Greetings from Old Hickory Lake in Tn

[Sparks5501]

We are Heather and Mack McIntosh. We live in Portland, TN. We have always dreamed of living on a boat. We bought our first one 4 months ago. It's a 2000 Donzi Z275. Next week we are finally going on a shakedown cruise to test everything out and to learn about the navigation system. I am so excited I can't sleep. We plan on doing the great loop in sections.

[Don C L]

Welcome aboard Heather and Mack! Good luck in your travels and keep us posted!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Heather & Mack.

[hobopacket]

Welcome!
Good things it's in sections. That looks fuel hungry like mine

[xlongboarder]

That's a nice first boat!

[Sparks5501]

Took the Roundabout on a shakedown cruise out on Old Hickory Lake. Already know that the engine and the hull are in good shape. Runs like a scared rabbit (up to 38 mph). Does some tight turns. On the interior, had to rip out some of the wood backed panels due to rot. Replaced all of the wood with Starboard. Designed an organizer for the Galley since that had to go too. Found out how to use the head. Also found out that the heating element in the water heater needed to be replaced and the pump on the waste tank doesn't work. Once we get these things fixed we will be ready in earnest to hit the rivers.
She is parked behind the house right now on the trailer. Some nights I go out there and sleep in the aft berth. I am very anxious to get the kinks out so we can get up and go.

I do have some questions that I will ask on one of the other forums.
I am looking forward to this new adventure. This is a dream come true for me.

[Sparks5501]

hobopacket, its a Donzi after all. They quit making cruisers and only make fast boats now. She cruises very nicely at about 10mph. Haven't put enough miles under our belt to find out how far we can go on a tank. It is a wamping 7.4 bravo three mercruiser.

[donlentz83]

Hello guys.. Welcome to the forums I as well am new here. I just wanted to say how good it is to hear from someone from my old stomping grounds.. Actually Im from Lebanon TN, worked in Smyrna at the Nissan Plant. Good luck living on your boat in Tennessee as all those lakes are man made and you cannot live on them, unless you have someone that will let you use their home address as yours... I looked into this after coming home from Japan and serving in the Marines.. If you accomplish this please let me know how you did it for my education only..

[Sparks5501]

Donlentz83, thank you for your reply. We plan on doing the Great Loop a section at a time. Old Hickory Lake is the closest water connected to a river. We did our shakedown cruise there. So soon as we get all the kinks out of the boat we will e ready to go.

[hobopacket]

Well my 25' wellcraft gets roughly 2mpg average. That's about 50/50 planning versus no wake speed.

You should do roughly the same. I have a 65 gallon tank so I don't go over 100 miles before next fill up.

I suggest changing the fuel/water separator if you haven't already. Just a good thing before you head out

[Sparks5501]

hobopacket, that is a great idea. I will remind Mack to check it out. He is the mechanic in the family. Found out that we have a 103 gal fuel tank too.