Subject: A suggestion for Ranger Tugs when delivering a new boat
RT does a very good 2-day orientation course for people buying a new boat from them. The first day covers the boat's systems and how to operate them. The second day is more about using some of these systems when out on the water and giving advice on docking and the pros/cons for using the engine in reverse, and so on.
During these two days a huge amount of information has to be digested and if you're lucky enough to be able to take notes along the way so much the better. However, thinking you can recall all of the info and tips later is likely a bad bet.
For me the one area that I find I cannot recall details on are how and when and what things to be aware of for the panel of gauges and switches that include the Main Circuit panel having Shore/Inverter/Battery switches on, the Webasto controller, the Solar panel controller and so on.
RT does provide a nice one sheet encapsulated in plastic for the primary fuse blocks. IN my case for the R-27/OB there are four fuse blocks; two behind the helm and two inside a dark unlit cubby hole in aft section of the Cave. This is a very helpful sheet of information covering all the fuses and their locations.
My suggestion to RT would be to provide a similar sheet(s) for the main panel (in my case the one on the aft bulkhead of the Cave) having all the electrical do-dads - Shore power/Inverter power/Battery charger/etc, Webasto, Solar panel controller and so on. This sheet should number each gauge and their control switches/buttons and provide a description for what each of them do or are to be used for.
When I look at this main panel today after just a week's lapse from my 2-day orientation I find I cannot recall all that was told to me. Yes, I can read the manuals and likely figure it all out... but this process could be so much better if there was a sheet or two explaining things much like is provided by the one plastic covered sheet showing the four fuse blocks and what each fuse is protecting. Oh, and BTW, the sheet showing the four fuse blocks should indicate where these fuse blocks are located on the boat. For example, there are two fuse blocks in the dark unlit cubby hole in the Cave's aft bulkhead. For the uneducated person, it's highly unlikely that these two fuse blocks would ever be discovered. Even if they are seeing things in that dark unlit cubby hole is nigh impossible without some added artificial light. I've already placed a LED strip with motion sensor and light sensor that lights up instantly when the wooden cover plate is removed to expose these two fuse blocks. I recall on my day-1 & 2 orientation being told about what to look for on one of the fuse blocks when trouble shooting some electrical misadventure.... I cannot recall all that I was told concerning this.
RT does provide an extensive Check List for Day 1 & 2 which they make the odd notes on for the owners to later refer to. These Check Lists are a few days later Emailed to the owner in PDF format. Each item on the check list has two boxes for initials; one for the RT person conducting the orientation and the other for the owner to initial to indicated the item was covered. The additional notes made by RT on these Check Lists are indeed helpful. However, I do feel RT can do even better as I've mentioned above.
I will be chatting with RT about this subject, and if others have similar thoughts you might also post back here or simply chat with RT yourself about them.
Thanks... 🙂
RT does a very good 2-day orientation course for people buying a new boat from them. The first day covers the boat's systems and how to operate them. The second day is more about using some of these systems when out on the water and giving advice on docking and the pros/cons for using the engine in reverse, and so on.
During these two days a huge amount of information has to be digested and if you're lucky enough to be able to take notes along the way so much the better. However, thinking you can recall all of the info and tips later is likely a bad bet.
For me the one area that I find I cannot recall details on are how and when and what things to be aware of for the panel of gauges and switches that include the Main Circuit panel having Shore/Inverter/Battery switches on, the Webasto controller, the Solar panel controller and so on.
RT does provide a nice one sheet encapsulated in plastic for the primary fuse blocks. IN my case for the R-27/OB there are four fuse blocks; two behind the helm and two inside a dark unlit cubby hole in aft section of the Cave. This is a very helpful sheet of information covering all the fuses and their locations.
My suggestion to RT would be to provide a similar sheet(s) for the main panel (in my case the one on the aft bulkhead of the Cave) having all the electrical do-dads - Shore power/Inverter power/Battery charger/etc, Webasto, Solar panel controller and so on. This sheet should number each gauge and their control switches/buttons and provide a description for what each of them do or are to be used for.
When I look at this main panel today after just a week's lapse from my 2-day orientation I find I cannot recall all that was told to me. Yes, I can read the manuals and likely figure it all out... but this process could be so much better if there was a sheet or two explaining things much like is provided by the one plastic covered sheet showing the four fuse blocks and what each fuse is protecting. Oh, and BTW, the sheet showing the four fuse blocks should indicate where these fuse blocks are located on the boat. For example, there are two fuse blocks in the dark unlit cubby hole in the Cave's aft bulkhead. For the uneducated person, it's highly unlikely that these two fuse blocks would ever be discovered. Even if they are seeing things in that dark unlit cubby hole is nigh impossible without some added artificial light. I've already placed a LED strip with motion sensor and light sensor that lights up instantly when the wooden cover plate is removed to expose these two fuse blocks. I recall on my day-1 & 2 orientation being told about what to look for on one of the fuse blocks when trouble shooting some electrical misadventure.... I cannot recall all that I was told concerning this.
RT does provide an extensive Check List for Day 1 & 2 which they make the odd notes on for the owners to later refer to. These Check Lists are a few days later Emailed to the owner in PDF format. Each item on the check list has two boxes for initials; one for the RT person conducting the orientation and the other for the owner to initial to indicated the item was covered. The additional notes made by RT on these Check Lists are indeed helpful. However, I do feel RT can do even better as I've mentioned above.
I will be chatting with RT about this subject, and if others have similar thoughts you might also post back here or simply chat with RT yourself about them.
Thanks... 🙂
