^ I can vouch for his Supra. It's always very clean and well maintained. Well optioned and good color combo too!

2/11/2013 12:42:03 PM

Boat is almost on its way

3/2/2013 3:34:15 PM

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/17/a-closer-look-at-the-cigarette-amg-electric-drive-concept/



Awesome.... now...

WHERE ARE THE SOLAR PANELS?!?!?!

I hate them for home use and "green" use because they don't have a viable payback without huge tax subsidies. But on a boat... you could put them all up the front of the hull even absorbing reflections off the water... it would be a HUGE longevity advantage... not to mention of you "run out of juice" you could just float for a while to get plenty for the ride home... and still run the fridge/stereo etc...

The fact that they'll need to be replaced in 9 or 10 years wouldn't be a big deal because your average boat would already cost a fortune in maintenance by then.

3/18/2013 8:16:18 AM

Quote :

"Total capacity of the 400-volt system is 240 kilowatt hours with an electric output of 2,400 kilowatts (there is also a traditional 12-volt marine system to run lights, accessories and to provide startup power). Recharging takes as little as three hours with the standard 44-kilowatt on-board charger and four optional rapid on-board chargers, while standard charging takes about seven hours at the marina."

I'm not up on solar capabilities, but I know it has to take a massive amount of power to push a 10k lb boat into the triple digits. Would a small array of solar panels really matter or would it be like dumping a cap full of gas in the tank of a drag car?



On a related note...A buddy sent me this from the Miami boat show last month:

3/18/2013 2:53:10 PM

Carzin, is that the 233? We picked up our new baby in November.

3/18/2013 3:36:27 PM

a matte black boat, for all your drug smuggling or being invisible to rescuers needs!

3/18/2013 3:37:28 PM

^^^ i mean... yeah... but you gotta think... on a boat your ass can sit for 10 hours just floating.

and i'm not saying you need to go tripple digits home either...

you can get 4.6kw/hr with old tech cells if you do the sides and font of the boat and that's including a shading factor on a bright ass sunny day you'll probably do substantially more than that.

basically you go out... float some where for 10 hours and your battery bank will have gone up 20%?? i mean how often does your gas tank fill up when you're partying on an island???

never...

Like i said... i honestly despise solar panels but this is one application where it's really probably a good idea if for no other reason then to keep your beer cold and your radio cranked while you're partying on an island...

turn that shit off and you'll never get stranded because you ran outta juice... you'll just have to wait till shit charges back up some....

I by no means think this is a perpetual motion where the solar panels will keep the batteries charged even at a reasonable cruise... but on a boat that's meant for partying and using only in sunny weather... why the fuck not? right??

^ exactly what that one is for... all the smugglers are going for more outboards because.....

1. coast guard shoots out engines on suspect go fast boats and smaller engines are more difficult to hit.
2. more engines also means when 1 or 2 is out... the boat keeps going longer.
3. they take up less room in the hull of the boat where you could pack your drugs.


[Edited on March 18, 2013 at 3:47 PM. Reason : .]

3/18/2013 3:44:14 PM

Quote :

"Carzin, is that the 233? We picked up our new baby in November."

It's the 233. Your Wakesetter looks sick man.

Quote :

"you can get 4.6kw/hr with old tech cells if you do the sides and font of the boat and that's including a shading factor on a bright ass sunny day you'll probably do substantially more than that. basically you go out... float some where for 10 hours and your battery bank will have gone up 20%?? i mean how often does your gas tank fill up when you're partying on an island??? "

I don't see any way you can put solar cells on the side of a boat like that without destroying them every time you make a run. Even if you mounted them on the bow I'd think they would have to be mounted in some way that allows the bow to flex some in heavy seas while keeping the panels (relatively) still.

I don't think of the powerboat crowd as being the type of people who give a fuck about saving a few bucks worth of gas. Most of these folks are currently dropping 4-5digits of cash every time they put the boat in the water for the weekend anyway; at least the ones I've met. I'm not entirely sure whether that applies to the whole "electric boat" idea or just to the idea of adding solar chargers to it (or both). It's cool that they built it as a proof of concept, but I doubt it is much more than that right now. I'll admit, adding solar to a boat like this isn't a bad idea, but it seems like something they can add later if potential customers express any interest. I'd be more worried about finding a potential customer in this crowd first, lol.

Quote :

"a matte black boat, for all your drug smuggling or being invisible to rescuers needs!"

Nah...It's just for some new money joker who thinks he's all badass in his Affliction shirt. You could get into any club in Miami if you pulled up to the valet in that Lambo!

[Edited on March 18, 2013 at 4:37 PM. Reason : l]

3/18/2013 4:22:41 PM

I'm just really jealous, it looks bad ass

3/18/2013 5:23:17 PM

i agree ^^ that the whole thing is silly....

http://fun-energy.ocnk.net/data/fun-energy/product/8bc4a3b332.jpg

solar membrane....


i mean there have been green boats forever.... running on alcohol

[Edited on March 18, 2013 at 5:41 PM. Reason : .]

3/18/2013 5:39:47 PM

Canoes and SUPs are pretty green.

I can't wait for the local waters to warm up.

3/18/2013 6:00:41 PM

LF: yup . Beautiful Malibu! Have you even had a chance to get it in the water? What model?

3/19/2013 8:29:01 PM

2009 VLX. We have already put 10 hours on it

Has every option except heated seats. Bought it from a guy in Atlanta that had never even filled up the tanks. I'm still not sure if I like the Maliview screen but I am getting used to it. Are you riding at Gaston? If so, it looks like we will be renting a house over July 4th. Might have to take a surf set behind the 233.

3/20/2013 11:14:01 AM

Awesome I think Malibus are the best looking boat out there. Ultimately, what brought me to Centurion is the proximity and reputation of the dealership, and that there is not a Malibu dealership that can service warrantys on Lake Gaston. I can't figure out why.

I am actually going to be taking off the entire week of July 4 to spend at the Lake. Big family reunion every year. I am going to be in the Myrick Estates area (near the Gaston dam). So perfect time to meet up and get some surf runs

3/20/2013 11:42:45 AM

Quote :

"Total capacity of the 400-volt system is 240 kilowatt hours with an electric output of 2,400 kilowatts (there is also a traditional 12-volt marine system to run lights, accessories and to provide startup power). Recharging takes as little as three hours with the standard 44-kilowatt on-board charger and four optional rapid on-board chargers, while standard charging takes about seven hours at the marina.""

There is so much bullshit here, I have to comment on this.

Quote :

"while standard charging takes about seven hours at the marina"

Not possible. A standard charge for this would be a 240V ~7 kW circuit. At 7kW/hr, it would take almost 36 hours to charge. The only way to decrease this is multiple dedicated 240V circuits, and multiple supplies. Simply no way around this. And we are talking a lot of money, and a very specialized setup that you'll have at your marina, and that will be unavailable anywhere else.

The only way to get faster is three phase power. How many marina's do you think offer three phase?

I am big into electrics, but electric boats are just a waste of effort currently.

[Edited on March 20, 2013 at 11:59 AM. Reason : .]

3/20/2013 11:58:20 AM

lol i didn't read it...



i do wonder if large boat marinas carry 460/3 to the boats because i don't see



running on 7kw with the a/c on plasmas, stereo, hot tub, bilge system etc.

[Edited on March 20, 2013 at 12:29 PM. Reason : .]

3/20/2013 12:28:46 PM

Quote :

"I am actually going to be taking off the entire week of July 4 to spend at the Lake."

I'll probably be there that week as well. Working Monday-Wednesday, but I can always take a session after work or take a lunch break. A couple other guys are usually there that week as well. We took a couple of morning wakeboard sessions last year and surfed later in the day.

[Edited on March 20, 2013 at 12:37 PM. Reason : l]

3/20/2013 12:36:15 PM

I am staying in a house in a cove right at the Myrick Hills Country Club. I'm familiar with the VA side of Gaston as we used to stay in Six Pound Creek for many weekends/year, but not so much with this side. Is there going to be any place to ride at all that week?

3/20/2013 11:55:23 PM

the outboard on that midnight express boat...

caddy/chevy LS-A...

kinda cool...

i wouldn't mind a boat with twin LSA outboards.


[Edited on March 21, 2013 at 8:12 AM. Reason : .]

3/21/2013 8:11:15 AM

Not much more than a novelty for those with LMS

3/21/2013 8:26:12 AM

i agree... i'm just thinking 2 ls motors on the back would be easier to work on then 2 SBCs in the hull.. unless the lower unit is junk on them and you're replacing it all the time.

3/21/2013 8:55:01 AM

Quote :

"I am staying in a house in a cove right at the Myrick Hills Country Club. I'm familiar with the VA side of Gaston as we used to stay in Six Pound Creek for many weekends/year, but not so much with this side. Is there going to be any place to ride at all that week?"

I think I know the house you are going to be in. If it is the one I am thinking about, you are going to need to be very careful getting your boat in and out. There are some big rocks back in that cove near the end. I made a person swim to my boat one day instead of going back in there.

Yeah, even during a holiday week, during the weekdays, you'll have no issue. My suggestion is to go straight across the main lake to the cove on the other side. Really good place for wakeboarding runs. Hopefully I won't mess it up to much for you with my wakesurfing

3/21/2013 9:22:49 AM

Quote :

"Is there going to be any place to ride at all that week?"

Mornings will be nice. I was able to ride with almost no boat traffic up and down the middle of Pea Hill last year until about 10:00 a.m. when the water gnats came out. There will be plenty of rideable water all day Monday-Wednesday, but you're probably not going to get butter unless you're out early. Thursday-Sunday will be a mad house after 10:00 a.m.

Skip the fireworks at Eaton Ferry and come check out the fireworks show in Pea Hill Creek! They usually have a jet flyover, skydivers, and then a huge show set to music. It's an awesome show and basically a big flotilla party.

Quote :

"Yeah, even during a holiday week, during the weekdays, you'll have no issue. My suggestion is to go straight across the main lake to the cove on the other side. Really good place for wakeboarding runs. Hopefully I won't mess it up to much for you with my wakesurfing"

Jimmy's Creek? That can be good...Ride against the western shoreline if the wind is blowing. If it's not blowing go towards the back where it takes a hard right and you can make some decently long runs before you have to turn around. Don't go too far back; once it starts to narrow there is a channel you can follow and a spot to turnaround, but if you don't know where you're going there's a decent chance you'll catch a rock or stump back there. It's been so long since I used to take my boat back there that I don't do it anymore either.

We should try to do a trip to the west end of the lake sometime this summer. If you catch it at the right time you can ride butter for miles without ever having to turn the boat around. It's definitely the place to be for good wakeboarding water.

[Edited on March 21, 2013 at 11:43 AM. Reason : l]

3/21/2013 11:36:01 AM

On a nonrelated note, I got to reading some threads on the centurion board about people sinking or coming close to sinking their boats in lake storms. These people were facing 3-6 foot waves on their lakes. One was Lake Martin in Alabama, and then Pyramid lake in Nevada. I am trying to think if I have EVER seen natural lake swells more than 1-2 feet on Gaston that were not man made. I've been out in some nasty crap, and I don't recall it. The most scared I have been is being caught in a hail storm when I was convinced a tornado was about to come down on me. I think the relatively narrowness of the lake, and how there are multiple places blocking the wind really helps.

Skack: Have you seen anything remotely scarey with swells at Gaston?

Quote :

"Skip the fireworks at Eaton Ferry and come check out the fireworks show in Pea Hill Creek! They usually have a jet flyover, skydivers, and then a huge show set to music. It's an awesome show and basically a big flotilla party."

Ditto. You are welcome to tag along with our boat party. Last year is was 2 boats. Maybe 3 or 4 this year It is an awesome show. As close to a large scale fireworks show as you can really get. They surround the boats on all sides.



[Edited on March 21, 2013 at 12:31 PM. Reason : .]

3/21/2013 12:28:46 PM

Quote :

"Skack: Have you seen anything remotely scarey with swells at Gaston?"

I've seen 1'-2' (probably more like 1-1.5, lol), but the frequency was what made them bad. There's just no space between swells caused by wind chop, so the pounding is relentless and it's hard to find a rhythm where the boat can run smoothly if you're heading into the wind. I wouldn't worry about a boat like either of the ones you've owned, but I wouldn't have gone out in a traditional ski boat like Chris' Supra.

I had that blue Nautique out a few times in chop which made me glad to have a lot of freeboard and a closed bow. Stuffing the bow every third or fourth wave at low speeds and lifting the skegs out of the water every fifth or sixth wave when I had her planed out. At that point there isn't a lot of boat in the water, but that boat had a really good riding hull IMO. The shape and freeboard was on par with most modern wake boats, but the wooden stringers gave it a really plush ride in rough water.

Winds can get concentrated as you go around that bend (heading west) when Eaton Ferry comes into view, so if it's bad coming up the main lake the intensity can seem to amplify when you come around that corner.

[Edited on March 21, 2013 at 12:49 PM. Reason : l]

3/21/2013 12:46:10 PM

I dived the boat nose for the first time last year on a big wave. Was turning to pick someone up, and the front just ate the wave. Was barely moving. had to run the bilge for a while to get that cleaned up. But this was a mad made created wave

3/21/2013 12:58:47 PM

Yeah, I stuffed the Malibu pretty well at the Pea Hill bridge last summer. One of my cousins and his kids were up front and a ~26' Chaparrel planed out at just the right time to send a big roller right in my direction. I couldn't take off because I was in the no wake zone and there was no time to turn away from it. I think the Malibu bow sits lower towards the water than my Nautique did.

3/21/2013 1:01:58 PM

^ hahah, so they got soaked? No one was upfront when I get smoked, but there was 500 pounds of ballast.

With the Enzo, I shouldnt have to run much or any front ballast at all. On your side, I will likely have to run a little. On goofy, it actually hurts the wave. So, I bought it for you. Want to send me a check?

3/21/2013 1:07:52 PM

You should have let me frame it out and pour concrete. I hope you didn't pay more than $20, lol.

3/21/2013 1:13:18 PM

Centurion is releasing their FX44 next year. No soft ballast. No pumps. Everything is hard ballast and filled quickly through some process they are calling RAMFill that is a scoop under the boat (I assume you fill it with forward motion). Supposed to fill in 'seconds'. It is also supposed to be more ballast than ever, which would mean more than 4500 that is stock in the 244. Not sure what this is going to do with storage space. I can't imagine they completely killing all the lockers.

So the new gimmicks will be the:
Centurion RAMFill
Tige Convex VX
Malibu Surfgate
Nautique NSS
and whatever crap Masterass wants to sell.

[Edited on March 21, 2013 at 1:34 PM. Reason : .]

3/21/2013 1:33:14 PM

Mastercraft will just add 33% more sharp angles to their top deck, mimic the interior of a lowrider truck, and up their pricing across the board by another $10k.

3/21/2013 1:46:21 PM

I don't get it. Ugliest boat in the industry. Flat out hideous. I figure its people with a lot of money that say 'whats the most expensive boat we can buy'.

3/21/2013 2:00:45 PM

Carzin, do you think it could be something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYJ85CEc2Sw

3/21/2013 2:26:34 PM

Wow. great catch. I bet that is very similar to how it will work.

3/21/2013 2:47:44 PM

Yeah that is Mike Murphy, I believe he is the creator of Calabria boats and quite a few other lake related products. This video was released around the time Malibu started speaking about their "game changer". This is what everyone thought was the "game changer" until Malibu released Surf Gate.

3/21/2013 2:52:03 PM

This invention for wakeboarders helps the holeshot. For wakesurfers, it helps the fill and empty time.

My boat is obsolete before I even have it

[Edited on March 21, 2013 at 2:56 PM. Reason : .]

3/21/2013 2:53:30 PM

This has got to be a scam:

http://newyork.backpage.com/BoatsForSale/25000-2008-nautique-230236/37266236

3/21/2013 3:28:54 PM

Yup. http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=181105792962

3/21/2013 6:43:56 PM

i always look for the registration or lack thereof. that boat is a prime example. claims it is in new york but has Indiana registration.

3/21/2013 7:51:12 PM

Enjoy

4/5/2013 4:06:22 PM

Alright team garage I need some advice. I'm looking to get a 20'-ish bow-rider to haul people around on a lake, something used and in the 10k range. I've talked to people at work with boats and they seem to like Chaparral, but from what I read online it seems Sea Ray and Regal are also good companies. And is there much real difference between bow-riders and deck boats? I'm also planning on getting a boat lift since I don't want to mess with bottom paint, any suggestions on legit lift manufacturers?

4/23/2013 9:22:53 PM

I believe you are going to get a shallower draft on the deck boat and more interior space for the given length of the boat, as well as more storage. The downside is going to be not much of a wave, as the bow rider will put up a better wave for watersports.

At your price range, all those boats are going to have issues because they will have a fair amount of age. I would try to find a boat that does not have wood stringers, but that may not be possible.

[Edited on April 24, 2013 at 11:02 AM. Reason : .]

4/24/2013 10:59:07 AM

Bottom paint is really for the saltwater boats to keep a layer between the barnacles and the gel coat. It has to be scraped, sanded, and redone every few years; so it's not hassle free. If you're leaving it in all summer it might be worth looking into, but I wouldn't do it for a boat that lives on a lift or trailer. You can always clean a stained boat at the end of each season with muriatic acid to get rid of the stains (and it's probably easier than dealing with bottom paint).

Get the bow rider. Deck boats are for Grandpas who can't stomach the idea of owning a pontoon boat.

Don't forget Stingray. Semi-local boat builder (SC), solid hulls, and their Z-plane hulls get better gas mileage than any of their peers.



[Edited on April 24, 2013 at 11:17 AM. Reason : l]

4/24/2013 11:14:24 AM

10-15k to spend on a boat, got plenty of mechanical know how but is a boat in that range just gonna be a basket case ?

Really like an i/o or just a straight inboard for maintenance purposes.

Thanks.
-foo1

6/16/2013 3:50:45 PM

Intended use? Location?

I/o or straight inboard require much more maintenance than a modern outboard.

6/16/2013 9:11:21 PM

Sea Ray makes a great lake boat. My dad has had them for years. A neighbor of my parents had a Wellcraft that held up well too. Avoid anything with a weird colored hull (yellow, red, etc). Actually any color, they fade. Also Bayliners are crap.

6/16/2013 9:55:13 PM

intended use is just messing around on a lake with friends.


I'd like something big enough to not have the shit beat out of it on something like lake norman.

something 21-23 ft would be ideal i think but i'm still not sure.

Outboards require less maintenance than inboards now ? i guess when they were all 2 strokes they scared me cause i don't know shit about reed valves and such

I was thinking something with a small block or big block chevy in it so i'd be familiar with the engine. I've worked on merc stern drives before so i know my way around them some...

^ yeah bayliner is the one brand i'd never touch with a 10' pole.

i had a buddy with an old stingray (the predecessor to the 230sx) and i loved that boat

its probably just a bad idea... i just don't want to spend too much on something that will depreciate like a rock.



[Edited on June 17, 2013 at 8:36 AM. Reason : .]

6/17/2013 8:32:41 AM

2 smoke outboards are extremely low maintenance. someone with your mechanical knowledge and a SELOC manual would have no issue doing any work on one.

Quote :

"its probably just a bad idea... i just don't want to spend too much on something that will depreciate like a rock."

so get something that's already depreciated but was taken care of. my boat might break down the next time i'm out, but i gave $7200 for it and haven't had a lick of trouble out of it.

[Edited on June 17, 2013 at 8:51 AM. Reason : fg]

6/17/2013 8:49:07 AM

Quote :

"i had a buddy with an old stingray (the predecessor to the 230sx) and i loved that boat"

I've seen some 230SX's in the $10k-$15k range in the past few years. I want to say the last one I saw was a 96 or 97 and the guy was offering it to me for $12k or $13k. They really are awesome boats. That's a great hull.

I don't think you'll end up with a basket case in that range as long as you buy something that's not too exotic and do a thorough pre-purchase inspection or get a survey done.

You're near Lake Norman, right? I'd definitely go with a 21'+ boat if so. Those 17'-19' class boats will beat you to death on a busy lake like Norman.

Quote :

" Avoid anything with a weird colored hull (yellow, red, etc). Actually any color, they fade."

That's partly true. Colored hulls do fade, but it's not hard to keep it in good condition if you buy a nice polisher (something that spins 2.2k+ RPM) and put a little work into it. I polish mine twice a year; once in the fall and once in the spring. That's really all it takes to keep it looking great. If you go a few years without polishing it'll oxidize so badly that it takes a lot of work to restore, but if you never let it get bad it's really not a lot of work to keep it looking good.

You'd be surprised what you can do to a hull that has been neglected for 10+ years with some sandpaper and a bucket of water though. I've seen some really bad boats brought back to a beautiful mirror-like showroom shine.

6/17/2013 11:00:09 AM

20-25' boat

Bow rider

Inboard
I/O
Or
Outboard ?

9/5/2013 6:28:59 AM