Hello Friends,
I recently bought a 2008 Challenger 180 with 67 hours on it. I have never owned a boat before but I live close to the coast and usually go down and rent a pontoon boat.
I put the boat in a local river about three weeks ago for the first time. This was my first time launching and retrieving a boat. Me, the wife and kids took off for the day. Two things happened that day: I got an engine code for Engine Knocking and later on we ran out of gas. Not the end of the world and I told the family that boating is an adventure~! On the way home, filled up with 93 octane ethanol-free gas and added a can of SeaFoam...
Next time out, I shoved off from the boat ramp, got in the boat, and......nothing!! No beeping, no anything. I paddled us back to ramp and opened the battery compartment wondering if I did anything to drain the battery. I noticed that the main battery on/off switch was cracked (was not cracked when I bought it or the first time in the water) - not sure how it got cracked, but it was... I pushed it together and the boat fired right up. I left the family at the boat ramp and found a local hardware store (after I went and picked up a new pair of flip-flops after I had a blowout in the mud pulling the boat around)... I found a large clamp and made it back and clamped the switch.. Fired right up and ran great~! No engine codes and better performance (I chalked up the first episode to bad gas)... I have a switch ordered and plan to replace it this week (I'm learning a few lessons here....)
Meanwhile, me and the wife took the boat to the coast this weekend (I called it brave, a friend of mine said he had a better word for it.....) Boat ran great and we went out to Shell Island to a deserted spot and set up shop. Tent, cooler, jams, beer.. life was good! When we started to head back, the boat would rev up but no go more than about 15 mph (indicated)... I was like, what the hell? I had been reading the forum and wondered if it was cavitation?? I finally made it back to the boat ramp to load her up. I guess I had the trailer in the water too far, because the bow roller was above the boat, damn near took off my navigation lights! I looked around YoutTube to make sure I didn't make any Boat Launch Fails videos, ha ha!!! When I pulled the drain plug, the water coming out was HOT! I turned on the bilge pump and I swear it ran for 5 minutes straight, while it was also draining out of the back!! I'm still not sure how all that water got in the boat. On the way home, I passed right by Compass Lake and I told the wife I had to put it back in the water and see what was going on... We did, and it ran great - indicated 54 mph~! I guess all of the water in the engine compartment was doing something where I couldn't go fast (if anyone knows about this, please let me know)...
After our successful run in the lake, it was time to load her up and come home. Another unsuccessful load up, this time the crank arm bolt on my wench sheared off!! A couple of guys had to help me get her loaded... I'm about to order a heavy duty winch from Overtons....
I got the boat all cleaned up and in the garage ready for the next adventure... Just wanted to say hello and that it is all worth it!!! I'll get this thing figured out!!! I thought you guys could use a good laugh.....
I'm going to try and post a photo of the beach trip. Hope it works!!
See you guys around ~
SaltLife
I recently bought a 2008 Challenger 180 with 67 hours on it. I have never owned a boat before but I live close to the coast and usually go down and rent a pontoon boat.
I put the boat in a local river about three weeks ago for the first time. This was my first time launching and retrieving a boat. Me, the wife and kids took off for the day. Two things happened that day: I got an engine code for Engine Knocking and later on we ran out of gas. Not the end of the world and I told the family that boating is an adventure~! On the way home, filled up with 93 octane ethanol-free gas and added a can of SeaFoam...
Next time out, I shoved off from the boat ramp, got in the boat, and......nothing!! No beeping, no anything. I paddled us back to ramp and opened the battery compartment wondering if I did anything to drain the battery. I noticed that the main battery on/off switch was cracked (was not cracked when I bought it or the first time in the water) - not sure how it got cracked, but it was... I pushed it together and the boat fired right up. I left the family at the boat ramp and found a local hardware store (after I went and picked up a new pair of flip-flops after I had a blowout in the mud pulling the boat around)... I found a large clamp and made it back and clamped the switch.. Fired right up and ran great~! No engine codes and better performance (I chalked up the first episode to bad gas)... I have a switch ordered and plan to replace it this week (I'm learning a few lessons here....)
Meanwhile, me and the wife took the boat to the coast this weekend (I called it brave, a friend of mine said he had a better word for it.....) Boat ran great and we went out to Shell Island to a deserted spot and set up shop. Tent, cooler, jams, beer.. life was good! When we started to head back, the boat would rev up but no go more than about 15 mph (indicated)... I was like, what the hell? I had been reading the forum and wondered if it was cavitation?? I finally made it back to the boat ramp to load her up. I guess I had the trailer in the water too far, because the bow roller was above the boat, damn near took off my navigation lights! I looked around YoutTube to make sure I didn't make any Boat Launch Fails videos, ha ha!!! When I pulled the drain plug, the water coming out was HOT! I turned on the bilge pump and I swear it ran for 5 minutes straight, while it was also draining out of the back!! I'm still not sure how all that water got in the boat. On the way home, I passed right by Compass Lake and I told the wife I had to put it back in the water and see what was going on... We did, and it ran great - indicated 54 mph~! I guess all of the water in the engine compartment was doing something where I couldn't go fast (if anyone knows about this, please let me know)...
After our successful run in the lake, it was time to load her up and come home. Another unsuccessful load up, this time the crank arm bolt on my wench sheared off!! A couple of guys had to help me get her loaded... I'm about to order a heavy duty winch from Overtons....
I got the boat all cleaned up and in the garage ready for the next adventure... Just wanted to say hello and that it is all worth it!!! I'll get this thing figured out!!! I thought you guys could use a good laugh.....
I'm going to try and post a photo of the beach trip. Hope it works!!
See you guys around ~
SaltLife
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