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Happiest day in my life

WaterH said:
On another note, let’s talk about towing.

If I need someone to tow my boat, obviously I will hook the tow rope to the nose ring. How much are those typically rated for? Is there any fear of tearing it out of the fiberglass?
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if the boat is not rotten the bow eye will hold up to being towed hard and fast enough to get the boat up on plane under tow.

WaterH said:
What about if I want to tow another boat? There is a center “ring thing” on the back of my boat for towing waterskiers. Is that what I would use? How about the two U-bolt things on the transom? Would I expect these locations to handle most of my power? (I certainly would not go full throttle towing)
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don't tow anyone til you learn and master how to navigate competently and dock your own boat. :flipoff2:

the center ring is a ski tow eye 100% do not tow anything heavier than a human body with it.

come back once youre less of a danger to yourself on the water and we'll tell you how to tow another vessel. :flipoff2::laughing:
 
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WaterH said:
The reason I got a boat is because there’s no rules like for aircraft and cars. Hopefully Trump gets rid of this shit.
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i hate to disappoint you but:

Regulations

Regulations
myfwc.com myfwc.com



fun fact- florida men who get a boat 26+ ft don't even have to put a life jacket on their kids under 6 while underway, so they get even more freedom from general precautions.
 
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WTF? said:
i hate to disappoint you but:

Regulations

Regulations
myfwc.com myfwc.com



fun fact- florida men who get a boat 26+ ft don't even have to put a life jacket on their kids under 6 while underway, so they get even more freedom from general precautions.
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On this subject, there’s all kinds of rules that take effect or are exemp at 26 feet. My boat designation is “Formula 252”. Havnt put a tape on it. Do I need to or are they going to go by that name?
 
WaterH said:
On this subject, there’s all kinds of rules that take effect or are exemp at 26 feet. My boat designation is “Formula 252”. Havnt put a tape on it. Do I need to or are they going to go by that name?
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I think the manufacturer spec of 25'2" keeps you under 26'.
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but if you act like an arrogant/ignorant asshole who thinks there's no rules on the water, they'll measure it however they can write you more tickets.
 
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New question. Fl law says you must have a muffing device on all motorboats. Cutouts are prohibited. This boat was manufactured before the law went into effect. (Well before) Am I right to say that law can’t make me change the boat? (It has cut outs)
 
WaterH said:
New question. Fl law says you must have a muffing device on all motorboats. Cutouts are prohibited. This boat was manufactured before the law went into effect. (Well before) Am I right to say that law can’t make me change the boat? (It has cut outs)
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Wouldn't the water dumping in the exhaust count as a "muffler"? Your exhaust is probably half as loud as that same engine straight piped on a truck
 
WaterH said:
On this subject, there’s all kinds of rules that take effect or are exemp at 26 feet. My boat designation is “Formula 252”. Havnt put a tape on it. Do I need to or are they going to go by that name?
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"Yacht certified" or not is the designation I was aware of.
 
ANGELO said:
Wouldn't the water dumping in the exhaust count as a "muffler"? Your exhaust is probably half as loud as that same engine straight piped on a truck
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It's still loud but it has wet exhaust but no obvious muffler.
Wet mufflers are a thing though
 
So, I (begrudgingly) was once upon a time a USCG Boarding officer. I am still in the Coast Guard but got out of performing that mission becaue I hated doing it. Last boarding I completed was probably Spring of 2013. Some of it has changed, but most of everything is still the same.

Most horns I saw were canned air horns, as long as they were marked as USCG approved they were acceptable. If you had an installed horn, and you could reliably make it sound it was fine. I had no need to push the button myself. I think I recall there being threshold on when a whistle is acceptable or not, but I am unsure.

Life jackets were a big ticket item. Make sure you have one for everyone on the boat. If not you will likely be escorted to the nearest dock (might not be where your truck is). Throwable needs to be accessible, meaning not stowed away inside the cabin, or in a cubby with a bunch of shit piled on top of it. Clipped to a Rail on deck is fine. Using it as a cushion and sitting on it while driving is fine, just inside a cubby, without shit blocking it is fine.

Flares need to be in date. Again I think there is a threshold on when they are required or not.

Spark arrestor, and engine blower are important.



Take the course, learn to use your plotter (and your brain). The CG Auxiliary will happily look at your boat, and your stuff. They'll give you that sticker. But if you get boarded they will still look at all the same stuff regardless of sticker or not.

Feel free to ask questions and I will try to answer as I am able.
 
WaterH said:
New question. Fl law says you must have a muffing device on all motorboats. Cutouts are prohibited. This boat was manufactured before the law went into effect. (Well before) Am I right to say that law can’t make me change the boat? (It has cut outs)
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You're good. The entire Florida Powerboat Club would be in jail, can't have that....

Definitely rules on the water, speed limits, slow zones, right of way, boats under sail have right of way, boats with limited maneuverability have right of way. Probably less "rules" in aviation other than telling people where you're going so they can find the scene of the crash easier in busy areas. Boats, you have no idea what the idiot who just bought a boat and doesn't know any rules is gonna do.
 
Bacho said:
My turbo diesel boat has no muffler :flipoff2:
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It says muffing device. Mine doesn’t have a muffler, but it has a switch that diverts the exhaust underwater that makes it way quieter. It does have the water cooled risers, but they don’t do shit. In any case, it would appear I’m ok.

Next question. Obviously props are very inportant to proformance. Mine has a Brovo III drive. It has two counter rotating props. I don’t know what size or pitch they are. Do you know if they are matched? If I wanted to get more rpm, could I just get a smaller rear prop? Or do they both have to be changed?
 
That Motor has a max RPM. Props are matched
They have a pitch dimension.
pitch is the theoretical number of inches the prop propels the boat forward per revolution, this doesn't account for slip, no prop is 100% efficient. It's like locking the collective place at optimal climb and staying there at full load. Lower pitch number is like a higher numerical gear ratio, decreases load on the motor, lets it spin higher, will get out of the hole faster, increase efficiency at high rpms but with less top speed.

I'd guess that thing has a rev limiter around 5000. Big old dumb engines don't spin as high as new ones.

No there aren't any variable pitch props for this style boat. People tried them and they liked to sling blades off. Youtube "prop slings blade" to see what happens when blades stick in fiberglass.
 
For example I currently have a 14.75”diameter x 15.5” pitch 4 blade prop on my boat. Gonna drop a 14.75”x 13.5” prop on it. My boat will go slower on the top end but will have more umphh out of the hole. The pitch is the theoretical travel per revolution.

Typically props have a stamp in them with at least a part number to see what size and pitch they are.
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You should really put some more time on the boat to get the feel for it before you go changing shit up. I’m changing the prop to fit how I use the boat. I have a hundred plus hours on these type boats so I can fine tune the prop.
 
WaterH said:
Next question. Obviously props are very inportant to proformance. Mine has a Brovo III drive. It has two counter rotating props. I don’t know what size or pitch they are. Do you know if they are matched? If I wanted to get more rpm, could I just get a smaller rear prop? Or do they both have to be changed?
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It's like when you're a broke wheeler and need a better ratio. Sometimes you can only afford the ring, other times you can only afford the pinion. :dustin:
 
ThePanzerFuhrer said:
For example I currently have a 14.75”diameter x 15.5” pitch 4 blade prop on my boat. Gonna drop a 14.75”x 13.5” prop on it. My boat will go slower on the top end but will have more umphh out of the hole. The pitch is the theoretical travel per revolution.

Typically props have a stamp in them with at least a part number to see what size and pitch they are.

You should really put some more time on the boat to get the feel for it before you go changing shit up. I’m changing the prop to fit how I use the boat. I have a hundred plus hours on these type boats so I can fine tune the prop.
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Yea,I definitely will put more time on it before doing anything. But they say the motor should turn 4200-4600 at WOT. Some people say theirs goes 5200. Mine turns less than 4000 at WOT. I suppose something could be wrong with engine, but it sounds good and I don’t think it misses. One thing I didn’t test was WOT with the exhaust cut outs open. Do you think that would make much difference?

I also didn’t play with the trim enough. Right before I put it back on th3 trailer, I had it WOT and it was turning about 3700. I bumped the motor trim a little and the bow came down just a little. At the same time, the speed of the motor and the boat went up. It was quite noticeable, like hitting another gear. I haven’t played with the boat trim things at all. Are they only for fat chicks on one side of the boat?
 
The guy who sold me the boat just sent me a whole shitload of literature. Lot of good stuff in there. Even some brochures from 96’. Looks like the original owner ordered it with the works. Nice to see a receipt from fall of 22’ for 6 grand in mantaince. They replaced the impeller as part of that. You think I need to do that again?

At that time, they did a compression check. The lowest cylinder was 119 and the highest was 132. Does that seem good?
 
WaterH said:
The guy who sold me the boat just sent me a whole shitload of literature. Lot of good stuff in there. Even some brochures from 96’. Looks like the original owner ordered it with the works. Nice to see a receipt from fall of 22’ for 6 grand in mantaince. They replaced the impeller as part of that. You think I need to do that again?

At that time, they did a compression check. The lowest cylinder was 119 and the highest was 132. Does that seem good?
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Yes. Outboards at least are every 3 years.
You don't know if it was done, if they used good parts, if they used good grease, if they used grease at all, cheap parts just do it.

Edit. If you take a bolt out on that engine you better put it back in with good grease.
 
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Ok, I need some confirmation of laws.

I know that I must have a life preserver for every person on board. This law has been since I was a kid. But when I was a kid it could be a flotation cushion. They now say you must have a “throwable device” which can be a cushion or a ring, but they are not clear if that throwable is counted as one of the preservers for people on board.

The other thing I’ve seen mentioned is the vests must fit. I’ve seen vests for kids. So far I’ve only seen two sizes. Is there more?

I got 3 vests and a cushion with my boat. Does that mean I can only take three adults? Boy, the laws are getting ridicules.
 
Get a big pack of the orange lifejackets, enough for the amount of people allowed on the coast guard plate and a throw cushion and call it good.

If you have like a 5yo on board they would probably want a kid lifejacket and they would probably be wearing it anyways.
 
WaterH said:
Ok, I need some confirmation of laws.

I know that I must have a life preserver for every person on board. This law has been since I was a kid. But when I was a kid it could be a flotation cushion. They now say you must have a “throwable device” which can be a cushion or a ring, but they are not clear if that throwable is counted as one of the preservers for people on board.

The other thing I’ve seen mentioned is the vests must fit. I’ve seen vests for kids. So far I’ve only seen two sizes. Is there more?

I got 3 vests and a cushion with my boat. Does that mean I can only take three adults? Boy, the laws are getting ridicules.
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You must have a wearable PFD for every occupant on board plus a throwable.

If a fat guy can't buckle the waist strap on an generic orange life vest, it doesn't count and they'll probably ticket you for it.
If it's too loose such that it slips over their head, it doesn't count and you'll probably be escorted to the nearest public dock to let the child and a guardian off the boat or get a proper-fitting life jacket.
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The biggest drawback to the multipack orange vest is the space it takes up; if thats problematic for you, they have fanny pack inflatable belts and regular inflatable vests which take up minimal storage room and count as adult (person over 16 iiirc) wearable PFD (note that THESE ONLY COUNT IF they have a USCG Approval Stamped on them).
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WaterH said:
It says muffing device. Mine doesn’t have a muffler, but it has a switch that diverts the exhaust underwater that makes it way quieter. It does have the water cooled risers, but they don’t do shit. In any case, it would appear I’m ok.

Next question. Obviously props are very inportant to proformance. Mine has a Brovo III drive. It has two counter rotating props. I don’t know what size or pitch they are. Do you know if they are matched? If I wanted to get more rpm, could I just get a smaller rear prop? Or do they both have to be changed?
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Prop the boat so it achieves the specified max RPM at WOT (stock engine). Any deviation from that will typically result in poor performance.
 
The state of Florida doesn’t allow those inflatables to count unless you’re wearing them.

I understand the wording of the law says you must be able to put it on inflated or something to that degree but on each case I’ve been pulled over the officer clearly stated you must be wearing it.

Edit, they will also check condition on the lifejackets if you’re running around with the bunch of ragged out stuff. Holes and tears in those orange jackets are not allowed.
 
Based on the amount of dumbass questions you're asking...I'd go find someone who is an experienced boater in your state and talk him into spending a day on the boat with you...preferably one with a captains license of some sort. You have a lot of learn.
 
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