Loads of questions from a newbie :)

[Warpa]

Hi there, i recently bought myself the below for £1300 inc engine and trailor, the engine had a full rebuild 20 hours ago with oversized pistons and rings for whatever difference that makes.

Should i join Sea start i think it was called (the AA of the sea) I have had boats before but small inflatables with a 4.5 HP engine.

Should i learn how to winterize the engine or just have it serviced each spring?

We have bouyancy aids but i see no one wearing them in videos, we also have a doughnut so the person in that will obviously wear one, but if you deem the water to be calm do you need one on?

If i go from Southampton water, will this boat be good to get me to the isle of Wight, or only on calm waters?

Anyone know what the boat is so i can search the history, i like to know what i own

I am into car detailing so gave the boat the once over to protect it, still have to do the engine but need to find the right stuff for that, we also have new wheels and tyres for the trailor (bearings are new) and a new jockey wheel with a large inflatable tyre.

If any from the Southampton area are there any slipways that dont rely on a tide?


I think thats most of the questions, i welcome all opinions and thoughts good or bad....a few pics of my boat before and after machining. The harder pads i ordered have not arrived, so coulnt get the full cut i was after, but its not come up too bad.

A few befores;

A bit shinier, but more important its protected now :afro:

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

By 'eck that's come up a treat!

I'd wear the lifejacket all the time in a little skimmer like that.

 

[gjgm]

I came across a public slipway over the w/end on the Itchen, next to some rowing clubs, though there is a warning to take care at low tide as there is a drop off at the end of the slip.
Speed limit at northern end of Southampton Water btw, north from Hythe Ferry. There is also a tidal slip at Hythe Village Marina.
Lots and lots of big ships - and so,wake- in Southapmton Water, and it can get very choppy down at Calshot, so I would say IOW is only on very very calm days.
I'd get a hand held VHF radio, as you are in a very busy strech of water. Just remember that you dont need to be in the main channel, so stay out of it !
Lifejackets tend to be worn by those in smaller boats, as the risks are perceived higher of an accident, so I would suggest you wear one, yes.
I suggest you either get some basic training, or at the very least buy a few RYA powerboat books and get some basic knowledge, if you have none. That should keep you, and the rest of us, a bit safer

 

[duncan]

it would help to know what the engine is to answer that bit better.

in a craft like that I would 'invest' in a pair of proper life jackets, and wear them. They are much more compact and discrete than buoyancy aids - and do a different job. I would also go with Auto ones.

 

[Searush]

I can't see the piccies, but I think I get the picture! Just think about how you may react to a few things going wrong.

Engine failure, - spare plugs fuel etc, Small "get you home engine"? Anchor & warp? Handheld VHF, possibly some flares.

Bad weather - warm clothes, waterproofs, drinks/ food? Remember your speed may be restricted in overfall or wind over tide conditions.

Tide table & Local charts? Do you know where the shallow water is & when it will dry out? Do you have a Compass and could you use it to determine your position & course to get home if visibility fell in rain or mist or even darkness?

None of it is rocket science or that expensive, but too many motor day boat trips end in disaster when a fun day out goes wrong. Have a great time, but read this before you go.

I forgot to add; get to know your fuel consumption & range!!!

 

[colingr]

Well slipways

Small one up by Eling Mill - top of the test near Totton. Good access to the water ski area. Very tidal

Crosshouse Hard (Under the Itchen Bridge) Useable for most of the tide but as already mentioned be careful at low water)

Hythe - good slip, again beware low tide.

Calshot - wide easy slip but watch for wake as big boats go by

Hamble Point - good slip but pricey

Mercury Marine futher up the Hamble. Not too familiar with it but supposed to be good.

As already memtioned a littlun like that will be great fun but watch the weather as the Solent ad Soton Water gets pretty choppy at times.

Lifejackets all the time with bouyancy aids for ringo / skiing.

Marine VHF (do the course to learn how to use it properly)

Agrees with previous poster, make sure you know what range you will get on a tank and if you have room take some spare fuel.

Sea Start, yes.

Looks like a real screamer. What motor is on the back?

 

[Warpa]

Thanks for all the replies, the motor is a 55 Johnson probably as old as the boat, but have no history on it. I have had years of experience in southampton water and know where the channels are and routes that may look deep but are a couple of inches of water over mud )by the odl TVS studio for one example)

As said earlier i used to launch a 9' inflatable with 4.5 merc on the back at St Denys slipway (free and quite long) and used to head up the hamle river and toward the opening of southampton water (yes it can get bloody rough out there)

I could navigate back from hamble river all the way up to riverside park at low tide in the dark im that familiar with it, but am thinking that the boat i have now is a different animal. We will however only be fair weather boaters, not that i didnt nearly get caught out in the wind once when heading toward hamble past weston shore! waves were filling the boat, which in turn made it slower and take in more water, turned around and limped back to the calmer itchen to bail out and head home....not nice.

I will order myself some books, keep an eye on the weather and only head to the IOW if sea state permits. What kind of conditions would the boat of mine be safe against? Will also look at the VHF radios, i have gps on my iphone which will be with us (motionx)

 

[Searush]

What kind of conditions would the boat of mine be safe against?

You will probably need to find that out for yourself. Much will depend on your speed & direction & the tide & wind directions. It makes sense to underestimate what is safe & only push it a bit at a time.

Once you get wet, you will start to get cold & the journey home or to safety can become a nightmare. You can cover several miles in half an hour having loads of fun & then when the tide turns, the return journey could take an hour & get you soaked. Just be prepared for conditions to change.

I have now managed to see the pics, it is a lovely boat (and I am a serial Raggie) but it is designed for flashing around on lakes & flat water rather than any distance cruising. Enjoy it safely & don't try to do too much too soon.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

If you are in open water I'd fit a bilge pump, or even one electric and one manual. Nav lights would be wise as well for when it takes longer to get around than you planned.

As others have said, Soton Water and the Solent can get a nasty little chop at the slightest provocation and in a smaller speedboat like that it could be quite unpleasant. As you are looking at slipway boating have you considered Poole Harbour? Much more sheltered and plenty of areas to explore. In clement weather you could go out of the harbour and round to Studland and back, or Bournemouth way for a hoon.

I'm guessing the motor is a stroker, in which case at full chat you will be burning around 20-25l per hour in go juice. How big is the tankage?

 

[Wiggo]

As a rule of thumb (and I expect to get shot down in flames for this) you probably don't want to take that boat out in anything above a F3 wind as the chop in anything higher will slow you down and make things very uncomfortable.

 

[colingr]

As a rule of thumb (and I expect to get shot down in flames for this) you probably don't want to take that boat out in anything above a F3 wind as the chop in anything higher will slow you down and make things very uncomfortable.

No chance of being shot down by me. I totally agree. F3 tops.

 

[ontheplane]

I'd concur - that boat is at MOST a F3 boat, I'd not like to be far from shore in that even.

I'd also agree, lifejackets a must.

Also, get some flares and forget the iPhone - in a boat that size you will take on spray - unless you have full waterproof cover for iPhone I would get a cheap marine gps handheld and a cheap phone handset you don't mind getting wet....

 

[colingr]

Just thinking about the F3 thing. This year that would have meant only going out once or twice.

Launching at Eling Tide Mill would at least mean you could mess about around the water ski area, not too weather affected, just be aware of the tide state.

 

[Wiggo]

Yes, hence the comment about being shot down in flames... ;-)

I based the F3 comment on our experience running small ski boats in Christchurch Bay where an F3 was the limit. In more sheltered water like the Marchwood ski area, you have a bit more latitude...

 

[Searush]

Look for a lake for your first outing? Then even if the engine fails you will drift safely to the side. Recovering her may still be a problem tho'. Carry a couple of cheap paddles, possibly under the seats or bungeed to the back of them, then you will also be able to get back to the launch site where your trailer is.

 

[colingr]

Yes, hence the comment about being shot down in flames... ;-)

I based the F3 comment on our experience running small ski boats in Christchurch Bay where an F3 was the limit. In more sheltered water like the Marchwood ski area, you have a bit more latitude...

The main problem up there of course is that you get a greater concentration of jet skis

It's a tricky one and precisely why we've upgraded from an 18ft bowrider. The Solent is no place for a small open boat when things turn choppy. I exclude RIBS and inflatables as they're effectively unsinkable. You just get wet. A small sports boat with no built in bouyancy would sink like a stone.

Even in a F2-3 if you catch the tide wrong there are some spots that you just would not want to be, entrance to the Hamble, around Calshot spit to name just two.

 

[Zagato]

NICE! Very James Bond

 

[Wiggo]

Calshot spit, yeeeessssss....

RickP and I did YM prep off there at stupid o'clock one morning (abou 1am, ISTR) looking for an unlit buoy south of the Brambles North Cardinal. As we cleared Calshot at 6 knots we had solid lumps coming over the flybridge, and the boat falling into holes the size of Spain...

 

[Warpa]

If you are in open water I'd fit a bilge pump, or even one electric and one manual. Nav lights would be wise as well for when it takes longer to get around than you planned.

As others have said, Soton Water and the Solent can get a nasty little chop at the slightest provocation and in a smaller speedboat like that it could be quite unpleasant. As you are looking at slipway boating have you considered Poole Harbour? Much more sheltered and plenty of areas to explore. In clement weather you could go out of the harbour and round to Studland and back, or Bournemouth way for a hoon.

I'm guessing the motor is a stroker, in which case at full chat you will be burning around 20-25l per hour in go juice. How big is the tankage?

25L an hour!! it only has a 30L tank, surely it will be more leanient than that even at half throttle will mean travelling from say the itchen bridge all the way to hamble to fill up every 2 hours

I think im being a bit over cautious regarding all the questions, probably because i have been out of the water for a long time. Even in my old inflatable i knew what were mine and the boats limits, knew what wash from the ferrys i could hit at full speed and which ones i couldnt.

I have one telescopic oar on board and thought i could sit on the front to row if needs be Ill get a vhf radio and a handbook, thought you had to have a liscence to use one though?

 

[Warpa]

Also, out of curiosity what type hull is needed to cope with most weather conditions? Obviously the deeper the better i would thing to cut through waves as opposed to going over them.