Hello from GA!!!

I figured this would be a good place for a 1st post for me. First off, I LOVE to fish (like most people here). However, until recently I've always fished from the back of the boat since I always went as the guest.....who didn't have my own bassboat.

That changed recently. My oldest brother GAVE me (free and clear) his 1995 Stratos 285 Pro XL with a Johnson FS 175 out back. Whenever I tell people the boat was given to me, they always expect a POS boat. Believe me when I say.....this boat is in excellent shape. He just spent $1700 on it about a month before he decided to give it to me. I've been out in it twice and it runs great and everything on it works except for the trim gauge.

All that said, I'm no stranger to boats or even operating boats.....but I AM a 1st-time power bassboat owner. So I'll have a lot of questions.

I work for an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler, BUT.....I have a extensive background in automotive service, so a lot of maintenance this boat would require.....I have no doubt I can take care of MOST of it myself. All I need to find is a good service manual for it and I should be good to go.