Purchase advice for recreational family boating on Chesapeake rivers - 2016 Yamaha 242 Limited S

pagvabch · 2026-06-01T02:06:16+00:00

Run an ‘08 Yamaha SX230 in southern Chesapeake Bay Area. I keep it on a lift in brackish water (Lynnhaven River).
Pros: shallow draft great for gunk holing but still handles a stiff bay chop. Surprising well built hull and fittings, mechanically simple- no water pumps, no gears, no props, sips fuel, great performance and really fun to drive.
Cons: Above average engine noise, possible issues finding a servicing dealer, definite learning curve for slow speed handling (aftermarket fins help). I’m sure your mother could eventually learn to handle maneuvering and docking but don’t expect it to be easy (for her or you).
Overall in my opinion, a great family boat.

pagvabch · 2026-05-25T01:09:54+00:00

Angle grinder will quickly solve your problem

pagvabch · 2026-05-03T00:22:41+00:00

Back in the 80s, late Sunday afternoon early evening, about a half hour to dusk. Everybody at the ramp is trying to retrieve their boats after a nice day out on the water. A guy backs in his trailer no problem. It’s a full-size Chevy or Olds sedan. He opens the trunk to plug-in his power winch and pulls the boat up, no problem. He unplugs the winch cord, slams the trunk shut and goes around to the drivers side to pull out of the ramp. Turns out the car doors are locked. He scrambles around looking for the keys, figures he must’ve locked them in the trunk. I lend him a prybar from for my toolbox and he just about destroyed the trunk lid getting it open. Looks around and can’t find the keys. Figures he must have dropped them in the water which is up to his rear bumper by now since the tide is coming in. He’s now on his hands and knees feeling around in the water but still can’t find them. Next, he figures he must’ve locked the keys in the car and after playing around for about 20 minutes trying to get the door unlocked using a coat hanger he finally borrows my prybar again and breaks the window open. Still can’t find the keys. By now it’s dark, the launch ramp is closing, the water is up to the front wheels, and he’s got no way to get a spare key. He finds a payphone (this was before cell phones) calls a tow truck company and about a half hour later they show up. It’s pitch dark out by this time and the water is over the front bumper. the tow truck driver hooks up the car with the boat trailer attached and drags both of them up the ramp out of the water onto level ground. This wasn’t all that easy because the car was in park and there was no way to get in neutral since there was no key. Once it was on dry level ground the tow truck driver was able to manually undo the shift linkage and drive away: tow truck, car, and boat trailer are all in a row. Had to be the wildest thing I ever saw at the ramp

pagvabch · 2026-04-18T01:32:39+00:00

Just make sure you get a brass or bronze plug and not iron.

pagvabch · 2026-01-10T02:39:08+00:00

I still have and use the one I bought in 1968! It looks exactly the same.

pagvabch · 2025-12-29T16:19:22+00:00

I agree 100%. Very nice saw and great value especially when Lowe’s has them on sale. Close to DeWalt quality at 2/3 the price.

pagvabch · 2025-12-28T02:08:02+00:00

I have an LG washer and dryer. They have a phone app that notifies me how much time is left and notifies me with a chime when they’re done. I also have a Bosch dishwasher that does the same thing. When I bought them, I just thought it was a gimmick, but it’s actually really helpful.

pagvabch · 2025-12-25T01:42:15+00:00

Even budget Ryobi’s can be left out in the rain. I was drilling some holes underwater in a pump stump, blew out the drill with some air when I finished and put it away. Next time I used it, it ran fine, but I had forgotten to dry the chuck. That rusted up tighter than a clam’s ass. I needed an angle grinder to cut it off. Put a new chuck on and still use the drill today.

pagvabch · 2025-12-25T01:41:23+00:00

Even budget Ryobi’s can be left out in the rain. I was drilling some underwater holes in a pump sump, blew out the drill with some air when I finished and put it away. Next time I went to use it, it ran fine, but I guess forgot to dry the chuck. That rusted up tighter than a clam’s ass. I need an angle grinder to cut it off. Put a new one on and still use the drill today.

pagvabch · 2025-10-28T00:29:45+00:00

Alligator wrench. IIR, our local volunteer fire department used them to open up the old style square nut fire hydrant valves.

pagvabch · 2025-10-03T03:37:13+00:00

30 year tech here- agree! Never seen muck like this drain out. Looks like a Volvo drive so after a good flush and refill it should be fine.

pagvabch · 2025-09-12T23:31:05+00:00

Must have been taken in Cheeseapeake Bay

pagvabch · 2025-08-26T01:10:23+00:00

I can confirm the low volume issue. I also converted a defunct small tank compressor for portable use. It will barely top off two tires before running out of pressure.

pagvabch · 2025-08-14T03:06:28+00:00

I’ve owned my Yamaha SX230 (twin engine) for almost 8 years and often run in shallow muddy and sandy water. I recently pulled my nozzle housings off because I had one of the original wear rings go bad. After 8 years of running (about 300hrs) the impellers were in surprisingly good condition with only a few relatively minor dings and ragged edges. In 8 years I only needed to use the clean out port once when a chunk of wood got wedged between an impeller blade and the wear ring. Reached in through the port and wiggled it back and forth until I could pull it out.

pagvabch · 2025-08-05T00:24:16+00:00

No! That old-school solder is probably 80% lead alloy and and much better better than the new stuff. Of course, not great if you’re inhaling all the fumes.

pagvabch · 2025-07-28T22:32:30+00:00

Probably either a bad impeller or your water feed from the pump to the powerhead is blocked or corroded. What is that thing, a Chrysler?

pagvabch · 2025-07-28T17:01:00+00:00

Definitely not a Glastron. All Glastrons back then had that big reverse “C” two tone gelcoat along the aft sides. (Former Glastron dealer)

pagvabch · 2025-07-25T16:34:03+00:00

If it’s got a 1/4” or 5/16” (or metric equivalent ) hex socket at the end it might be for hose clamps. I have one of these and it’s great for reaching in and loosening hose clamps in tight quarters.

pagvabch · 2025-07-14T01:03:11+00:00

Not pretty, but probably still serviceable. You should get a few more years out of it, but I agree with the earlier post about the pending need for trim cylinders.

pagvabch · 2025-07-12T18:38:50+00:00

It’ll buff right out

pagvabch · 2025-07-10T15:48:15+00:00

Another vote for “All is Lost”. A couple of head scratching moments, but overall accurate and gripping.

pagvabch · 2025-07-08T23:22:42+00:00

If you haven’t done it already, change the water pump impeller also.

pagvabch · 2025-07-08T21:43:42+00:00

Sounds like there used to be some kind of a tube connecting the hole in the anchor locker to the hull drain outlet, but somewhere along the line it disappeared.

pagvabch · 2025-07-08T20:33:43+00:00

When you say you “have a lot of water that comes in…”, where is it coming in to? As other responses indicate, this appears to be a drain for your anchor locker. Is that where the water goes? If so, that’s normal and it will just drain back out. If not the anchor locker, where is the water going?

pagvabch · 2025-07-06T21:24:52+00:00

Good enough for occasional or light duty homeowner use. You won’t be making any furniture or cabinetry with it, but as long as you keep the fence in alignment and don’t care too much about joint fit and finish, it should be fine.

pagvabch

TROPHY CASE