New Member, First Correct Craft

Hello All... I am not new to boating, but I bought my first Correct Craft today. It's a 1975 Southwind 20 with a Pleasure Craft Ford 351 with 582 hours on it, start on the first bump and runs like a top. This is my first inboard, and my first larger boat. I moved from a 15' hydra sports 255z which is just a little bass boat. I never fished, and just used the boat as a pleasure boat. I have kids, and wanted to give them something they could really enjoy so I searched and purchased this boat. I grew up on the water, and around pontoon boats, I know how to handle a boat, but like I said, this is nothing like where my experience lies. I'm sure I will have lots of questions, and from what I can tell this seems like the place to query. First and foremost, does anyone know where I can find a cover that connect to the top of the windshield and back? I see them on these types of boats all over the internet, but can't seem to find anyone who carry's them. all I can find is generic bimini tops.

In closing, I am open to any and all advice or wisdom you all have to offer and look forward to being a part of the Correct Craft community.

-Atom-

Welcome atom. I think there is correct craft called atom skier?
Enjoy. A nice custom fit cover exactly the way you want it would be cool

Yes Sir it does. Though no top came with the boat. I have a full cover that straps to the trailer or under the hull when its out of the water, but I was really just wanting a mooring cover that I could throw on it while docked.

I'd find a local boat shop that can make a cover to fit your existing snaps.

Boat looks great. Docking an inboard is a challenge. The rudder is much smaller than the lower unit on an I/O out outboard. If the prop isn't pushing water over the rudder, it won't steer the boat - so if you need steering you need to be in forward gear. I bump the boat in and out of gear to get it pointed correctly and then I drift in the last foot to the dock.

Congrats on the new boat! You picked a really nice family boat, tons of room, plenty of power, sounds great, can handle big lake chop pretty well. Good luck with it!

There's a few things you might want to do early in ownership, unless you bought it from someone that for sure did them before the sale. First is raw water impeller replacement, very easy to do. If it hasn't been done, or if the boat was run dry at all, the impeller might be in bad shape and if pieces start coming off of it you can cause some problems. Next is an oil change and transmission fluid change. I'd say change out the 2 belts as well. That's about it if you aren't experiencing any problems.

John,
Here's your guide on impeller replacement Jamestown is also a source for a new impeller.

As mentioned, do not run the engine without water. The RWP (raw water pump) impeller in water lubricated and without water they will burn up quickly. I've seen it even at the boat ramp where the engine is started. "we had better see if it starts before we put it in the water" scenario.

Then again I just noticed you are in TX, which means your season might be almost all year. Might want to get it done.

John when you get a chance how about a picture of the motor

Yeah, I sure will.. should be sunny today, I will get a shot when I get her uncovered.

Well nobody on this site has ever messed up docking, had to go hard in reverse to avoid banging into a dock, or been nervous around a public dock!   

I've had good and bad experiences, like all of us. Bad - trying to hold an inboard in a line of boats waiting for dock space. It's doable, people in other boats wonder why I'm going hard to port in forward 1st before backing up, just trying to keep from going sideways. It's a challenge and I've had to just leave the line and re-locate at times, or in wind had to break out the dreaded paddle.. The good is knowing at what rate my boat walks to port in reverse, heading into a crowded dock, docks and boats on both sides of me, and spinning the boat 180 degrees into a space between boats, using the reverse walk to advantage. I've waited for applause but for some reason it never happens.

It sounds like you did a great job for your first outing, some people get how to maneuver these boats right away.

Thanks for the horror stories. Im so glad you mentioned the paddle. I have thought about scenereo in which i may need it to to dock safely and thought if i said it outloud i would be exiled. :)

Southwind 20 closed bow, the only Southwind worth a damn! Nice boat. Get some more pictures up.

Very clean, you found a really nice boat

Looks like you have a ski pylon and mine.... is not so equipped. That fact is making me nervous to think about.

Atomic Dam wrote: Does yours have the PCM 351, or the escort/PCM 351?   Would be nice to know I'm not alone in the oddball engine category.

"oddball"