[floridaorange]

Anyone know of a good boat forum? I have an older boat and always have questions…

Thanks!

[upstatedoc]

Paging erickonphoenix

[rebekahb]

What type of boat?

[chassis]

Yes, depends on the boat.

Sail?
Power?
Yacht?
Large/not yacht?
Small?
Fish?
Ski?

forums.iboats.com
marineengine.com
thehulltruth.com
boats.net

Too many to list. What is your question? I have been boating for 50 years.

[floridaorange]

sea ray - 18 ft bow rider - i just have lots of different questions from time to time… i'll checkout those forums - thank you

[zx10guy]

Here's a tip as I just had this happen to me over the weekend. If you do get a boat, sign up for a tow membership. My insurance is State Farm but they only cover up to $1000 for tow fees which I think is the annual limit. Plus you have to pay upfront and have them reimburse you.

Well, I needed a tow and the tow company charges $300/hr which the clock starts the moment the boat leaves their dock. They also charge for the time it takes for the boat to return to their dock. Had I signed up for their annual subscription service, I would have only had to pay $129 which covers unlimited tows. One of the guys at my marina mentioned a friend of his needing a tow recently, his friend's tow bill was around $2k.

[RelaxIN2]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Here's a tip as I just had this happen to me over the weekend. If you do get a boat, sign up for a tow membership. My insurance is State Farm but they only cover up to $1000 for tow fees which I think is the annual limit. Plus you have to pay upfront and have them reimburse you.

Well, I needed a tow and the tow company charges $300/hr which the clock starts the moment the boat leaves their dock. They also charge for the time it takes for the boat to return to their dock. Had I signed up for their annual subscription service, I would have only had to pay $129 which covers unlimited tows. One of the guys at my marina mentioned a friend of his needing a tow recently, his friend's tow bill was around $2k.

100000000%%% agree with that. I cancelled mine the year before and then I got stuck out in the ocean with a fuel pump issue... cost me $1800... I had it for 10 years and never needed it. The year after I cancelled it, I needed it...

GET IT..!!

[Darth One]

https://www.7post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=465

[erickonphoenix]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

Paging erickonphoenix

My boat life slightly predates the online forum craze. My resources were mostly Crusing World, Sail and Diesel tech magazine.

That said, boat forums will be as diverse as boats and how they're used.

Sail boats - racing, cruising
Power boats - racing, cruising, fishing (offshore/onshore)
Commercial boats - fishing, shrimping, lobster, crabbers
Non-powered boats - paddle boats, dinghy, kayak and paddle boards

There's probably a category or twenty I'm missing but that's the big buckets I think. As a sail boat owner I'll give you a heads up that the diesel vs gasser debate will probably be as tinder as the manual vs auto debate.

[NorCalAthlete]

I wouldn't mind having a wake boat and/or deck boat for partying, catamaran for sailing.

But damn if boats aren't an even more expensive hobby than cars...

[chassis]

Originally Posted by NorCalAthlete

I wouldn't mind having a wake boat and/or deck boat for partying, catamaran for sailing.

But damn if boats aren't an even more expensive hobby than cars...

Indeed.

Q. What is a boat?
A. A boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money.

Q. What does B.O.A.T. stand for?
A. Break Out Another Thousand

[DocL]

There are a lot of groups on FB. Do a search for your boat and I'm sure you'll find one that is local to you. I just got a Regal 2860 and there is a ton of helpful groups that I joined.

[Skoidat69]

The old sailor adage that if it's Floats, Flies or Fks.. rent don't buy.... As former professional marine, be prepared for anything and have a plan if the plan goes to sh!t and have life jackets, a good flash light/tool kit/knife and a radio that can monitor several radio chanels .. I'm not as curmudgeonly as I used to be but if you imped the safe transit of a ship in your sailboat or sport fisher, I hope you at least have channel 13 and 16 on your radio... Old me would have said I hope you F-ing sink unless your 'ol lady has nice "equipment" that she wants to show off..

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Skoidat69

The old sailor adage that if it's Floats, Flies or Fks.. rent don't buy....

...says the person who has never returned to his dock on Lake George from an early morning fishing run to find a broken-down rental boat tied up, and a stranded family wandering around his island camping site. Had to give the guy a 10-mile ride back to the marina where he rented that boat (pre-cell phone days), and then lead the marina's mechanic back in another boat to collect the family and broken rental boat.

One year, we needed an extra boat for a few days while camping on the islands. I rented a boat that the marina seriously called "the red wreck," because it had been banged up so many times by inexperienced renters that it looked like it had lost in a bumper-boat demolition derby. Seriously, the fiberglass deck in front of the windshield had started to de-laminate from the hull, and flapped up and down on every wave that I hit with it. When I brought it back, the dock hand commented that I was the first renter that didn't break it even worse while I had it. I have no idea how they could even spot new damage, other than looking at the new propeller and seeing that the red nail polish they put on the edge of the blades was still intact.

Anyway, just pointing out two examples where I would rather own my own boat and know the maintenance history rather than trust a rental.....

[Tommy-G]

I have a wealthy friend who took me to hang out at a Ferrari dealer in NJ once Saturday.

Guy rolls in in his Murcielago needing a clutch and knew my friend. Begins to tell a story how he was super ecstatic he sold his Yacht. He continued on to say how upset he was to sell his Yacht. With a confused look, I asked him why? I am confused you said you're happy but now you say you're sad.
Well, you see I am happy b/c I only lost $300k on the Yacht...but I'm sad b/c I really liked my captain and I can't pay someone $200k a year just to hang out with me.

(Come to find out, guy inherited a chain of grocery stores in Manhattan and had boo-koo bucks)

[floridaorange]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

I have a wealthy friend who took me to hang out at a Ferrari dealer in NJ once Saturday.

Guy rolls in in his Murcielago needing a clutch and knew my friend. Begins to tell a story how he was super ecstatic he sold his Yacht. He continued on to say how upset he was to sell his Yacht. With a confused look, I asked him why? I am confused you said you're happy but now you say you're sad.
Well, you see I am happy b/c I only lost $300k on the Yacht...but I'm sad b/c I really liked my captain and I can't pay someone $200k a year just to hang out with me.

(Come to find out, guy inherited a chain of grocery stores in Manhattan and had boo-koo bucks)

that's great

[floridaorange]

Boat has been performing great, once I learned it's unique quirks it's been smooth sailing. Took my 2 sisters and their 4 kids and 1 of mine out yesterday afternoon and they had a blast. For me, spending quality time with family on the boat is what it's all about. Having my wife pull me on the wakeboard is fun too. Last week I took out my wifes sister and husband and our two boys. I caught a decent size bass after about 15 mins of dropping anchor, it was a fun moment .