New to Big Bend Boating

[JPVolunteer]

Finally got my little Sea Ray down from Tennessee. It's a 17'6" Bowrider with the 3.0L Alpha package and I've had it since it was new in 2002. In this boat, am I going to be OK doing stuff like going from St. Marks down to the flats and fishing a little or heading up the Wakulla and enjoying the view?

Is there any special equipment I shouldn't be without (Depth/Fish Finder, GPS, etc)? In the Lakes in East Tennessee we didn't really need this stuff.

Thank's a lot, see you out there one day.

Jim

[Flint River Pirate]

Make sure you clean that inboard very well after using it in the salt. I have a friend that suffered a lot of corrosion from using his Mastercraft in saltwater a few times. Watch for rocks and have fun! I personally wouldn't leave the hill without a GPS and marine radio.

[wevans]

GPS, Depth finder, Marine Radio, Flares, PDFs and an Anchor and that's just fer starters

PS: WELCOME TO THE BBF FORUM

[FishWithChris]

welcome. whatcha draft in the sea ray? pay attention to the tides and do a lot of searching on here, a wealth of info is out there!

[Harmsway]

Yeah, JPVolunteer, GPS with color map is essential. Even a hand-held. VHF radio is a good, if not required, element (even hand0held). A depth finder is also important. Consider a combination gps/sounder. On-line or West Marine. Prolly I'd use the Sea Ray for a year or two until you figger out what sort of boat might serve you better, then trade for it.

Where did you get your Sea Ray anyway; Vonore? Half of my old high school buddies work there, and the other half are fishing Watts Bar, Ft. Loudon, and Tellico.

[SS-342]

Be sure to check the laws of Florida for what your boat must have to be lawfull. I second the GPS, Marine Radio and sounder. The Gulf is a lot bigger than any lake and unforgiving at times.

Be careful and have fun!

[woopty]

Gonna need that whistle too...

[reelbad]

Ya'll forgot to tell him about JT!, Riding around and sight seeing is OK, If your going to fish you will need to check with JT51 or better known as Jumptrout or depending on which day it is Grumptrout.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

IF YOU PUT THAT INBOARD IN THE SALT WATER, WHATEVER YOU DO, AS SOON AFTER YOU LOAD THE BOAT OUT OF THE SALT WATER, TAKE IT TO A FRESH WATER LAKE OR RIVER AND RUN THE ENGINE AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES TO GET ALL OF THE SALT WATER OUT OF THE COOLING SYSTEM. IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS IN A SHORT TIME YOU WILL BE PUTTING IN A NEW OUTDRIVE, REBUILDING THE ENGINE AND ALL COMPONTANT PARTS, EXPERIENCE SPEAKING.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA
SEMPER FI

[FUTCHCAIRO]

FORGOT TO MENTION, ALL OF THE RIVERS THAT DUMP INTO THE GULF HAVE SALT WATER AT LEAST SEVERAL MILES UP FROM THE GULF.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA
SEMPER FI

[Rhettley]

Check on what putting that type boat into salt water might do to your resale value. I'm not sure.
Check the regulations but I know for sure you will need a emergency whistle or air horn, fire extinguisher, throwable floatation cushion, life jackets for all on board, up to date flares, and up to date registration. If fishing everyone over 16 will need a salt water license and if in the rivers a fresh water license too.

[JPVolunteer]

Thanks guys (and gals if there be one). Have all the basic equipment, need electronics. Can't spend too much. Any suggestions for a decent GPS/Finder combo and a radio?

[Harmsway]

Dadgummit! There's that money thang again. I hate it when that happens.

JPVolunteer, I recommend you start a new post under the For Sale/Wanted section. You'll get more hits, I bet. Bunches of people want to upgrade, and don't know what to do with their old stuff.

[JPVolunteer]

Thanks to your help, advice, and encouragement I've made several successful fishing trips out of St. Marks. Caught flounder, redfish, trout, pinfish, catfish, manta rays, and even some "whattheheckisthis" fish. Now, I need to sell the Sea Ray and buy a real boat.

[lonesouth]

You will be fine to go from St. Marks to the flats and cruising. I've got a 17' bowrider also, though it is an outboard, and we use it primarily for cruising the wakulla river and scalloping between St. Marks and Keyton Beach. Go out scalloping this year and you will see PLENTY of I/Os, though I can reiterate that, from my reading, you will want to thoroughly flush it with fresh water when you get home. Run it long enough for the thermostat to open/engine to warm up, at least 15 minutes. I didn't bother with the depth/fish finder, and just went for a quality chartplotter, Garmin 541. Plan your routes ahead of time, and pay attention to the chart depth and tide. Stay away from known shoals and rocks at low tide. Keep a spare prop on board.

Equipment:
Flares that are current. I keep both handheld and a flare gun.
Whistle
PFD for each person on board
throwable, does not count as a PFD
dock line and bumpers, at least two of each
Danforth anchor with 100' of rode(rope), 10' of chain between the anchor and rode will help out immensely
Spare prop and prop wrench
at least 3 plugs
Multi-Tool, leatherman or otherwise
VHF radio with DSC, there are some handheld VHF with GPS and DSC. You will need to get an MMSI for your vessel, this is free and helps them help you, should you ever need it.
A knife of some kind, may need to cut rope or line from your prop should you get fouled
SeaTow or TowBoat, I have SeaTow. The cost is well worth the piece of mind.
Insurance, I currently have progressive, but am thinking of switching to Boat-US


Our bowrider works perfectly for what we want to do, cruising and scalloping. If fishing is more your goal, then you would be better served with an outboard CC.