I have been reading through your Ownership log and picked up a few good points, one, when building, or having it built, I will have to put in drain holes between the stringers so that all of the underdeck will drain back to the bilge and be pumped out by the bilge pump.Matt Gent wrote: ↑Wed Nov 16, 2022 7:03 pm I have posted measured weights for the DE25 in my journal thread. I tow it with a Ridgeline rated at 5000. I stick to 65 or less on flat highways, but it's about as much as a fwd based transmission can handle.
The DE is not a "big" 25' boat, remember we are talking 115 or 140hp. For small lake use, my limitation for skiing and such is the visibility from the pilothouse. It loads on and off the trailer easy with forward bunks.
I also have a 16' pontoon that is just fast enough to ski, so I would normally choose that for small rivers or lakes
Did you ever get around to mounting a kicker yet? What hp?
I was thinking last night about A/C, did you get around to adding it, or would fans be good enough?
Some other things I was half dreaming about, adding a heater and fans (Wisconsin here, with a cabin, I could boat until the lakes ice over to be honest) and it can get to 90-100+ here in summer, I would want fans or opening windows on the cabin and pilothouse.
I know you have the cockpit model, and I am looking at the cabin, but do you think it would be possible to add a removable bunk "filler" section? I was thinking a plank made out of plywood supported by 2x6's (or similar) to act as a filler between the bunks, that way the wife and I could sleep together, instead of separately? Roll some eggshell mattress over it and presto, maybe around a queen size bed size bunk?
I would also add a solar panel on top of the cabin, to keep the batteries charged on longer trips.
I've never slept on a boat, but what anchor system do you employ? I saw that you are using the Mantus off the bow (IIRC), the plow as a secondary and a drift sock to reduce the sway. Would I be paranoid to sleep on the boat with two anchors out (one off the bow and stern) with a drift sock? I can't imagine waking up to find I've drifted 20 miles from where I started, and in some cases, drifting would mean I'm laid up on shore or on the rocks.