell did I get myself into". Just then fireworks started going off (literally - and for no apparent reason - it wasn't a holiday or anything) from downtown St Pete. And I thought, "ok, THIS is what I signed up for...

Baseball game?

My opinion is it is just a matter of priorities and taking one thing at a time. Good function win over good looks.

And most importantly, "better" is the enemy of "good."

Couple of examples - I am top overhauling my diesel. Everyone is advising me that "while ya got it this far. Rip the bottom end out and finish it." Better is the enemy of good.

Foredeck paint. "Why stop at the rub rail. Go to the waterline and finish it. And while your at it why not tent and spray instead of roll and tip." Better is the enemy of good.

The boat on my right has been on the hard for 14+ months. The one on the left about 12. The one on the left is basically a fiberglass hull...

I like to sail and work on my boat to show her some love and to make her seaworthy, not a trophy wife.

[Travelnik]

1. Sat in cockpit dreaming of future voyages.

2. Cleaned out wasp nests and spiders.

3. Paid marina to look after her.

4. More dreaming.

5. Joined the US recession. (Stupid move!)

6. Had her stolen by marina owner.

7. Spent the next 7 years trying to find her again.

8. Found her and got her back.

9. Now it's time for restoration.

10. More dreaming...

[Therapy]

We were lucky I guess.

Virtually new boat.

Inventory done on weekend of survey and acceptance.

After another couple of weeks.....

Changed all engine fluids.
Checked transmission and drive leg fluid levels.
Filled, chlorinated, drained and refilled water tanks and all plumbing.
Took her home from Stuart FL to Hudson FL.

[savoir]

Somewhere out there is someone who just stepped aboard and turned the key . . . . . . . like they do in the brochures.

[Winter River]

The first time we turned the key we couldn't figure out how to turn the engine off. (You have to leave the key on and press the red button. The red button does nothing if the key is turned off. Good to know.)

The first thing I did? I opened the compartments and photographed what I found. We were a long day's drive from the boat, so it was helpful to be able to see everything.

[svmariane]

The very first thing? Beers on the aft deck!

[JazzyO]

First thing? Some champagne as we motored her out of the marina (last October). Winter was fast approaching and the lines were off so no sailing possible. Then took her out of the water and after 7 months of drying out, completely restored the hull. Designed a new look, had her painted.

And yesterday, we broke open the champagne again and sailed her!! Here I'm giving Neptune first sip.

Sailing her again this afternoon!


Onno

[sharpey]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Baseball game?

My opinion is it is just a matter of priorities and taking one thing at a time. Good function win over good looks.

And most importantly, "better" is the enemy of "good."

Couple of examples - I am top overhauling my diesel. Everyone is advising me that "while ya got it this far. Rip the bottom end out and finish it." Better is the enemy of good.

Foredeck paint. "Why stop at the rub rail. Go to the waterline and finish it. And while your at it why not tent and spray instead of roll and tip." Better is the enemy of good.

The boat on my right has been on the hard for 14+ months. The one on the left about 12. The one on the left is basically a fiberglass hull...

I like to sail and work on my boat to show her some love and to make her seaworthy, not a trophy wife.

Glad you neglected to mention the one opposite


First thing I did was to sail it up north to where she sits now... waiting for the hull below the waterline to be re-glassed... the engine to be put back in, the thruhulls to be changed... the mast to be put back up with new rigging... the steering cables to be changed... etc etc etc...

It's going to be an awesome Christmas present though

[WebWench]

Right after we agreed to buy the boat we started planning and provisioning for the three day trip it would take from the Sellers marina to ours. We planned on sailing when we could but motoring if the winds were not favorable. The seller actually made the trip with us spending most of the time teaching us how to sail her best, as well as educating us on all the systems...ie, water maker, wind generator, solar panels, wiring, instruments, ais, chartplotter, thru hulls, storage areas, spars, auto pilot etc.

Needless to say it was an intense three days. But he surprised us with a bottle of champagne when we got to our dock!

This was definitely the way to go because even though the boat is ten feet longer than our old one and way, way more complicated, we got to operate everything and boost our confidence level. All boats should change hands this way.
We still keep in contact with the seller and he has been hugely helpful in answering our questions!

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by sharpey

Glad you neglected to mention the one opposite

<snip>

It's going to be an awesome Christmas present though

I would never...

Come on Christmas!

I hate being on the hard...

[Greenhand]

Vacuum out the dead bugs.

[S/R Smith]

We bought our boat in April. We loaded the boat with our stuff, moved her to a marina where we could ready her for the trip home (needed better ground tackle, a better GPS --apparently was a marina queen) and enjoyed a great trip up the Gulf to our home marina.

Then the real work began.........

[haiqu]

Went to where it was supposed to be on a swing mooring, looked out to reassure myself it actually existed. Yes, I bought her sight unseen. Pissing rain, looked like it was going to be that way for a month so I got back in the van and drove north to better weather.