New R-27 Owner Seeking Tutorial / Resources

ianmikerob

New member
Joined
Jan 4, 2026
Messages
4
Location
Whidbey Island, Washington
Fluid Motion Model
R-27 (Outboard)
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2781E222
Vessel Name
Bertha
I recently purchased a used R-27. I've been a boater all my life, but this tug is a big step in terms of having a head, diesel heater, water, complex electrical etc. I see that Ranger Tugs offers user guide videos for the R-29 and R-31: Here is one video for the R-29:
Is there something comparable to this for the R-27? I have a Yamaha 300 HP outboard. Any other resources for new owners you are willing to share?

Appreciate any pointers. Excited to join this community of boaters.
 
I was in the same shoes you are when I bought my 2019 R-29 in 2022. So many systems! First, a bunch of the systems in that video may be the same for your boat. Hopefully, they are. Second, if you can hook up with a captain who does R-27 specific training, it'll be worth the time and money.

I'll tell you what I don't recommend: getting training from someone that does not know your boat. I got all kinds of misinformation from the guy I hired. But a week later, when I was able to touch base with another R-29 owner on his boat I had a lot of questions answered. Since then, I've prepared my own user's guide that goes above and beyond what the factory offers and helps guide the folks who charter my boat.

Best of luck to you and, above all, enjoy your boat!
 
I recently purchased a used R-27. I've been a boater all my life, but this tug is a big step in terms of having a head, diesel heater, water, complex electrical etc. I see that Ranger Tugs offers user guide videos for the R-29 and R-31: Here is one video for the R-29:
Is there something comparable to this for the R-27? I have a Yamaha 300 HP outboard. Any other resources for new owners you are willing to share?

Appreciate any pointers. Excited to join this community of boaters.

If you send me an email, I can send you the manual for the R27. channelsurfing at nethkin dot net.

Also, be sure to check out our website and YouTube channel.
 
I recently purchased a used R-27. I've been a boater all my life, but this tug is a big step in terms of having a head, diesel heater, water, complex electrical etc. I see that Ranger Tugs offers user guide videos for the R-29 and R-31: Here is one video for the R-29: there something comparable to this for the R-27? I have a Yamaha 300 HP outboard. Any other resources for new owners you are willing to share?

Appreciate any pointers. Excited to join this community of boaters.

I've created and published some YouTube videos that covers things like how to start the stove, how to reset the GFCI breaker on the inverter, and other topics specific to the R27. They're published on our Patreon site.

Other resources that I have available:
Website

YouTube
 
I was in the same shoes you are when I bought my 2019 R-29 in 2022. So many systems! First, a bunch of the systems in that video may be the same for your boat. Hopefully, they are. Second, if you can hook up with a captain who does R-27 specific training, it'll be worth the time and money.

I'll tell you what I don't recommend: getting training from someone that does not know your boat. I got all kinds of misinformation from the guy I hired. But a week later, when I was able to touch base with another R-29 owner on his boat I had a lot of questions answered. Since then, I've prepared my own user's guide that goes above and beyond what the factory offers and helps guide the folks who charter my boat.

Best of luck to you and, above all, enjoy your boat!
Thanks for responding! Are you willing to share your user guide?

Good advice on finding a captain.
 
The user manuals for the boats are all supposed to be linked at https://www.rangertugs.com/ownership-experience/customer-care for the current boats. The current manual for the R-27 is at https://www.manula.com/manuals/fluidmotion/ranger-tugs-r27/1/en/topic/congratulations (the link is broken on the website).

If you have an older outboard R-27 the specs are at https://www.rangertugs.com/past-models/r-27-nwle. I don’t see links for older manuals, but they may be available on the same site as the new ones.

@Submariner’s videos are really good if you’re trying to learn about an outboard R-27. You’ll find a lot there to help you.
 
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I've created and published some YouTube videos that covers things like how to start the stove, how to reset the GFCI breaker on the inverter, and other topics specific to the R27. They're published on our Patreon site.

Other resources that I have available:
Website

YouTube
This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Will be signing up for Patreon soon.
 
Congratulations! Prior responses are super. Martin’s Channel Surfing’s videos are really helpful! While “Mlanger” has an R29, her videos on YouTube are also helpful.

We have a 2023 R27 OB with a 300 on her tail. If you want to chat about how we operate our R27, email me at serendipity.r27ob@gmail.com.
 
Thanks for responding! Are you willing to share your user guide?

Good advice on finding a captain.
Well, my "Owner's Notes" was inadvertently shared here by someone else who I shared it with. It wasn't ready for prime time so I asked him to remove it. (I'm assuming that he did.) You can download its current incarnation from the San Juan Yachting website. Go to the page with the power fleet, scroll all the way down to the bottom until you see my boat, click it, and there should be a link there to download the Owners Notes. This is a constantly evolving document; I suspect I'll be making changes within the next week or so. Understand that I wrote it primarily for its participation in a charter program, so there are a lot of things in there that may not might not apply. But if you have an older, inboard motor R–27, I think it might be very helpful.

The guide did get a lot of very positive feedback; I really think something like it is needed for every model of Ranger Tug. The manual that Fluid Motions publishes for boat owners has good, valuable information but it's only a skeleton of what's needed. I encourage every boat owner to create their own version of a user guide. The first one I ever saw was put together by an R 29 owner who had upgraded to an R 43. It's a lot rougher than mine, but it includes all the important information.

For example, as you drive your boat you will learn the normal gauge readings, such as engine temperature and oil pressure. These are things you should make note of so you can consult them if things seem off. This is just an example. While just knowing your boat is good, if you spend time away you might forget the details; noting them down in a dedicated notebook is extremely helpful.
 
While “Mlanger” has an R29, her videos on YouTube are also helpful.
Thanks for the plug! I just released a video the other day that showed the stern of my boat under the waterline.

Another thing I highly recommend folks do is take a bunch of photos of the hull of their boat while it's out of the water. Having a photo of the back end of my boat really helped me in the summer of 2024 when the stern thruster failed in a lock on the Great Loop. I was able to show a photo of the thruster position to a Diver before he even got to the boat; I think it might have simplified his efforts to diagnose the problem and repair it. (All of the plastic blades on the thruster prop had broken off, likely because of weeds or something getting in there at my previous stop.)
 
Well, my "Owner's Notes" was inadvertently shared here by someone else who I shared it with. It wasn't ready for prime time so I asked him to remove it. (I'm assuming that he did.) You can download its current incarnation from the San Juan Yachting website. Go to the page with the power fleet, scroll all the way down to the bottom until you see my boat, click it, and there should be a link there to download the Owners Notes. This is a constantly evolving document; I suspect I'll be making changes within the next week or so. Understand that I wrote it primarily for its participation in a charter program, so there are a lot of things in there that may not might not apply. But if you have an older, inboard motor R–27, I think it might be very helpful.

The guide did get a lot of very positive feedback; I really think something like it is needed for every model of Ranger Tug. The manual that Fluid Motions publishes for boat owners has good, valuable information but it's only a skeleton of what's needed. I encourage every boat owner to create their own version of a user guide. The first one I ever saw was put together by an R 29 owner who had upgraded to an R 43. It's a lot rougher than mine, but it includes all the important information.

For example, as you drive your boat you will learn the normal gauge readings, such as engine temperature and oil pressure. These are things you should make note of so you can consult them if things seem off. This is just an example. While just knowing your boat is good, if you spend time away you might forget the details; noting them down in a dedicated notebook is extremely helpful.
Found it. Helpful and thorough. Thank you.
 
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