Introduction
v
Contents ix
1. Basic
Considerations for First-time Buyers 1
What
Are the Risks? 1
Seaworthiness 2
Are You a Candidate for a Being Happy Boat Owner? 5
Why Are Boats So Damned Expensive? 5
Some Interesting Numbers 6
The Nature of the Industry 7
Dealerships 9
National vs. Regional Builders 10
Buying Philosophy 10
On Quality and Reliability 10
What Does Quality Mean? 12
Small Boat Management 14
New -vs- Used Boats 15
Should You Get a Professional Survey? 16
2.
Boat Types & Hull Design Basics 17
Saltwater
Boats 17 Center Consoles 18 Walkarounds 21 Runabouts 22
Offshore Types 23
Bow Riders 24
Catamarans 24
Pocket Cruisers 26
Cruisers 27
Pontoon and Deck Boats 27
The Importance of Hull Form 28
Offshore Mono Hull Shapes 28
Bow Flare and Sheer Lines 29
Bottom Shape 30
Chine Flats 31
Keel Boats 32
Stability 32
Trim 33 Beam 35
Freeboard 36
Wet Boat, Dry Boat 37
The Fuel Efficiency Issue 37
Acceleration 37
What Is cavitation? 38 Torque and Transverse Trim 39
Flop-Overs 40
3. Hull Construction 41
Molded
Fiberglass Essentials 42
Fabrics 42
Kevlar & Carbon Fiber 44
Resins 44
Cores 46
Putty Cores 48
Lay-up 49
Some More History 53
Forces Acting on a Hull 54
Basic Hull Construction 56 Stringers 58
The Bottom 59
Bulkheads 61
Frames 61
Hull Sides 62
Decks 63
Deck Joints 64
Rub Rails 65
The Transom 66
Boston Whaler 66
Liners 67
Cockpit Liners 68
Wood Framing -vs- All Fiberglass 68
Blisters, New Boats and Warranties 69
4. Evaluating Boat Hulls
71
Checking
Out a Used Boat 71
Check the Rub Rail 72
Internal Hull 74
When There Is No Hull Access 76
Hull Sides 77
External Bottom 78
The Transom 78
Hull Integral Platform Mounts 80
The Cockpit Deck 80
Fuel Tanks 81
How to Check 84
Replacing Tanks 84
Plastic Tanks 85
Blisters on Used Boats 85
Repairing Blisters 86
5. Power Options 87
Stern
Drives 87
Outboards 89
Straight Inboards 90
Advice for Newbies 91
Stern Drives 91
Straight Inboards 92
Outboards 92
The Two-cycle, Four-cycle Debate 94
6. Cockpits, Motors and
Trim 97
The
Definition of Seaworthiness 97
A Bit of Design History 102
Basic Design Types 104
Standard Motor Well 104
The No Motor Well Design 105
Bracketed Installation 106
Hull Integral Platforms 108
Cockpit Decks, the Weak Link 109
Deck Height Above Water Line 110
Dynamic Trim 112
Single or Twin Engines 112
Trim Tabs Versus Power Trim 113
7. Stress Cracks, Finishes
and Surface Defects 115
Finishes
115
Stress Cracks 116
Stress Cracks on Hull Bottoms 121
Gel Coat Voids 122
A Common Question 123
Should Stress Cracks be Repaired? 123
Damage Repair 124
Gel Coat Crazing 124
Dark Colored Boats 124
Blotchy, Discolored Finishes 125
Longevity of Finish 126
Repairing Chips and Dings 127
Repairing Small Dings and Scratches 127
Cleaning 129
Should Older Boats be Painted? 129
Maintaining the Finish 129
8. Details & Design
133
Ergonomics
133
Integral Platform Designs 134
Motor Well Designs 136
Walkarounds 138
Islands 139
Interiors and Soft Goods 140
Faux Transoms 142
Electrical Stuff 142
Neat and Secure 143
Electricity on Outboard Boats 144
Batteries 145
Battery Chargers 146
Fuel Systems 148
Bilge Pumps 149
Bait Wells 150
Sea Strainers 151
Plastic Through Hull Fittings 151
Foot Coves 151
Deck Drainage 152
Deck Hatches 153
Deck Hardware 154
Towers & T-Tops 155
Helm & Console Design 155
9. Used Motors 157
How
Many Hours Will It Run? 157
Checking Out Engines 159
Fuel Injection vs. Carburetor 162
Types of Fuel Injection 162
Feedback on Direct Fuel Injection Systems as of October,
2001 164
OMC 164
Mercury 165
Yamaha 165
Honda Four Cycles 165
Carbureted Engines 165
Compression Tests 166
Motor Mounts 167
Lower Unit 168
Check Lower Unit Oil 170
Controls 171
Performance Testing 172
Cavitation 173
Boat Performance 175
Engine Speed, Performance and Propellers 176
Used Motors Without a Boat 177
10. The New Outboard Motor
Market 179
Choice
and No Choice 181
Engine Market Turmoil 181
How Government Rules Design Products 181
Direct Fuel Injection 182
The Rise of the Four Strokes 185
Will Two Stroke Engines Become Extinct? 188
Mercury -vs- Yamaha 189
Saltwater Designations 189
Can Boats Get Too Big and Heavy for Outboards? 190
How Fast Do You Want to Go? 190
Taking the Dealer's Advice 192
Cruising Speed as Horse Power Decision Benchmark 192
Warranties 193
What About Extended Warranties? 194
Shopping on the Internet 194
11. Boat Rigging 195
Horsepower
Ratings 195
Steering Systems 195
Engine Controls 198
Fuel Filters 200
Fuel Tank Vents 201
Engine Installation 201
Pre-delivery Test Run 203
Add-on Items 205
Selecting and Installing Electronics 206
Bilge Pumps 206
Dealing With Problems 207
Necessary Extra Equipment 208
12. Research, Pricing and
Shopping 211
Research
Sources 211
The Internet 211
Boating Magazines 212
Price Research 213
Boat Shows 213
Show Types are Expanding 213
Buying At Shows 214
Shopping for Used Boats 214
Making Your Own Appraisal 215
Appraisal Books 217
Regional Variations 217
When To Buy 218
Salt Water versus Fresh 218
Long Distance Shopping 218
13. The Art of the Deal
221
New
Boats 221 It
Really a New Boat? 222
How About Demonstrators? 223
Seasonal Leftovers 223
What About Builder Direct? 224
What Are Dealer Markups? 224
What to Expect From Salesmen 224
Boat Loans 225
Negotiating With the Dealer 226
Changes and Alterations 228
Walking Away From a Deal 228
Trade-ins 229
Used Boats 229
Defects 230
Contracts 230
Verify Ownership 232
Insuring Your Boat 232
Glossary
235
Index 245
Copyright
2002 David H. Pascoe
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