I just had my offer accepted on the 87 Express Cruiser I have been looking at. I had a survey on her and I can tell you that my survey was far different than the owner's. The owner relied on the broker to have her surveyed. The best advice I received from this forum was to get my own survey. It paid off because it confirmed that the boat was sound enough to pursue and it gave me a bargaining tool due to the differences in the two surveys. Now the hard part begins; learning to winterize and perform the necessary maintenance and taking the Coast Guard class. I have been reading Chapman's but there is so much to learn. I can't wait for next summer.
Sea Ray Express Cruiser
- Thread starter Newbie509
- Start date
Newbie,,
Congrats on your boat.
The best thing you can do first is to take the online boating course and online exam for your state.
Find every manual you can for your boat systems and read thru them. Almost everything is available online in .pdf format from the manufacturers.
As you read, make note of things that need periodical maint. Many things will surface as needing most of your attention.
Just like a car it comes down to Lube, Fluid, filters, and batteries.
Don't get bogged down with every item the manual explains that needs maint. Keep it simple and remember that the items you use most, will need the most attention.
Open the bilge and all access panels and know what everything is. You don't have to know every detail of how it actually works, but just what you are looking at and basically what it does.
I keep a little ongoing "To Do" list in my wallet. When I'm out there, I try to knock off a few small items.
If you have an Air Conditioning system, then the A/C strainer may need cleaning quite often.
Just tackle one system at a time, and learn how it works, and where to look when it doesn't.
Every time you buy a part, make note of the part number, and where you bought it for next time.
I've learned more here, than in any of the manuals.
Read this forum as much as possible.
Know your weather limitations, and don't let anyone talk you into exceeding them.
Always leave yourself an "Out".
Good luck.
AB
Congrats on your boat.
The best thing you can do first is to take the online boating course and online exam for your state.
Find every manual you can for your boat systems and read thru them. Almost everything is available online in .pdf format from the manufacturers.
As you read, make note of things that need periodical maint. Many things will surface as needing most of your attention.
Just like a car it comes down to Lube, Fluid, filters, and batteries.
Don't get bogged down with every item the manual explains that needs maint. Keep it simple and remember that the items you use most, will need the most attention.
Open the bilge and all access panels and know what everything is. You don't have to know every detail of how it actually works, but just what you are looking at and basically what it does.
I keep a little ongoing "To Do" list in my wallet. When I'm out there, I try to knock off a few small items.
If you have an Air Conditioning system, then the A/C strainer may need cleaning quite often.
Just tackle one system at a time, and learn how it works, and where to look when it doesn't.
Every time you buy a part, make note of the part number, and where you bought it for next time.
I've learned more here, than in any of the manuals.
Read this forum as much as possible.
Know your weather limitations, and don't let anyone talk you into exceeding them.
Always leave yourself an "Out".
Good luck.
AB
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
- RO Number
- 18340
- Messages
- 552
Make sure you are sitting down when you open ANY marina bill.