We bought our new boat...now what do we need?

[kaptap]

Thanks everyone for all the posts and answers to our questions. We've spent hours/days reading all the info here, talking to dealers, other boaters, everything you all suggested and we found a great deal. We bought a 2423 Leisure Pontoon with a Yamaha 90hp 4-stroke engine. Now, we're wondering what we need to get on the boat to have it ready for riding. Please look at this list and let me know if I'm missing anything:
-Life jackets
-Horn/Whistle
-anchor
-throw ring
-Bumpers (to protect against docks)- What size do you recommend? Gander Mtn has many different sizes. How much line do we need for the bumpers?
- Moring lines - How long?
-Depth finder is $300 installed, but I think I'd add a fish finder down the road and the basic fish finders seems cheaper anyway. Should I just add the fish finder? Are they easy to install?
- trolling motor - How do you mount one on a pontoon? The dealer says I need to cut the front door so that it fits under the door?? What size motor should I look for?
- Extra Battery with switch costs $240 installed. Is this the best option to go in case the 1st battery dies out on the water? Any other recommendations?

Thanks all - you really educated my family and I on what we needed and this boat gives us everything we wanted!!!

[dockholiday]

Might want to add a fire extinguisher

[mikeherb]

The battery switch is about $30, $15 for extra cables and $60-100 for the extra battery. This is not a difficult install if you choose to do it yourself.

My dock lines are 15 footers. Anything longer and they are difficult to manage.

There are several ways to handle bumpers. I added SS loops to my rails and have SS clips on a permanent line attached to my bumpers. I have my bumper hit the rub rails with about 2/3 of the bumper below the rub rail. That way I just clip them on when I need them. I also have two bumpers with about 10' of line attached to them in case I need to put one somewhere other than my loops. I have five bumpers on my boat. Two expensive ones I bought on Overtons and three of the basic white ones I bought at Walmart.

I keep a diluted bottle of LA's Totally Awesome cleaner on the boat to wipe it down from time to time.

First Aid kit is a must. Walmart sells them for $10

I added a fish finder that gives me water temp and depth. I don't fish from my boat but it was a $99 solution that I installed myself. They're not hard to install if you have some basic DIY skills. I powered mine by tapping into an unused aerator switch on my dash. Make certain you use stainless steel on every application you do with your boat.

If you're going to tow anything you need a bridle (12 footer for your toon unless you have a ski tow then it is not needed) and a good tow rope.

Have fun!

[lakerunner]

We raft up and have one 18x30 huge fender to keep separation between boats. we then have smaller flat fenders.
Mooring lines we keep attached to our boat. Ours has 2 U bolts on each side of boat. We keep 1/2 braided lines 6ft long
We keep paper towels, plastic dinner ware, plenty of sunscreens, bug spray.
A small tool kit with screwdrivers, pliers. and sockets to fit most fittings.
A knife, sometimes those knots just won't come loose.
Spare bulbs and fuses. I recommend removing all navigation lights and putting some fluid film or dielectric grease on connections to keep corrosion away.
A boat hook is necessary in my book.

[MrGadget]

Fender Lines: 3/8" braided polyester (for abrasion resistance), long enough to hold fender from where you'll tie/hook it to hang fender to just touch the water. Measure from hook point to water, subtract height of fender, add two feet for tying at each end. From your pictures you'll likely tie it to your top fence rail. You should have at least 4 (two per side) and 6 would be my recommendation.

Mooring Lines: 1/2" braided or twisted nylon (for strength and elasticity). Lengths are subject to where and how you use your boat. If you have a permanent slip, you might want to use twisted line and splice snap hooks or carabiner's into the ends for convenience. You make these to the exact lengths you want and leave them attached to the dock, just snap them on/off the boat when you come in or go out. They are generally made to extend forward of the bow and aft of the stern so the boat is held between them and kept from moving forward or back and loosely held near the dock with the fenders in place. You should have a couple 20' lines on board for use at the marina, rafting up, foreign docks, etc. You do need to be aware that while nylon rope is good for this purpose because it stretches, it is less resistant to UV and abrasion, so check them periodically and/or wrap parts where chaffing may occur. You can get covers that snap around the rope to protect it while still letting it stretch. Taping the rope will either make it less stretchy or won't hold when stretching occurs.

Throw ring should have 50' of 1/2" braided polypropylene (because it floats) so you can pull the swimmer back to the boat.

Anchor line should be 150-200' of 1/2" double-braided nylon with 4' chain. Double-braided line provides superior wet abrasion resistance, high shock absorption, low elongation, and resistance to mildew, marine growth and petroleum products. Which kind of anchor depends on what the bottom is where you boat (mud/rocks/sand). If you plan to anchor in places that might be subject to shifting currents, tides, strong winds or wakes, get a pair of anchors. If you buy an anchor kit, generally the rope is already attached to the chain in some fashion that won't come undone. Otherwise, learn the right way to tie the anchor knot so it won't come loose when you're yanking it around trying to get it free.

Towing line: 60' braided polypropylene line rated to 2X your boat weight and matching bridle. This is for getting pulled (or pulling another boat) out of trouble / back to the marina. Don't count on other boaters to have this one. Can also be used to pull water toys or as an ambilical tether to floats & rafts.

Electronics Package:
- GPS
- Marine VHF Radio w/ GPS link
- Fish Finder / Depth Sounder w/ GPS link
These three items work together for your safety. When you get in trouble on the water, the Distress feature of a GPS-linked VHF radio transmits your location repeatedly and generally brings the world to your rescue. Even on lakes, DNR officials will be at your fingertips for help when you see (or have) a boating accident, get stranded, or need medical assistance. Coastal regions and larger rivers are covered by US Coast Guard. You don't have to have the most lavish/expensive system, but have one. Beyond the safety factors, radios are a good way to contact other boats, the local marina, and they have weather channels. Depth sounder as part of the fish finder is fine, and will help keep you out of too shallow water. GPS link just helps you mark where you found the hot spots for next time. NMEA is a link standard among such devices that lets them share the GPS location data.

Trolling motor is generally mounted to the bow, and when it's stowed, it lays back from the mount on the deck, so that's why the dealer said you need to cut the front gate so it lays under it. Yes, you need the 2nd battery, two extra for a 24V troller, because trollers are heavy load and will drain the batteries. Save your main motor battery so you can get home.

Spare prop and the tools to change it on the water, usually a 2x4 wood block, torque wrench, cotter pins, and nuts and washers. Have the dealer show you how to change it.

Boarding ladder
Day (signal flag) and night (light or flares) distress devices
Fire Extinguisher
First Aid Kit - stop the bleeding and you gain time to get help
Boating Safety Course for the whole family - see your local Coast Guard Auxilliary

[Snider4]

Sweet looking toon, Congrats!

Remember the trolling motor will lay back behind the gate, it is unsightly and will take up some of the floor space between the front seats. I love mine, and have it wired so I can take it off the toon if I want.

Get on the water!

[martys]

Nice Boat.
It might be too late but ask the dealer for a "Coast Guard Package." You will get the following items:
1. anchor and 100' of line
2. life jackets
3. boat hook and paddle
4. Coast Guard Vessel Sticker.

I would invest in some seat covers to keep them clean and out of the sun light.

[FloterBoter]

beer.

[FloterBoter]

skip the second battery and carry one of those jump starter boxes.
i got rid of my second battery and am much happier this way.

[kaptap]

For towing a tube, is a bridle the same as a tow harness? I picked up a 12ft tow harness last night along with a 60t tow rope and it looks like this combination will work. Do I hook up the tow harness to the pontoons or the cleats?

Thanks for all the info as it's been helpful!

[badmoonrising]

Always keep an ample supply of beads onboard

[MrGadget]

Yes, Bridle = tow harness. A couple stout U bolts in the frame each side of the motor or above the pontoons with big washers or a backing plate should be fine. The cleats aren't meant for the stress of towing, nor are the pontoon eyelets. The welded eyelets will stress crack and the smaller screws that hold the cleats on will sheer and when they do under load will become missiles aimed at whoever was pulling on them.