New Member, Hello from PNW-gctid824321

[chrisdjenny]

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Chris and I just bought my first boat, a 1998 Ciera 2855. First personal boat, spent the last 21 years on government furnished Submarines. Hopefully this one will be funner. Won't get to enjoy it this season due to work schedule but plan to have her ready for 2018, especially with all the info on this site. Thanks in advance for all the help I know I'll get..

[Jeffw]

Welcome to the BOC, and thanks for your service! I bet those government boats were a b!tch to ski behind...B)

[Pcpete]

Welcome! I second the thank you for your service. Not only are they hard to ski behind, you can't open any windows. Thank you also for having some personal information in your signature. There are a lot of us that only slow down in the colder months. If it's a nice January day, the boat is going somewhere, so don't feel like it's against some "rule of season" to have the boat "lightly" winterized. If the boat is stored on the hard like mine more has to be done to protect against freezing. We kept our Encounter Sunbridge in the water and other than adding some heat, making a mess out of all of the cabin cushions to allow air circulation and closing the seacocks, that was about all I did. In the years I traveled extensively on business, I did a bit more but never fogged the engines or anything like that primarily because I ran them every two weeks or so.

I'd be happy to share my experience with you to give you a jump start enjoying you new to you boat. Feel free to pm me.

[watchthis]

Where will you be keeping her? I have an older 2855 and close friends with a 1999 2855 (7.4, Bravo 3) and we moor in Olympia. Welcome.

[fritzman]

welcome to the forum from one old Vet to a much younger, thanks for your service.

[chrisdjenny]

She'll be at the Port Orchard Marina (Port of Bremerton) and at my home during the colder months.

[Guest]

You ought to check out Port Orchard Yacht Club (or, if you live on the Bremerton side, check out Bremerton Yacht Club). Members get great rates on slips and you can own a "garage" so your boat is safe and sound but ready to go at a moment's notice. Winter boating in the PNW is wonderful. Labor Day weekend I counted 40 boats in visible range at Point No Point. During the winter months we can cruise there and not see another boat.

[Pcpete]

Okey, Rob opened it up. I can't agree more with club membership. It's not "one more thing to do", it's largely about networking according to the current buzzword. There are benefits like reciprocal moorage, the ability to moor at another clubs facility for little or nothing, discounts at some suppliers, and low cost moorage at you home club if they have their own docks. The first and foremost for us are organized and disorganized cruises. Most clubs will offer an organized cruise where a team will coordinate with a marina and maybe have a potluck. Disorganized cruising is where you and some of your new boating friends decide on a destination.

Find a group that fits your personality. When we were looking for a club our four kids were from two to nine. Obviously we needed a club that welcomed and encouraged young families. It took a bit, but the search was worth it.

[watchthis]

Port Orchard Marina is very nice. We sometimes head that way for the 4th of July. Enjoy that boat.

[brad4550]

Hi Chris

I too want to welcome to BOC and also from one vet to another Thank you for your service !!

Hope you enjoy Boating as much as the rest of us.Good luck Brad

[Ruffryder]

I'm just around the corner in Manette.