Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

Vic Smith wrote:
I'm already pretty much set on a 4-stroke. What I said was in answer
to the suggestion I get max rating for the boat. The 19-footer I'm
looking at is rated 90hp. I'm thinking 50hp will cost less, suit my
needs, and use less gas. But I'm not sure about that.


Oh, I know, Vic, I was simply comparing the newer 4 cycle, to the older
2 cycle. just for comparison. Don't know about the E-TECs and the like.


Boat rated for 90 and you think 50 will do? Maybe, and maybe not. How
about splitting the difference with a 75?

Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:22:28 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Is the first coating there on a new boat, or will I have to do it
straight off?

Unless you pay the dealer extra it will not be done. Many people
around here store their boat in lifts or on trailers and don't need
bottom paint.

What's a ballpark figure for having it done on a 20-foot CS?
How long does a good coating last?

You could do it yourself for less than $100 but a dealer will charge
at least 2 or 3 times more. If you do it yourself, follow the prep
instructions carefully and use at least 2 coats.

Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

wrote:
Usually there is not much of an advantage to a 75 compared to the 90.
They are generally the same motor as far as size and weight. The 90
just breathes better for a bit more money.

possibly. But i was wondering about the pricing difference between a 75
and a 90?
Not much?

how abotu a 50 and the 75?

Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...

Snip:

Have you considered a used boat? Take a look at:
http://boatstore.floridasportsman.com/

Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

wrote in message
...

Boaters here in paradise have to be a weatherman among other skills.
If you stayed home every day the TV said there was going to be a
thunderstorm you won't get out much. The trick is seeing WHO is
getting the storm and knowing if you can avoid it.

This type of thing helps, too, if you take the time to learn what it means
relative to YOUR local situation. "The thunderstorms are 90 miles away" has
a different meaning here than wherever you live.

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/ra...hester%2c%20NY

Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:23:56 -0500, wrote:

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:22:28 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

After a windy day on Pt Charlotte Harbor you will want a 35'. 16 is
too small unless you stay in the canals.

I'll have to live with it or stay home on windy days. My wallet isn't
too fat. 15k complete will be pushing it.

You may want to see what boat you need based on where you want to
live. See what the neighbors have, particularly the ones who go out a
lot and do the kind of fishing you want to do.

Every time I'm down there in the summer to visit my dad, who lives in
my sister's condo on a canal, there are no boats at the docks, and
hardly anybody living in the other condos. It's like a ghost town.
Guess that's why it's so cheap to rent down there. I only stay a few
days with my dad and his wife, then my wife and I head for St. Pete
Beach for a week or two..
We fish most day's on the Skyway fishing pier, but I'm getting tired
of that. It was fun and practical when we took the kids, and we used
to get a variety of fish. The past couple years it's been dead
(October versus August?) We caught more keepers in the canal behind
the condo in a few hours than we did in 30 hours on the Skyway.
Including a drum about 7 pounds.

Buying the wrong boat and taking a bath on it to buy the one you need
makes boating an expensive proposition. I don't want to be a downer
but the perfect boat in Punta Gorda Isles might not be the best choice
if you are 10 miles up into the estuary in Desoto County.

Nice splash of cold water in my face there, which is just the remedy
for boat fever that I needed, and why I'm posting here.
Really all I've seen of Charlotte Harbor is when going over 41, and it
nearly always looks flat and inviting. The only fishing I've done
there is canal dock fishing. Looking on a map at how it widens out at
the pass I can see what you mean.
You've convinced me to do some more on-site investigation before I
start looking at boats. I'll go to some marinas down there and talk
to some fisherman before I look at boats. Maybe charter what I'm
thinking of buying for a fishing trip. Thanks.

Personally I like the backwater and I do fine with a stripped down
pontoon boat but that is not really appropriate for open water and
Charlotte Harbor is very "open" down towards Boca Grande Pass.
The afternoon "breeze" off the gulf can really get that rock'n and
rollin.

Backwaters suit me fine too.

I am south of Ft Myers on the Estero River, near Estero Bay so I have
miles of protected water to poke around in. I have been up in
Charlotte harbor/ Boca Grande a lot with my Pine Island buddies and we
are usually in a 23 or 26 foot boat. It can get ugly. The tarpon
fishing is awesome there tho.

I fished a few times off the Pine Island bridge back in the late
'70's, early '80's. I understood that was good for tarpon. Took the
kids to Waltzing Waters and such. Always stayed at Ft. Myers Beach.
I hear it's changed quite a bit down there.
My dad and uncle lived in Cape Coral, and 2 of us would go out in the
Caloosahatchee in a 14-footer with a 10hp and catch all the fish we
could eat pretty quick. Anyway, I see your point about getting a boat
meant for the water you'll be using it in, and take it to heart.

--Vic

Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

On 31 Oct 2006 20:06:22 -0800, wrote:


Vic Smith wrote:
I'm already pretty much set on a 4-stroke. What I said was in answer
to the suggestion I get max rating for the boat. The 19-footer I'm
looking at is rated 90hp. I'm thinking 50hp will cost less, suit my
needs, and use less gas. But I'm not sure about that.


Oh, I know, Vic, I was simply comparing the newer 4 cycle, to the older
2 cycle. just for comparison. Don't know about the E-TECs and the like.


Boat rated for 90 and you think 50 will do? Maybe, and maybe not. How
about splitting the difference with a 75?

Somebody might convince me on 50, 75 or 90. But it'll take some
convincin'. (-:

--Vic

Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 23:00:34 -0500, wrote:

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:59:02 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

I'm already pretty much set on a 4-stroke. What I said was in answer
to the suggestion I get max rating for the boat. The 19-footer I'm
looking at is rated 90hp. I'm thinking 50hp will cost less, suit my
needs, and use less gas. But I'm not sure about that.

My neighbor has a 50 merc 4 stroke on a 19(sumpin) Carolina Skiff. He
wishes he had the 90.

Speed alone? What I'll want to know is if the 50 will get me on plane
with the load I expect to carry. I'm never in a hurry anymore.
I'm sure I'd prefer the 90 too, but it will cost about $2000 more.
For a Honda, but I'm not sold on them. Don't know yet how the
Honda 3-venturi compares to say a Merc with EFI in fuel consumption
and maintenance. In any case the extra 2 g's for the 90 might be
better spent on electronics. I just don't know.
And depending on which 19' CS there can be quite a difference in hull
weight.
And maybe I'm missing the bigger picture about how important hp is.
And I'm getting ahead of myself anyway, since I have to look at some
other issues before I look at boats/motors.

It is about 100 lbs heavier tho. The 50 Honda
has the advantage that it is very light . I think it came in about
80-100 less than my 60 (and his 50). You can really verify these
weights on the various manufacturer web sites. It has been almost 5
years since I did the shopping.
I bought a grey market motor from a web merchant (ITG marine) It is
the back door of a big dealer near Richmond Va and I had no problems
with the local dealers, in spite of what they want to tell you. The
service department still wants your business.
Basically a grey market motor is sold at the "bundled" price you would
get if you bought a boat and motor togerther. If you are getting them
at the same time it is not an issue. It might be important if you
found a nice hull with a junk motor or no motor at all.
My previous motor (1989 75 Mariner) I bought as a boat motor trailer
and I just wanted the almost new motor for the boat I had. The hull
was pretty good but I didn''t want it and pretty much gave it away.
(traded for a PC). It is a possibility

Thanks. I'll be looking for the best deal I can find when I'm ready.
In the meantime, folks here may be interested in this, which I came
across doing some cursory googling. It's a Florida department of
Management Services site with contract prices for a variety of
outboards, and includes MSRP. Wish I could get that discount.
You can download the Complete Contract PDF or Word doc to serve as a
reference for MSRP if you're shopping, instead of jumping around the
web. Join the 2 lines.
http://dms.myflorida.com/business_op...r_information/
state_contracts_agreements_and_price_lists/state_term_contracts/boat_motors

--Vic

Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

On 31 Oct 2006 22:32:59 -0800, wrote:


wrote:
Usually there is not much of an advantage to a 75 compared to the 90.
They are generally the same motor as far as size and weight. The 90
just breathes better for a bit more money.

possibly. But i was wondering about the pricing difference between a 75
and a 90?
Not much?

how abotu a 50 and the 75?

For the Honda it's a $1500 bump to the 75, and another $750 to the 90.
That's MSRP, so the actual bumps will be less.

--Vic

Advice needed on storing boat in Florida - Part 2
 

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:51:17 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:49:33 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Does fouling occur when the boat is used daily?

Without anti fouling paint? Absolutely.

My next step is to call my State Farm insurance agent and see if they
will insure a boat used and stored in Florida.

Frankly you would be better off with a marine policy from someone like
Boat US.

I called my local State Farm agent who put me on to a Punta Gorda
agent, as required. Called the Punta Gorda agent and got this quote:
15k value 19' boat with 90hp
1k deductible.
2k personal property
100k liability
5k per person medical
Wind and flood is included.
$275 per year.

A coast guard boat handling license will get a discount, but I forgot
to ask how much and left a message for her to call me back.
I do intend to get that license.
Then we chatted about boating down there. Not surprisingly,
she elevated my boat fever with her talk of her own experiences down
there. Her and her husband have an 18' Mako and go through Boca
Grande pass to the Gulf often when the weather is right. The pass
itself is pretty rough, but the Mako is fine in the Gulf in good
weather. I mentioned the CS is flat-bottomed and she said "uh-oh
I forgot that on the quote.
$313 per year.

Anyway, given that quote and since I've been satisfied with State Farm
for 30 years, my inclination is to go with them. But I welcome other
opinions about boat insurance.
$21 more per year will bump the liability to 300k.

--Vic