Just purchased 250 explorer

[hooker67]

Hi

This is my first post as I just purchased a 250 explorer 2003. I am down in Australia. This is the link to it advertised but I got it a fair bit cheaper than advertised and will be putting a 300 verado as soon as I sell my other boat.
Can't wait to take it out and up it through it paces 

http://yachthub.com/list/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/aquasport-250-explorer/152517

[RickK]

Welcome hooker 
You'll like the 250 - she's an excellent platform for fishing, for sure.  The explorers are bow heavy (I have a 230 Explorer) due to the cabin so she can get a little wet in certain seas.  You'll learn how to trim her and adjust the speed to keep the bow up.  You have the eisenglass wrap so you can stay dry.  I usually install my helm wrap if there is any wind and seas at all, just to be safe.  I roll them up until needed.
A pretty boat    It never ceases to amaze me where Aquasports pop up.  We have a couple Aussie members here.

Again, welcome aboard.

[larsli68]

Nice boat!
Looks like it is in really nice shape too.
Welcome aboard!

//Lars from Sweden

[Capt. Bob]

Welcome aboard Hooker.

I think you will like the ride.

Post up some pics of the deck and cabin.

[hooker67]

Thanks everyone for the welcome. I have not taken it for a test drive yet as I need to do so hard negotiation to get it at the price I did so that is my only concern but from what I have read it should be fine.
I have been fishing out of a 21 foot centre console for about 8 years and really love the boat but it time to go bigger for the extended trips as the 2 and 3 day trips with three blokes in a small centre console is a bit hard.
Will try and work out how to add photos and up load them.
If all go well I should be picking the boat up in three days,
This is some photos of the Hooker my old boat and a few fish we catch down under

Any suggestion with the repower as I am think 300hp and a Verado

[hooker67]

All fish photos were from last weekend a 3 day trip out to the southern end of the grate barrier reef

[RickK]

Some nice fish   

[hooker67]

Thanks Rick I hopefully get it home this week and start cleaning it up. I have searched but cant find any info on repowering to a 300hp. do you know much about it ???
What would the weight be on a big aluminium trailer ??? my calculations it will be under 3500kg with out fuel

Thanks

[RickK]

We have a ton of info in the gallery (you have a free photo gallery there that you can upload images to). Here is info from the 2003 catalog.
http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12019&title=03catpg11-250exp&cat=750

[john250x]

Welcome Hooker67,

I just bought a 250 Explorer after fishing a 20' CC for 9 years. I only had it out once. The roughest water we saw was sharp 1 to 2 foot seas with whitecaps. Boat trimmed nice and was a good ride cruising at 20 - 25 kts.

The ride back was not so fun. One of the motors would not go in gear, so we limped home with on a single. 

[hooker67]

Thanks John 250x

Any photos of your boat would like to see the set up of the twins.

 I Went to pick up the boat last week but the mariner had put it back on the rack and there was no one there to lift it back in the water to put on the trailer . So I could pick it up but it was properly lucky as all the bearing in the trailer were stuffed and the brakes were non-existent on the trailer. The trailer has not been used since he imported from the US and needs a lot of work to comply over here so I am trying to get it all sorted so I can bring the boat home.
Can wait to get it home as I want to strip back and give a good clean up as it hasn't been looked after like it should have been ,sell the old motor and get the new motor and electronics installed.

[john250x]

Hi Hooker67,

   Here is the only picture I have so far, you can see the Brothers Johnson hanging on the back. (You have to be old to get that bad pun)



   Hope you sort out your trailer problems soon. I think my boat will finally be ready this weekend.

[hooker67]

Looks the goods mate. Should have the trailer sorted in a few weeks as I dropped it off yesterday. it was a few more $$$$ than I expected but it should be like new when finished and fully compliant.
are you keeping the Jonson's ??? I bet you brother wants too  lol

[john250x]

Errr, this is the Brothers Johnson I meant  :

I will keep the motors. The power-heads run great and compression was good. The lower units were not so good, replaced one and will have the other checked thoroughly next year.

I was impressed with the hull. We were out in 20+ knot winds and 3-5 foot seas and it rode pretty well. 

[hooker67]

It good to hear it went well.
Just got mine home and started striping it down for the big clean up and get back looking like new. Starting at the top and working down. Only had the one day off this week so spent it reproving the hard top so it can have all the old holes repaired and make it easier to Polish the aluminium.  Got some big plans to have her looking mint by Xmas.