First boat - returning to NJ.com

[Matt L]

Boats all done and took it's first ride today at Lake Nockamixon. All electronics worked! Bilge. live well pump, fishfinder, front and aft lights. Ran everything.

Boat seriously moves with a buddy and my two kids. Drifted shiners and night crawlers but not a bite. Water in the high 40's. Talked to guy who said he sees folks get stripers out of there on chicken livers. I have caught them on livers before in the delaware. Marked a lot of fish near the bottom in deep water but no takers. Good first day

Almost killed my buddy pulling the boat out of my driveway which slopes at a sharp angel down to the house. My buddy hooked up the trailer to the boat but forgot the chains and left the wheel down. We were just moving it to the steet to put the outboard on. Well the front trailer wheel pops the hitch off and the boat comes flying down the driveway. My buddy somehow gets out of the way and the boat crashes in the house. The corner of the transom is bent and needs to be tightened back up. Boat had no leaks so all is well. Very scary. Kids could have been back there.

Thanks to everyone for your help. I will be out there on the bay in a week or two.

[Capt. Debbie]

Getting dingers on the boat are part of regular use. At least you have a decent story to tell about it. Scary, but no one got hurt.

What's it run on the GPS flat out speed?

Also if you run the boat in salt walt, do a thorough wash down. Of course flush the O/B. And if you use the electric motor wash that thorough and run the prop in a bucket of tap water to clean out the crevices. Electric motors are tricky. Many just remove them when on the brine. They do make special saltwater ones. But according to a story I read, with a thorough wash down the standard electric motors will continue to work fine - as you as you give it TLC to forget its salt water adventure.

Capt. Frank

PS Don't forget Sea Tow Insurance. Maybe I'll see you out there? Not running the boat for another month or more. But will get there eventually.

[Tony Cav]

Don't forget about a fire extinguisher!!

[seadog]

Matt, Good luck with your new boat.There is great fishing available in that area with that size boat.Some already suggested a hand vhf radio and I agree safty + you can talk to other boats.I would reccomend ones that float.They run around $149 and if you drop it in the drink you will have a chance to get it back.You might also want to consider a life belt.Many of us will not where liejackets because they are uncomfortable but the life belt is about the size of a fanny pack. If you wind up in the water,pull the string and the vest inflats. I always where one when out there alone. Best price I've found is online kodiack outfitters $59. $200 is not cheap but it might just save your life. Good luck

[seadog]

Matt good luck with your new boat.Someone already suggested a portable vhf radio.I would go with one that floats.That way if you drop it in the drink you have a chance or recovering it.I also use a lifebelt.Life jackets are to bulky.The life belt is about the size of a fanny pack and is activated by pulling the cord.Once this is none it will inflate instantly.The radio I've seen for $149,best price on the lifebelt was on line at kodiack outfitters $58.$200. is a pretty good chunk of change but if saves you life its priceless.Better to have and not need then to need and not have.

[Capt. Debbie]

Speaking of PFD's inflatable supenders are about as comfortable as they come. You can wear them under your exterior jacket. Some have hydrostatic release besides the pull cord.

If you can fit it put in a full size VHF radio. 25 watts vs. 5 watts and a real antenna gives you great range( about 10x the transmit distance) and never dead batteries. Even a handheld with a manufacturer's adapted hooked up the a real(not whip antenna) VHF antenna will give you much more range than that crappy unity-gain rubber duck antenna. Mine's hooked up to the GPS to do automated DSC distress calls( w/ my MMSI # when USCG starts to monitor).

Don't forget effective sound making device & flares too?

Got all this? By the time you get done loading it up, you'll need a bigger boat to carry all this crap.

Capt. Frank