took the boat out finally!

so i got me a 10.5 ft achilles with a 5 hp 4 stroke motor from a guy who is deploying soon to fallujah. he needed money to go see his kids before he leaves in 2 weeks.

that guy was shot in the belly by an ak47 in 09 and has recovered. he showed me a photo of him on the table with a big gaping hole and smiling into the camera as the photo was taken. man is of a different breed. he's been in somalia, kosovo and a bunch of other places and has done 9 tours of duty this next one to be his tenth i think. he's died twice on the OR table in the last 2 years.

the boat is nice and like new almost, motor is super clean and i got all the extras like the cartridge style inflatable emergency vests, gas tank etc....

are there rules and regs on what one must have in the water with them when on a boat like this? what are the laws? this boat is reg til 2011 so its current.

out of this deal i got for a good price i knew i was getting a great boat and engine but i had no idea i was meeting a true war vet. simply amazing.

thanks for any advice!

john

John,

Go directly to the USCG site regarding required equipment, if you are going to be operating in the salt. Cal State law, IIRC has somewhat of a lower bar, but that is purely for freshwater, and SF Bay doesn't count.

Off the top of my head, for daytime operation, a small boat with an engine must have on board:

State Registration  and numbers
Audible signaling device
PFD's for everyone, kids under 12 (?) must be wearing theirs at all times.

For night time operation:
Navigation lights
Visual signaling device

But best to check with the USCG regs directly.

Scott

I'm shopping for one now. Have you taken it out?

I had a 10' Zodiac I bought w/o a motor. When I was asking around for a good motor for that boat it was suggested I get one under 10 h.p. because a boat with a motor like that doesn't require registration. I think that's part of the reason Merc sells so many 9.9 h.p. motors.

This was over 15 years ago and requirements may have/probably have changed by now so correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm shopping for one now. Have you taken it out?

have not taken it out yet as the guy delivered it to my office this morning. i have to give everything a once over before taking it out. maybe out of the harbor in redwood city where i live close by.

i want to use it for baja someday as well but we'll see.

lots of decent deals on craigslist i have seen these days.

thanks for all of the info folks, i look forward to doing some spearing off of it someday.

i'll report back after its maiden journey out, maybe this weekend if i have the time!

under 16' there isn't much required. I think a fire ext is on the req'd list Scott sent. I am sure you'll want to add a few more items than the min

I'm shopping for one now. Have you taken it out?

this setup sounds like a decent one for the price:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/boa/1773747997.html

took the boat out on Saturday out of the redwood city harbor / Chesapeake launch and wheeled it right in the water with my kayak cart. however, i popped both wheels in the process of doing so. (ugh!) i just dragged it in and then my wife and daughter hopped in. we motored a couple of hours and got too much sun , daughter took a nap and we went all around, by greco island, bair island etc.... it was fun for the first time out. i kept the speed real low so as not to scare our 15 month old daughter. she loved it, had her toys and snacks and slept. basically i idled it the whole time. it was just nice to be on the water. the motor started right up so easily too. cant wait to take it diving or fishing sometime.

setup took about 15-20 minutes using a west marine air pump (29.00) and topping off the pressure with the manual pump. (2.8 psi in the keel, main tubes / 8.7 psi for the air floor)

we got a really good deal for 1500.00 , came with the boat, motor, gas tank, SOSpenders (2) , oars, flare kit, ICOM marine radio, extra life vests and motor maintenance manual. the boat alone retailer in 2003 for 2200.00 and the motor was probably around 1000.00 itself.

this boat is great for us since we are a small family. it says that it can handle 4 adults but that probably means little room for gear and stuff. for myself and my family this is perfect as it all packs up and sits in my trunk before and after the ride. the motor is easy to handle as well and sips very little gas. its a 4 stroke.

for those who would want to carry more people i would recommend one bigger than an 11 ft boat.

anyhoo, probably the best deal i have had in a while and by far our biggest purchase in years since we drive older cars and stuff. never really thought about having one until i came upon this deal actually. cant wait to take it out again.

It looks like your daughter is telling you that you are supposed to being going to the right.  Did you listen up?  It sounds like the just the right size for you and family!

It looks like your daughter is telling you that you are supposed to being going to the right.  Did you listen up?  It sounds like the just the right size for you and family!

oh believe me, i can take orders well form her

Thats one tough dude.. WTG on the boat

Nice score.  I've finally been able to get my new toy out (whaler montauk), family trip last weekend to score points, then killed the spotties up on Shasta yesterday.  Enjoy the ride!
-beenfishin

Nice score.  I've finally been able to get my new toy out (whaler montauk), family trip last weekend to score points, then killed the spotties up on Shasta yesterday.  Enjoy the ride!
-beenfishin

i have always loved them whalers! wish i had the money and space!!

If you've always wanted one, do whatever it takes to scrimp the cash to get one!  They're just a bad-ass fishing machine (err....I mean family boat...yeah!).