On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 14:23:04 GMT, bo jangles wrote:

Thanks y'all for your insight and direction. With your info and the
info I picked up on sites you directed me to I was able to make a
reasonably informed decision. After making some loooong trips and
some failed negotiations (Seaswirl) I actually located a dealer about
an hour from my home that carried Key West and happened to have a 2004
leftover he was motivated to move out the door. Not in the driveway
yet but will be if I can locate a long haul trailer I like and my
motor comes in.

She's a KW 225CC with a Merc 225 4s (Yamaha) with a free motor
extended wty. Now, if anyone would like to suggest electronics, I
would be glad to listen. It was suggested that I get a Raymarine C80
w/DSM300 and P66 ducer. Any opinions?

Thanks again for your help.

Very nice boat. I looked one over at the CMTA Hartford Boat Show this
past winter. Probably priced right - the one I saw was.

If course, I'd be remiss if I didn't make some kind of smart ass
remark about Mercs, but I will refrain. :)

One thing is for sure - get the warranty and extended warranty on that
engine and in writing - keep it in a safe place. Make absolutely sure
the dealer gives you extended warranty paperwork and that it CLEARLY
spells out the length of time. And DON'T have the dealer send the
warranty paperwork to Mercury - do it yourself with a return receipt
for the paperwork. Trust me on that.

As to electronics, you will get as many opinions as there are eyes on
this NG. I am partial to Raymarine - for a boat that size, the RC400
portable chartplotter with the Navionics Gold package for your area is
probably a great idea. I have the Raymarine DS500 linked into the
RC400 and it's a great combination. Garmin is a good product
(although once again, I wouldn't own one - I carry a huge grudge
against Garmin) as is Lowrance. I prefer Lowrance because they use
the Navionics plotting package which I like a lot.

For VHF, stick with the usual suspects, Standard, Uniden, Icom and the
new West Marine VHF I've been very impressed with. I use Icom radios.
Try to get a radio with DSC if you can.

If you have a T-top with a rail mount, get an 8 foot base loaded 5101
Shakespeare - if not, a rail mount base loaded stainless steel whip -
Shakespeare makes one as does a company called Metz. Personally, I
wouldn't use a Metz antenna if you paid me to - never have had one
that worked worth a damn although Metz will happily replace them until
you turn blue in the face.

Get a roller trailer - easier to launch and recover.

Good luck and enjoy that puppy - it's a nice boat.

Later,

Tom