Help please ! advice

[RIPCORD]

Firstly Hi to everyone, what a great site.

I am soon to collect my first Boat , its a Bayliner 20ft Capri Cuddy with a Force 120 hp. Can anyone please give me some advice on how to ( sounds stupid ) start the outboard properly , How to look after the engine and what to do to keep it tip top condition! bit embarrassed but would appreciate some of that vast knowledege thanks.

 

[Talbot]

welcome to the forums. I recommend that you ask this question on the mobo forum.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Firstly buy an owners manual for the engine/outboard, as they usually have a section on starting procedures, running in, trim/tilt settings etc, safety and maintenance etc.
It would be a great advantage if you could get someone with boating experience to go out with you for a few times till you learn all the rudements.
Then I would sugest enrolling on an RYA L/2 power boat course, I done it and found it to be really usefull.
Lastly dont rush into things, Try to get into a good routine and make sure you fully understand why you are doing whatever it is that you are doing, ALWAYS THINK SAFETY!. GOOD LUCK. C_W

 

[paulrshelley]

I would imagine you must be either buying from a dealer or a private owner, therefore either should be able to provide you with the basic information you need. Completely agree with Clyde wanderer above...get a course under your belt and keep safety in mind at all times. Good Luck with it and I hope you enjoy your first boat as much as I did mine.

 

[snowleopard]

Where are you based? I guess from your name you're somewhere hereabouts.

I suggest that blasting off into the blue with 120 hp might not be the best thing to start with. You might want to think about safety gear, how and when to use it and what you'd do if the engine decided to stop (they do so far more often on boats than cars).

Starting off with a mentor and/or a course will make the experience a lot safer and probably more fun. I did that for a fellow forumite near here a couple of years ago.

 

[RIPCORD]

Thanks guys appreciate your time and comments, without doubt safety first , have already bought a tender and 2hp outboard in case the main engine goes, and without question life jackets, I was also thinking about a power boat course. I'm from south coast of Cornwall, so have plenty of water around me !!