My First Boat!

[Joeprunc]

Hello all this is my first post..

I finally bought a boat...I only had $8,000 to spend on it out the door (just out of college), so it isn't the fanciest boat out there, but it will get me in the water. I lived on the California coast all my life and surfed at least 4 times a week, now I'm in Davis, CA and figured the Delta is right around the corner. I grew up on an I/O (skiing and wakeboarding), but this is the first direct drive in our family and my very first boat.

Its a 1995 Tige 2000 SLM Comp. (510 hours on the engine).

I would appreciate any help, guidance, or tricks that any of you have learned? Regarding maintenance, towing, boating (with a direct drive boat). Anything that will help.

I need to get all required equipment to meet the USCG / Ca. State regulations. Is there anyother equipment that you can't live without. Recommendations on covers (I don't really need it for towing).

Also I've got some pretty bad oxidation and fading on the gel coat. Is there any brand wax, polish, or cleaner that seems to work better.

Thanks in advance.

Here's a few pictures when I brought her home.

[Fast1911]

congrats on the new boat , looks pretty clean, I would definitely change the oil and as far as the oxidation goes you'll need to buff that out with a machine. I did mine in several steps, if you don't feel comfortable doing it you might want to ask a detail guy or take it to a gelcoat guy. Here is a thread of my boat when I re-did it.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...ght=tige+rehab

[skyski_tige]

That is a nice looking boat! Congratulations!

[Fast1911]

better yet, here's a picture of the oxidation/buffed side by side

[thtrog]

Congrats and Welcome!

[westtx]

Congrats and welcome, hope you enjoy it for a long time.

[lightning59]

sweet ride! welcome!

[chpthril]

Congrats, welcome to the Tige family Great looking first boat

[Joeprunc]

Wow,
Thanks for all the replies. Fast1911 Thanks for the link. It looks like you did one hell of an overhaul on your boat. We always kept our boat waxed regularly so I really never had to do any serious buffing. But I have done it on our old VW.

I don't have a manual for the boat, it looks like there is a drain plug right near the keels (should make it easier than my Pop's I/O. What weight/brand oil do you recommend, does it really have to be "marine" stuff? Would it be wise to change the tranny fluid as well?

[jwanck11]

Sweet looking boat!!! Do a search on the forums about backing up...

[TRD]

What weight/brand oil do you recommend, does it really have to be "marine" stuff? Would it be wise to change the tranny fluid as well?

Welcome, I don't know what engine you have but if it is a 350 merc. w/ 315hp I have the same engine. I have an excel sheet w/ what I do for winterizing, oil, filters w/ all the pn's if it would work for you.

You can upload an excel in this area can you? I tried uploading it and it won't let me.

[da.bell]

You are going to love the Delta. Nice smooth water and right around the corner from you also.

Welcome to the site and thanks for posting a picture.

[Bad05]

Congrats and welcome! I'm new to the Tige family as well and have learned more on this site in a month about various issues than I thought possible!

[da.bell]

If you want a tower on your boat, there are a few companies in the Sacramento area that do custom towers also. just an FYI.

[eks]

Welcome to the Tige family! Congrats on the fist boat!