Finally got the boat out of storage

My last boat was a "tiny" 18ft white hull Ranger fish & ski boat sitting on a galvanized trailer. Everytime I took it from the water I went straight to a car wash where I soaped it down and then spray waxed the hull and trailer. Vacuumed and wiped down the interior. I was happy (not the PIA some say) to do that to maintain it and keep it like new. Its was never left out in sun or weather. Garaged or under a really good cover. I find a lot of folks do nothing but complain about up keep of their own boats and cars. It was my pleasure to detail and keep my boats and cars looking like new was best I could. To me that was part of the fun of ownership. :)
 
Well, this was the first day out on the boat, yesterday, Sunday. Been occupied with the new home so boating has taken a back seat for the last 2 years.
Anyway, as the photos in the OP show, got it all cleaned up, fresh charge on the battery and started the engine at home.

Got to the ramp yesterday, engine started most likely after just one rotation. (now if I just remembered to put the outdrive down! *LOL*)

Down the intracoastal to Shallotte Inlet for a quick run out into the ocean, I love it out there, so peaceful and this inlet can be a bear for those not familiar with boating. There are no buoys or poles marking the entrance to the inlet from the intracoastal and there are no buoys or poles inside of the inlet, you really are on your own. Sandbars line each side and everything in-between.
I guess they dont mark it because of constant shifting sand or just the fact there arent a lot of boats here. There are buoys on the ocean side so once out in the ocean the buoys will lead you to the inlet, but once at the inlet you are on your own.

Last year at the end of the year was my first attempt after watching other boats (there arent a lot) and using the depth finder. It was uncomfortable and I am very experienced. But we did it without hitting sand. This past Sunday was the second time and felt a lot more confident but I still had to use the depth finder to find the entrance to the inlet to get to the ocean. Now I got it and know exactly where to go in the future.

Amazingly my wife loves it, as I do, it's so peaceful it must be over (or up to a mile) on the ocean side of running next to the sandbars on each side. It's really beautiful watching the rolling swells break up on the sandbars and following white water. Was hoping to see a dolphin but no good.

Anyway, in the photos you can see the water towers for Ocean Isle Beach (closest one) and Sunset Beach (furthest one)
It was just a quick run and then back to the intracoastal side to anchor near the sandy beach and go swimming. In Photo number #8 you can see the nice blue/green water. It's not like that right now, hoping in a couple weeks.

I tired to post the photos in order as we left the inlet. Maybe some day I can figure out how to link video. The photo that looks calm was trying to show the size of the swells but without moving video it's not possible and it actually looks calm but is NOT.

(this are screen shots from my video)

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My last boat was a "tiny" 18ft white hull Ranger fish & ski boat sitting on a galvanized trailer. Everytime I took it from the water I went straight to a car wash where I soaped it down and then spray waxed the hull and trailer. Vacuumed and wiped down the interior. I was happy (not the PIA some say) to do that to maintain it and keep it like new. Its was never left out in sun or weather. Garaged or under a really good cover. I find a lot of folks do nothing but complain about up keep of their own boats and cars. It was my pleasure to detail and keep my boats and cars looking like new was best I could. To me that was part of the fun of ownership. :)
Well, my wife and I are back to a tiny 18 foot boat though in today's world it might have been called a 20 foot. as it has a factory installed extended swim platform in addition to the built in one in the photos. Over my lifetime I have owned boats 17 to 28 feet bought my first bought on my own at 18 years old almost 6 decades later. This one now perfect and even more so in our new location on the coast. Just dont get to use it as much as we would like and EASY to maintain.
The hull on this boat ALWAYS amazes me (why I posted my past boats) never had anything quite like it. Smooth in chop, stays on plane most all the time. I think sometimes even like the photos I just took above, being its small does get banged in-between swells. *LOL*
 
Well, my wife and I are back to a tiny 18 foot boat though in today's world it might have been called a 20 foot. as it has a factory installed extended swim platform in addition to the built in one in the photos. Over my lifetime I have owned boats 17 to 28 feet bought my first bought on my own at 18 years old almost 6 decades later. This one now perfect and even more so in our new location on the coast. Just dont get to use it as much as we would like and EASY to maintain.
The hull on this boat ALWAYS amazes me (why I posted my past boats) never had anything quite like it. Smooth in chop, stays on plane most all the time. I think sometimes even like the photos I just took above, being its small does get banged in-between swells. *LOL*
Your boat is great looking. (y)Just a tid bit. I spent 28 years in a plant site that made one of the (3) intermediates that goes into the Kevlar that your hull is made out of. Kevlar is also used in the making of bullet proof vests and all sorts of products from shipping cables to bomb proof materials etc.... I have read that folks rave about what they are able to deal with when they have a boat hull made of Kevlar.
 
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Well, my wife and I are back to a tiny 18 foot boat though in today's world it might have been called a 20 foot. as it has a factory installed extended swim platform in addition to the built in one in the photos. Over my lifetime I have owned boats 17 to 28 feet bought my first bought on my own at 18 years old almost 6 decades later. This one now perfect and even more so in our new location on the coast. Just dont get to use it as much as we would like and EASY to maintain.
The hull on this boat ALWAYS amazes me (why I posted my past boats) never had anything quite like it. Smooth in chop, stays on plane most all the time. I think sometimes even like the photos I just took above, being its small does get banged in-between swells. *LOL*
These boats have great hulls and yes, I agree on the ability to plane. If I'm out there w/ nothing to do (pulling kids, etc.) I like to get up on the step, then pull back to see how slow I can keep her on plane. Our boat originally had a 20" pitch three blade prop, but since we are on a ~400 acre pond just over a mile long and we do mostly cruising or towing, I did some research and went to a 17" four blade Solas and what a difference. It will leap up to step and hold plane down to ~17 mph indicated plus it really 'bites' and seems to hold better in lock to lock turns when towing tubes, which makes sense as you are moving much more water through the prop at a slower speed; turbofan vs. turbojet but smaller and wetter.

You actually seem to go places with this boat, so the longer legs makes sense for you, but if your use changes or if you are just bored, try a different prop.
 
These boats have great hulls and yes, I agree on the ability to plane. If I'm out there w/ nothing to do (pulling kids, etc.) I like to get up on the step, then pull back to see how slow I can keep her on plane. Our boat originally had a 20" pitch three blade prop, but since we are on a ~400 acre pond just over a mile long and we do mostly cruising or towing, I did some research and went to a 17" four blade Solas and what a difference. It will leap up to step and hold plane down to ~17 mph indicated plus it really 'bites' and seems to hold better in lock to lock turns when towing tubes, which makes sense as you are moving much more water through the prop at a slower speed; turbofan vs. turbojet but smaller and wetter.

You actually seem to go places with this boat, so the longer legs makes sense for you, but if your use changes or if you are just bored, try a different prop.
Our prop is actually a 4 blade OEM Volvo Penta! When we purchased the boat some years ago (used with 60 hours on it) the prop was a little dinged up, so I purchased the same exact OEM because I was so impressed.
So I know EXACTLY what you are saying, its stupid fast getting on plane, heck, its almost not like getting on plane at all. Hit the throttle and the boat almost goes straight ahead forward and not up in the air (like I say almost) but it's super quick.

One negative thing about either this hull (which I think it is) or the prop. Is the boat sucks in reverse handling. Without bragging, Im really good, my whole life in handling boats in all conditions docking etc. Im still good with this boat but it IS NOT responsive in reverse by any means. Never saw or had anything like it, however I do manage and can handle it fine but it is drastically different. I suspect maybe it is the stepped hull but then again, this is my first boat with a 4 blade and also my first with a Volvo outdrive.. I suspect mainly the stepped hull, not sure. With that said, reverse is a big nothing compared to the incredible performance of the hull which to this day still impresses me and that is not easy to do. Except reverse you really have to plan out your approach because the boat is not going to react the way you want in a fast manner.
 
Our prop is actually a 4 blade OEM Volvo Penta! When we purchased the boat some years ago (used with 60 hours on it) the prop was a little dinged up, so I purchased the same exact OEM because I was so impressed.
So I know EXACTLY what you are saying, its stupid fast getting on plane, heck, its almost not like getting on plane at all. Hit the throttle and the boat almost goes straight ahead forward and not up in the air (like I say almost) but it's super quick.

One negative thing about either this hull (which I think it is) or the prop. Is the boat sucks in reverse handling. Without bragging, Im really good, my whole life in handling boats in all conditions docking etc. Im still good with this boat but it IS NOT responsive in reverse by any means. Never saw or had anything like it, however I do manage and can handle it fine but it is drastically different. I suspect maybe it is the stepped hull but then again, this is my first boat with a 4 blade and also my first with a Volvo outdrive.. I suspect mainly the stepped hull, not sure. With that said, reverse is a big nothing compared to the incredible performance of the hull which to this day still impressed me and that is not easy to do. Except reverse.
interesting, I thought they all handled reverse like that! But, I haven't been boating that long. A friend suggested trimming up for reverse so that less of the propwash is shielded or impinging on the hull....seemed to help a bit.
 
interesting, I thought they all handled reverse like that! But, I haven't been boating that long. A friend suggested trimming up for reverse so that less of the propwash is shielded or impinging on the hull....seemed to help a bit.
YOU have twin outboards though correct?

ugh,,, its 93, humid scorching sunshine, better get some exercise and go cut the lawn ... 😕
 
Yeah, I like I/O's too, really, I like the integration and extra room on the swim platforms. I LOVE the better fuel economy too.
I love how quiet they are too.

I HATE the fact of all the through hull apparatus though. SO much to go wrong as a boat gets older. That really is my only beef.
I also feel more "Pressured" to flush the engine after each outing as the internal components are not designed from the ground up for salt water use (unless you have a heat exchanger) I only had one boat with one and I LOVED it but I dont think (?) that saves you for the high risers I do think it does save your exhaust manifold though.
My VP has FWC for engine and exhaust manifold. It's never for the riser. But a exhaust manifold that rusted through is what can damage an engine.

But my boat also has a RWC fuel cooler and oil cooler (or maybe it's PS).

I keep my boat at a marina with rack storage. I see many of the boats with outboards being flushed in the water or put on a boat rack and flushed. Then washed down. Some guys spend an hour flushing and cleaning and wiping down their boat after each use.
 
Some guys spend an hour flushing and cleaning and wiping down their boat after each use.
That’s me!
Everything gets washed down with freshwater, including the trailer since we trailer it and freshwater is run through the engine.
After that I let air dry🙃

I have to read up on the Volvo engine and I can’t believe I haven’t all these years, but it wasn’t until just late last year that we started running the boat in saltwater before that it was a freshwater boat.
The engine has a port to hook up a hose to flush the engine but I have been using muffs on the outdrive in order to do it each outing.

Edit!!!
Well, thank you for bringing this up as I lay on my couch recovering from cutting the lawn with 95° out and 80% humidity I looked up on YouTube flushing the engine.

Wow, Volvo makes it simple. Just screw on the garden hose to the fitting supplied on the engine. Turn on the water start the engine couldn’t be more easy.
 
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That’s me!
Everything gets washed down with freshwater, including the trailer since we trailer it and freshwater is run through the engine.
After that I let air dry🙃

I have to read up on the Volvo engine and I can’t believe I haven’t all these years, but it wasn’t until just late last year that we started running the boat in saltwater before that it was a freshwater boat.
The engine has a port to hook up a hose to flush the engine but I have been using muffs on the outdrive in order to do it each outing.

Edit!!!
Well, thank you for bringing this up as I lay on my couch recovering from cutting the lawn with 95° out and 80% humidity I looked up on YouTube flushing the engine.

Wow, Volvo makes it simple. Just screw on the garden hose to the fitting supplied on the engine. Turn on the water start the engine couldn’t be more easy.

See - I could not do that as I would be worried about the brass end of a garden hose scratching my fiberglass deck. I use muffs.

I go to my boat on a work rack wearing Crocs and leave them at the bottom of my ladder while I go around the boat doing engine maintenance in bare feet.

I have a 2'x2' piece of carpet I use to sit the battery on while situating it to put in the engine bay.
 
You want quiet?
How about something with a mast and sails? Whole different skill set.
You would need a place to dock it, though, since nobody wants to have to step and then unstep a mast on a centerboard boat every time they take it out.
Even a centerboard boat is better in rougher conditions than a power boat and a fixed keel boat with ballast in the keel is very stable in rougher water, and the sails help with this as well.
Don't get me wrong. I do like power boats but if I buy a boat in my impending retirement, it'll have a mast with only a small auxiliary to make getting in and out of mooring easier.
 
I have a shallow running bay boat (Robalo Cayman 226) made by the same company as Chaparral boats. I wouldn’t attempt navigating Shallotte Inlet. Just a few more minutes south to Little River Inlet and depth isn’t ever an issue.
 
I have a shallow running bay boat (Robalo Cayman 226) made by the same company as Chaparral boats. I wouldn’t attempt navigating Shallotte Inlet. Just a few more minutes south to Little River Inlet and depth isn’t ever an issue.
Yes, familiar with Little River Inlet because of a recent Charter Boat fishing trip. But we also do a lot of swimming (not in the inlet of course) and I prefer the water in NC. We do plan on going to N Myrtle beach for dinners and such via the intracoastal. LuLu's would be once place.

I got the Shallotte thing down, I prefer heading out that way, I like the breakers and the whole scene. (now that I know how to get through) I wouldnt recommend it to a novice though.

You got a nice boat there.
 
Yes, familiar with Little River Inlet because of a recent Charter Boat fishing trip.

I got the Shallotte thing down, I prefer heading out that way, I like the breakers and the whole scene. (now that I know how to get through) I wouldnt recommend it to a novice though.

You got a nice boat there.
Thanks. I’ve caught some nice red drum in October in the ICW just south of Bonaparte Creek on a falling tide. Anchor on the ocean side, use a 2 oz weight Carolina rig with fresh mullet or pogies for bait. Through your rig to the center of the waterway and hang on…
 
Thanks. I’ve caught some nice red drum in October in the ICW just south of Bonaparte Creek on a falling tide. Anchor on the ocean side, use a 2 oz weight Carolina rig with fresh mullet or pogies for bait. Through your rig to the center of the waterway and hang on…
If I ever get back into fishing I will seek more advice from you!
For decades I have fished up on Long Island, mostly the Great South Bay and Ocean out of Jones inlet to as far as the NY Harbor Area.
I never liked eating fish really. More so bluefish, but wow they put up a fight, we would load up a garbage can of monsters, keep them iced up and on our way back inside the inlet back up to the fishing piers inside Jones Inlet and toss them up to the fishermen there. They loved it. The fish I would keep were Fluke (called summer flounder I think here)

Now a decade or two later and the desire to stay heathly I rarely eat red meat anymore and fish is a staple in our diet 3 times (sometimes more) a week. We love all the fresh ocean fish we have caught here and in Florida on charter boats. The last trip was on Mothers Day because my wife wanted to go fishing. First time through Little River inlet. (we only lived here a year) She won the pool *LOL* with a Sea Bass. I dont know the other fish we caught and kept as well but that was the only keeper Sea Bass on the boat.
I actually buy A LOT of frozen flounder at Costco and Sam's Club and eat regularly during the week.

My brother surf fishes from the N Myrtle beaches. I think he mentioned Carolina Rigs or maybe that was the Charter Boat.
 
interesting, I thought they all handled reverse like that! But, I haven't been boating that long. A friend suggested trimming up for reverse so that less of the propwash is shielded or impinging on the hull....seemed to help a bit.
I was just rereading these posts. I have to give that a try and trim up the engine. It might make some sense. I’m not sure one thing. I’m sure we will be out quite a few times this week.
If it is pinging on the hall, the behavior you’re talking about pertains to our boat it certainly would make sense and that might be a partial explanation.

Once again, I need to say, I can literally parallel park a boat like I can a car or back into a slip under any conditions without banging into the polls. But this boat takes planning. I had a 28 foot sea Ray with the single 454 Merc and we would be coming back sometimes from Jones Inlet on Long Island late in the day Seabreeze blowing up a storm I would drift into my marina in a boat slip smack in the middle of the all the boats sometimes people would come to help you stand on the dock as you try to back into slip and the locals would always say he doesn’t need any help 🤣

But this chaparral, and now that I’m in coastal tidewaters, even though I have got it perfect each time I still say hail Mary😂
 
Thanks. I’ve caught some nice red drum in October in the ICW just south of Bonaparte Creek on a falling tide. Anchor on the ocean side, use a 2 oz weight Carolina rig with fresh mullet or pogies for bait. Through your rig to the center of the waterway and hang on…
October and November and May and June are peak time to catch red drum here.
 
What a fantastic topic! Thank you all for sharing your amazing photos. I live in Sweden, where there are plenty of lakes, and I’m also considering getting a boat. However, with all the rain we get here, I’d only be able to enjoy it for a couple of months each summer. Do you think it's worth it?
 
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