j&lgray
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2008
- Messages
- 644
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-28
- Vessel Name
- Trilogy
If you do anything long enough, you will experience most everything that is fun but also nearly everything that can go wrong. We have been boating for 35 years and currently have our third Ranger Tug and we had a first: The tug had to be towed to a marina for engine service.
What happened? Cruising along at 8 MPH, being 3,500 miles from home, sipping fuel and enjoying the Florida sunshine, a screeching sound came from the engine. Within seconds, the engine alarms sounded with an overheat alarm. The tug’s speed was dropped to an idle to get out of the busy ICW channel. The engine was shut down and the anchor was dropped. On the floor of the engine compartment was the belt that drove the seawater pump. The edge was mangled but the belt was not broken. The likely cause: the 7-year-old belt with nearly 500 hours and almost 5,000 miles had failed.
This post is about having towing insurance and the Ranger Network. Owning 9 boats, I have only paid a mechanic once. Seeing the belt off the pulleys triggered an initial response to put it back on. I quickly found out that I did not have the tools or the knowledge of the technique to do even a temporary install. Also, I was concerned about other damage. On another boat, an overheated engine caused an impeller failure and replacement of the water muffler.
Trilogy needed to be towed. We are BoatUS members and simply pushing the “Send A Tow” button on the BoatUS app, caused a phone call from the dispatch center within a minute and a text message the tow was enroute with an ETA. The $1,000 tow bill was covered with our gold level membership. This is the second time that the insurance coverage was a blessing: Sliding on black ice in Wyoming, our Ranger 25 went off the freeway. Lesson: Have towing insurance.
The Ranger Network is an amazing thing. While waiting for the tow, a text message was sent to Rich/Cheryl of Roam and Mike/Jess of Illusions who were cruising in the region. They provided important information like closing the seacock while underway to avoid unwanted water from being forced into the system. They also connected with another tug owner Doug/Sandy who were at the marina that Trilogy was being towed to. When the tug arrived, Doug was waiting and provided essential help (picture no power or steering) in getting into the slip, was a welcome presence and the next day provided much needed transportation. Mike had a spare belt and another Ranger owner, Ron/Libby, brought it.
The Ranger Network is this forum and it is the fellowship and sharing of knowledge at a rendezvous. It is also about being helped and offering to be helpful. The network is an amazing thing, which we are grateful for.
What happened? Cruising along at 8 MPH, being 3,500 miles from home, sipping fuel and enjoying the Florida sunshine, a screeching sound came from the engine. Within seconds, the engine alarms sounded with an overheat alarm. The tug’s speed was dropped to an idle to get out of the busy ICW channel. The engine was shut down and the anchor was dropped. On the floor of the engine compartment was the belt that drove the seawater pump. The edge was mangled but the belt was not broken. The likely cause: the 7-year-old belt with nearly 500 hours and almost 5,000 miles had failed.
This post is about having towing insurance and the Ranger Network. Owning 9 boats, I have only paid a mechanic once. Seeing the belt off the pulleys triggered an initial response to put it back on. I quickly found out that I did not have the tools or the knowledge of the technique to do even a temporary install. Also, I was concerned about other damage. On another boat, an overheated engine caused an impeller failure and replacement of the water muffler.
Trilogy needed to be towed. We are BoatUS members and simply pushing the “Send A Tow” button on the BoatUS app, caused a phone call from the dispatch center within a minute and a text message the tow was enroute with an ETA. The $1,000 tow bill was covered with our gold level membership. This is the second time that the insurance coverage was a blessing: Sliding on black ice in Wyoming, our Ranger 25 went off the freeway. Lesson: Have towing insurance.
The Ranger Network is an amazing thing. While waiting for the tow, a text message was sent to Rich/Cheryl of Roam and Mike/Jess of Illusions who were cruising in the region. They provided important information like closing the seacock while underway to avoid unwanted water from being forced into the system. They also connected with another tug owner Doug/Sandy who were at the marina that Trilogy was being towed to. When the tug arrived, Doug was waiting and provided essential help (picture no power or steering) in getting into the slip, was a welcome presence and the next day provided much needed transportation. Mike had a spare belt and another Ranger owner, Ron/Libby, brought it.
The Ranger Network is this forum and it is the fellowship and sharing of knowledge at a rendezvous. It is also about being helped and offering to be helpful. The network is an amazing thing, which we are grateful for.
