Skiffer Wannabe

[Shakespeare]

Howdy folks,

This is Mike C. from Winston-Salem. Words can't express how lucky I feel to have stumbled upon this group. I'm heading to the CS dealer tomorrow to put the eyeballs on a DLV218. I've spent most of the morning reading each and every post in the DLV forum and a couple of others. You guys have taught me what and what not to do when it comes to looking at the dealer for options and accessories. It is a pleasure to read first hand accounts of what can be expected in the performance and operation of a CS vs. the standard reply of "Be prepared to get wet and have your bones shook loose", that you find in a random internet searches. Hopefully if all goes well I can become a skiff owner and valid member of the group.

Thanks again for a wonderful web site! 013

Mike C.

[Harry]

We're glad you found us too !!!

Good luck with your purchasing experience and future skiff.

PS,
How did you find us?

[Shakespeare]

PS,
How did you find us?


Well??? It was in a very round-a-bout way. I was Googling for ' "Carolina Skiff" AND DLV ' and came up with this posting (I hope you don't mind the mention of other forums);

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=94280&start=1
The last response (#1626034) on that thread mentioned this site.

I just noticed a few minutes ago your posting at the CS web site... so I *may* have eventually found you.

For anyone hurting for entertainment, this whole business of filtering down a potential purchasing decision originated here in this thread http://www.ncangler.com/forums/f59/carolina-skiff-opinions-4814.html. I was the OP there. Whew! It's been a long day of skiff window shopping.

Mike C.

[Harry]

That's why I posted at THT. To get our site out there.... ;D I put our URL in my signature to any site that will allow it.

You all can do the same, and help us spread the word about our site here.... 010

[Willie]

Shakespeare, welcome aboard, sounds like you have been doing your homework. Now the only thing to do is search one out that you want. If your handy with a few basic power tools you can do a lot of the add ons yourself and save a $ or 2. Harry and some others have done so much with there boats it is wild. Check out the trick your skiff section here and you will see what I mean. also remember that different dealers put together different packages. Don't underpower your skiff, but you also don't have to buy everything in sight. Happy hunting and let us know what you get. Willie 010

[Shakespeare]

Thanks Willie! Already consumed the 'Trick your SKiff' section. Man!!! Some really nice work going on there.

Well here goes my gloat. I had a business meeting in Sanford, NC yesterday and when that broke up around 10:30 I headed straight for Chatlees. I went immediately for the DLV218 and looked it over pretty hard then to the DLV238. I REALLY wanted that 238 but the cost difference was more than I could bear. Everyone has their limitations, right? Unless me and Mr. Lottery get together there's only so much I can do. So I settled on the 218. It's an '08 model with a 42 gallon tank and XL console. I bumped the motor from a 90 to a 115 Suzuki. It's sitting on an aluminum Wesco trailer and I got a spare wheel put in the deal. I was pretty impressed with their deluxe custom T-Top with removeable curtains so I went ahead with that. In the heat of the moment I told them to put in a Lowrance 520C with the blue water card. I'm having second thoughts about that and seriously thinking about calling the sales guy back this morning and tell him to back that out and upgrade the trailer to a tandem axle instead. Let's see... oh yeah, had a swim ladder put on also. I'm going to have to wait on some other things like side rails, more electronics, and whatnot. I pick her up next Friday (10/5/07) and *was* going to head straight to Atlantic Beach/Morehead but they're having their annual seafood festival that weekend and I'm told the place will be crawling with people and boats, so I may opt for quieter shores to try out my new DLV.

[Shakespeare]

PS: Guys... I have until Monday morning to make any changes to the configuration. I'm up for suggestions if anyone has them. Thanks!

[Harry]

Sounds like you put together a winner !!! Good luck with it.

I am sorry I didn't now go with the 218 DLV instead of the 198, and to think I almost went with the 178 001 what was I thinking ;D

Anyway, If your handy with tools, doing mods & upgrades is pretty easy and you'll save enough $$ instead of having the dealer install them that you might consider the double axle instead ??

As you know from viewing the "trick your skiff" section a lot of guys do these add-on's and are more than willing to share their knowledge and provide input. That's what make this site so great and to tell you the truth, doing them and setting up the boat was fun and rewarding.

Congratulations and I know your pumped. Kind of like when we we're kids the week before Christmas 010

[o2bfishn]

Shakespeare,


My $.02 but I would up grade to the tandem axle trailer. Pulling that distance (4 to 5 hrs.) with a tandem would be alot easyer on you and your vehicle. The 21dlv is border line weight wise for a single axle and you know the stuff you load up for a trip to the coast? Single axle is ok for short trips but not so good for the long haul at highway speeds. Tandem is safer too in case of a tire blowout and has less sway around large trucks or cross winds.

I have custom side rails on my 238dlv, 6" tall 1 5/16" dia. they hold rod holders great. Also had the factory move the center console forward 10", gave me all kinds of room in the stern. I have made lots of other modifiactions over the last 6 months or so. I can't post pic yet but I live in Pilot Mt. 1/2 hr. from W-S. If you would like to see some neat modifications I've made PM me and I'll give you my addrest so you can come up and see for them for yourself. Your more than welcome to come and take a look. 012



o2bfishn

[Shakespeare]

o2bfishn,

Thanks for the input. I called the dealer this morning and told him to deep 6 the Lowrance and fix me up with the tandem axle trailer. What I was told was... it'll be $1,000 adder, it will delay the boat delivery, he's never ever had a complaint on the single axle, the boat is too light for this to be a concern, yadi yadi yadi. I requested that he do what he can on getting the schedule expedited and let me know Monday morning. I can put off taking delivery next Friday but I gotta have it the following weekend as I've committed myself to motel reservations and taking some buddies fishing. I *may* have to make a concession if this guy can't come through for me. He's got a 23 sitting out there in the parking lot on a tandem trailer... not sure if my boat will fit on it, but I'll hit him up with that idea on Monday. Stay tuned for more drama.

Yeah, Pilot Mt. is spitting distance from me and I'd love to check out your boat. I'll send you a pm and maybe we can hook up sometime next week. Thanks!

[Shakespeare]

009 I heard from the dealer this morning and my prayers have been answered. 008 He's going to come through with the tandem axle trailer and I still get my boat on Friday. I'll be pulling out from the dealership straight to Bogue Sound for her maiden voyage. Yes!!! I am stoked! 010

[fission]

Congrats! My DLV wont be ready for another week or 2, so please post how things went so I can pretend I am you!

[Shakespeare]

fission, you must be going through that CS dealer in Morrisville??? I didn't even look those guys up 'cause I had a gut feeling they dealt mostly in recreational boats. I dunno... any fishing going on down there at Norman?