Marke Cicero
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2001
- Messages
- 2,044
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Hey Everyone,
I picked up my 2001 TV-18 yesterday
) I went to the dealer for 12pm and we went over all the details and paperwork and stuff. Then we went over the boat. I walked out back and there she was. I still can't believe that it's mine.
The dealer walked me thru it and we went over the motor, batteries, console, live well and everything. I finally hitched it to the truck and drove it off the lot, still not believing it's real.
I hurried home and starded rounding up all of my stuff, rods, tackle boxes, life jackets, etc... I made one trip to the boat and went for more stuff and guess what. I locked myself out of my apartment!!!!! I had to go to the office and get spare keys...UGH!!
So now the boat's loaded and I head to the boat ramp (now about 2:30pm, clear blue skies, 75 degress, light breeze, PERFECT). I get the Merrimack river to find out they opened that Damn in Lowell, MA and the river is wicked low. The paved ramp ends with a 12 inch drop and a muddy bank on each side. I put the truck in 4 wheel and was able to angle the trailer so not fall off the drop but not get the truck in the mud at the same time. Unloading was smooth (after I pulled back out and put the plug in).
I hop in and push off and now it hits me like a ton of bricks, "I own a new boat". I just ran around the boat not knowing what to do first "should I fish?" "should I run the big motor?" I decided to break in the big motor. High idle for a little bit, drive for a little bit while varying RPM's, etc....
After a couple hours of breakin I decide to go WOT and see what she's got. I've never driven a boat with power trim and I've got to say that it is SWEET!!!! I don't know the accuracy but my speedo read 45mph and I thought I was hauln'. I can't imagine some of you guys hitting 70-80. She ran sooo smooth, no porpasing or anything. It was awesome.
I called Jill and told her to meet me at the ramp with the boys. I told her where to go and to take a right onto the dirt road after crossing the RR tracks. Well, she decides to take the right onto the 4 wheeler trail before the tracks and ends bombing thru the woods in our brand new Honda Civic. An hour later her and the boys show up at the ramp. The boys get in and all they want to do is fish. I tried to explain the break in period but at 7 and 3 they just wanna fish. So we thru out an anchor. Brandyn fish from the stern platform, Devyn from the floor and I from bow. I was really happy that the TV-18 has plenty of room for all of us. Then all of a sudden Jill decides to break the live well. Yup, she took the open/closed lever which only turns 45 degrees and decided to spin it all the way around while saying "What does this do?". Inside I just snapped, but the boat is for our enjoyment so I took a deep breath and as calm as I could I tried to explain what it was supposed to do that it doesn't do anymore. Then we forgot about and went for a drive back to the ramp (without catching any fish)
I have to say that loading on the river was a little more interesting than unloading. I got the trailer into position. I backed in real far to wet the bunks and then pulled out until the top of the fenders were just out of the water. Because of the current it took me 3 passes to on the trailer. I managed to load it my self in about 10 minutes and only got 1 of my feet wet. I don't think that's to bad for a ROOKIE...
All in all I absolutely love the boat!!!!!!!
A few bugs:
1.) All thow Jill cranked it to far around, I honestly felt that the open/close swith for the live well plug was kind of cheezy.
2.) On the way home, the cup holder blew out of the console and shattered all over the high way.
3.) Not a bug with the boat, but when they rigged the steering, while the motor is in the straight position the steering whell is upside down.
My dealer was really good, he told me that if I found anything wrong on my<
I picked up my 2001 TV-18 yesterday
) I went to the dealer for 12pm and we went over all the details and paperwork and stuff. Then we went over the boat. I walked out back and there she was. I still can't believe that it's mine.The dealer walked me thru it and we went over the motor, batteries, console, live well and everything. I finally hitched it to the truck and drove it off the lot, still not believing it's real.
I hurried home and starded rounding up all of my stuff, rods, tackle boxes, life jackets, etc... I made one trip to the boat and went for more stuff and guess what. I locked myself out of my apartment!!!!! I had to go to the office and get spare keys...UGH!!
So now the boat's loaded and I head to the boat ramp (now about 2:30pm, clear blue skies, 75 degress, light breeze, PERFECT). I get the Merrimack river to find out they opened that Damn in Lowell, MA and the river is wicked low. The paved ramp ends with a 12 inch drop and a muddy bank on each side. I put the truck in 4 wheel and was able to angle the trailer so not fall off the drop but not get the truck in the mud at the same time. Unloading was smooth (after I pulled back out and put the plug in).
I hop in and push off and now it hits me like a ton of bricks, "I own a new boat". I just ran around the boat not knowing what to do first "should I fish?" "should I run the big motor?" I decided to break in the big motor. High idle for a little bit, drive for a little bit while varying RPM's, etc....
After a couple hours of breakin I decide to go WOT and see what she's got. I've never driven a boat with power trim and I've got to say that it is SWEET!!!! I don't know the accuracy but my speedo read 45mph and I thought I was hauln'. I can't imagine some of you guys hitting 70-80. She ran sooo smooth, no porpasing or anything. It was awesome.
I called Jill and told her to meet me at the ramp with the boys. I told her where to go and to take a right onto the dirt road after crossing the RR tracks. Well, she decides to take the right onto the 4 wheeler trail before the tracks and ends bombing thru the woods in our brand new Honda Civic. An hour later her and the boys show up at the ramp. The boys get in and all they want to do is fish. I tried to explain the break in period but at 7 and 3 they just wanna fish. So we thru out an anchor. Brandyn fish from the stern platform, Devyn from the floor and I from bow. I was really happy that the TV-18 has plenty of room for all of us. Then all of a sudden Jill decides to break the live well. Yup, she took the open/closed lever which only turns 45 degrees and decided to spin it all the way around while saying "What does this do?". Inside I just snapped, but the boat is for our enjoyment so I took a deep breath and as calm as I could I tried to explain what it was supposed to do that it doesn't do anymore. Then we forgot about and went for a drive back to the ramp (without catching any fish)
I have to say that loading on the river was a little more interesting than unloading. I got the trailer into position. I backed in real far to wet the bunks and then pulled out until the top of the fenders were just out of the water. Because of the current it took me 3 passes to on the trailer. I managed to load it my self in about 10 minutes and only got 1 of my feet wet. I don't think that's to bad for a ROOKIE...
All in all I absolutely love the boat!!!!!!!
A few bugs:
1.) All thow Jill cranked it to far around, I honestly felt that the open/close swith for the live well plug was kind of cheezy.
2.) On the way home, the cup holder blew out of the console and shattered all over the high way.
3.) Not a bug with the boat, but when they rigged the steering, while the motor is in the straight position the steering whell is upside down.
My dealer was really good, he told me that if I found anything wrong on my<
