05' 210 purchase

[combatcatcher]

Getting ready to take a sea trial on a 05' 210 on thursday. If we like the ride we are going to buy it. A couple of questions though first. Are there any mods we should have the dealer make before we finance it. Its got the fishing package, swim board leaning posts and swivels, but I am wondering if any of you 210 owners wish you would have had the dealer install anything else ie... more rod holders( was thinking on the transom) or tackle storage, or are there cheap fixes you all would do on youre own, let the ideas fly please because I would rather do it now then have to do it later. Also do the 05' 210's have the same problems with the plumbing that Im reading about on here. Thanks in advance, Im hoping the seatrial goes well because this seems like the boat for me and my father to fish the chesapeake bay in.

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

you're fine. plumbing problems on my posts were for all models that have 85 gal. fuel tanks.
GGC

[Old man]

He is right, this is a good time for other owners with (at least in their mind) good points, suggestions on what to add at the dealers (where it will be warranteed) vice add on later. Let's see what we can do to help. How about a couple of additional rod holders up front on the railing to add to trolling capability? Additional lighting on the console if you plan on doing some night fishing etc. Jump in anytime folks.

[Fishin' DC's]

Have them do the splashwell mod and put in clear inspection plates. I have an 04 and mine had 3-4 gals. of water in them after a year of on/off use. See if they'll throw in a transom saver for the motor if you're intending on trailering. i second the extra rod holders.

[Codfish]

If I were looking for dealer installs, to save me time and maintain warranty I would opt to have them do the tough things like the GPS, Sonar, VHF, radar etc. Those are the things that seem to be toughest. I like the idea of having the transom well inspection plates done. That should be a factory standard by now as well as the inner hull drain. The rod holders are just clamp on so I would do those simple type things myself.

The thing to remember is, dealers only do work as good as their worst employee. If you want everything done to your standards, better do it yourself. If your dealer is good, then you are one of the lucky ones. I always make sure to use more than enough Rule, install guys may not be so careful or concerned.

A lot of us enjoy doing the mods because it allows us a better understanding of our boats. None of these mods should keep you from using the boat either. Just do them as you have time and enjoy that you have made the right decision in boat choice.

codfish

[ksr5]

I think you will like the boat i am in the delaware bay and it is a great boat. I am not sure if they fixed the rod holder drains on the new 210's but that was a big deal for me. I agree about doing the transom plate access panels the water in there is a pain thats the next thing on my list and if you can get the dealer to do it thats great.

Good luck

[rivercat]

Combatcatcher,
I fish the chesapeake as well and bought my 04 with t-top and curtins for early spring and late fall rockfishing. I also had trim tabs installed to smooth out those two to three foot rollers that the bay is famous for. Where do you fish out of? Good luck I know you will love these boats. Rivercat

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

1)the 1 thing i would ask the dealer to do as an extra if you don't want to do it yourself later is have him pull out one of the rod holders and see what style the factory is currently using.
the reason i bring this up is my 01 that i bought in '04 had the style with a hole in the bottom that would drain water to the deck if not recessed as ours are. the hole was simply wrapped with tape and installed that way. well tape and water don't mix. i never had water in my holders like everyone else complains about because my water was draining into the foam. i pulled them out and screwed a barbed fitting into the hole and drilled the foam enough to get down to the rod storage tube and ran a piece of tubing out beside the rod tube.
the fix was no big deal for me but i would have the dealer pull one just to see and that way he can rule it back before reinstalling the holder. $12.00 rule is best used by the dealer than you doing this after you get home.
you really can't look inside with a flashlight cause even tape is sealed when new.
dealer may know for sure what type holder is installed ,but if he doesnt i'd have him pull one.
2) if the bilge pump is a rule 1100 with intregral float ,open the floor box and lift it out and turn it upside down with switch in auto to make sure it comes on. there have been wiring issues with bilge pumps over the years. hopefully the q/c has gotten better but you never know. i have 3 different color wires between the switch and the pump!!!
3) go look at a 190 baitwell and you will see a 1-1/2 pipe with a 90degree bend that plugs into the bottom of the live well this is the 190 overflow tube and you will be well served if he could put a straight piece from the bottom of your livewell drain up to the level as the overflow in the well. reason being is the factory overflow can't handle all the water the pump can provide and this extra pipe will help keep the water from overflowing the well and onto the deck. most guys just close the ball valve more but then you starve the water needed to get up to the washdown pump if you have one as an option on the boat
these are what i would do if i were buying a new boat. also while on the water openl the bilge access cover and see if and water is accumilating in the bilge. there are 3 or 4 thru hull fittings there that don't need to be leaking.
lastly , you are going to absolutley love this boat for ride and dryness. later you will come to love to tweek her as all the rest of us have as well.
enjoy and bring a ball bat on board so you can offer 5 hits at your boat for your 1 hit at a fiberglass one when the ribbing starts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert

[combatcatcher]

Rivercat,
Mostly we'll be fishing out of the naval base in the middle bay area. May make some trips to Cape Charles or Delaware Bay but mostly the middle Chesapeake. How about you? Does the side enclosure really help with wind and rain? How do you store youre tackle on the boat? Seems like the only problem with the layout on this boat? We have a seatrial thursday so hopefully its nasty out so we can see how this new hull technology really works. Any other ideas guys were getting close to crunch time. Also, what size electronics do you guys use, seems like the box is recessesd a little to far? Any ideas? thanks again.

[rivercat]

the enclosures are great. I had been fishing out of the rappahannock river down to the bridge tunnel until this last fall. We bought a house on the potomic river and will be fishing near smith point light and on the southwest middle grounds. I have been storing most of my tackle in the cooler in front of the center console, still trying to figure a better way to store tackle.