Just got my first boat, 2013 R29, looking to talk about it

V

vt97john

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 22, 2018
Messages
64
Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2910J213
Vessel Name
TBD
Hello TugNuts,

I'm the happy and proud owner of a 2013 Ranger Tug 29'. Just got it last Monday. Will be based out of central Chesapeake Bay (Deale / Tracey's Landing).

Is there anyone out there who has a similar model / year who would be willing to shoot me an email address to correspond on some basic intro level questions on the boat? It would be most appreciated.

Also, if any other Tug Nuts hail from the same part of the world as me, it would be good to meet you all.

Thanks.
 
Congratulations..
You will get a lot of help and insight here. Lots of like minded people ( not sure if thats good or not 🙂 ) Use it lots
 
Welcome aboard! We have a 2012 R29 based out of Anacortes, Washington. I would be happy to answer any questions. My email address is BradOwens@juno.com or you can send messages on this site.
 
On the west coast, I have a new to me 2012 R29 I trailer, moved up from the R25 and have been boating for 50 or so years, happy to help.

I do tend to go on and on and on though. r_orcutt@hotmail.com rich
 
Welcome. We have a 2017 29S that we keep in Eastport (Annapolis)
 
WELCOME!

New to me too. 2012 R29.

A request we post publicly so we can all learn.

Looking forward to it!
 
We have a 2010 R29 we bought two years ago. Keep the boat in Kent Narrows just up the road from you. We have done a few things to get it the way we want it. BTW there is a good group of tug owners on the Bay.

Jim Demerest
2010 R29 Chessie
 
Can I run the heat (forced air I assume) while on dry dock with shore power? If so, could you let me know the steps to do that? I'm totally new to boating and the Ranger Tugs so I'd need details like which batter switches are on, what exactly the main electrical panel should look like etc...
 
I agree with Tom O about posting questions, unless of a personal nature, on the forum rather then by email..... so others can learn along the way. To answer Johns question about running the AC when the boat is out of the water....because the units require water to circulate from the sea strainer, thru the system and then discharging of the water running the AC out of the water would not be practical without rigging up a water source, suction device and draining for the discharged water. If one wants AC on the hard it would be a lot easier to buy a portable electric AC unit for the times you require cool air or heat.

Jim
 
I like posting questions here rather than direct email. The only issue is that I don't see any way to attach a picture. I see a way to link to a picture. Any advice on this?
 
Someone mentioned to me that the forced air heat doesn't provide enough warmth and that I may need to invest in a little plug-in cabin heater. He said the aux heat while underway works well, but the forced air (AC system) that I'll be using at the dock or at anchor doesn't producer enough heat. Any thoughts on this?
 
I have two reverse cycle AC/Heaters and rarely use them. We ran AC on the Mississippi while underway and at anchor on the Loop but had to run the generator to power them. Both are noisy. While at the dock or on the hard I use small electric heaters. I also installed a Wallas Diesel forced air heater. I can use the Wallas anytime as its 12 volt. I even used it while on the trailer in a Walmart parking lot. Its whisper quiet but was pricey. I did the install myself.

As I write this I am using both an electric heater and the Wallas. It's 6 C and a 8 MPH wind, overcast and raining! Beautiful PNW boating weather!


Cheers, Leon
 
The reverse cycle heater has worked for us. As long as the water temperature is above 40 F, which it is or most of the boating season on the Chesapeake. Have run it both at dock and with the generator at anchor.

Jim Demerest
2010 R29 Chessie
 
vt97john":3kd4jkvx said:
I like posting questions here rather than direct email. The only issue is that I don't see any way to attach a picture. I see a way to link to a picture. Any advice on this?
Click to expand...

Getting a User Photo Album for your Ranger Tug is easy but it requires submitting a request from within the site structure.

1. Sign on to the site. You’re probably signed on if you’re reading this.

2. Select the User Control Panel link from the upper left corner of any page. Note: On the home page, this link is in your user menu in the upper right.

3. Click the Usergroups tab, then select the radio button next to the User Albums group.
Scroll down, choose "Join selected" in the drop-down menu, and click the Submit button.

Once you do this, an email is automatically sent to the administrator (me). That message will trigger my ability to approve your request, and you'll receive an email indicating your membership in the User Albums group has been activated.

I'll watch for the message, and look forward to seeing your pictures.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
Happiness in the boating experience is a precious thing and must be guarded carefully; here you’ve bought your first boat and are over the moon and so was I in that same circumstance many many years ago.

But now, like me back then, you’re going to start the thing, you’re going to operate it, move it, show it to your friends, expect things of it; frankly you’re going to go Boating and so it’s liable to be all downhill from here if you’re not careful.

Now, on your Boating Journey there’s many many ways to learn things, one best way is using the search feature on the ‘Nuts to gain you the insight folks have received from experience which is also known as “the hard way” and reading regarding learning things “the hard way” is as close as you ever want to get to actually learning “the hard way.”

Besides having an untroubled journey from A to B which is what Boating should be, you’re facing two things, maintenance and repairs, also known as breakdowns.

Doing your own maintenance can, in theory, save you enough money to cover all the other costs of operation and is the fantasy I live.

I’m not talking ownership here, that’s the loan and insurance, but slip fees, fuel costs, the jaunty cap, the increase in alcohol consumption by yourself and of course the unwanted relatives and guests who regularly turn up uninvited to drink you dry can likely be covered.

You have made the exact correct first move into Boating by purchasing a Ranger Tug. Soon you’ll get to know Other Owners, Parts Richard, The Keeper of All Knowledge, Andrew and many many others all with a positive attitude and quick reply. You’ll also become aware of the depth of water Ranger Tugs draws in the boating industry which is really nice.
 
You will get plenty of advice and answers to your questions here. I would strongly suggest that you take a Safe Boating Class, either through US Power Squadron or Coast Guard Aux. While not boat specific, it will teach you safe operation, rules of the road, how to use a VHF properly, and many, many other things that will move you quickly and safely up the learning curve.

Congrats on your new boat - you picked a great way to start!
 
Just to add. We use our A/C heater for the bedroom all year long in Victoria BC while docked,and it works fine. I have also used it in Ontario in the spring with ice still on the lake and in the fall with ice forming on the lake with no issues. I do also use a small electric to heat the upstairs, and a very small one in the head to keep it toasty.
We use the diesel heater when towing the boat over land and it is by far the best heat source in the boat.
 
Congratulations, if you are like us you have a lot of enjoyment in front of you. This is a great form, really struggled with my 2012 R29 until I got plugged in. Many helpful, generous people.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Just a few more questions for you all.

1.)Is there an easy way to test the float mechanism on the bilge pumps (I assume there is such a thing)? Or could you tell me where the fuse is for those? I can operate the bilge pumps manually with the switches on main electrical panel, but I don't believe auto-bilge is getting triggered when it should.

2.)Should I be able to see water pumping out of the boat from engine cooling system or is it below the water line? I opened the seacock on starboard side of engine compartment before starting engine (only ran it for about 10 seconds) but I did not see water pumping out anywhere around the stern.

3.)What are the two sea-cock looking levers on port side of engine compartment and when should they be open vs closed? I assume one is for seawater flowing into generator and one is a fuel shut off but not sure.
 
Run water down there until it’s submerged, if it doesn't’ come on by then there’s something amiss with the float mechanism, very common. This is an excellent first chore as it demands the downward facing boat owner position you need to become adept at.
The fuse is in an individual wire coming from the battery likely marked aft bilge pump, start at the pump and work backwards to the battery, as the pump runs on manual at least you know it’s operational.
Use a flashlight to see if it’s a seperate float then don’t replace the float, buy a new pump with a built in float, their’e float mechanisms seem less troublesome.
Look for the seacock that feeds a big round thing with a clear top, that’s your engine cooling water intake/strainer and engine cooling water comes out the exhaust in kind of a sloppy, blapy fashion.
The two seacock levers on the port side on my 2012 R29 feed the A/C and something else I don’t know. Also, if you have a generator it’s raw water intake should be a second seacock on the starboard side. I just installed waterflow alarms and larger strainers on all intakes.
My boat has a fuel shut off for the auxiliary fuel tank but it’s in the compartment that’s next to the port side of the engine compartment.
 
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