Christening a Tug

[Hydraulicjump]

All,

On the day after Thanksgiving Barbara and I will officially christen Tugnacious, asking Poseidon and Neptune to look after her and her crew. There will be no breaking of a bottle on the bow (that is soooo 20th century...the Greeks and Romans just poured wine on the starboard and port sides). This will involve a post-Thanksgiving party on the Sacramento River as part of the ceremony (about 18 very loud people...my family, of course).

The off-the-wall question for you R-27 owners: how many celebrants would you be willing to put on the boat for a short cruise up and down the river (with life jackets for each)? The flows are low, even though we have had some rain, the dock protected from the current, and the weather perfect (low-60's, windless and clear). The skipper will be sober, including his crew.

Thanks. Trying to figure out what's safe, what's reasonable, and what's stupid.

Happy early Thanksgiving to you all.

Jeff Mount and Barbara Evoy

 

[JamesTXSD]

Take turns, keep the rides short... the experience will be more enjoyable if people aren't elbow to elbow and the skipper isn't worried about a potential catastrophe.

Once the "Check out our new boat!" period is past, you will understand the mantra of many owners when people ask: "How many does that sleep?"

Drinks: 8
Feeds: 4
Sleeps: TWO!

😎

I have experience driving "school buses on the water" 😉 - Not as much fun as cruising with two.

Have fun, be safe. A rule of thumb that I use works great for boats, cars, trucks, small airplanes: count the number of seats. Subtract two. That is your comfortable passenger capacity. Your beautiful new tug isn't a bow rider or a pontoon party boat - it is SO much nicer than those!

Congrats on the boat and enjoy the christening.

Best wishes,
Jim B. (USCG licensed Master)

 

[Irish Mist]

Just want to agree with Jim I have had a few nights of many friends on board and have always ended those voyages with something to repair . Not to mention trying to navigate , answer all the questions and make sure no one falls in.. More trips less people makes good sense and more enjoyable for all espicially the captain 🙂

 

[walldog]

Also demonstrate the operation of the toilet before leaving the dock. Most people have trouble getting their heads (pun intended) around the concept of an electric toilet. 🙂

 

[baz]

Also demonstrate the operation of the toilet before leaving the dock. Most people have trouble getting their heads (pun intended) around the concept of an electric toilet. 🙂

Yea... tell the kids not to drop their Matchbox cars down the head either... :lol:

Someone above mentioned "count the seats..." --- does that include the head seat... :lol:

For the R-27 I would personally allow no more than 6 and a max of 8 people on board at one time. 3 in the cockpit and 5 in cabin. This count includes the captain. The counting of seats and subtracting 2 is a reasonable rule IMO as well.

 

[Crewdog]

Whatever number of people that are carried, my 2 cents would be to ensure that Capt or First Mate could quickly access the engine compartment, battery switches, fire extinguisher or be able to get up on the bow for anchor operation in case of an unlikely emergency.

Bill

 

[JamesTXSD]

Also demonstrate the operation of the toilet before leaving the dock. Most people have trouble getting their heads (pun intended) around the concept of an electric toilet. 🙂

Another good reason for keeping the trip SHORT. 😉 Let 'em look at the head (ohhh, ahhhh), tell 'em to use the potty onshore before you head out.

 

[Hydraulicjump]

All,

Thanks for your guidance. We discovered that 8 adults and two kids for a short cruise along the docks of Sacramento pretty much does the trick. Helps when the weather is picture perfect and the crowd still stunned by tryptophan from the turkey. The christening ceremony went equally well. Here, for future reference was the poem read out loud at the close of the ceremony.


"We name this ship Tugnacious, and may she bring fair winds and good fortune to all who sail on her."

(Pour champagne west to east around the boat while reading poem by Lucille Clifton)
​
blessing the boats

may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that

Jeff and Barbara