First Run of 2011 - FINALLY! Pics

[bergermaister]

Last year my first outing was June 26, 2011. Same this year! It was a beautiful sunny morning, had just finished up the ballast project but wasn't dewinterized yet. It was starting to get a little overcast so I told the kids - "we can clean up the boat and make it all nice or we can go out for a test run."

"TEST RUN DAD!!!!"

So did the DIY Dewinterize in the driveway, hooked up the fake-a-lake and fired right up. All looked good so we packed up headed for the launch. The river has dropped 4-5 ft so it's getting better here. Water temp was about 60.6 a few feet down. 62 right on the surface.

The water is still high though! This is the first time I've parallel parked on a beach instead of a dock. Prop and rudder weren't touching at all.







There were still a few small pieces of debris floating downstream we had to watch out for...


Everything worked great - couple issues with the ballast wiring and a few drips I posted about already. But all in all a good first run of the year. Ready to go again now!

[bergermaister]

So happy to be out on the water. It's actually starting to feel like summer around here. If you look closely that's Mount Hood in the background. Easier to see when the sun's shining.





Warming up the water...

[bergermaister]

This guy and his gal pulled up to load the same time as I did.





Check out what he's pulling that monster with!



I had to ask him about it. Twin blown big blocks, boat weighs over 10,000lbs and about 1,000lbs tongue weight but the truck hardly squats.



Yes, that's a Dakota with the little 318 and 182k miles on it. He said he's only going about 15 miles up the road and goes pretty slow. And YES he already knows it's not a good idea... But it works for short trips.

[rdlangston13]

i dont understand how he can afford a boat like that but cant afford a proper tow vehicle. you need a 3/4 or 1 ton truck for that boat easy.

and 60.6 degrees??? are you crazy?????!!!!???!!!!

[sandm]

welcome to the rest of the world rd...
not all of us are lucky enough to have 80deg water almost year round

lake here is at 57. prob won't hit 60 until mid july..

[bergermaister]

and 60.6 degrees??? are you crazy?????!!!!???!!!!

Anything less than that and I'll need a wetsuit. Come on up and go boating early in our season - we'll make a man outta ya!

I was actually surprised it was that uh, warm already.

[rdlangston13]

welcome to the rest of the world rd...
not all of us are lucky enough to have 80deg water almost year round

lake here is at 57. prob won't hit 60 until mid july..

in march we went out for the first time this year and the lake was about 67-68 and i just about froze my ass off.

[skylar18]

welcome to the rest of the world rd...
not all of us are lucky enough to have 80deg water almost year round

lake here is at 57. prob won't hit 60 until mid july..

Water is 85 here today. Kids are so spoiled they complain if it is not over 75!

Great looking boat Bergermaister

[newty]

Berg... whatcha doing in this pic?

Checking the water temperature I'm sure!
Or maybe relieving the pressure on the inner wall of your bladder.
You may be suffering from TMBL... Too Many Bud Lights

[quote=bergermaister;146150]

quote]

[bergermaister]

Doin my part to warm up the water...

Checkin how deep it is...

Yes, curing my TMBL symptoms

Oh, and showing my son that you don't have to stand on the swim platform and hose down the side of the boat!