Sea Trial - The Hull Truth

Speckhunter · 03-28-2005, 05:47 PM

All, what should I look for when I do my up coming sea trial. Any ideas will help...Thanks!

boatsaleswun · 03-28-2005, 05:54 PM

That is a broad question. But there are two basic parts, the motor and the boat itself. Try and make sure you are there when the motor is started for the first time of the day. How easy does it start? Do you have to crank and crank to get it started. Once running, does it stay running? How much does it smoke if it is a two stroke? Can you handle that? Next is how does the motor preform on the boat, is it enough power and in same cases is it too much power for what you need? Next the boat, do you feel compfortable at the helm? How is the visibility? Can you move around the boat in relative ease? Next make sure you have some chop, if the saleman takes you out on water that is smooth as glass, make your own chop and run through it. How does the boat feel? Is it stable in chop? How about cornering? Does it have excess cavitation in hard turns? There are a 100 other things to look for too, I hope this gets you started.

Speckhunter · 03-28-2005, 06:01 PM

Ok, yup a bit broad of a question. My boat is a sea pro SV2100 with a suzuki df140. What I was looking for was in the way of the boat, not so much on the engine end. I was the one the took the df140 so if it underpowered a bit then same on me. The dealer did not push my in that direction, i went there cause of the 3 year extra protection. When I am doing the sea trial what in the boat should I look for, and what about the ride? How much spray should be too much spray? I don't want to get soaked. Thanks again!

jpuras · 03-28-2005, 06:02 PM

this is great. i do my sea trial on thursday. i was gonna ask the same Q on here.

keep 'em coming

boatsaleswun · 03-28-2005, 06:08 PM

Too much spray is really decided by you, the buyer, I really cant answer that for you. I think that boat is decent. However, any boat will spray you given the right set of circumstances, if the salesman calls any 21ft boat DRY, he is full if crap. Really the main thing to look at is how do you feel? Is they layout good for what you will be doing? As for the spray, go where you would normally go out. YOU pick they day that you would consider the most extreme that YOU would go out it and you be the judge.

Doug in Bermuda · 03-29-2005, 08:08 AM

A real broad question but one thing I did since I did not have a surveyor onboard for the in water run was to have somebody else run the boat WOT while I lifted the hatches & stuck my head down into the engine compartment looking for leaks etc. Standing at the helm with a big smile on your face is not much of a survey.