Items needed for first outing

P

Pcolapilot

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2025
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7
Fluid Motion Model
R-27 (Outboard)
Fellow Tugnuts,
I’m taking delivery of a new 2025 R-27 in a little over a month. What are some things that I need to be gathering/purchasing for that first day trip or overnight?

Also, is the boat missing anything that I need when I take it from Des Moines to Foss Harbor Marina? Don’t want to be missing something critical.

Thanks!!
 
First - two inflatable life jackets plus 6 basic orange life jackets.
Second - marine toilet paper
Third and the rest - read Tugnuts and RT videos

There are many mfg of inflatable jackets. I use Spinlock (160N?) and wear it when boat is moving. Any one under 12 (maybe 12 too) must wear a life jacket all the time. Some inflatables are not CG approved so you must carry others that are CG approved.

I trash bag toilet paper, yet somebody will flush it.

Welcome to RT family!!!
 
Pcolapilot said:
Fellow Tugnuts,
I’m taking delivery of a new 2025 R-27 in a little over a month. What are some things that I need to be gathering/purchasing for that first day trip or overnight?

Also, is the boat missing anything that I need when I take it from Des Moines to Foss Harbor Marina? Don’t want to be missing something critical.

Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Day one: it’s a turn key operation. We brought charging cables for our phones and some snacks and drinks. The weather was the biggest unknown so we brought a change of clothes and pillows just incase we had to wait a day or two.

1st overnight: Food, beverage, toilet paper, charging cables for devices, bedding, flashlight and a destination. Toiletries if it’s a multi-day trip. We like to play cards in the evening. Binoculars are a nice to have as well as a camera with a decent zoom. Comfort levels vary. We used to tent camp so we’re good with minimal stuff and now we’re very comfortable in our 27OB.
 
Congratulations!

Ask the factory what safety gear, dock lines, fenders, will be include. Usually you will have everything you need in their safety package to get home. But you will want more, or more comfortable life jackets. Inflatable are great because you wear them more frequently.

The configuration at the marina you are heading to will determine the lines and fenders. If you will be side tied to a dock using fenders I would suggest having a sock covering for the fenders. Otherwise the constant rubbing will "buff" your gelcoat over time. Extra lines and fenders are good because you can't go shopping for more without tieying up first.

For the first month I would visit the boat frequently to see how the boat moves with wave action etc. You don't want your mooring lines to tight or short or else the boat can't move move without jerking the cleats.

Half of the things boaters buy seem like good ideas but turn out to just take up space. Keep it simple and spend the energy and time getting comfortable with your boat, and try to fix as much as possible yourself. It will make you learn the boat which will help in emergency situations.
 
Apart from the basic safety gear, lifejackets ,flares, throwable floatation, I would also recommend:
  • powerful flashlight (USB chargeable)
  • multi screwdriver (make sure to get one that has square head bits, I like this one https://a.co/d/fdjSr0C)
  • bucket (3 gallon)
  • boat hook (that also works as a brush handle)
  • brush (soft bristle)
  • boat soap
  • 25 or 50 ft hose and nozzle (I like the expandable ones with the cloth covers, they don't last very long but they don't make marks on the fiberglass)
I would also recommend getting a nice small tool bag and start assembling a basic tool kit. Volt meter, fuses, super glue, pliers, stainless seizing wire, electrical tape, multi tool with a good knife, butane lighter (if you do any rope work you will need that).
I also carry a small set of mechanical tools but you might not want to go that far.
 
Check out the 4 piece square drive set on Amazon .....klein 85664
Handle and bit are all one piece like basic screwdriver.
Most all screws installed by Ranger Tug are square head. These drivers are priceless when working on your tug.
 
Are you new to boating?
We were new when we bought our R27 last year - we had a great first year and love the boat!
Great suggestions above - depending upon your experience I would add that you should be thinking about the slip configuration and how you will get in and out of it - what dock hardware you might need. Get a Suicide knob, I found it unbelievably helpful to get in and out of our challenging slip. Think about yacht bedding if you plan on overnights and if they have the new berth configuration mapped. Battery monitor is almost a necessity. You’ll want to oil the teak (see LaZinas recommendation which we love). Get your radio licenses and register your MMSI.
There are things you’ll probably want to do at your first service. If you don’t have a dinghy lift and expect to carry a dinghy motor around, you should have FM install that bracket before delivery.
There are tons of nice to haves like custom runners and raptor deck on the step down beside the head. Commodorizer. You’ll figure out what’s important to you with use.
 
id add a waterproof handheld vhf in addition to the lifejackets
 
All good suggestions so far.
We normally spend the first night on a new boat when we pick it up so we bring pillows, sleeping bags and enough personal items to overnight. Doing that close to home helps us quickly identify what’s needed for longer trips.
If you do overnight the first night there are plenty of great restaurants on the Foss Waterway so I wouldn’t bother cooking that first trip. I would finish the evening off with a bottle of good bubbly but that’s just us.
I have no idea how much fuel FM includes with a new boat. Be sure to check that you have enough fuel to make it the 13 miles down to the Foss Waterway.
PS: Oh, you might want to add fresh water to the fresh water tank in Des Moines before you head out.
 
Last edited:
Cutwater28GG said:
id add a waterproof handheld vhf in addition to the lifejackets
Click to expand...
A general comment, I picked up a couple of the Chinese Baofengs for dirt cheap and programmed them to mirror Marine VHF channels. I put proper antennas on them and they’re great. You don’t have to spend much on VHF handhelds if you don’t want to. Not necessarily “legal” as I believe that you have to include marine handhelds on your license (I forget) and you can’t identify these, but whatever.
 
If cooking aboard a good nesting set of stainless cookware, plates and flatware, galley towels, potholders, and a CAN OPENER (if you have a p-38 your golden), knifes ect.
 
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