First Boat..................have some questions-gctid392799

[Guest]

So I am 43 and have suddenly decided to get a boat for me and the family (wife and kid) to go out and have some fun on. We have a fairly large lake closeby with a boat ramp less than 8 minutes from the door. Seemed like a no brainer right. Well after looking exhaustively with a VERY knowledgeable buddy that technically inspects these prospective boats like the space shuttle before launch I finally found what I think is a really nice little boat. My buddy says I got VERY lucky to find such a pristine boat for the money I wanted to spend.My new boat is a 2003 BL 195BR bowrider with 48HRS on the clock. It has been garage kept all its life and was serviced regularly. It is a really beauty I must say.Anyway I am excited as hell and I am ready to start buying up all my new boat modifications and MUST have items. I am a sports car guy, Corvettes specifically, and really get into modding my cars so I have to be careful not to go "overboard" with this boat thing.Here are some things I figure I need.A good depthfinder. I am looking at this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DERA quality boat cover so that I can mantain the excellent condition of this boat.......not sure what brand and material is the best bang for the buck? I am in NC so it is hot much of the year and snows 1-3 times a year with 2-3 hard freezes.Quality cleaning products. I found this 3M product for vinyl http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...VPDKIKX0DERbut not sure what is best? I use saddle soap on my car seats but I am sure the vinyl in the sun doesnt take the same cleaner as leather????I figure I need a radio in case cell phone signal is gone and the radio also has a severe weather warning on it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DERWhat else? I am trying to keep it cost effective as I put alot of money into my cars and dont want to do the same with this boat. Thanks for all your help.

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/696412=28946-Bayliner 195BR.jpg[/img]

[Vic_Stewart]

A certified boating safety course,,either US Power Squadrons or USCG Aux. You woun't be sorry, and many states are requiring boaters to have a safety course.

Vic

Ft Myers

[Guest]

Vic Stewart wrote:
A certified boating safety course,,either US Power Squadrons or USCG Aux. You woun't be sorry, and many states are requiring boaters to have a safety course.

Vic

Ft Myers

Thank you Sir.

[Guest]

That certainly is a beautiful boat - feel free to brag more!!

Safety gear - first aid kits, flares, horn, etc. They sell these either in kits, or you can get your own toolbox and add the extra items you like.

As for a cover - different folks who know more than me will have better feedback - are you looking for a snap on cover, or one that drapes over the entire boat? I think each has it's own advantages/disadvantages. I personally have the custom fit snap on cover that covers from the base of the windshield all the way back - leaving the bow exposed. Others go with the full cover. Make your own choice there.

[Guest]

Cajun 195BR wrote:
What else? I am trying to keep it cost effective as I put alot of money into my cars and dont want to do the same with this boat.

http://baylinerownersclub.org/media/...95BR.jpg[/img]

Ok, so first - welcome to the BOC. Lot's of great folks here. Just don't bring up rep power and you'll be ok. Now, second - Good luck with the above! This place will suck the money right out of your wallet. Some others with more knowledge and experience will be along shortly but let me see if I can help at all.

Cajun 195BR wrote:
A quality boat cover so that I can mantain the excellent condition of this boat.......not sure what brand and material is the best bang for the buck?

http://baylinerownersclub.org/media/...95BR.jpg[/img]

Since you will be trailering it you will probably want to look into a cover that will allow for that rather than a bow and cockpit cover. Most folks say you shouldn't trailer with a Bow and Cockpit in case the snaps pop off and you end up scratching the heck out of your gelcoat. We bought a full trailer cover from Overtons https://"http://www.overtons.com/mod... like this one and love it But if you plan on leaving it in a slip or on a hoist/lift the investment to have someone locally install one with snaps will make it a ton easier than these trailerable ones.

Cajun 195BR wrote:
Quality cleaning products. I found this 3M product for vinyl http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...VPDKIKX0DERbut not sure what is best? I use saddle soap on my car seats but I am sure the vinyl in the sun doesnt take the same cleaner as leather????I figure I need a radio in case cell phone signal is gone and the radio also has a severe weather warning on it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://baylinerownersclub.org/media/...95BR.jpg[/img]

Quality cleaning products - well there will be a bunch of advice coming along soon but for me and my wife we love the products from 303. Check them out https://"http://www.303products.com/...: <br /> here.As for a radio, we picked up one of these some time back and have been very pleased with the reception, battery life, etc. It floats, just in case. We bought it elsewhere but here is a link to West Marine with it https://"http://www.westmarine.com/w...e: <br /> hereLike I said, there will be many very educated folks along to offer their advice. I'd listen and contribute where you can. It's a great community.

[Guest]

+1 on the safety gear and the boating safety course which will provide you with the statutory requirements/safety gear for the size of your vessel to be legal on the water, plus a whole lot of other stuff you need to know, but didn't know that you need to know.

Once you get thru all that, the fun factor will be much better, and the stress factor will diminish.

Congrats on your new acqisition, and welcome to BOC!

[Guest]

Welcome to the club!

Been there - done that with the cover. I recommend (although I did not do this & regretted it) that you get a bow cover which can be snapped on and used during inclement weather. B/R's are wet boats when the wind, waves & rain kicks up. Also, if you go anywhere and want to leave a few things in the boat while you get lunch, there's a place to hide things. If you will be leaving the boat in a slip, even for a few days, definitely get a mooring cover that snaps on around the cockpit (if you will be leaving it in for a while, get one that covers the windshield (which might let you trailer with it on for short distances at reasonable speeds). The pull over ones are "ok" to put on while the boat is trailered (assuming there are enough supports to keep the rain from puddling in low spots), but a royal pain when it is afloat (& you have now good places to tie them down. Remember, those vinyl covered seats are not actually waterproof. Sun & rain can destroy them in a season or two.

We ended up moving up to a Cuddy Cabin so never had to do all the cover options.

Don

[Guest]

I'm a new boat owner also and I believe I have bought just about every accessory deemed important in the last two months. If you are new to boating the classes given by the local USPS are great. First, I had a Garmin Chartplotter installed - it comes with a depthfinder. Where I boat the water can get shallow so I bought a telescoping pole so I can push myself off of the sand. It is also handy coming into the dock. Most important is all the safety gear. I bought a special bag for it and keep all of that together. Anchors and rodes. Plenty of dock lines. Fenders. Grease gun and marine grease for the hubs. The boat came with a semi-custom fit cover which works for me since I don't have a garage. I bought one of those strap things that lifts the cover to keep the rain from pooling. Trailer locks - it's a weird world out there. Binoculars. Tire pressure gauge. And finally - nautical maps.