Bought a boat today

22Rimfire

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Bought our first boat today.... a Chaparral 196 SSI with the 5.0. For 18 years old I think it’s pretty clean. Looking forward to taking it to Falls and Kerr Lake. Anyone have any experience with the Chaparrals? From what I read before purchasing they look like nice boats for the money. This one has 530 hours on it.


Before anyone throws in the obligatory boat sayings, yes I know the two happiest days are when you buy a boat and when you sell it. Oh and bust out another thousand! Haha

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Taking the boater safety course this week.
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The chappy’s are nice. My wife and I started with a 19’ chapparel bow rider with a 4.3. Heavy boat for its size. Cut the waves nice. I liked the quality
 
Well, you asked for advice...

If I owned that boat, I would ban alcohol aboard my vessel.
Operate your boat in a manner that serves as an example of someone with boat handling skills who knows how to avoid accidents.
Don't assume that anyone knows what they are doing, when they offer to help.
Buy new flares every July 3rd, and shoot up your old flares the next day.
Have fun, and be safe!
 
Dude, I had no idea you were a black face

As far as the common sayings go - nah.
My dad has several and absolutely loves going to the lake for a pontoon ride or a trip around the lake on his 60s correct craft
 
As mentioned, drain plug, life jackets, fire ext, flares, spare prop and tools to change it, etc.

I had one similar that was bought very cheap, they didn't winterize it and the block cracked. We ran that boat hard 2 seasons and sold it.
 
Learn how to do regular maintenance. It saves you a ton of $.

Get an anchor that will work for the next size boat. Tie off 'the bitter end' now.

Practice backing! Practice, Practice!

Check the anodes. Replace them when needed. Consider magnesium if you're only in fresh water.

Save up for gas $$$$$$$$$$$. It's not mpg it gallons per smile!

Oh yeah, get insurance, chit happens.
 
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If I owned that boat, I would ban alcohol aboard my vessel.

Agreed. It's not just the operator that should have some cause for concern. An acquaintance of mine was out with a buddy drinking on a boat with a few others late one night in a large lake here in NC. They all got out to swim for a bit and "all" boarded and returned to the dock. The acquaintance was never seen again until about five days later when they found his body.

Never assume you have all your party aboard unless you do a head count.
 
Had a buddy that bought himself a new bass boat, paid a damn fortune for it. Loved that boat. Backed the trailer down the ramp and was letting his son pull the boat onto it. Son steered a bit much into the dock and at a bit too much speed, friend instinctively stuck out his foot to guide the boat away from the dock. The broken foot and ankle cost far more than the boat.

Same friend would also suggest that you put a float on the keyring right now.
 
I would have done this before buying the boat and you might have done it.
I would have a mechanic run a compress test on the motor (not sure it as needed with an inboard) and check the oil in the foot and motor. If you have the maintenance records check them, if not I would change the oil in the motor and foot and change spark plugs. On the trailer, check the bearing grease.
Check the date on the fire extinguisher and the flares. Put some marine grease in all fittings. When filling up the boat make sure you use marine gas. Boats do not like ethanol gas ONLY. I causes problems with the gas tank and fuel lines. Check the auto bilge switch if it has one.

If you do not know the area that you are boating, make sure that your chart plotter map is up to date. Speaking of chart platters, make sure you know how to use them. If you are returning home after dark, water way do not look the same if you can see them.

Carry a spare drain plug that is left in the boat away from the drain plug hole (do not leave it in the hole) and a spare water separator. If the boat does not have one, put an inline one on the fuel line.

All of the above is speaking from experience.
 
Learn to back with the mirrors. Also the lakes are typically not as busy during the week. Unloading is a breeze usually, loading can be more challenging but gets easier with practice. The biggest thing for loading is not to get too deep with the trailer. For mine I’ll leave the fenders even or just above the surface. Do as much prep as possible before leaving home and have a checklist of stuff you’ll need. Then prep in the parking lot for launch and not on the ramp. Let your significant other learn to drive and have them take the safety class as well. Do that so when at the ramp they can pull away if it is busy while someone parks or retrieves the truck. It’s aggravating pulling up and multiple boats are tied off with people sitting in them and you can’t get enough room to jump off and get in line for the ramp.
 
if you go alone shut your truck door, i saw a fellow get out of his truck, didnt shut door, didnt get in park rolled down ramp door hits ramp door meets fender
 
Nice score and enjoy! Extra plug as others mentioned and spare prop and nut are not bad ideas of things to carry along with some of the other things mentioned. At lakes just watch for floating logs, certain lakes are worse for it than others if there has been a heavy rain. At kerr lake particular stay wide on the turns if you go up some of the fingers it is usually shallow on the inside of the turns. Hitting mud is not great but hitting a rock or stump is usually not good at all and dampens a day quickly. As others mentioned practice backing ahead of time unless you pull a trailer often to save stress and frustration. If you leave boat parked for a extended period and have it on concrete put a piece of plywood or something down. Something about rubber parked stationary on concrete for extended time seems to cause tires to seperate plys and blowout prematurely.
 
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Pratice backing a trailer and make your wife do so as well. I have seen more than my share of domestic disputes at the boat ramp.
 
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1.Alway remember to reinstall the drain plug.
2.buy gas before you get to the lake

Otherwise enjoy the new money pit, errr, I mean boat.
 
First thing--get a spare for the trailer. Then replace the bearings on the trailer axle and pack them good. Check the rollers on the trailer. Make sure the lights are good on the trailer. Might want to rewire the trailer. You cannot have fun if you cannot get the boat in the water. Get your 6pak license.
 
My family had a 2006 220 chap with the same 5.0 Volvo penta. Plenty of motor and a nice smooth cruiser. We sold it off last year due to not being used that often but had no issues over the 11 years of ownership.
 
I bought a boat last fall and the first things I did were
Replace plug and get an extra
Put on new, hubs and leaf springs on trailer.

Serviced it and filled it with non ethanol gas and a bottle of fuel treatment just in case.
 
Pratice backing a trailer and make your wife do so as well. I have seen more than my share of domestic disputes at the boat ramp.

Falls lake ramp on Memorial day weekend is like watching that low bridge cam.
You just cant look away.

Alcohol, domestic hate, obesity, high blood pressure, pontoon boats and seldom used skills...
 
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Am I really the first? In all these responses... Dang.

RAISE THE LOWER UNIT before leaving the ramp.

I can't tell you how many times I've watched an outboard/stern drive boat bounce up the boat ramp, lower unit down, destroying the skeg.

Usually due to a female loading the boat that didn't know any better but I've seen guys do it too.


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Boats are a barrel of laughs and usually at your misfortune, enjoy but be reminded that one day it will come to you a swiming pool was a better idea and everybody knows that ain't smart.
 
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My brother in law has drug his stern drive several times. One time he also wasn’t centered on the trailer when he pulled the plug. I told him to plug it before backing in to center it up but he knew better and said it would be fine. Of course it didn’t work and took a couple of minutes to drain before putting the plug in to try again.
 
Wow, I want to thank everyone for the time they spent responding! I’ve read this thread several times and appreciate all the advice.

Luckily the 2nd owner included several nod the recommendations. I’ve got two spare props, two drain plugs, one of each extra on the boat. Also have a spare that’s in good shape and only a few years old. I need to pick up some flares, a new fire extinguisher, an air horn and a new life jacket for myself. My wife has one and we will pick up another 4 or so for passengers.

For the mentioned repacking the bearings, thank you. I had not thought about it. Last owner said he did it at the beginning of the season but can’t hurt to do it again.

I can’t say I’m a pro at backing up a boat trailer but I am pretty dang good with my 5.5x10 utility trailer and can back that thing around anything. Back the boat up my 150 ft drive and into the shop Sunday without any issues. I think I should be ok at the boat ramp. I will definitely practice though. Pretty entertaining to see someone learn how to back up a trailer at the ramp for sure.

Any recommendations on where to buy what I need? West marine? Bass pro? Walmart?

Taking it out the first time since buying it Saturday at Kerr. Will give an update when we get home.


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Get everything ready before you hit the ramp, make sure she starts before you get there too. The 2 biggest things to get the ramp crowds going are people backing their boat down the ramp, then tying up the ramp for the next 20 minutes while they get all their crap ready instead of just launching. then there are the folks whose boat won't start and spend the next 30 minutes tying up the ramp while they repeatedly try to start/analyze/fix their boat on the ramp. I've been fishing and hunting out of a trailered boat for the past 25yrs. I can go to the ramp myself and launch the boat/clear the ramp in about 3 minutes.
Great Sunday evening entertainment is sitting in the church lot, next to the public ramp, watching the ramp idiots. Try not to be part of the entertainment.
Like others have said, don't bring any alcohol on the boat, for drivers or passengers. Alcohol, plus summer sun, plus rolling boat makes for drunk assholes. I hate drunk assholes.
 
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