First day on ocean waters with new boat

ixlr8

Well-known member
Joined
May 2, 2017
Messages
756
Fluid Motion Model
R-27 (Outboard)
Hull Identification Number
FLMT2762C818
Non-Fluid Motion Model
2018 R-27OB w/Yam 300
Vessel Name
Maggie
The first two outings on our new 27OB were on a lake, today is the first day we had it out in ocean waters. Boat handled the water well, there was a slight chop and 2' swells. We were out for about 4 hrs just touring around Penobscot Bay. About an hour into the trip, the depth gauge just started flashing 20.1 ft!!??? Turns out the cup that the sonar unit goes in broke loose from the hull. 🙁 We had a few waves splash up over the bow and found out how useless the wipers are. Also see a need for some sort of windshield washer spray to be able to rinse off the salt water deposits. We pulled the boat out of the water, which was a challenge with 15+ mph winds directly to the port side. Found as soon as we plugged the trailer into the truck, the trailer brakes activated... had to drive home with no trailer brakes!! :cry: Then when we got home... I found the trim ring around the port berth window gone!!!?? So much for being able to enjoy the boat this holiday weekend!!
 
Plain ole Rain-X helps a lot on the windshield. Wipers just help the manufacturer sell blades.

Let's see, four hours on the water, broken tansducer mount, lost window trim, failed trailer brakes. That's less than one thing broken per hour of boating. Whatya expect? Welcome to the pleasures of boat ownership 😀
 
I don’t think I have used the wipers in the last 2 years. Rainex applied every month or so is the way to go as mentioned. Also keeps window glass from spotting. It is in my list for crew assistance instructions. Something for the non nautical to do while you are doing boat prep to go out on the water.

Yes it is frustrating. More stuff failed in the first two months of ownership than the next 4 years.

I wonder if the wipers still work?
 
It's a boat. There are always shake-down items with a new boat. Then, repair and maintenance with a boat when it isn't new. Add a trailer to the mix, and there will be more mechanical things to deal with. The pleasure of any boat ownership experience will depend on how you deal with these things when they come up. We've owned more than a few boats over the years, and the more systems a boat has, the more shake-down you have to deal with. Same is true with motorhomes. And airplanes. Even things that don't move - like: a house.

There is "the dream" of boat ownership (you see it in the brochures and ads), and the reality of boat ownership... where cruisers will tell you the definition of cruising: fixing your boat in exotic locations. 😉

While frustrating, it sounds like your issues are all solvable - and none are life threatening. The trailer brakes issue is probably electric, and can be traced down with a multi-meter. If the connection on your truck/brake controller checks out, then it may be as simple as a loose wire on the trailer. Most boat windshield wipers I've worked with do not work as well as those on your car. It may be a matter of adjusting the tension so that the blade is more in contact with the glass. Others have mentioned Rain-X, and that is a good solution inside and outside the windows (yes, they make a formula that helps reduce the condensation inside the windows). You can set up a washer system, but on our C-Dory, we just used a squeeze bottle with a water/vinegar mix that cleans and cuts through the salt better than windshield wiper fluid.

The window trim can be replaced. A call to your dealer and Ranger Tug will have another on the way to you.

No idea why the transducer mount broke, but trailering can be tough on things that stick out outside the hull.

The wind is something all boaters have to contend with. As a former sailor, I tried to get it to work with me instead of fighting against it. If a particular ramp situation isn't perfect, you look for an alternative ramp, or spend the night on the hook or in a marina and wait for the wind to settle down. If your trailer doesn't have guides that make it easier to load in the wind, that might be another consideration.

Try not to let this spoil your ownership experience. Yes, that is easy to say when it isn't me; but, I have been there. With any purchase that has a lot of systems, I try to stay and use the conveyance reasonably close to the dealer or manufacturer for the first week or so. You have a nice boat - it will give you many years of great experiences. How about other things that went right... did the motor run as you expected? The boat floated? The rest of the electronics (other than the depth-finder) do what they're supposed to do? Is the floorplan all you expected? Did the toilet flush and the appliances work? Bilge pumps test out OK? Did you find the adult beverages tasted even better when you're down for the day and relaxing in the cockpit? How was the sunset?

You will work through all this. Let your dealer help you sort things out. Work together with them, and not go into it blaming them for spoiling your weekend. They (and Ranger Tug) want you to be a satisfied owner.

Congrats on the new boat, and hope you get these issues settled to your satisfaction.
 
Jim:

Things could be worse.... and as James has said, what about all the things that did work as they should.

For me today, 1st Mate, Jake (the dog) and I got to our boat and got all settled in for a days cruise; coffee on hand, fish&chips ready to eat, Jake happy to be with us and just before leaving the slip 1st Mate asks if I had packed her Meds. Drat, no I hadn't. That scuttled the cruise for the day and had to return to our land-based home. 1st Mate is not a person to be around when Meds wear off. 🙁 :cry: :evil:

Yes, Rain-X works well for me and we get rain in PNW quite often.

Were you happy with the boat's handling in the 2' chop; what speed were you going at in that condition ?

You've mentioned your throttle is very smooth moving. Mine is quite stiff and I have to kind of nudge it forward carefully for fear of over-speeding. I'm going to see if I can adjust the lever's friction via the small screw that controls stiffness.

That port hole trim is the outside oblong plastic trim piece, right ?
 
On your trailer brakes activating immediately after plugging into truck harness you might want to check to see if the breakaway sensor has failed, assuming you have electric over hydraulic brakes. Don’t ask me how I know to check that source for those symptoms.
 
Had a wonderful day on the water, except for the few minor issues. There is nothing like looking over at the first mate and seeing a smile on her face from ear to ear. Can't wait to get these issues fixed and get back out on the water. So far we have only done day trips with the boat. We need to get more familiar with it before we start doing overnight trips. We also need to get our dogs acclimated to the boat. Our puppy should be fine, but our 8 year old shelter dog is a big question, we suspect she is going to whine the entire trip.
Heading into the seas, we were traveling about 28 mph and there was a little pounding, but boat rode fine. When in following seas, we were traveling about 18 mph and that is when things got interesting and we crashed thru some waves that brought water high enough that it came in the hatch over the helm.
I had read about enough issues with the depth sensor cup coming loose from the hull so that as soon as the depth sounder started flashing depth readings... I was pretty sure what had happened. My dealer said that Ranger used to epoxy the cups in place. Mine just had some sort of silicone sealant which obviously didn't/doesn't hold very well. Ranger needs to go back to epoxying the cup in place, or use something much better than what they are using.
Yes- the trim ring is the oblong ring that goes around the window, not sure where or how that disappeared.
My dealer also suggested checking the breakaway switch and I am going to check that after my morning coffee/breakfast. When we pulled the boat out of the water, water poured out of that switch. I am wondering if the salt water shorted the switch out.
Our last boat was a 21' diesel skiff, the only instruments were a tach, compass, depth gauge. The 27OB is the most complicated boat we have ever owned. There is LOTS to learn, lots of systems so there are going to be some teething issues. Although it is not any where as complicated as the Sabre 66 that I help build for a living. The sea trial and acceptance for that boat is a 2 week process with the dealer/owner. That is after Sabre has done their sea trials.
We did learn that 15+mph winds directly from the side of the boat will overpower the bow thruster. We also decided we need a flag on the boat to give us a better idea of what the winds are doing. We had no clue the winds were that high as we approached the dock. There was no tell tale signs of wind ripples on the water and there were no other flags or anything to give us a hint of what the winds were doing. Time to check out Kathy's burgee website.
Thank you all for the recommendations on keeping/getting the windows clean/clear.
 
ixlr8":1ps0hc9r said:
...snip...We had a few waves splash up over the bow and found out how useless the wipers are. Also see a need for some sort of windshield washer spray to be able to rinse off the salt water deposits....snip...

Jim: Today when on the boat I took a good look at the wiper blades on my R-27/OB. I do recall when using the wipers the blades do not remove the water as they should for the full length of the blade, such that only a portion of the blade's swept area is cleared from the window.

Inspecting the wipers I now see what the issue is. The windshield is curved in the horizontal plane and the wipers simply do not bend/conform to the glass curvature. Only a small portion of the blade length actually is in contact with the glass.

I played around some with the wipers and the arm and there was no way for the blade to conform to the glass curvature. When the wiper is raised from the glass the wiper blade pretty much stays almost straight whereas on my auto for example the blade bends quite a bit more. This has to be the issue IMO. I will be exploring getting a wiper blade and holder that has much more 'springiness' to it to solve this issue.

As the blade sweeps across the glass it starts off having to be in contact on a curved surface and then as it progresses/moves to its mid point the glass surface is vertical without curvature, then as the blade continues its swing it again has to deal with the glass curvature which will be maximum when fully over and ready to return. Thus the wiper blade needs to have enough 'spring' in it to deal with the changing glass curvatures.
 
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