[Boat budget up to $75K what to get?**PICS ADDED GOT A BOAT**]

niiiiiceeee!!!!!

I will be on the market for something like that in the very bear future...

May I ask for some pictures of the cabin??? how much does it weight???

What truck are you using to pull that boat on a trailer???

Thanks!!!

[Dedicated Marine Electronics Forum Needed?]

As I look forward to make ReelBoating look LESS like the last boating forum I created - I will begin making some changes.

I feel there is more to offering a boating and fishing community then simply having a ton of categories on a forum. In fact, I would like RB forums to just be a part of a bigger online presense.

Does ReelBoating really need a dedicated Marine Electronics Forum? I know it worked on my last site but am debating if it's really necessary, or should these discussions simply be in the boating forum area?

The new site layout debuting in a few weeks will have a search box which is predominantly featured on all pages so finding electronics topics and discussions shouldn't be an issue.

I guess I'm leanning toward ReelBoating being an open offshore community of all types of discussions and not a forum where people bash products all day.

With forums, I tend to like the "less is more" philosophy however am open to suggestions.

Thanks

I liked separate.

personal preference...I'm not really strong on electronics issues, so it's less to sort thru...

[Bringing The Sand Bar Back Here?]

The upside of bringing it back here would be consolidating/increasing your traffic-the benefits of that are obvious, not the least of which being advertising revenue.

The downside (IMO) is that if you take away the adult content (language, nudity, etc.) you lose the sandbar.

I do think that the discussions here are too regimented to have many posts. Topics are too limited to have any type of dialogue.

I completely agree with both quotes... IMO I would like to have the sandbar in here and not have to go to other forum. Actually thats the reason I do not visit this sandbar, but I frequently visit the sandbar on THaT other site....call me lazy if you want... but what makes the sandbar what it is, it's in my opinion the same content that you propose to regulate if you bring it here, which would kill the very essence of the sandbar

Also, I think that Mr. Paul is right on the nail....

Too much too the Right and the forum gets boring, lets face it there's only soo many boating topics to discuss. After a while it gets repetitive.

Too much to the Left, and you have MAYHEM!!!!

I think that right now reelboating is toward the center but leaning heavily to the right....

IMO: Having areas one the rigth, and areas on the left, would bring the forum to the center and anybody can pick and choose which areas to visit. some kind of "to each their own" thing, and you do not exclude anybody.

[beavboats.com? comments?]

I saw the white one with a freind an few months back, the nonskid had been repainted and when you looked at it closely it was pealing off and when you looked inside the hatch on the starboard side next to the cc the stringer looked like it had a 1/8-1/4 " gap/crack from the hull.. it was scary looking. The broker told us it used to be a tender. Anyways it's still for sale and it a white 98 w/yamaha 250 2stroke. Ibelieve it's was priced in the 60's.

YEP thats the first one I looked!!!! and noticed the same things... the stringer thing was on both sides, and the broker tried to made it a non important thing.....

I also noticed the deck paint peeling of, and the paint job was scaryly awfull... it also had some nicks at the bow, that according to the broker were from "hitting" the main boat.

The engines did not impresed me either.....

[beavboats.com? comments?]

emudryj,

are you by any chance looking at the 1998 32 in dania?

I looked at a couple of those.. There was 1998 on pompano from beaver and one on ft lauderdale from another broker....

Why???

[beavboats.com? comments?]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I did the search on THaT forum and found a couple of negative comments, but very old ones... does anybody have experience dealing with Gary Beaver??

He has an intrepid that I like but some things did not added up...

[wtb honda generator]

I second Wisesales!!!! I think that I dealt with Ed(???) some time ago, when we did a power buy for honda genies at THT... the guy was really helpfull, and everybody was happy.

I think to remember that Wisesaled honored the power buy price to a guy, LOOOOONG after the power buy was done..

[recycling old boats]

I strongly agree with you on the recycling issue. BUT This culture is completely different to any other culture on the world, mainly because of the purchasing power we have.

I came from a 3rd world country, where you HAVE to recycle, because NEW it's either TOO EXPENSIVE or it does not get there because its imported.

You would not imagine the things I've seen done to cars, boats, homes, equipment, you name it!!!!

I've heard that CUBA is still using 1960 Russian cars!!! and they keep recycling them.

The good thing about that it's that your brain gets used to find alternatives all the time, gets more flexible, and you get used to think "outside the box".

My father used to tell me "necessity is the mother of all the abilities"

But here it does not work like that... I brought that "fix everything over and over" mentality to this country and soon realized that its not cost effective.

To follow with your example on the lawn mower.... when I bought my home I got a small yard to mow. My financial situation was not the best, so I got me a lawn mower on a garage sale. That stupid thing drove me crazy!!! It took me forever to mow my grass, because every time i use it I had to do something else to it.... the self propel thing never worked and I had to push the stupid thing, so I had to work most of my Sunday on the yard and was totally soar on Monday when I had to go to work, cursing myself and asking where the hell went the weekend.

I finally got tired, went to home depot and got me a new one. Never a single problem again. What it used to be a nightmare before and used to take forever, now its a fairly enjoyable task. Now, the new mower is so much smother, "really" self propelled, and easy to start, that while I'm doing the edges, my wife is mowing.

Some times is not really cost effective to keep fighting, and in the long term, the time, money, effort invested in fixing is not worth it.

The down side is that the brain gets LAZY, and at one point you prefer not to THINK, because it's easier to go to HD and buy new instead of wondering and solving a minor (or major) problem.

Also some times the resources needed to fix and old boat (for example) does not guarantee that you will not have problems with some other thing in the near future, and you keep fixing and fixing and fixing.

JMO...

[intrepids]

All good info, thanks. While it looks like the 32 Intrepid is still on the top of my list for early next year I am not dead set on it.

Here are my "must haves"

32+ feet

cuddy cabin (but no walk around types as I will need to have the arch fold to go under low bridges)

Room for A/C and on board generator...this is the most important thing.

I have been looking at the Marlin 35 as it has all of these things but I hate the way so much of the boat is used by the euro transom.

There are a few others such as the Dakota, Concept, Scarab (new style) ect..

Any others that fit that description?

I heard very bad things about the Concepts construction quality, but no personal experience so do not quote my on that one.

[intrepids]

Kerno:

I concur with you on the console access. that was one of the main reasons why I went with the contender console when I did my Scarab. BIG, TALL and OPEN.

But on the 356 that I looked at yesterday, it had a big door on the front lower part of the console right in front of the helm seat.

I peak inside the console and there was TONS of space for stuff. the access to it will be tricky because you basically will have to lay on your back, slide in the console and then sit. uncomfortable? yes, but it looked very possible.

I wonder if a door could be cut on the front of the console to access the electronics easier. If I remember correctly theres only some cooler under the seat and thats it.....

We are mainly, cruisers... then ammateur divers, and ocasionally we fish... what I'm trying to say is that we are closer to spill chocolate milk on the deck than any fish blood!!!!!!!!

Closer to the barbie or sponge bob rod/reel combo than the Penn Senator

[intrepids]

I looked at a 323 and a 356 today. I shouldn't had!!!!I looked at the 35 first and then I went to see the 32 and it looked tiny.. when in reallity it is not!!!!

Mandy: thanks a lot for all your input... I'm thinking really hard about the 356. I can't take it out of my mind now.

Let me ask you something, is your fresh water intake under an inspection cap under the helm seat??? it looked like a very odd and uncomfortable place to put the fresh water fill..

Could you ask your friend about what fuel economy # he is gettin??? with what engines???

Could you post your # too???

Thanks!!!

Also talked to Joe Brennar at Intrepid... What a COOL guy, he spent considerable time with me talking about the intrepids and a particular hull (a 323 2001) I was looking at. Not only that, he also sent me pictures of the boat from when it left the factory and also sent me the original sea trial!!!!

[intrepids]

thanks for the reply... I was going to bring it BTT...

If everything goes ok, I will be able to reduce my trailering A LOT, except for the ocasional trip to the keys twice or 3 time a year or less, but still it's going to be a factor to concider.... do you have any idea whats the weigth on the trailer of your 32??? what about your friends 356??

I thougth that the kevlar hull was standard at a time, but I may be wrong.

I understand that this are ver sturdy and well constructed hulls, can anybody comment on this??

Is there any wood on these boats???

It seems that the final decision will be between bigger/older or smaller/newer

[intrepids]

Most things being equal (electronics, engines, etc..)....

Is there any major difference in ride or hull characteristics between a 1995-6 Intrepid 356 Cuddy Cabin and a 2001 Intrepid 32 cuddy cabin??

I mean, is there any major improvement or change in construction, layout or materials between 95-96 and 2001???

are these hulls still made with Kevlar???

I would appreciate any other info

Thanks..

[weather forecast at John Pennekamp tomorrow]

I'm very bad at forecasting weather, so I was wondering if my fellow boaters could help me out...

Want to take a friend to some of the shallow reefs at John Pennekamp tomorrow or Sunday for some shallow hookah dives, but I do not want to drive all the way there to find harsh sea conditions and have to turn around.

The buoy at molases reef says..

Station MLRF1

NDBC

Location: 25.010N 80.38W

Conditions as of:

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:00:00 UTC

Winds: SW (220°) at 6.0 kt gusting to 6.0 kt

Atmospheric Pressure: 29.92 in and falling

Air Temperature: 84.0 F

Water Temperature: 85.1 F

Is this good? bad? or what??? can anybody help me out....

[just out of curiosity]

And here you can see the power head in action...

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm

[REPO boats]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a friend the asked me to ask you guys for some direction.

He had a very old CC open hull (sorry can't remember the brand), with a lot of good electronics and engines.

He is looking for a hull to move over all the good stuff he has on the old boat.

basically (due to family needs) he is looking for a walkarounds or CCs with Cuddy on the 30sh feet and he was wondering about REPOs.

He's looking for a modern 4-5 year old hull or not older than 2000. He is not too concerned about engines since he has a couple of 250s and electronics on VERY GOOD condition that he could swap.

Where could I send him on-line to look for REPOS????

Or maybe stolen/stripped boats from insurance companies??

I told him about marine liquidators, but he could not find what he wanted...

Thanks in advance

[Headed Accross The Pond]

Well here we are!!!! BIMINI: what an awesome place!!!! thanks Chris for the ride and the tour over the island....

Here are some pictures...

Have to say a few things for the ones that never been there....

No words to describe the clarity of the water, The best beaches I've ever seen, I want to go back rigth now.

[River Marine Supply]

Hmmm.... if that is still the same owner, I would have a problem spending my money there being a LEO and knowing the history...

Can you share whats the story??? I've been there several times... at least at the counter, customer service is definitely not their strong point IMO.

Yes they have good prices on some things, and they have TONS of stuff around to look at.

I cant remember the name of the guy that seems to be running the show behind the counter, for some reason Oscar, cames to my mind but I

m not sure, he has a no-friends-face-and-attitude, but also seems to be very knowledgeable about their products and stock.

[A Different Captain's Club Philosophy]

count me in!!!!

[reviled for switching from THT]

I second what Reelnouti, Twentynine and Caveman said.

No offense but, you posted a suicide note saying I'm leaving, but you are still back there reading the responses....

To all of those that believes that you can only belong to ONE forum, I did not know that signing up on a web forum was like getting married... maybe the suicide note is like filling the divorce papers?????

[SeaTow or Tow Boat US?]

I was wondering if we ever came to an agreement about what boat towing company is better with regard to service coverage, waiting time, fleet, customer service, etc... around south FL.

I'm planing to do some trips to Bahamas so I think that that would make a difference....

[insurance for 15+ YO boat]

Give us a call. Smith-Merritt Insurance. 954-784-1807.

We have two companies that still will write boats down here of that age.

Skip Smith

President

Smith-Merritt Insurance, Inc.

http://www.smith-merritt.com

Email: Skip@smith-merritt.com

Located at Merritt's Boat & Engine Works

2931 N.E. 16th Street

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

888.784.1807 toll free

954.784.1807 local

AWESOME!!! didn't realize what time it was and tried to call your office

I call you tomorrow to get a quote...thanks!!!!

[insurance for 15+ YO boat]

Just called progresive to get a quote and they say that they would not insure boat older than 15 in south FL.

Any other place where I could get a quote for a 1981 in south FL??? I have the survey done by reputable surveyor, if that helps.

[Headed Accross The Pond]

Chris!!! buddy they busted me the other day at the ramp.... I was looking to hang with you guys. BTW I have 2 big Marshmellows bags that I do not know what to do with!!!LOL

Shoot me a PM or call me so I can head over your home so I can pick your brain about all the paperwork to fill up, where to meet, and that stuff....

I will have to leave the truck and trailer at harbour towne marina.... since it seems to be a very safe place....

PM me or call me

[Experience with ITT-Jabsco]

I'm in the middle of installing an electric toilet on my boat and while doing this, just for fun, I decided to test the toilet. So I fill a bowl with tap water and pored into it like if i were peeing.

To my surprise, the level did not hold, and all the sudden I see water coming from the back of the toilet.

Loose hose was my first thought but after checking and re-checking; I found that the water was coming thru the macerator pump embedded on the toilet.

After disassembling the toilet completely and looking at the parts break down on the manual (thanks BOZZ) i realized that the shaft seal for the macerator pump was missing.

Called to ITT-Jabsco yesterday and they sent me a complete spare part kit!!!!

Have not got it yet, but I’m grateful that I found out this way before the "###### hit the head" LOL