Launched Our New R29 Yesterday

amstel30

Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
21
Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Vessel Name
Amstel
Meg and I officially joined the Ranger Tug family with launch of our new R29, Amstel, at the Swantown Marina in Olympia, WA. Ronnie from Ranger Tugs staff provided fabulous service getting us from Swantown to our moorage at the Olympia Yacht Club and showing us what all those switches do.

We have a couple of questions that we would appreciate some help with:

What are the dates of the Fisherman's Terminal cruise in May? What are the dates of the Desolation Sound cruise?

Our R29 does not have a generator but does have a solar panel. I noticed that some Ranger Tugs carry a small portable generator when they are planning to be out for awhile. Is a portable generator necessary or a convenience? If it is a good idea, what size? I am looking at the Honda 2000, 30 amp version.

We have the standard hard shell tender sold by Ranger. What size out board motor should we get for it?

Thanks
 
Welcome aboard the Ranger Tug cast of characters, an adventurous, fun and sharing group. I'll tackle the Desolation Sound question as I recently asked Jeff Messmer this. For next summer the rough dates are a 9 or 10 day cruise somewhere between July 18th and August 3rd.....yet to be finalized, but this should give you a date range to pencil onto your calendar.

Enjoy your new R29.

Jim F
 
Congratulations!! You will love your new boat I am sure. 🙂
I will offer my opinion on generators and I am sure you will get lots of other ideas on this.
I bought my boat used and it came with one. If I was ordering new I do not think I would spend the money on a built in generator. It also must give you a lot more storage not having the generator fuel tank and generator in place. My last boat didn't have one so I used a portable one much like a Honda. Personally I would not be without one , but I anchor out a lot, and use stuff that needs 110 volts. Having said that if you have an inverter which I think you would having the solar panel, that will take care of most needs. It will not power your A/C which if you have, you could run 1 unit at a time off a portable generator. I happen to use a Tassimo coffee machine and it will not run off the inverter but works fine with the generator, but a Mr Coffee 4 cup drip , toaster, blender, and most other things will work fine off the inverter.Your solar panel will run your fridge I am told, and trickle charge the batteries at the same time. I have a solar panel and so far I do not fully understand it's output. It will not keep up with everything though if you use a lot of stuff all the time, but as soon as you start up your engine, it starts charging up the batteries. Your engine has it's own battery so even if you do run your house batteries down, you can still start the engine.The generator ( built in or portable ) comes with operational noise, which when you are up early anchored in a quiet bay,or in the evening after dark , just seems wrong to me, so I will use the inverter then anyways. If you plan on the odd overnight at anchor, I would suggest you do not need to worry about a generator. It all depends on how you boat. I would not rush out and buy one until you find yourself needing one , which may never happen. If you do get one make sure you protect yourself from the exhaust fumes as that is a major issue.
Good luck with your Tug and visit here often as real live experience with the tugs is a big time saver with a lot of questions or issues you may have.
 
Hi Bob and Meg,
Congratulations on your new boat, you will be so happy with it I am sure. The Fisherman's terminal mini-cruise will take place on May 24-27th. Nita and I will probably come down from Anacortes on the 22nd and stay a night at Bell Harbor as we did last year. Then on the 23rd proceed to Fisherman's and stay until Monday the 27th. You are welcome any time you would like. I will be asking the participants to let me know their schedule so I can make sure we have room at the Marina.
All the Best,
Bob and Nita
R-29 Nellie Too (2009)
 
Bob & Meg: Tremendous news... Welcome and Congratulations on your new R-29. See you at the Fisherman's Terminal meeting that Bob & Nita are arranging for us in May 24-27, 2012... 🙂
 
Welcome to the Tug family! One caution about portable generators if they are gasoline engine powered. The R-29 being a diesel means that some accessories in the bilge may not be ignition protected. The introduction of any device using LP gas or gasoline means that there may be a risk associated with the device if fumes or fuel reach the bilge of your R-29. The factory installed diesel generator on Ladybug, Too is noisy and the 4o gallon fuel tank does take up space below deck that could be used for storage. That being said, there is a transfer pump and the 40 gallons can be transferred to the main fuel tank if needed. With a 120 gallon main tank and the 40 gallon generator tank, Ladybug, Too's total fuel capacity is 160 gallons extending our range considerably. I am sure there is a diesel portable generator out there somewhere but it wll probably be noisy too. The Hondas are so quiet in comparison! Tough decision. Good luck.

Pat, Ladybug, Too
 
Hi Bob,
You mentioned in your original post about getting a 2000 Honda with 30 amps. A 2000 Honda 30 amps is a bit of a misnomer. You will only get 30 Amps if you join two of them together. There is no value in the additional cost for the 30 amp outlet unless you buy two Honda 2000. The one Honda 2000 with a 20 amp outlet will do just fine to run everything providing you limit your wattage.
Mike Rizzo
 
Hi Bob, congratulations on your new 29. We are moored just around the corner from you at Zittels Marina. We do not have a generator On the Boat although I did pick up the Honda you are thinking about. Never got around to taking it down to the boat however. We cruised in the San Juan's all last summer and never ran out of battery. We were out For the full month of July and often Anchored out for three days at a time. We have one solar collector and it worked beautifully. We did have all LED lights installed and that probably helps. We always ran the wine fridge and fridge simultaneously (Just had to keep cold wine Available). Suggest you live with the boat for a wile before you decide on needing a generator. Best regards Michael and Elle of Shiraz Trader.
 
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