Shakedown cruise: First one done!!!!!

[Burner]

Can someone recommend a shakedown (tuna compatible) cruise route for a new boat and motors? I remember a post about the Columbia, but can't find it. Ideally the most of 50 gallons of breakin fuel would be used up during this run.

Thanks,
James

[ 07-29-2003, 04:54 PM: Message edited by: Burner ]

[Sea Jypzee]

Are you talking NEW boat and motors, or new (to you)? What type of boat, motor(s)? How big? Salt or fresh water for break-in? You want tuna comparable? As in length, or difficulty? Perhaps a trip out to the chicken ranch for halibut next week? (with someone preferably).

[Burner]

Sorry, I was in a hurry to get to work. The boat is a new (2003) 21'7" Trophy model 2002 with a 125 2-stroke Merc Saltwater. I was hoping for a run comparible in length to a tuna run in fresh water. I realize conditions are all the difference on the ocean as to how far you can run, but the relative safety of the river is important for my first cruise. I don't think its practicle or smart for the first cruise to be on the ocean, especially after I had to have the dealer fix some small problems (dead radio, broken compass) right off of the lot. Please, no Bayliner bashing . This is my very first boat so I am a little nervous. I grew up in Coos Bay and spent a lot of time on the ocean up and down the coast, just never had my own boat to be responsible for.

James

[Sea Jypzee]

Ahhh ok. Not a problem.. Yes, I would suggest either fresh water, or near-shore cruising. Perhaps sticking to salmon fishing, or just running between Newport and Depoe Bay or something similar to that. You definitly need to make sure radios and compass are fully functional though for something like that even.

And congrats on the new boat. Even if it is a Bayliner. :tongue: :shocked: (sorry, just couldn't resist).

[PBR Streetgang]

Is it a 125 or 225 hp motor? Just curious. My boat is 20' with a 200 and I think I like it that way. A 125 seems a bit light for power but please let us know how it handles.

Tim

[Metal Manipulator]

Congradulations first new boat brand new off the lot boat. Must be almost too much to stand don't have a heart attack just befor you throttle her up. What is the boat name? Glad to here you taking saftey as your first concern. Many happy returns with limits filled.

[Mr. Fisherman]

I did the same thing with my new to me boat and it is a great idea. Several of us do the same thing each spring just to make sure everything id ready to go to the briney blue.
I started from Scapoose bay and ran up past the 405 bridge. Others depart Chinook Landing and go up river to Bonneville and back. My trip was over 80 miles (I went below Sand Island to start) and was a valuable trip.
Make sure you have a chart and know where the wing dams and pilings are.
Let me know if you need more info...

[blubeast]

The spring shakedown trip Pilar suggests is from Portland up to Bonneville on the Columbia - approx 30 miles each way... allows you to monitor fuel consumption and boat handling in a somewhat friendly environment. This is the appox distance to the Chicken Ranch for halibuts.

[Miss B Haven]

Stick to the river if you're talking this week. Ocean is way to rough to be saking down you let alone the new boat. A lot to be learned about each and every boat, the way it handles and where everything is at in a heart beat. Then there's the infant mortality issue, rates are way to high in this boat world. :whazzup:

[Burner]

I guess I'll try the Chinook landing to Bonneville route on monday or tuesday. Maybe the ramp won't be too crowded with PWC and skiboats then (bumper boats anyone?). I've got the maptech charts of the area on my pocket pc, so navigation shouldn't be much of a problem. Anyone know a good place to get Navionics MMC charts for Lowrance systems in town? Rodgers marine has the entire Oregon Coast and the Columbia, but wants $200. Seems kind of spendy. As to naming the boat, I've decided to call it the Katy-Morgan after my two daughters. I think it sounds nautical enough, not to mention the enormous amount of "Daddy points" I'll acumulate :grin: .

Thanks for the input,
James

[Sea Jypzee]

The trip from Portland to Bonneville sounds like a good plan. Sorry, I live on the coast so think in terms of coastal areas.

Hope all goes smoothly for you and you have a great trip out. This next several days looking rough on the ocean for a shake down anyway.

[WaterDog]

Burner,

When your done with the shakedown run, how about a boat report? Don't tell the wife, but I've been eyeballing that exact boat. :smile:

[PeterMac]

I understand from Olympia Marine, largest Trophy deal around, that Trophy is no longer associated with Bayliner. They seem like great boats. Have fun!

PeterMac

[ 07-24-2003, 08:31 AM: Message edited by: PeterMac ]

[Burner]

PeterMac and Waterdog,
I bought my boat from Olympic Boat Centers in Washington. Isn't Olympic Marine part of that group? Long drive to pick out a boat, but they did deliver it to Beaverton and knocked $5000 off of MSRP. Every thing I read says that MRSP on Bayliners and Trophys is only 15-20% above invoice. The hard part about the deal was convincing the wife that the Trophy was a good "family boat." Which I guess it is, if the family only wants to fish . We actually went up to Seattle to get the 18 footer, but my wife took one look at it and said "isn't that too small? I want that bigger one." She is definitely a keeper, even if she isn't a native Oregonian :grin: .

James

[Sea Jypzee]

PeterMac - The Trophy is still made by the same company that makes Bayliner. I think they're just moving the Trophy line away from the Bayliner name brand. They're both still made by Brunswick though.

Burner - Olympic Boat Centers was where I bought my current boat. (Sea Jypzee). The store down in the SF Bay area in CA. :grin:

[Badger]

I thought Brunswick made bowling balls.

[edsr]

Burner - Congratualtions - They look like fine boats. What everyone else said - my .02 is Do Not run the boat wide open or hold one steady speed for a long time until it gets broken-in and the rings seat. The break-in time varies , so check the mfg. specs. You can glaze the cylinder walls. Take it on short excursions where you can vary the speed through the whole range. This same thing holds true for automobiles you probably know all that stuff already - don't ask me how I know.
edsr

[Pilar]

Breakin is about thermal cycles. Each time you start a cold engine it heats and parts expand at different rates. As these parts change size they wear in. So a long run will not breakin the engine as quickly as several shorter runs. The long run gives you one thermal cycle and the short runs give one cycle for each trip.

Also as Edsr suggests vary the speed often and avoid extended high RPM operations.

Good luck with your new 'Green' boat. Be patient and you will be rewarded with faithful service and happy times for many years.

BTW there is good advice in this thread. 'Green' boats do not belong on the big blue lake. Break it in and learn your new toy before you show it to the ocean.

[Burner]

Took the boat out for a 45 mile cruise today with SoftPlastic (thanks man). Followed the specs and ran the engine under 3000RPM the first hour moving to different RPM for a minute or so with a reduction to idle for several minutes. After the first hour was up I ran it up to 4200RPM and followed the a similar cycle. The motor and boat ran like a champ...although my boat ramp skills(I back down the ramp like a drunken sailor) need some work :grin: . The trim tabs took a little while to get used to (electric not hydraulic). What little wake there was from passing barges and speed bumps.....er I mean ski boats and PWC was unnoticable. The Lowrance LCX-15MT was awsome...everytime I slowed down below 10mph we were marking fish. Well I'm happy and sunburnt....thanks for all of the input , it made things a lot easier for me.

James



[ 07-29-2003, 05:12 PM: Message edited by: Burner ]

[Badger]

Looks like it ought to slay fish. Congratulations!

[Fishplay]

Purty!!! Congratulations!