First Boat Advice

M

MOE

Member
My Brother and I have just bought our first boat, Its a mayland 17ft with a 50hp mercury engine, needs a lick of paint but when we took it out for a test it handles really well on the river. We got up to about 25mph on the gps on the tyne, is that about par for this boat with 3 big blokes on it and a full tank of fuel?
Now back to the painting, if I am taking the boat out of the water after every use do I need anti foul paint ?
Has anyone got a similar boat ? any problems I should know about
cheers
 
If it was me I would still give the boat a fresh antifoul now and then play it by ear. As you will take the boat out after use the boat wont have to much time to collect the usual stuff on her butt.

Normally people will antifoul once every year / two years (depending on which paint they use) so you will probably get away with it for longer.

Also if it's coming out all the time might be worth flushing the outboard out with some fresh water and some muffs. Should help the engine last a bit longer and keep it clean.
 
jpster said:
If it was me I would still give the boat a fresh antifoul now and then play it by ear. As you will take the boat out after use the boat wont have to much time to collect the usual stuff on her butt.

Normally people will antifoul once every year / two years (depending on which paint they use) so you will probably get away with it for longer.

Also if it's coming out all the time might be worth flushing the outboard out with some fresh water and some muffs. Should help the engine last a bit longer and keep it clean.
Click to expand...

I have scraped all the slime and scum off the hull, I'll give it some time to dry off and get some paint on it, I've just bought the muffs and flushed the engine out, when I took it on the tyne the water was like coca cola so i flushed it as soon as i got it home
 
Most boats which are trailered dont need anti fouling, due to the fact they arent in the water long enough for weed etc to take hold. If yours is trailered and has had the hull painted previously, then give it a lick of paint just for cosmetic appearence. I wouldnt anti foul it unless you are keeping it on a mooring, due to the fact there are different hardnesses involved with anti foul, which might rub off on the trailer rollers.
Flush the engine after use, is a good advice, and make sure you have all the safety equipment before you venture out.
The speed you mention would be about right, with 3 on board, but if you run it at that speed for a while you should get another tank, as back up.
Have fun, but stay safe....:)
 
I wouldnt antifoul a trailered boat, it is a waste of money, the antifoul will rapidly begin to dry and flake, it was evident on the boat what i have now which was antifouled and kept out of the water. I had all the hull to scrape down before putting on a new coat.

As for the speed im not sure, i have a seahog which are light, it has a mariner 40 on and i get about 26 top speed with 2 onboard.
 
Had trailered boats for many years and never had a problem with weed growth. The smoother the hull, the more efficiant it will slide through the water.
 
The Jester said:
Most boats which are trailered dont need anti fouling, due to the fact they arent in the water long enough for weed etc to take hold. If yours is trailered and has had the hull painted previously, then give it a lick of paint just for cosmetic appearence. I wouldnt anti foul it unless you are keeping it on a mooring, due to the fact there are different hardnesses involved with anti foul, which might rub off on the trailer rollers.
Flush the engine after use, is a good advice, and make sure you have all the safety equipment before you venture out.
The speed you mention would be about right, with 3 on board, but if you run it at that speed for a while you should get another tank, as back up.
Have fun, but stay safe....:)
Click to expand...
It has antifoul paint on it at the moment which is flaking off, so if i scrape that off sand the hull apply primer and a topcoat I should be ok ?

Glad you mentioned safety, I have lifejackets and we generally wear flotation suits, I also have a VHF radio which I'm licenced to use, the only thing I was considering was flares. Only plan to use the boat 2 miles out max until I gain some experience. We would only be using the boat during daylight so can I get away with the radio and no flares, if not what flares do I need as I have seen various packs advertised. what is the normal shelf life of flares?
 
you need flares - no question. radios can and do pack up at the time when you need them most

inshore flare pack as a minimum. usually 3 years shelf life, every year buy a couple of extra individual flares so when the 3 years on the initial pack is up, you will still have a range of in date flares, from different batches and the out of date ones as a back up

floatation suits and lifejackets can be a deadly combination if you have an ill fitting jacket and no crotch strap - the floaty will try keep your bottom half up which can mess with the stability of the jacket when its inflated - either making you roll, or making it harder to keep your head out of the water as the floaty tries to keep your body horizontal

with it being a first boat, the best thing you can get for your boat and it won't cost a penny is an RNLI seacheck (although a donation tot he RNLI is welcomed and recommended)

they will give it a full once over and all your safety gear, they are totally none judgemental, and will give you stacks of advice and recommendations

and go easy on the throttle if its your first boat. 25 in the river is one thing, at sea its another altogether
 
Yes Moe, sand it down and give it a coat of primer and top coat of a suitable paint for hulls.
Everything Mark has stated as well.
Have a look on the RNLI website there is a list on there of safety items you are recommended to carry.......Chris...
 
mark said:
you need flares - no question. radios can and do pack up at the time when you need them most

inshore flare pack as a minimum. usually 3 years shelf life, every year buy a couple of extra individual flares so when the 3 years on the initial pack is up, you will still have a range of in date flares, from different batches and the out of date ones as a back up
Click to expand...

that seem a sensible way to do things thanks
 

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