high water bilge alarm CB30

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davidr

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Jun 1, 2017
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Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Cutwater cb30
Got an alarm but the bilge is dry. Likely bad sensor. The sensor is located under the front of the engine. Anybody know how to get to it other than hire an NBA player with long arms?
 
This is a question that has come up more and more with all the Fluid Motion product line. The Cutwater C26 is not bad but the C28 and C30 needs a solution. Yes this area can be accessed but it is tough. Yes a marine technician can find ways of being creative and agile if he or she is young enough , thin enough and persistent at the task. The older R25,R27 is a tough boat to gain access to the forward section of the engine and the bilge. The R29 and R31 is also tough. It is unfortunate that the Fluid Motion design is not a mechanics dream. But when you pack all the amenities into a smaller vessel something needs to be compromised. I think that a boat designer that is creative enough to build a boat like a Swiss army knife could also be creative in the engine room. More creative than "I can make this engine fit in that small area!!" With a little extra engineering and design there could easily be some access panels built into the design to give easy access to the mechanicals in the boat. There was so much effort in designing the interior to be multi functional, adding amenities to a 25' to 31' boat that are normally seen in a 40' boat. Why not go the extra step and make it also functional to access the mechanicals. To all the Ranger Tug owners and Cutwater owners that have been long time owners and new owners of the Inboard line of Tugs and Cuts ask the factory to look at old build designs to figure out a standard for gaining access for a DIY boat owner that loves to cruise in their boat and wants to be self-sufficient at maintaining it. You should not need to be a contortionist to change a bilge pump, engine belt, impeller, adjust packing, change filters, hoses, transducers, and the list goes on. Many of theses boats are not in production but they still have the Ranger Tug or Cutwater Logo on them. Most of these boat owners are loyal Ranger Tug and Cutwater owners that are planning on purchasing another Ranger and Cutwater. Is it out of the question to ask Fluid Motion to go to the drawing board and come up with some decent plans to make alterations to the boat that will help gain reasonable access to the mechanicals. A DIY service bulletin that has drawings and specifics as to where to cut, proper size cuts and replacement access panels. When I purchased my C26 I asked the salesman that sold me the boat how do I get access to the front of the engine? He said use the engine hatch. I laughed!! I asked him if he could change the impeller through the engine hatch. He said "yes" I then asked him if he could change the high-water bilge pump through the hatch? He said "yes". I then asked him to touch the water pump housing and the high water bilge pump through the hatch. He looked at me and said "I can't!" We took delivery of the boat and the following day I started tearing the step out that leads into the Mid berth (cave) I wanted to be able to work on this boat and the engine.

This was my method C26. I have no idea why the factory design did not incorporate this. It required $10.00 worth of hardware.
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I'm sure if Fluid Motion put some thought into this. There would be some good solutions for making access. Real solutions. Just because they don't build a lot of these boats any more doesn't mean they should forget about them. The old Rangers and Cutwaters are what I still consider to be new boats. A 10 year old boat is a new boat in my book. A 20 year old boat is a newer boat in my book. Come on John Livingston if you can figure out how to make a stern seat be multi functional. You can d figure out how to make access panels for the average 60+ year old DIY Ranger Tug or Cutwater owner to get to the Mechanicals so he can change a water pump impeller, engine belt or bilge pump without having the NBA called to duty!!
 
Thank you Brian!
Yes, component access is truly a serious problem with our boats. Like Brian, we did the step modification to access the front of the engine in our R-25 Classic. Added several other access panels and a door to access wiring and the fresh water tank top.
Yet accessing other components (back of the water heater for example) is nearly impossible.
A few factory analyzed locations to safely and conveniently provide access to these problem parts would be greatly appreciated!
 
I wonder if the maintenance access issue is one of the drivers behind the push towards outboards.
 
Marketing is the driver of the outboards. Many inboard boat manufactures have switched to outboards. If you want to be a big player in the industry now, mount an outboard on the stern. If you want to be the boat manufacture in the industry with a cornered niche like what the Pre 2016 Ranger Tug/Cutwater line was. Maintain the image that your company (Fluid Motion) has developed Diesel powered trailerable Tugs and Pilot house boats. For a small boat manufacture this is a perfect combination. Build one boat at a time, maintain a small inventory, keep production levels manageable, everyone is happy ! Well, not everybody. The CEO and investors want more. That is what they are in the business for, to make profits. The small boat manufacture needs to grow, the outboard powered boats attracts a larger demographic of boat owners. This is the driver behind building Rangers and Cuts powered by outboards.
 
If say it’s not marketing, but rather market demand. Outboards make too much sense on small boats. I’m sure an analysis showed that they could increase market share, reduce manufacturing complexity, and increase ease of owner maintenance.

Those of us tired of hanging upside down to work on our inboard engines were very happy to see the outboards come into play.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
And then again there are those of us who will never ever own another outboard. It’s all a matter of what functionalities are important in how you use your boat.
 
So where is this info
DIY service bulletin that has drawings and specifics as to where to cut, proper size cuts and replacement access panels????
G
 
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