Old boat hits saltwater for the first time

We spent a long weekend with some friends who have a house just off the Intercoastal Waterway about 50 miles south of Savannah, about a 3 hour drive from home. They have a nice dock on the creek in front of the house, and riding around on their late 60's 13' Boston Whaler is what inspired us to buy a power boat. This was the boat's first time in salt water, and my first time captaining on salt water. We spent time cruising the local creeks and hanging out on the sandbar. The first afternoon it was rough - winds gusting to 25mph and a hard 1-2' chop running in the bigger channels. The old tri hull pounded through it with a lot of spray but very little drama, even with 4 adults in a 15' boat. The other two days were much calmer and we loaded her down with 5 people, a cooler, picnic supplies, and a dog for the trip out to the sandbar. She did great. We also took the opportunity to have a formal naming ceremony since the old boat was never named. Since we have a small sailboat named Firefly, the power boat is named Dragonfly. It does, after all, have an Evinrude for propulsion.

Had a small wake to deal with getting off the trailer:

On the dock at the ramp:

on our friends' dock. Stayed in the water from Friday morning till Monday morning.

beached on the sandbar for naming

and loaded up for the trip home

I flushed the motor and washed the trailer before heading home, but I waited until I got home to wash down the boat. There was ample evidence of the sprayfest we had on day one

I learned a lot about the boat and built some real trust in her seaworthines. I figured out my next project needs to be greasing the motor control box and replacing the sticky throttle cable. Close after that is removing the bow light that hits your tailbone while climbing over the bow off the sandbar.

And boy, does that big 85 burn some gasoline! The truck, OTOH, averaged over 15mpg on I-16 running 70mph into a 20mph headwind.

That's living. Thanks for the share.

Smart move flushing the motor, and washing the boat. My little 13' Whaler gets a thorough flush and bath EVERY single time it touches the water. I even go as far as washing under the trailer every time. Salt water is corrosive stuff!

congrats and nice boat!

Awesome! Glad to see it out getting used.

Yeah big bore 2 stroke will suck down gas. Luckily I have a big ass tank!

java230 wrote: Awesome! Glad to see it out getting used. Yeah big bore 2 stroke will suck down gas. Luckily I have a big ass tank!

I'm running 2 six gallon portable tanks. When the first one runs out, it's time to go home! I have 2 original 6gal metal Evinrude tanks that came with the boat but they need refurbed before using.

Nice! Was this around St. Simons?

crankwalk wrote: Nice! Was this around St. Simons?

North of there, about half way to Savannah. The closest wide spot in the road on 99 is Townsend. Sort of behind Ossabow island.

ultraclyde wrote:

java230 wrote: Awesome! Glad to see it out getting used. Yeah big bore 2 stroke will suck down gas. Luckily I have a big ass tank!

I'm running 2 six gallon portable tanks. When the first one runs out, it's time to go home! I have 2 original 6gal metal Evinrude tanks that came with the boat but they need refurbed before using.

Depending on how far you venture, I'd recommend a third tank. One out, one back, and a spare.

Its amazing how much a headwind, tide, or strong current can affect fuel consumption

Based on my experience with those OMCs and portable tanks, I'd carry a spare fuel line. I've seen the fuel line/primer bulb cause strange problems at the worst times.

Cool. But 1-2' seas is not "rough." That's like a Beaufort 2. "Rough" is like 20' seas, and when they hit 60-70', that's "really rough." Beaufort 12 or "Phen-berkeleying-Nomininal."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

In reply to ultraclyde:

Ha mine is 35 gallons! But I have an extra cyl too

Dr. Hess wrote: Cool. But 1-2' seas is not "rough." That's like a Beaufort 2. "Rough" is like 20' seas, and when they hit 60-70', that's "really rough." Beaufort 12 or "Phen-berkeleying-Nomininal." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

Well, sure, but in a 40 year old lake boat that's 15' long, has 12" of freeboard and is loaded right to load capacity, it's as rough as I'm going out in. I'm well aware what the sea is capable of. That's why I stay on the creek!

Yeah, that's why I don't go on anything less than 600' long. And 1K' long with like a 175' beam is better.

I don't actually run the first tank dry before heading back. I keep a safety margin in play, and I carry a spare fuel line and primer bulb. Along with tools. And paper charts. And GPS charts on my phone. And flares. And a binnacle compass. And a vhf handheld. And a spare starting battery And soon a seatow membership.

I believe in safety first and backups for the backups when on the water.

Great rig.

I grew up piloting a 15' Bonita with a Johnson 70.

The 4 cylinder OMCs were always thirsty engines, but that extra HP is nice to have.

The picture shot across the bow of the sailboat is outstanding.

Now I need to go drag my boats out and get them running for the summer.

looks like you had fun. Congrats and I am jealous.

if I may.. it's "intracoastal"

In reply to mad_machine:

You may. That makes much more sense.