LionOnABeach
Active Member
Finally pulled the trigger and bought a boat, 2007 Challenger 180 SE. First time jet boat owner, so I thought I’d make a thread to catalog my experiences, upgrades and general knowledge as I go. Feel free to share in my joy, pain and probable stupidity along the way!
Background: grew up with boats, ski, tubing, sail, jet skis, etc. Driven and sailed all types in the Midwest/Great Lakes and rentals in Florida when on vacation. So, maybe not a complete noob to baiting, just never owner my own. Been wanting one for a couple years. Married, 4 kids and decided this year would be the year.
Started looking in earnest in spring, the boom; ‘Rona hits and boats are on the market for a day, then under contract and gone! Literally looked/inquired on dozens of boats. Originally I was looking a Yamaha/SeaDoo jet boats, but after losing some hope, was considering almost anything. I didn’t particularly want to sacrifice what I wanted or pay out the nose so I was resigning myself to “next year” while still checking CL, boats dot com, local dealers and marinas.
Friday, new boat shows up for sale about an hour away for a 2007 Challenger 180 SE. 158 hours, looked well maintained, contacted seller to arrange a meet up to view boat Saturday evening. Things look good enough, work out a price and it’s hitched up to my truck an hour later!
Now, I know I broke a ton of cardinal rules and could very well have (or will have) a lemon. Water test? Nope. Maintenance records, compression test? No but apparently maintained by a local, reputable shop that I couldn’t call to verify on a Saturday night. Did you even start it?! Nope! There were some blemishes, missing seat, a light switch not working, upholstery in good/fair condition, lockers were dry, engine bay was clean and dry, new bilge pump, new shifter cable, trailer in good shape. So, with everything upside down in 2020, said F It and bought it. I even forgot my 8-pin to 4-pin trailer plug adapter so drove it home with no trailer lights!
Next morning found a single tube on CL and picked that up early. Got to Dick’s when it opened and grabbed a couple tow ropes and another tube, a display model, which was the last tube in the store (25% off too!). Hooked up a hose and started her up; it does start! Woot! Loaded up the boat with provisions, life jackets, a hastily thrown together tool kit, gassed it up and headed to the local lake that’s 5 mins away.
Public launch was packed at 11am. Had driven by at 9am after the CL tube pickup and it was empty with only 3 dogs parked. It worked out fine because while waiting in line I took off safety straps, made sure plugs were in, already had everything stowed and had kids put life jackets on. My turn, pulled forward, backed down to just before tires on trailer we’re wet: everybody out, kids and wife on courtesy dock. Back the rest of was in, unhook winch strap, toss lines to wife and oldest, pull out and get one of the last parking spaces. Jump on, push off, it starts again, we’re boating!
take a few laps, got used to controls. Play around in a cove with forward, reverse, low speed, etc.I’m used to prop boats, so this is a bit odd. But learning. Throw out the tubes, pull one and two at a time, 2-4 kids. Anchor, swim, snack, more tubing, more cruising, more anchoring and swimming, etc. let the kids “drive”. Good stuff for ~5 hrs. Launch not terribly busy, letstakeitout.exe
Background: grew up with boats, ski, tubing, sail, jet skis, etc. Driven and sailed all types in the Midwest/Great Lakes and rentals in Florida when on vacation. So, maybe not a complete noob to baiting, just never owner my own. Been wanting one for a couple years. Married, 4 kids and decided this year would be the year.
Started looking in earnest in spring, the boom; ‘Rona hits and boats are on the market for a day, then under contract and gone! Literally looked/inquired on dozens of boats. Originally I was looking a Yamaha/SeaDoo jet boats, but after losing some hope, was considering almost anything. I didn’t particularly want to sacrifice what I wanted or pay out the nose so I was resigning myself to “next year” while still checking CL, boats dot com, local dealers and marinas.
Friday, new boat shows up for sale about an hour away for a 2007 Challenger 180 SE. 158 hours, looked well maintained, contacted seller to arrange a meet up to view boat Saturday evening. Things look good enough, work out a price and it’s hitched up to my truck an hour later!
Now, I know I broke a ton of cardinal rules and could very well have (or will have) a lemon. Water test? Nope. Maintenance records, compression test? No but apparently maintained by a local, reputable shop that I couldn’t call to verify on a Saturday night. Did you even start it?! Nope! There were some blemishes, missing seat, a light switch not working, upholstery in good/fair condition, lockers were dry, engine bay was clean and dry, new bilge pump, new shifter cable, trailer in good shape. So, with everything upside down in 2020, said F It and bought it. I even forgot my 8-pin to 4-pin trailer plug adapter so drove it home with no trailer lights!
Next morning found a single tube on CL and picked that up early. Got to Dick’s when it opened and grabbed a couple tow ropes and another tube, a display model, which was the last tube in the store (25% off too!). Hooked up a hose and started her up; it does start! Woot! Loaded up the boat with provisions, life jackets, a hastily thrown together tool kit, gassed it up and headed to the local lake that’s 5 mins away.
Public launch was packed at 11am. Had driven by at 9am after the CL tube pickup and it was empty with only 3 dogs parked. It worked out fine because while waiting in line I took off safety straps, made sure plugs were in, already had everything stowed and had kids put life jackets on. My turn, pulled forward, backed down to just before tires on trailer we’re wet: everybody out, kids and wife on courtesy dock. Back the rest of was in, unhook winch strap, toss lines to wife and oldest, pull out and get one of the last parking spaces. Jump on, push off, it starts again, we’re boating!
take a few laps, got used to controls. Play around in a cove with forward, reverse, low speed, etc.I’m used to prop boats, so this is a bit odd. But learning. Throw out the tubes, pull one and two at a time, 2-4 kids. Anchor, swim, snack, more tubing, more cruising, more anchoring and swimming, etc. let the kids “drive”. Good stuff for ~5 hrs. Launch not terribly busy, letstakeitout.exe