Newbie questions

External Since: Jun 16, 2004 Posts: 2

Hello all,

I am the proud owner of the new Glastron MX175. I have been using it
quite a lot since I picked it up in May. I love this boat it covers
all my boating needs (for now, before footitis hits). I had the chance
to take it to the different waters including the Lake Ontario with the
5ft chop to the very small and calm Muskoka lakes.

Here are some of the questions that I had on my mind as the newbie
boater.
1. Is it recommended to have VHF, GPS, Depth/Fish finder and suggested
kind for the 17ft boat?

2. I already put a few scratches (mostly occurred during trailering),
do I fix them as soon as possible given that the scratches are not
deep or should I wait the end of season.

Thank you

External Since: May 21, 2004 Posts: 22

Re VHF etc, that really depends on what water you will run on and your uses
for the boat. For VHF, if you will always be close to shore and mostly
smaller lakes, not a major item, you're not running an overnighter nor will
you likely run any great distances in one. A hand held could be a good
choice, moves with you if you change boats etc. For GPS, similar
circumstances to above, but they are great for fishing too. Again, a
handheld because in this case it serves for hiking, in your car etc etc and
they are not that expensive any more.

Depth finder, again, somewhat lake and past time related. They generally
won't save your lower unit when running at speed, by the time it sounds off,
your prop usually has too. My last boat had a simple digital in dash style
at that was fine for what I did on Lake Huron, prior to that I did a lot of
salmon fishing and used a very high end graph style. If you boat the same
lake all the time and don't fish, skip it, if you do a lot of new water all
the time, at least a depth gauge is good to have.

For the scratches, if they are still within the gel coat and especially
above water, then not too worry. If through the gel or below water, then at
the very least put a really heavy coat of wax on then. Shallow scrapes can
be rubbed out later, deeper ones need to be filled. If you did seal them
temp with wax, remember to use a wax remover before you fill them!

For your other question in a second post. Don't know that boat but I assume
it isn't cuddy style. If that is the case, I would suggest either a marine
CD or a cover and use a decent auto head unit. Generally you will get a
much better sounding unit for the $ going auto, but it must be protected
somehow. As for speakers, marine or very very protected. Also, if you
really like your tunes, you will find that the bass levels in an open boat
are way below what you would expect from your car, if possible, go 6X9 and
not the smaller round speakers, they all sound somewhat tinny in a boat.

Greg Moore

"D_Sailor" <dhelc DeleteThis @dstoutput.ca> wrote in message
news:85b815ee.0406160914.55bef42f@posting.google.com...
> Hello all,
>
> I am the proud owner of the new Glastron MX175. I have been using it
> quite a lot since I picked it up in May. I love this boat it covers
> all my boating needs (for now, before footitis hits). I had the chance
> to take it to the different waters including the Lake Ontario with the
> 5ft chop to the very small and calm Muskoka lakes.
>
> Here are some of the questions that I had on my mind as the newbie
> boater.
> 1. Is it recommended to have VHF, GPS, Depth/Fish finder and suggested
> kind for the 17ft boat?
>
> 2. I already put a few scratches (mostly occurred during trailering),
> do I fix them as soon as possible given that the scratches are not
> deep or should I wait the end of season.
>
>
> Thank you