New Tug 2016 R29CB-Now what?

A

adventres

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
99
Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Vessel Name
Adventres II
We picked up our 2016 R29CB this past weekend in Everett and cruise the tug to Seattle, our home away from home. Our family, Karl and Lisa, and our two girls Maya (11 yrs) and Kira (9 yrs) are very excited to start our next chapter of boating. Our boat name is ADVENTRES II

Andrew has been great help during our purchase. Kenny and Capt Mac are awesome instructors! We have met Brad and Carol, and John, at the marina!

This is our first "big" boat. Our first boat was a 20' bow rider. We are not RV'ers (which I know there are a few things that are similar). We are "tenters" so we know how to go minimal, with that said, we have questions!

1. With the purchase of the tug in the fall/winter, any suggestions on how to reduce the moisture in the cabin while at the marina and not in use? dehumidifier, or a heater, or both? We plan on using the boat during the winter.

2. water tank, how much should we have in the tank? will it go bad? should we add safe chemicals if there is such a thing? we did fill it up to about 3/4 tank and then realized we probably shouldn't have filled it up that much.

3. Can someone explain (again) how the refrigerator works. We are plugged into shore power and the house batteries are off, so is the fridge working? it feels like it. I am testing out the ice trays! Right now, everything is turned off, except the shore power.

4. If weather is decent over Thanksgiving, are we crazy for thinking about going to the San Juan Islands? How long is the ride? hmmm, maybe Blake Island should be our first trip.

5. I'm planning ahead, anyone with a sewing pattern to cover up the hatches or port holes for the summer? or recommended hatch cover? a shade cover came with the tug for the atrium windows. with no ac for the PNW, I know it might get warm in the hot sun in the summer.

that's it for now. I'm sure we will have more questions later.

TIA!
Lisa
 
1. With the purchase of the tug in the fall/winter, any suggestions on how to reduce the moisture in the cabin while at the marina and not in use? dehumidifier, or a heater, or both? We plan on using the boat during the winter.

Use a dehumidifier such as the Caframo space heater to keep temp above freezing and moisture control.

2. water tank, how much should we have in the tank? will it go bad? should we add safe chemicals if there is such a thing? we did fill it up to about 3/4 tank and then realized we probably shouldn't have filled it up that much.


If you're using the boat during winter time simply have the fresh water tank full or near being full. You never know when you might need the water.

3. Can someone explain (again) how the refrigerator works. We are plugged into shore power and the house batteries are off, so is the fridge working? it feels like it. I am testing out the ice trays! Right now, everything is turned off, except the shore power.

If on shore power leave battery charge on and Refrigerator on.

4. If weather is decent over Thanksgiving, are we crazy for thinking about going to the San Juan Islands? How long is the ride? hmmm, maybe Blake Island should be our first trip.

Always check weather regardless of your cruise being a short or long one. For your first cruise I would recommend a short trip. The San Juan Island can be an allure for sure with you new boat, but leave that for later after doing a few short trips.
 
Hey Lisa,
Now the fun begins. The 29 is a complex boat, with a lot of systems to learn. The easiest and best way to learn is to use the boat. I would start off by spending some nights at the marina followed by a trip to Blake Is. After that there are lots of places in the sound to cruise to. A trip to the San Juans in November is iffy in my opinion. You both work and that implies a schedule. Trust me, you do not want to be that far North trying to return to Elliott Bay in SCA conditions. We can get there and back in 5 or six hours in good weather, but that is going right across the Straits.

I agree with Baz on the other things, although we have not had any moisture issues with either of our tugs in the last two years. A Dampit kind of air circulation device could not hurt anything but I think a space heater is overkill.

Brad
 
Congratulations on your purchase of the new 29. We took delivery of a 29S last June. They're awesome boats.

I believe running the refrigerators requires that the house batteries be on. They're 12 v. If you leave food in them, house batteries must be on or you'll have a mess to clean up.

As you push out farther from Seattle, we recommend a trip to Tacoma. Spend a night or two at Dock Street Marina. Walk or free light rail to everything including the Dome. Gig Harbor is a great stop down that way too.

Tom A
 
R29CB? Nice!! I've been waiting to see pro pictures of the command bridge 29 for awhile now. Ranger hasn't put that model on their website yet.
 
Fridge - your main breaker/switch panel should have a switch for the fridge. On shore power make sure the main power source rotary switch should be selected Shore Power, the main power breaker/switch on the panel should be on, and the fridge switch should also be on. Good to have the battery charger switch on anytime you are on shore power also and the investor for any 12 volt loads. Watch the water heater usage if you are on only a 15 or 20 amp service. You might want to leave that switch off unless you need it, and then turn off some other loads if you are on light duty outlets at the dock. We started by many nights at the marina and day trips, followed by short overnights in sheltered waters to other marinas or docks, before anchoring out overnight or doing the big crossings. It's great fun!
 
1. With the purchase of the tug in the fall/winter, any suggestions on how to reduce the moisture in the cabin while at the marina and not in use? dehumidifier, or a heater, or both? We plan on using the boat during the winter.
Click to expand...

I'm hesitant to leave electric heaters on when I'm not on the boat. Too much fire risk. If moisture is a problem, a dehumidifier is a good option. I've used small Eva-Dry dehumidifiers effectively, but they have to be emptied regularly, or you could modify one and have it drain in a sink. I'd probably wait and see if moisture is a problem when you're not on the boat before doing anything.

4. If weather is decent over Thanksgiving, are we crazy for thinking about going to the San Juan Islands? How long is the ride? hmmm, maybe Blake Island should be our first trip.
Click to expand...

Nope, you're not crazy. The key here is "If the weather is decent." You have a lot of options closer to home, too. Blake Island is wonderful and close. They also have a well-protected marina with shore power if you're nervous about being unplugged. Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Brownsville, and Poulsbo are all close, too, and each is a good destination. If you're ready to try anchoring, you could stay in Blakely Harbor (Bainbridge) and have killer views of downtown Seattle.

If you decide to make the trip up to the San Juans, you have two routes: inside Whidbey Island, which is more protected, or outside Whidbey Island. If you take the inside route you'll have to either go through Swinomish Channel (not difficult, but slow, and STAY IN THE CHANNEL) or Deception Pass, where the currents run to 7 or 8 knots. With your boat you don't have to hit Deception Pass exactly at slack, but especially since you're new to the boat you'll enjoy it a lot more near slack. Conditions get ugly outside Deception Pass when the current is ebbing and the wind is blowing from the south. If you take the outside route you'll spend some time in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. On a calm day this is no problem, but when it's windy it gets rough fast. Not dangerous most of the time, but it can certainly get uncomfortable.

Given decent weather you can get from Seattle to the San Juans in one long day. You might plan on getting to the San Juans, but if the weather doesn't cooperate have alternate plans. If you're on the outside route, you could go to Port Townsend, Port Ludlow, or even into Hood Canal to Pleasant Harbor. On the inside you'd have Langley, Coupeville, Everett, Oak Harbor, La Conner, and Anacortes. Several State Parks on both routes, too.

Or you could go south. Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and all the small marinas and State Parks south of Tacoma Narrows.

Congrats on the new boat! You've got a lot of neat places to explore. There really aren't any bad choices.
 
Please post a pic of your new boat. Have fun and read lots of books on the north west boating. And nav systems up here. Have fun
 
Great picture and awesome looking boat. 😀
 
Andrew,
Let's see some photos/ details on this neat looking boat on the web page!!!
 
That is a very pretty boat! I do like the lines of the new 29, and the command bridge seems to work nicely with it. Congrats! As far as "Now what?"... now, the fun begins. You have received some great advice here - be safe, expand your horizons as your comfort level increases.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
We have a new website almost completed that will have some very cool features. I won't spoil it but new cool things upcoming.
 
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