New R-25 doing sea trial next Wed - what to look out for?

[baz]

OK - the day for our R-25 sea trial is set for next Wed July 15 at 10am with Andrew Custis. Andrew tells me it will last all day (maybe 6 hours) and we will dock for lunch somewhere during the trial. 🙂 If all goes well the boat will be shipped/trailered to our moorage location nearby and hoisted into the water. My D-31 slip at The Port of Edmonds, WA is waiting....

Sooooooo, what should I be looking out for during this sea trial ? What questions should be asked etc? For a new boat what are typical things that may not be operational or that need adjustments etc? Any help/advice is most welcomed. Thanks in advance..... -Barry 🙂

 

[bluebayou]

Gill & Barry,
Congratulations on getting to this point: sea trial......I was wondering what advice to give during your maiden voyage, and this is what I came up with:
Check the throttle at every rpm between 600 and 4000 rpm. See if it holds that rpm without your hand on the throttle.
Similarly, check the steering linkage to the rudder, if there's any play or lag in the response of the helm.
Thirdly, let your anchor out in about 20-30 feet of water, set the hook, and back off to a 7:1 scope. Make sure your chain and rode are in order, and the windlass operates properly.
Then, I would operate the domestic stuff, the water pressure pump, the water heater, the taps at the sinks and the shower, and the Wallas Stove !! Make some ice in the refrigerator during the (6) hours you describe.
The engine operation will either be just fine, or obviously wrong. It should be just fine.
Andrew is totally knowledgeable, and you should have a fabulous day! Smooth sailing, Charles on Blue Bayou

 

[baz]

Gill & Barry,
Congratulations on getting to this point: sea trial......I was wondering what advice to give during your maiden voyage, and this is what I came up with:
Check the throttle at every rpm between 600 and 4000 rpm. See if it holds that rpm without your hand on the throttle.

Where is the RPM displayed ?

Similarly, check the steering linkage to the rudder, if there's any play or lag in the response of the helm.

What would the symptom be if there was any lag? I assume play means like for a car's steering wheel, right?

Thirdly, let your anchor out in about 20-30 feet of water, set the hook, and back off to a 7:1 scope. Make sure your chain and rode are in order, and the windlass operates properly.

How does one setup the 7:1 scope? I guess I can ask Andrew about that.... 🙂

Then, I would operate the domestic stuff, the water pressure pump, the water heater, the taps at the sinks and the shower, and the Wallas Stove !! Make some ice in the refrigerator during the (6) hours you describe.

Good ideas -- will do.

The engine operation will either be just fine, or obviously wrong. It should be just fine.
Andrew is totally knowledgeable, and you should have a fabulous day! Smooth sailing, Charles on Blue Bayou

Righty Oh matey.... Thanks. 🙂

 

[Bruce Moore]

I second all of the above.

Here are a few more things to check on, based on our own early experience:

Stop the boat in the clear and run slow astern to determine if she walks to port or starboard.

Make sure the throttle linkage is smooth in both forward and astern.

Run at WOT briefly to see what RPM you can achieve. I don't know what engine you have. If Cummins, then the Smart Craft Display will give you RPM. Don't know about Yanmar.

Make sure hose clamps have been checked for proper torque. This will probably have been done during Andrew's test regimen.

Check to see if the plug has been removed from the anchor locker, and that water drains freely.

Perform a radio check on the VHF.

Check all functions, including Aux input, on the installed stereo head unit.

Honk the horn!

See if all the cabin windows open without two hands and full body weight.

See if you can remove the dinette table and legs.

Check the transom door latch alignment.

That's all I can think of now. You're going to love this boat!

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[sparky]

One more thing:

Make sure you program Andrew's cell phone number into your cell phone so you can call him all the time when you need help with something...... :lol:

Sparky

 

[baz]

Bruce & Sparky:

Thanks for all those words of wisdom. I especially like the recording of Andrew's cell phone number. 😉 From these postings and some of my own, I'm making up a list to check off. I will have my son with me during sea trial so he will be a second pair of ears so to speak.

Keep the advice coming.... 🙂

 

[baz]

...snip...
Stop the boat in the clear and run slow astern to determine if she walks to port or starboard.

Not sure I understand this scenario test... What if rudder not at midship position? What does this test signify if boat wanders to port or starboard?

Run at WOT briefly to see what RPM you can achieve. I don't know what engine you have. If Cummins, then the Smart Craft Display will give you RPM. Don't know about Yanmar.

I have the stock Yanmar 150 HP engine. What is significance of knowing what the highest RPM is?

Make sure hose clamps have been checked for proper torque. This will probably have been done during Andrew's test regimen.

I will ask Andrew about this as I will not have a torque wrench with me. 😉

Check to see if the plug has been removed from the anchor locker, and that water drains freely.

Will do.

Perform a radio check on the VHF.

Will do.

Check all functions, including Aux input, on the installed stereo head unit.
Edit...
a) Honk the horn!
b) See if all the cabin windows open without two hands and full body weight.
c) See if you can remove the dinette table and legs.
d) Check the transom door latch alignment.

That's all I can think of now. You're going to love this boat!

Cheers,

Bruce

I will be sure to also checkout the radio FM/AM operations and the AUX-in connection using my iPod's music playback. 😉

Yes... In my visit to the factory I have noticed the windows aren't easily slid back -- so will be sure to check that.

I talked to the Kent factory Ops manager about a week ago and discussed the dinette table removal based on having read the issues some people here have posted. He said they have re-designed the dinette legs in my R-25 to make things easier. We shall see during sea trial. Thanks...

Question for all... How do I check the Auto Pilot system for proper operation?

 

[Bruce Moore]

Knowing which way the stern walks makes a difference in docking and other maneuvering (i.e. do a 180 turn in place without using thrusters). Moondance doesn't have a rudder position indicator - you may, with auto-pilot installed. If not, just count the wheel turns from hard-to-port to hard-to-starboard. Center will be 1/2 that.

As for WOT test, your engine spec says max RPM is 4060. Find out. The boat will be light for your sea trial, so it's a good time to check. You'll have a benchmark before loading up and provisioning. In fact, compare the published specs to real performance all the way up the curve. See where there are disparities, and understand why.

Have a great time!

 

[Tom Ray]

Checking the autopilot is fairly simple. Just tell it to hold a course and see if it does. Tell it to change to a new course and see if it turns to the new course and then holds it. Tell it to standby and it should stop steering the boat. That's about all there is to it.

 

[j&lgray]

Here are a couple of things:
Check all the navigation and running lights
Check the operation of the bilge pump by actually putting water in the bilge until the pump goes on
Check the hot water operation by (1) the engine should easily make a tank of hot water in a couple of hours, but before you go out, plug in the shore power cord and test the 120 volt outlets and let the tank come up to temperature. Then:
Check the fresh water pump operation. It should be quick, and the water should flow consistently. When it stopped, the pump should not cycle at all. Wait at least 20 minutes with the system under pressure to see if this pump cycles, if it does the hose clamps need to be tightened.
Check the shower operation by running the shower into the shower sump pump. That pump should function smoothly.

Do you have fenders and lines or is Andrew supplying these?

 

[Andrew Custis]

Ok here are some answers 😀

1. No need to check anything to do with the throttle cables as it is all electronic now.

2. Play in the steering. We have an autobleeder now that takes all of the air out of the system and makes it a no brainer. Boat checked out perfect in this one.

3. I go through all of the 12 volt systems on the boat. Never had made ice before. These marine refrigerators are cooled by the evaporator in the freezer. The freezer gets cold first.

4. Rpm will be displayed on the Yanmar panel. The cool thing about these new engines is that they are all NMEA 2k. You can view all engine instruments on the Garmin display now.

5. Any lag in the steering would feel like the wheel is skipping from port to starboard. This would be due to air in the system. Wont be there unless there was a leak.

6. All of the boats have a counter clockwise prop rotation in reverse. This would set you up for a port prop walk. Rudder does practically nothing in reverse with a straight shaft inboard engine.

7. I ran this boat at WOT with myself and achieved 4120 RPM. Will check it with 4 people on board.

8. Always a good idea to check hose clamps. Even good to check them at every engine service.

9. I checked to make sure no plug was put in the anchor locker. Also checked to make sure the hose was not kinked. :shock:

10. Radio checks are performed on sea trials along with checking to make sure the VHF is connected with the GPS.

 

[sparky]

Here is the really great thing about purchasing a Ranger Tug:

Even if you don't remember to check all the things on the above suggestion lists, know that the folks at Ranger Tugs will be there to sort things out after the delivery and make things right.

We live no where near our delivering dealership. Does not matter. With Andrew and Jeff Messmer's help anything and everything that has required repair/replacement/explanation after delivery has been handled 100%. 😀

You made a good choice.

Sparky

 

[baz]

Woweeee -- this has been a wonderful thread full of very useful info and insights for what one should do and look for during the sea trial. In addition, Andrew has even chipped in with his words of wisdom.

ALL - Your time and effort here is much appreciated. 🙂

Have just returned from the Bank and Ranger Tugs will have all their money for our R-25 by next Monday. Bank wanted to know and advised if I should hold off payment until after the sea trial. I said, knowing Ranger Tugs stated customer support and the fact they are 'local', I had no problem with a prompt payment of my balance prior to the sea trial. This thread has given me assurance I have made the correct decision. If all goes well I should have the boat at our slip next Thursday or Friday -- just ready for a weekend of nosing around the new boat and maybe a bit of practice. Of course, my two Fox Terriers will be in for a real surprise when they set all 2x fours on the boat and begin their nosing about also. 😉

 

[captain's cat]

Other than maintaining a course and turning to a new course, your autopilot should be able to "go to a point" on your chartplotter. You probably have the Garmin system, I have Raymarine but it can "go to the cursor", a very useful thing when you move the cursor on the plotter out to a point where you want to head, engage the AP and sit back and enjoy the scenery! It can also go to a waypoint you have entered, or follow a track, which is a series of waypoints structured to take you where you want to go with turns along the way. A very useful and relaxing device!

Don't forget that it does just that, steers the boat. It will not look out for obstacles along your course. :shock:

Enjoy the sea trial, not many days more exciting than that.

Charlie