2015 AR240 FINALLY bought a boat!!

[DRAT]

Took me the better part of a year, reading, lurking and fretting but I finally have a boat. Stumbled into a great deal on a 2015 AR with two upgraded timing chains and pulled the trigger. My only remaining fear is of embarrassment at the boat ramp.

This board has been of immense value to me. I probably would not have bought a jet boat had I not found you guys. Got Seadek ( thanks to member Michael Pacini) and CobraJet steering going in tomorrow and will be hitting the water this week!!

 

[Looper7]

First congrats on the boat! Second go practice backing in a parking lot plenty of empty ones these days, and relax we have all had to launch for the first time. You may or may not make mistakes so don't stress remember boating is fun

 

[portlandbucfan]

Congrats, post pics!

 

[DRAT]

will post pics after I get the Seadek finished. Thanks!

 

[14SX190]

Took me the better part of a year, reading, lurking and fretting but I finally have a boat. Stumbled into a great deal on a 2015 AR with two upgraded timing chains and pulled the trigger. My only remaining fear is of embarrassment at the boat ramp.

This board has been of immense value to me. I probably would not have bought a jet boat had I not found you guys. Got Seadek ( thanks to member Michael Pacini) and CobraJet steering going in tomorrow and will be hitting the water this week!!

Congrats on new boat. There have been a lot of new boat threads during a so called pandemic.

Go on the weekdays or when your ramp isn't busy. You can also try lake or canal that has a ramp.

Best advice is reverse slow and make minor corrections. Remember the trailer will react opposite direction you are turning steering wheel.
Everyone at ramp is trying to do same thing you are but you will be prepared before launching with gear stored, drain plugs in and lines ready so when its your turn there's no hesitation to drop boat and have someone move boat back so next guy can launch and so on.

Best thing is have fun and enjoy new boat!

 

[PJ73]

 

[JWExperience]

I just got my 2016 AR240 last year and IMO, it’s easier/more maneuverable if it’s not windy. The times when I struggle most is when it’s windy after driving 18-28 foot sterndrives the last 15 years. I think the CobraJet stuff will help with that a lot.
The look on people face when I spin the Yamaha in its place is priceless. Going slow is key and watch a few YouTube videos to get some tips too.

congrats on the boat.

 

[Patman941]

will post pics after I get the Seadek finished. Thanks!

How’d the Sea Dek turn out? Any pictures? And have you gone out on your maiden voyage yet? Hope all went well.

 

[DRAT]

Weather was bad here last weekend so I ended up taking her into a local shop to have the Seadek and CobraJet steering installed. Should get her back today!!

 

[anmut]

Welcome and congrats on the new boat - love that Yamaha blue. As everyone else stated, just go slow at the ramp, don't worry about the dirty looks.

 

[treeskier]

Congrats on the new boat. I have experienced the same anxiety with the boat ramp...we have a lift so I only go in once at the beginning of the season and out once at the end of the season so I pretty much suck at it. If you have to do it every time you boat you will get good at it quickly and develop your own system. Keep in mind that backing the trailer with the boat is very different than backing the empty trailer...when I had a suburban it was helpful to open the back hatch so I could see the trailer. Also I prefer to look over my shoulder at the boat than use the camera...that seems opposite.

 

[DRAT]

thanks, i'm going to keep mine in a slip/on a lift, too. just a little anxious about having 3 kids at the launch/on the boat and trying to learn how to navigate the tiny marina area with other boats in and out, etc. i think what i might do is go straight to the lake after i pick it up from the shop on a weekday (today?), launch, get the slip/lift done and THEN bring everybody out.

 

[treeskier]

Good Plan!

 

[DRAT]

She’s home. Seadek in, CobraJet in. Ready to roll.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I really like your Seadek alot. Hoping to do mine toward the end of season to cut some of the costs hopefully.

 

[DRAT]

Thanks, I’d love to take credit but I bought it off the classifieds on this forum from a member who had bought it the prior year and never installed it. I would have gone lighter but I’m so glad his eye was better than mine. Rather be lucky than good!

 

[DRAT]

Maiden voyage yesterday! Very windy, whitecaps on the lake. Launch went great, got out of no wake zone, punched it and... no go-ey. Freaked out. Emailed Jeff at CobraJet (I assumed the fins were installed wrong) who... called me within 5 minutes! Told me to check the clean-out plugs for debris. Opened the hatch, they were practically floating in the tubes. Doh! After months of reading this forum and seeing this issue pop up over and over, I didn’t check the clean out plugs before I got on the water. Apparently the shop that installed the Seadek took them out (probably SOP, the main plug was also out). They were a major PIA to get back in, but they did go back in and the boat is perfect. Runs like a bat out of hell. SO glad I went out with a buddy and went through that without family. All’s well that ends well and got to learn something.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Plugs should be taken out and drained after every outing I believe, I do mine after flushing engines and blowing excess water out, per the manual. I leave mine out as well so debris won't keep them stuck in. I put them back in during pre-launch checklist, which also includes all my drain plugs. Perhaps more seasoned members can shed light on what they do with their plugs.

 

[John83]

Took me the better part of a year, reading, lurking and fretting but I finally have a boat. Stumbled into a great deal on a 2015 AR with two upgraded timing chains and pulled the trigger. My only remaining fear is of embarrassment at the boat ramp.

This board has been of immense value to me. I probably would not have bought a jet boat had I not found you guys. Got Seadek ( thanks to member Michael Pacini) and CobraJet steering going in tomorrow and will be hitting the water this week!!

Very nice boat!One question though,on years 2016 and older do the infotainment screens only come on the 24'boats?I was looking at 2016's 212x/212s and no screen on dash.Thinking it's just standard on 24' boats?

 

[GermanAR230]

Congrats on a very nice boat... enjoy now!