New Member 2003 262 8.1l GXi From NE Texas

[Driller]

Welcome from Austin. I really like your color scheme.

For the seats I use 3M multi-purpose cleaner and 3M aerospace protector

[Ytmsn]

Jason I enjoyed the sideline conversation! Here are a few additional thoughts.

An inexpensive upgrade you can do right off the bat is to get on Ebay and order 9 stainless steel cupholders. That will update the interior quite a bit. The one in the armrest on the port side can't be changed, the new ones wont fit. I'm still working on a solution for that. I'll let you know what I come up with.

On the seats I've not tried the 303 products yet but I've found that Starbright Mold and Mildew vinyl cleaner along with a magic eraser works really good. Then go back over the cushions with a conditioner. Folks here like 303, Vinyl Sauce and Meguirs.

For your gel coat repair, is the chip in the yellow or white? The color isn't paint, it's in the gel coat. Unless you have matched color and know what your doing I'd probably take it to a fiberglass guy and let him do it. While its there have him buff the entire boat to get any impurities off. Before its Ceramic coated you'll want the surface to be smooth as a babies butt, otherwise anyplace not clean and smooth will stand out once its coated.

When you winterize make sure the RV antifreeze circulates through your heater. You can't just drain the water and let it go. There is an easy way to do it and takes maybe 10 minutes.

The other thing you'll want to do right off is change all fluids and your impeller. Talk to the guy you bought it from and ask when it was changed last. You'll probably be fine for the remainder of the season, then change everything out when you winterize. Unless he says , "Umm, I don't know about the impeller". Then change it immediately. Better to be safe than sorry. It's easy to do and inexpensive. But if it comes apart it's a pain in the rear.

The last thing is your trailer tires. Look at the date code and see how old they are. Anything older that 4 or 5 years and they need to be changed, regardless of how they look. Otherwise they could blow out and tear up your trailer fenders, and maybe the boat hull.

Tuscany changes his every 3 years, but he's weird like that...

[AsLan7]

.
Great post YT.
+1

[jasonm]

Ytmsn,

Thanks for the good info. There is a marine place here in my town that I will talk with about getting the gel coat repaired. The chip is in the yellow, so paint matching would be hard. I do want it done before I ceramic coat it. I was relooking at my conversation with my ceramic guy and he is going to do the whole boat "Everything to the throttle. To the weather stripping around the glass. Yes sir everything on that boat will be Coated." for $4200. That is with a lifetime warranty. I know this guy does a great job. On my car he did clay baring, alcohol cleaning, paint correct, etc before ceramic coating my truck.

I tried locating a manual for the Volvo 8.1 GXi on their website and have been unsuccessful. I wanted to get an idea of the suggested maintenance etc. I planned on having all the fluids and things changed either when it gets winterized or should I do it before starting next year's boat season?

I want to get this boat looking good and keep it running great. I dont really like the idea of swapping stuff around. I have kept my cars for 10+ years and hope to do the same with boat. Growing up my wife and I had boats with our respective families and they were old boats then. My father in law had a mid 1970s Sea Ray that was an amazing boat in 1999. So I am hoping my Cobalt can do 30 years too and then some.

I also wanted to thank everyone on this forum for being so welcoming and willing to pass along all this great knowledge. I want to keep from learning the hard way if possible.

[NautiGirl]

Good maintenance and a little OCD will easily get you to that 30 year old mark... You will want something new(er) before your "need" to upgrade!

[Big Block Power]

Spectrum yellow gel paste will match perfectly.

[jasonm]

Like this https://www.iboats.com/shop/spectrum-co ... quart.html

[Driller]

Ytmsn,


I tried locating a manual for the Volvo 8.1 GXi on their website and have been unsuccessful. I wanted to get an idea of the suggested maintenance etc.

I got one online for my 2011 8.1 GXi. I think I went to the Volvo Penta website and put all my engine info into the system and the manual was one of the options.

If you can't find one PM me and I will float mine over.

[Big Block Power]

Like this https://www.iboats.com/shop/spectrum-co ... quart.html

This.
https://www.iboats.com/shop/spectrum-co ... QyEALw_wcB

[Driller]

Ytmsn,


I tried locating a manual for the Volvo 8.1 GXi on their website and have been unsuccessful. I wanted to get an idea of the suggested maintenance etc.

I got one online for my 2011 8.1 GXi. I think I went to the Volvo Penta website and put all my engine info into the system and the manual was one of the options.

If you can't find one PM me and I will float mine over.

Correction. Mine is a Gi not the more manly GXi, must have been wishful thinking.

[Atl Cobalt]

Good maintenance and a little OCD will easily get you to that 30 year old mark... You will want something new(er) before your "need" to upgrade!

Agreed. I'm with you on keeping it for a long time. My last boat was over 35 years old and I recently sold it to buy my 226 only because I wanted a newer, bigger, badder Cobalt. Welcome to the group. Remember - OCD and maintenance go hand in hand!

[jasonm]

Like this https://www.iboats.com/shop/spectrum-co ... quart.html

This.
https://www.iboats.com/shop/spectrum-co ... QyEALw_wcB

Are you sure? I wanted to double check since the description is for a 7 - 11 year newer Cobalt than my boat. The colors are pretty close. I do like the idea of just a couple oz repair kit. I dont think I need a quart or a gallon

[Ytmsn]

I'd have all the fluids changed when you winterize. That way the acids, sludge and nastiness isn't sitting in your block all winter.

[Big Block Power]

Like this https://www.iboats.com/shop/spectrum-co ... quart.html

This.
https://www.iboats.com/shop/spectrum-co ... QyEALw_wcB

Are you sure? I wanted to double check since the description is for a 7 - 11 year newer Cobalt than my boat. The colors are pretty close. I do like the idea of just a couple oz repair kit. I dont think I need a quart or a gallon

That color matched a much older boat. It's a cheap test and easy to do. Even Yt did it.

Go to there website put in your year and make and see what comes up. But I'm sure this will be close.

[jasonm]

The link I sent was for the correct year but they only have in large quantities.

Here is a closer up of the area.

IMG_5745.jpeg