Few Basic Questions

[malo8899]

Hey Ya'll,

Been out for a few runs now and everything is lookin great.  Thanks Rick for stoppin by Central Florida Boating and giving them some advice.....you ended up saving me 500 bucks on that MDC Board that we ended up not having to order.

Anyhow, I just had some basic operational kinda questions for ya'll....

1) What do you guys use as a cooler?  Is that supposed to be a cooler under the seat, on the port side of the boat just behind the winshield.  I see a drain hole in the bottom, but no plug for it.  Perhaps you just throw ice in there and as it melts it drains down into the hull.  Am I on the right page here?

2) What kinda cleaner do you guys use on the seats/dash/exterior to clean the boat down after a days run?

3) Any maintenance stuff I should be doing after a days run?

4) Engine runs great, but when it idles, it seems to have a little skip every 30 seconds or so.  Almost like the idle is set to low and it wants to die.  Sound familiar?

5) I've been going out at my buddies house, who lives on the lake.  So, we stop back into the house frequenty for food/drink/etc.  I usually just pull the boat up onto the sand.  Is this a bad idea?  For the prop?  For the keel?

6) I'm trying to figure out if this fat sac in the back is the stock one, or if its aftermarket.  If I gave the follow description.: Light blue blatter with a grey enclosure around it.....would any of ya'll know if thats the stock one?

Thanks guys.

Mike

[malo8899]

Oh, 2 more.

1) I want to fix some paint wear on the tower, from previous racks and stuff, just so it looks better.  I was going to pick up some white autobody paint from like pep boys and use that.  Any other recomendations

2) This is lame, but since I'm asking questions here anyway, I guess its easier to ask then to drive down to boat storage place and measure it.  Does anyone know the diameter of the pipe used on the stock tower?  Just trying to get an idea for when I purchase some new racks and stuff.

[PSullivan3]

1 5/8"

[Capt Rick]

white tower ---- Appliance white spray can
Black                 "              black

Annodized Aluminum sherwin william anodized alumin paint- paint and brush it on-- or find engine aluminum spray

[lesman01]

1. I use that as a cooler. It works out great and that drain hole i think just runs down into the bilge. Just through a few bagsf ice in there.

2. I just make sure to wipe the whole boat down with a microfibre towel right after i pull her out of the water. The towel gets just wet enough from the water on the sides of the boat ans removes the grim on the side. MUCH easier to remove it then than after it dries on there.

4. same here. I read somewhere on here that the idle is normal to fluctuate like that. Seems to skip, but don;t really think that;s what it is...

5. I try to avoid beaching it at all cost, though i hve done it my share of times. It's pretty risky unless you really know the bottom. It is definately a bad idea if the rudder or keel hit bottom when you do that, so be sure you know how deep it is. One idea is to tie a bouy to an anchore out from the beach several yards and tie to it. WHen you're readty to board, swing the back end around and board on the swim platform, You know when you're deep enough if the water comes up above your waste while holding on to the swim platform.  Grab the swim platform and stick your legs under untilyou feel the rudder(with engine off!) then you can learn how to judge the depth. Only problem is you gotta get wet. I'm sure there's better ways.....

also, it helps to add your boat model, tow vehivlce, etc... to your sig, so evryone knows what boat you have. click on "profile" and it's in there somewhere...

[PSullivan3]

On the vinyl I used Vinyl cleaner and conditioner by 3m no silicone .Armorall and cleaner or conditioners like that screw up the threads in the in the vinyl the 3m stuff you can get in a few places but Wally is the cheapest.I use maguiers wax and quick wax on the hull before I put it away I also use the cooler under the seat bought a plug at auto zone 16 lbs of ice last all day.I would not get in the habit of beaching the boat the sand on the bottom will act like sand paper and wear through the gel coat.

[malo8899]

Awesome guys....thanks a bunch 

[toyotafreak]

My ice chest didn't have a drain hole. Cut that one when I had the fuel tank out to install the skeg. Whew. Made a little diverter deal so the thing wouldn't drain onto the top of the tank. Bought a plug for the drain but never use it. Even at Havasu, we'll almost never need to add ice in the afternoon - it's a very nicely insulated and located cooler.

The paint info that Capt. Rick gave needs to be recorded somewhere...any ideas?

[PSullivan3]

The hole in my cooler is forward and to the starboard sideabout 1/4'to 3/16" and I believe it drains to the bilge

[westtx]

My idle fluctuatues some when the boat is rocking from chop or boat wakes -- smooth otherwise. I'm guessing it has something to do with water intake, but that's just a SWAG