11/07/2007 03:39:42 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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I've found the boat I want! It is a HM Coastal Cruiser with a stern drive. I am also a newbie to houseboating - don't even own the boat yet but trying to learn all I can to make sure I make the right choices. Since I don't know the differences between a stern drive and a v-drive, is this too broad of a question to ask for the basic differences? From speaking with several boatowners, most prefer a v-drive. Why? I am learning alot from this forum and looking forward to being able to post my own experiences once I get started with the dream.
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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11/07/2007 05:27:57 PM
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Dave
Moderator
Posts: 182
Joined: 10/18/2002
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Stay away from the stern drive if you can. Maintenance and handling will be much easier with a V-drive. Stern drives are miserable.
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11/07/2007 05:57:40 PM
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
Super moderator
Posts: 1520
Joined: 10/18/2002
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Amen!!!!!
However thats all thats available in a single engine houseboat.
A single engine houseboat with an outdrive wanders all over at low speeds until you get VERY good at handling it. Thats why they are called "wandering bears".
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
Edited: 11/07/2007 at 06:00:42 PM by OLD HOUSEBOATER
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11/07/2007 07:31:14 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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I was afraid that was the case. I love the boat I have found with the stern drive but think I will be better off finding a boat I love that has a V drive. Thank you Dave and Old Houseboater for your input. Your responses are in line with what I have been told. The search for the perfect fit has actually been fun. Until then, I'll keep reading and learning.
Thanks again!
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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11/08/2007 05:18:25 PM
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ted655
Admiral
Posts: 424
Joined: 02/09/2007
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I would look at how often & how far the boat would travel. If the features, condition, price and equipment were what I wanted, then the drives would take a backseat. BUT... that reasoning only works if the boat is to be a dock queen or rafter on weekends.
I have the single engine/stern drive. Everyone is right, there is much to worry about. So far.... knock on wood!
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11/08/2007 06:12:41 PM
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MILLERTYME
Admiral
Posts: 253
Joined: 02/20/2006
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while i will agree a single v-drive handles better underway, a single stern drive handles better when docking, especially for a novice boater, since you have better stearing control, and don't have to worry about which way your boat is going to "walk" in forward or reverse.
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UC FANS
1999, 52' Monticello - Miller Tyme
Port of Aurora IN
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11/08/2007 06:30:57 PM
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BananaTom
Admiral
Posts: 968
Joined: 12/05/2006
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Sea trial the vessel for a long period and then make your own decsion. It is off season now and many many boats on the market. Take your time.
And have fun.
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Banana Tom
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11/08/2007 07:06:40 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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Thank you Millertyme & Ted655 for your positive input on stern drives. As mentioned, we love that boat so its nice to know there are other considerations that are just as or less important than the drives. And since we are novices, we will need all the help we can get as we motor around. We'll probably use the boat alot with little trips to begin with. Little trips meaning out of the slip into a nearby cove and back! Pulling into and out of the slip will be an adventure for awhile I'm sure. Of course, there will be plenty of times we just go aboard and sit. I'm talking like we already own the boat - I think that's a good sign. We'll see how everything turns out but I do know we are ready to make things happen. I'll let you know........
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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11/08/2007 07:16:33 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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How long should a sea trial last? One hour, two hours, more? We just found out that we can take one before we pay for a survey. That was good news! Told ya we were new to all of this including the buying part. We were also told that more and more boats should be coming available especially this time of year. We move slow - want to make the right choice - and be as informed as we can. But we also know there's nothing like good old fashioned O.J.T. and we are looking forward to it.
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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11/09/2007 08:53:57 AM
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ted655
Admiral
Posts: 424
Joined: 02/09/2007
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Moving slow is good Bama. We were 2 yrs. picking ours.
You will want to travel under sustained power if possible, upstream if possible. "Things" reveal themselves better under stress or load. A knowledgeable friend is a big plus. Don't make the mistake we did, forgetting to ask questions. We both got home and started remembering things we wish we should have asked. Work from a list. I bet we all can get a list worked up here.
"You do". I have a lawnmower I can start & cut with. My son can't even start it & it quits on him. I have the "touch", he doesn't. You perform all the operations while out. See if any "tricks" are needed to make her go. Put her through her paces. Do the same with all the systems. Our shower seemed simple enough the day we "looked" at it. Later, after we took possession, we couldn't get the water to drain while showering. We had to call & learn there was a hidden switch for a separate bilge pump. Stuff like that!
No real answer on trail length. Not that it is, but long enough to make sure things aren't cobbled together for a quick circle back to the dock.
There should be no problem or excuse for removing covers in order to check for rot, wet areas, etc..
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11/09/2007 12:01:24 PM
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BananaTom
Admiral
Posts: 968
Joined: 12/05/2006
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Bam Bam,
I have attached operational instructions for my Gibson. You may want to print and use as a guide to determine how everything on "your to be" works. My sea trial took 8 hours, I spent 6 hours on board with the owner, 3 at the dock and three away, then two hours with mechanic on board, the owner paid for the mechanic. Mine was over kill I am sure, but after the OUT OF WATER survey, I knew everything about the vessel.
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Banana Tom
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11/09/2007 04:38:43 PM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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Ted, I'm sure your son could start the lawnmower if he WANTED to. My daughter has the same problem.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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11/09/2007 08:10:08 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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Thank you so much Banana Tom for the instruction guide. It was easy to read and I will print it and take with me when we take another look around at the boat we have been considering. Even though the location of some things will be different, the concepts are the same. So much to learn! Why don't you ever leave your electrical cords on the dock? Will someone take them or are they dangerous to be laying around? It seems like everyone leaves their dock space pretty tidy even by rolling up excess lines & ropes. Having grown up on the range, I learned first hand that if you take care of your equipment, it will take care of you. I'm sure others on this forum -novice and expert- will be able to use these guidelines too. Maybe more things to look for during the sea trial will be made available from forum members too. I think having a good check list of do's and don'ts and a discipline to stay true to the checks is a great way to start and stay safe. Even things like removing the cushions on upper deck chairs so they don't blow off is important.
So thank you again for the guide and the help. I'm sure more questions will be coming!
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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11/10/2007 08:25:44 AM
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ted655
Admiral
Posts: 424
Joined: 02/09/2007
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Originally posted by: stmbtwle
Ted, I'm sure your son could start the lawnmower if he WANTED to. My daughter has the same problem.
Come to think of it, he never could get the hang of our garbage can lid either.
Is the boat you're looking at from a private owner or broker/dealer? Ours was private, we returned to the marina & just hung out, chatting folks up. We gleaned little nuggets here & there about the boat & how it was used by the owners. Turns out the boat was never out of sight of the marina. She was a rafting dock queen. The hour meters revealed the generator was run 5 times more than the engine. This "tended" to support the scuttlebutt.
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11/10/2007 12:03:44 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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The boat we are looking at is being sold by a broker. It hasn't been used for a couple of years which I think is good and bad. It is a beautiful boat but undoubtedly has some problems since it has just been sitting in the slip. We plan on going for a sea trial before we ask and pay for a survey. We haven't heard anything bad about the boat but haven't really been chatting up the neighbors yet either. We have purchased houses and cars all of our lives so don't know why this boat is so intimidating! I guess its because neither my husband or myself are mechanically inclined. We would have to leave all that stuff to the pros, but we would like to know which problems we will be starting off with and what problems to look for. This forum is helping us alot. Especially the list of instructions provided by Banana Tom. Good place to start.
I just read about your adventure, Ted655. My husband kept telling me about this group that made a long trip on a houseboat and ran into all kinds of challenges. He had read your story awhile ago but didn't sign in to the forum. I'm glad I did and he can't believe I'm "talking" to all of you. Its been the best place to learn! Everyone's input is something exciting to look forward to every day. Sometimes three times a day!
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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11/10/2007 04:46:37 PM
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BrokerDave
Member
Posts: 154
Joined: 08/15/2006
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Originally posted by: BamaBoater The boat we are
looking at is being sold by a broker. It hasn't been used for a
couple of years which I think is good and bad.
Knowing what I do, that would bother me. Unless alot of effort was
made to at least run it in place and shift it and things like that
which would simulate using it and working it out--you can have
issues and a negative experience.
Sorry don't want to sound like the negative input here.
anyone agree?
-------------------------
Boatless at the moment
www.spboatsales.com
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11/10/2007 05:07:16 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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Thank you BrokerDave for the honest input. Your name probably reflects what you do, yes? But what kind of issues are you thinking of? Things the survey would not find? We would be pretty dependent upon the survey to let us know of any/if any major issues were present. The sale would, of course, be contingent upon results of the survey, but even then we aren't interested in putting significant sums of money into it. The initial investment alone is significant to us and we don't have the time or the $$$ to always be tuning it up and replacing big parts. Although we understand a little tinkering and tuning here and there will be required. We like the Broker we are working with and even though we like this boat alot, we haven't made it to the offer stage yet. Still looking. We've spent about 2 years looking around and doing research, time permitting. The first year was deciding which way to go - RV or boat. The boat won. Then what kind of boat? Cruiser or houseboat? Still not 100% sure. The boat we have our eye on is somewhere in-between we think. There sure are a lot of boats out there. We are in no particular hurry. Just excited about the dream but enjoying the process!
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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11/10/2007 05:48:33 PM
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ted655
Admiral
Posts: 424
Joined: 02/09/2007
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It was exactly 1 year ago we bought ours. We knew it had to set all winter. We arranged to pay the hired man @ the marina (just 1 kept on over winter months there), a xtra fee to start, run & keep things "loose".
Of coarse THAT didn't happen. He took the money but not the chore. He had already been fired before we got there. There were a few issues resulting from sitting over the winter. They were not costly but took time to correct. Shifting, starting, & throttle cable were the big ones.
That broker will have someone prep her in time for the trail. He may have someone tend to his inventory regularly.
Call him Monday and demand a trail that afternoon! See what his reaction is. Just kidding. 
2 years IS a long time to "sit" & not run at all. Here is where chatting the locals is helpful.
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11/10/2007 05:53:29 PM
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Dave
Moderator
Posts: 182
Joined: 10/18/2002
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Originally posted by: BamaBoater
The initial investment alone is significant to us and we don't have the time or the $$$ to always be tuning it up and replacing big parts. Although we understand a little tinkering and tuning here and there will be required.
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
You should look closely at your budget before making a boat purchase. The initial purchase and/or monthly payments will only be a part of the total cost. Even a new boat will have many unexpected expenses but an older boat (especially one that has been idle for years) will have constant expenses for repairs and maintenance, it will be much more than tinkering and tuning.
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11/10/2007 06:07:15 PM
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BamaBoater
Member
Posts: 119
Joined: 11/07/2007
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Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Just when I was topping off our budget! Seriously, the Broker may be starting her regularly - or maybe not. I don't know how much attention she has had but I do know that she would love some attention. But just how much love do we have for her? Remains to be seen.
BamaBoater on the Tennessee River
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