New NR 21', lots of questions

[Thomas Gilg]

Finally took delivery of a 21' NR Seahawk, and spent some time on a nearby reservoir with the dealer to check things out and get some training. What a blast, and a very positive dealer experience!



During training day and I suspect forever, I will do trailering duty and my wife will get boat pull-off push-on duties. I keep telling her that backing up with a trailer is easy, but no go.

Some questions though:

- So if I go boating with someone who does NOT have a Boater Education Card (unlike my wife), can they operate the boat as long as they only use the 8HP kicker as opposed to the main 150HP motor? I'm mostly thinking of friends having to hold position in and around docks while I park/fetch the trailer. Put another way, does the state law disallow non Card holders from operating a motor greater than 10HP, or a boat that happens to have among other things a motor greater than 10HP?

- When I do sharp turns with the dual-axle EZ-Loader trailer, it very clearly causes side-to-side strain/flex on the tires and axle. On a given trailer side, one tire-top will be tilted inward, the other tire-top outward, often by an inch or so. Is this bad? Should I repeatedly back up and pull forward by a few feet to relax the strain/stress situation (I did so when I parked the boat in the back yard and it seemed to work)?

- Are there concerns about turning very sharp at higher speeds (30MPH+)?

- Are there concerns about cutting power suddendly, mostly along the lines of water coming over the stern?

- How often do boaters observe the horn/blast requirements when passing another boat, or being in foggy conditions, etc?

- Pulling my drift boat onto a rocky or sandy bank/beach was no big deal. What are the concerns with beaching something like the NR Seahawk?

- Any tips on launching/retrieving when going solo? Between wife, friends and open-seats, don't expect to do solo, but just in case!

- Any good areas in the upper Willamette River reservoirs or lower Columbia/Willamette River where the ramps are good but the crowds are light so that one can concentrate on ramp and boat learning? I'm close to Green Peter but it seems fairly busy, and the few times I've driven around Hills Creek Reservoir it seems vacant but I don't know what the ramp situation is like.

Some lessons/tips learned:

- By backing in a little farther than normal and then pulling up to normal launching position, the trailer bunks will be wet and the boat will slide off easier.

- With an automatic transmission and big boat/trailer, you can put the transmission into "D" (drive) and the weight of the boat/trailer will still pull you down the ramp. You won't have to work the brakes as much when being pulled downhill in drive. Sure seems safer to me too.

- The NR Seahawk does not like to be stored with more than half a tank of gas. Pressure venting is a concern otherwise. When fueling, un-hitch and level up if necessary.

- The surge disc brakes are amazingly smooth and effective. See my prior concerned queries on said topic.

- Edlebrock shocks are an amazing upgrade for towing purposes on a Ford Expedition.

- A 21' boat on a dual axle trailer tows much better than a 23' trailer on dual axle. See my prior queries on said topic. The 21' Seahawk towed way smooth and steady behind the old 5.4L Ford Expedition.

Unless advised otherwise, I'll probably show up on Green Peter on Saturday with a co-worker while the wife is away at a conference. Look for a boat varying speeds up to 2,000 rpm for 1 hour, up to 3,000 for another, and very occassionally gunning it there-after.

--tg

[Jason S]

Originally Posted by Thomas Gilg

- When I do sharp turns with the dual-axle EZ-Loader trailer, it very clearly causes side-to-side strain/flex on the tires and axle. On a given trailer side, one tire-top will be tilted inward, the other tire-top outward, often by an inch or so. Is this bad? Should I repeatedly back up and pull forward by a few feet to relax the strain/stress situation (I did so when I parked the boat in the back yard and it seemed to work)?

I have a bunch of miles on mine all ready and have not noticed a difference in wear or sidewall problems.

- Are there concerns about turning very sharp at higher speeds (30MPH+)?

No more beyond the concern of normal trailer pulling.

- Are there concerns about cutting power suddendly, mostly along the lines of water coming over the stern?

I have a 20 footer. Coming off a plane hard will get water on the top of the swim step as will four guys in the back of the boat. Over the transom I don't think. it seems to me even when something slaps hard back there the swim step knocks it down and don't even get a lot of spray in the back. That said don't anchor from the back of the boat.

- How often do boaters observe the horn/blast requirements when passing another boat, or being in foggy conditions, etc?

Never seen someone do it nor have I myself.

- Pulling my drift boat onto a rocky or sandy bank/beach was no big deal. What are the concerns with beaching something like the NR Seahawk?

Beach mine all the time on sand. Don't come in hard though ease it on the beach. Mostely I jump out and pull on in shorts/flip flops or waders. Great thing about aluminum boats. Also when beaching I will usually go in on the little motor because would rather tear that prop up than my 150's stainless prop and shafts.

- Any tips on launching/retrieving when going solo? Between wife, friends and open-seats, don't expect to do solo, but just in case!

I fish 80% of the time solo and not all of it is dockside. Waders are essential for by myself.

With a dock I get bumpers and side lines on the cleat. I have a mooring line I have on the bow cleat, it is about 22 ft long. Just short enough it can not get into the motors if I am stupid and forget to stow it properly. It has a loop at each end. The loop gets cleated to the boat and then over the trailer up-rite. From the dock back in gently till the back tire is submerged to the top of the rim. Get out and undo safety chain and winch strap. Gently back boat in till it floats off. Get out take line off of trailer. Get control of boat using the bow line and forward cleat tie to dock and get truck out of the way.

Without a dock it is the same except I will kick it off by a gentle tap of the breaks after undoing winch strap and safety chain. Will do this as soon as all of back wheel under water. Then pull onto beach. My favorite launch is basically a beach launch and yes the truck gets the back wheels wet sometimes.

Some lessons/tips learned:

- By backing in a little farther than normal and then pulling up to normal launching position, the trailer bunks will be wet and the boat will slide off easier.

Do you have the Easy Loader pads on yours? I do and it is never a concern. Also they make silicon spray for buncks to make it slide on and off easier.

- The NR Seahawk does not like to be stored with more than half a tank of gas. Pressure venting is a concern otherwise. When fueling, un-hitch and level up if necessary.

I always store my boat totally full. Never have seen it vent at all. No stains on the asphalt (and gas on asphalt is pretty noticable) at all. Some guys have talked about it. I store mine level too not bow up though. It is also level side to side by backing onto a 2"X12" board.

The above all work for me and hope they help. They may not be the best way to do it but it is how I learned to do it and it works.

--tg

[StickFish]

I wouldn't put the trany in Drive and let the weight pull you backwards - I heard that this isn't good for the trany.

Call the marine board about your question - I had not thought about that one and have two buddies that I doubt have a BE card.

Don't worry about the wake coming over the transom stern should rise as the wake catches up

Otherwise enjoy your boat

[Flipcb]

- When I do sharp turns with the dual-axle EZ-Loader trailer, it very clearly causes side-to-side strain/flex on the tires and axle. On a given trailer side, one tire-top will be tilted inward, the other tire-top outward, often by an inch or so. Is this bad? Should I repeatedly back up and pull forward by a few feet to relax the strain/stress situation (I did so when I parked the boat in the back yard and it seemed to work)?

For many years I had unhooked various boats and pushed them in to my car port because of cramped turning conditions. A few years ago I started backing my single axle trailer into the car port. This caused a very tight turn and caused sideways pressure and some scooting on wheels. After about a month of doing this, I exited my driveway and started down another multiperson driveway. I had not gone very far when my wheel came off and my trailer went in the ditch. I was only going 2 - 3 mph and did no damage. The dealer told me he did not think my backing had caused the problem, even though he found no cause. Since that time I do not force tight backing situations and have had no problems. Maybe the dealer was right, but I feel better not doing it.

[fish_on]

If you have your boaters card then you are ok to let anyone run the boat as long as you are in the boat with them.

[SOL]

When I do sharp turns with the dual-axle EZ-Loader trailer, it very clearly causes side-to-side strain/flex on the tires and axle. On a given trailer side, one tire-top will be tilted inward, the other tire-top outward, often by an inch or so. Is this bad? Should I repeatedly back up and pull forward by a few feet to relax the strain/stress situation (I did so when I parked the boat in the back yard and it seemed to work)?

Make sure and check the torque on the wheels every 200mi or so if you are doing a lot of tight turning backing up.

Otherwise this is can be pretty common,

I exited my driveway and started down another multiperson driveway. I had not gone very far when my wheel came off and my trailer went in the ditch.

[Snowwolfe]

What is a Boaters education card? Are they required where you live?

[bluebackbil]

You should have few concerns when beaching your boat. I beach mine all of the time in rocky / sandy conditions. The only thing to worry about is water depth, you don't want to ding your prop or skeg. I usually pick a point to beach, cut power and drift in. never had any problems.

[backlash442]

A buddy had his wheel come off too while making tight turns. Just snapped off. I'm lucky in that my parking area is rather large so don't have to make any. I always pull as far forward as I can before backing in trying to avoid those turns.

Don't think your boat is heavy enough to warrant putting the Expy in drive going down the ramp. I have one too and never do it although my boat is lighter than yours but not by that much. I used to do it with my old boat which weighed over 7500lbs and a 3/4 ton Suburban. Pretty much had to though because otherwise you'd slide down the ramp with no control. Never had a problem wth the trannie.

Why would you make sharp turns at high speed other than to aviod an accident? I've had to make one emergency stop doing 50mph and was still accelerating as I was going downhill when someone started to pull out in front of me. Was amazed at how well the boat tracked behind me. The surge brakes worked good enough to smoke the tires. I think people in the opposite direction were surprised there wasnt' an accident.

I'd be amazed if you can put water in the boat from just cutting power. It'd have to be a good size wave to come in and that's just not going to happen from your boat on it's own. You'd need some help like from a large following sea or maybe another boats wake or ships wake imo.

Blasting horns? In all the years I've been on the ocean can't recall anyone honking a horn to pass. Heck most don't even use one when it's peas soup fog. Radar is your friend.

Beaching is great. Do it all the time and yes using the kicker is the best way to go. I raise the o/d up and come in on the kicker. Also you won't go fast enough to get yourself stuck on the beach.

Launching by yourself is easier than doing it with a 5 year old and a dog. Trust me. Just take one line and put in on the dock cleat and the other on the boat. Piece of cake. Lots of guys just back their boat off the trailer but my trailer tongue is pretty long so I'd have to get wet in order to do that. I'll pass on that and use the dock line method.

Have fun with the new boat.

[Boats]

My turn to be a non-conformist.
I use horn signals.

1 to starboard
2 to port
etc.. etc...

What is a Boaters education card? Are they required where you live?

Required in Oregon and Washington.

Oregon currently requires them if you operate a power boat >10hp and are < 60 years old. Next year it will be boaters <70 and all boaters thereafter. Citations are $97 http://www.marinebd.osmb.state.or.us...ion/index.html

Washington is phasing in on a different timeline.
2008 12 years to 20 years old
2009 25 years and under
2010 30 years and under
2011 35 years and under
2012 40 years and under
2013 50 years and under
2014 60 years and under
After 2014 All boat operators except those exempted elsewhere in RCW 79A.60.640
http://www.parks.wa.gov/boating/boatered.asp

[Caspac]

- Any good areas in the upper Willamette River reservoirs or lower Columbia/Willamette River where the ramps are good but the crowds are light so that one can concentrate on ramp and boat learning? I'm close to Green Peter but it seems fairly busy, and the few times I've driven around Hills Creek Reservoir it seems vacant but I don't know what the ramp situation is like.

Good luck finding a ramp that is not busy this time of year.

- The NR Seahawk does not like to be stored with more than half a tank of gas. Pressure venting is a concern otherwise. When fueling, un-hitch and level up if necessary.

The gas tank has a vent that will not work properly if the boat is resting with the bow down. Sometimes even if the boat is level, combined with 85 degree + temps and a 3/4 to full tank you will spit fuel. Make sure that bow is up slightly higher than the transom. Think of it this way. If you put a marble on the gunnel and it rolls towards the transom you're good. If the marbel rolls towards the bow you need to get the front end higher to permit proper venting. Doing this will allow you to keep a full tank of fuel. Same rules apply when fueling up.

Congrats on the new boat and remember your plug. Doesn't hurt to keep a couple of spares on the boat and in the truck.

[Hellibut]

Originally Posted by Thomas Gilg

Finally took delivery of a 21' NR Seahawk, and spent some time on a nearby reservoir with the dealer to check things out and get some training. What a blast, and a very positive dealer experience!



During training day and I suspect forever, I will do trailering duty and my wife will get boat pull-off push-on duties. I keep telling her that backing up with a trailer is easy, but no go.

Some questions though:

- So if I go boating with someone who does NOT have a Boater Education Card (unlike my wife), can they operate the boat as long as they only use the 8HP kicker as opposed to the main 150HP motor? I'm mostly thinking of friends having to hold position in and around docks while I park/fetch the trailer. Put another way, does the state law disallow non Card holders from operating a motor greater than 10HP, or a boat that happens to have among other things a motor greater than 10HP?

I think you will find with this boat and any wind at all someone is not going to hold the boat with the kicker. I would absolutely check with the Marine board on your question.

- How often do boaters observe the horn/blast requirements when passing another boat, or being in foggy conditions, etc?

Last week out of Yaquina I had someone do it and I wasn't sure what they were doing. I think the correct thing is to acknowledge with an appropriate blast back. Gotta be on my toes a little more as some do it. If you go out of Depoe bay I think they all do it along with Radio notification they are coming out/in the hole.

- Any tips on launching/retrieving when going solo? Between wife, friends and open-seats, don't expect to do solo, but just in case!

With a boat like that you will never be solo.:smile:

- Any good areas in the upper Willamette River reservoirs or lower Columbia/Willamette River where the ramps are good but the crowds are light so that one can concentrate on ramp and boat learning? I'm close to Green Peter but it seems fairly busy, and the few times I've driven around Hills Creek Reservoir it seems vacant but I don't know what the ramp situation is like.

I fished Hills Creek for a few years but haven't been up there for 5 or 6 years so can't really say other that it was an excellent ramp with little to no traffic.

Some lessons/tips learned:

- By backing in a little farther than normal and then pulling up to normal launching position, the trailer bunks will be wet and the boat will slide off easier.

- With an automatic transmission and big boat/trailer, you can put the transmission into "D" (drive) and the weight of the boat/trailer will still pull you down the ramp. You won't have to work the brakes as much when being pulled downhill in drive. Sure seems safer to me too.

From EVERYTHING I have heard about this it is NOT good to do someone already said. Also I'm not sure what tranny you have but unless you have a towing gear like I know the newer GM products have I would NOT tow in Drive. You may want to check with the dealer to verify this.

Unless advised otherwise, I'll probably show up on Green Peter on Saturday with a co-worker while the wife is away at a conference. Look for a boat varying speeds up to 2,000 rpm for 1 hour, up to 3,000 for another, and very occassionally gunning it there-after.

--tg

That is one beautiful boat and if you love it half as much as I do my Seahawk you have yourself a winner. (Hopefully that will still be the case when I get mine out of the shop).:smile:
Have a great one and maybe I'll see you up at Green Peter one of these days. Hear the kokanee fishing is really good up there this year.








.

[IDWITHELD]

Thomas, you need to do a better job of posting brag pictures. You new ride looks awesome from the rear. How about some profile shots?

Looking good!

See you on the water.

[BARCHASER]

I have a 2005 18' Seahawk, fair amount smaller than yours. Great boat, in the last month I made two trips to Port Angeles on the Strait for Halibut. I was very pleased with its performance in rough water, 20-25 mph winds a couple times.

Ditto hip waders and long bow line. I've never had a problem venting gas and I would know it since I store it in my garage.

I had one issue. If you have a second bilge pump with an auto float switch check to insure the float switch is located at a point higher then the pump. Mine was installed the reverse. The pump will keep working and not pumping water with the result that eventually it will drain the bats. It did on mine. NR fixed it, no problem.

Great boat, I hope you put on some Sharkhide, the stuff works.

[BiteFactory]

I do a lot of solo boat launching of my seahawk. One thing I've learned is to not put the trailer in too far when pulling the boat out (depends on ramp angle). I want the boat to go up on the bunks a little so that wind won't blow the boat out of position before I can pull it out. If it does the boat will sit on the trailer in a tilted angle. It is a pain to put it back in, relaunch, get back out.

Oh yeah, and at Newport I always try to launch from the downwind lane so that the boat blows against the dock.

[Thomas Gilg]

Thanks for the continuing replies.

First outing was to Green Peter last week yielding 4 hours on the main motor and 30 minutes on the kicker. Very briefly rev'ed up the main motor, but eased back once past 40 MPH (per GPS). We need to work the kicker more. We have yet to play seriously with the fish finder, but with default settings saw lots of fish up the Middle Fork arm (see photo), but little up the Quartzville arm and main reservoir.



--tg

[Thomas Gilg]

Oh, I called the State Marine Board.

A non-card-carrying (boater ed card) friend can operate the boat if under the direct supervision of a card carrying person. If said friend operates the boat near the dock while I work the trailer to/from the parking lot, it is a no no! If said friend operates the boat with the 8HP kicker only, I was told its in the gray zone, and said friend may or may not be busted (unless possibly s/he is from out of state).

--tg

[waggle]

boat-ed.com you can find everything there.

[Tacklebuster]

Very nice boat. Where by chance does that "fish box" drain into?

[JawHooker]

Originally Posted by Tacklebuster

Very nice boat. Where by chance does that "fish box" drain into?

On my 23' it drains out the back next to the bilge plug.

[fish_on]

Originally Posted by Tacklebuster

Very nice boat. Where by chance does that "fish box" drain into?

you should see how fast the water drains into the boat if you pull the plug on anchor but it goes out fast when you get on plane.

[Thomas Gilg]

Originally Posted by Tacklebuster

Very nice boat. Where by chance does that "fish box" drain into?

As JawHooker notes, there is an inlet/outlet pipe next to the bilge plug that connects to the fish box. There is almost constant in and out exchange of water between fish box and water body. The pipe in the fish box can be plugged to prevent water exchange if so desired.

For the moment, its one big doggy water bowl.

--tg

[Hellibut]

Now we're talking some serious brag pics. You learn quick! I like the way they're doing the fish box now. I have an 02 and it's quite a bit different. Any chance you could PM me a pic of your anchor set up? I'm heading up to the San Juans mid July and would like a little better method of stowing my river anchor than setting it in the bow.

[bullshooter]

those controls are sweet. I am going to look into having my 06 Seahawk retrofitted. Nice boat.

[foxer]

Cool idea. Using those controls for the main and kicker.

[FISHON67]

It looks like the dogs were happy to have been invited....



Beautiful boat!

[Thomas Gilg]

Originally Posted by Hellibut

Any chance you could PM me a pic of your anchor set up?

Here are some fresh anchor pictures. The dealer zip-tied the anchor in, and when I actually get around to using the anchor, I'll switch to a short length of rope. The brand of the anchor system is:

http://www.ezmarine.com/page2.html



--tg

[Thomas Gilg]

Some more pictures. Boat riding high on Green Peter on Wed, oil-bath hub, and the trim plate and Lowrance tranducer with speed wheel.







--tg

[BAP 62]

Very nice boat. I'm looking at getting one. You seemed to be very pleased with the dealer, who did you get it from?

[backlash442]

Nice color. Is that Ford Blue? Are you going to put a compass on it? Does water from the fishbox get into the bilge? Or is that a sealed box? Thanks.

[bassin]

Nice looking boat, You will love it ,I have a 22' with the 250 Yami and So far so good,.

[lurking_out_loud]

Enjoy. Great looking boat.

-LOL

[Thomas Gilg]

Originally Posted by backlash442

Nice color. Is that Ford Blue? Are you going to put a compass on it? Does water from the fishbox get into the bilge? Or is that a sealed box? Thanks.

Not sure what the official color name is. I'd say "sexy blue".

Yep, need a compass.

I did notice that the fish box ceiling is essentially the floor board, and water does splash around in the box and leak around the top edges and into the bilge area (the blue dots represent leakage drops).

=====:=d==o===o==r=:========
-- --. .
| | ..
|________o________| ..
. .
. . b .. . i . . l . .. . g . . . .. e ..

Depending on the situation, I'll plug the inlet/outlet hole from now on.

--tg

[bullshooter]

Here is the fish box that my 06 seahawk has. The door opens from both sides and is removable. The box is welded aluminum and comes out. It has a large handle on it. The next project is to go out and fill it.

[Thomas Gilg]

Originally Posted by bullshooter

Here is the fish box that my 06 seahawk has.

Not sure about past years, but the smaller wet built-in fish box that I have is standard on the larger non-LE models. The larger dry removable fish box that bullshooter has is an extra option that is located forward of the smaller wet built-in. The larger box is really nice! My wife and I were only able to find one boat on-the-lot that had all our required options plus the larger box, but someone else put a deposit on that boat and aced us out. You have a great option bullshooter!

--tg