P-IV is home, maiden voyage report, and a few questions...

Polaris425 · March 28, 2016, 09:35:16 AM

Well, made it home with the new (to me) PIV friday afternoon. Left out about 6 am, drove to Nashville area and picked it up, and got back home around 430-5pm. It was a long day on the road but worth the trip.

First impressions are as expected. The boat is amazing. It rides so smooth, definitely handles different than the sabre. Will take a little getting use to. I had her up to 67mph pretty easy. Water was really choppy and there was a lot of boat traffic so, lot's of waves. Will have to get her out early on a nice smooth morning and see what she can really do.

It fishes well. I really like the MK trolling motor. I think I like it more than the MG the Sabre had. For one, that hydrolic arm on the inside of the frame makes deploying and stoing really easy. There's plenty of room on the front deck even with a handful of rods laid up there.

One really important thing to remember, is to plug the correct hole before launching. On the sabre, if I bent down and looked there was the plug hole, an dI plugged it. On the P-IV however, that hole down under the jackplate, that you can see really easy, is apparently N O T the correct hole to put the plug in........ They will fill up with water rather quickly if you plug that hole... Anyways, We put her back on the trailer and let her drain. And obviously I saw that all the water was running out from a hole farther up under the skeg. SO, after plugging THAT hole (actually I just plugged both those jokers to be safe) everything was good.

Question 1: I had a little trouble figureing out which tank was left and which was right. When I selected each tank on the A10 panel, they appeard to both have about the same (1/4 tank) amount of gas. I assumed since the saddle tank was on the left, it was left, and the tank under the seat would be Right. I don't think this is the case though. I added about 10 or so gallons to the main tank under the seat and then checked the guage again, it was still about the same. So I stuck with thinking that Saddle tank was Left and main tank was Right. After a little running, she started to shut down on me. So we switched the handle in the back over to LEFT and I swittched the gague on the A10 pad over to left, and the needle jumped to 1/2 tank. So Now I'm guessing that the main tank under the seat is "LEFT"

??

Question 2: This boat is equiped with a disconnect switch at the battery. Which I like because even if you turn the master power off at the console, and open a box lid, the lights will somtimes flicker and try to come on. So I've got to get use to cutting that dissconnect on and off every time as well. But in theory, those lights should not come on if the master switch at the console is off correct?

Two things not on this PIV that the sabre had that I will miss: Work lights on the side of the console, and on the gunnel at the front deck. I guess I will have to rig up some LED's for that. The second thing I'll miss will be the digital volt meter on the gunnel in the rear, that displyed the charge on the trolling batteries. Was nice to just be able to check every now and then during a long day of fishing, and make sure they were still holding a good charge. Though, these fancy HDS units may have that information on them, I haven't played around with the info page yet that shows all your diagnostic stuff.

Which brings me to my next goal. Learn how to use these fancy graphs. lol It's equipped with HDS 8 (console) and HDS 7 (bow) graphs, with structure scan, and they are linked. It even has the upgraded external antenae for pinpoint accuracy. I read through the manual (ok so I skimmed through it) but there's still alot to learn about how to use them properly. Lucky for me Lowrance is doing a webinar on these units in a few weeks. And there'a always Youtube....

I REALLY like the blinker trim. And I Think i'll get used to the hot foot pretty quickly.

Precision Sonar did an excellent job when they installed the graphs. I really like the mount at the console, and I'm glad the previous owner let them do the installation.

I'm looking forward to putting in a lot of seat time, and can't wait to get her back out on the water.

With all that being said, here's a link to a few photos. I'll have to get some better ones when the sun is out. That blue REALLY sparkles in the sun.

http://s1163.photobucket.com/user/fordpower0381/library/Pantera%20IV

^^ Pics

Lipripper · March 28, 2016, 10:00:40 AM

Sharp looking boat may you get many years of service from her.

Polaris425 · March 28, 2016, 10:51:43 AM

Quote from: Lipripper on March 28, 2016, 10:00:40 AM
Sharp looking boat may you get many years of service from her.

Thanks Lip!!!

Already found an answer to my gass question.

"...Fuel switches only the gauge from right to left, which is Left for Main and Right for Kicker tanks..."

BassCatBates · April 14, 2016, 11:59:53 AM

Really like that PIV brother!!!! You about to get her figured out?

Mike Cork · April 14, 2016, 01:52:48 PM

Very nice ride

Congrats on getting her home.

I can't help out with the questions though as the answers are going to be specific to the rigging of the boat. Hopefully the other BC owners will help out quickly.