Newby Questions

[gigharborite]

I am taking delivery of a Cutwater 30-CB in the next few weeks. I hope to learn much from the many experienced captains on this site.

If you don’t mind sharing, can you let me know:

1. What is best lesson you have learned since you have acquired your Ranger or Cutwater that you were not aware of when you acquired your boat?

2. What is the biggest mistake you made during your first year?

3. What are the three most important things I need to find out about the boat that are not in the manuals or covered by the Factory Delivery Experience?

 

[baz]

An interesting set of questions... I'll start the ball rolling and would expect others to chip in as your questions are very insightful IMO.

1) What is best lesson you have learned since you have acquired your Ranger or Cutwater that you were not aware of when you acquired your boat?

If boat is to be kept in salt water 100% of the time then inspection of under water zincs needs doing periodically, and is best done with a diver service. Never let zincs be below 50% at each inspection; replace them before they get to 0%.

2) What is the biggest mistake you made during your first year?

After solo fueling and pump out I untied boat from fuel dock without having the engine started/running. Boat moved away from dock quickly due to wind. I started engine in normal manner but it did not start.... panic set in.... I was lucky enough to still be close enough to fuel dock to throw a line to a dock hand and the boat was stalled from causing issues in my busy marina. After docking I found my throttle lever was slightly off from neutral position which prevent the engine from starting. NEVER leave the dock side without having the engine running.

3) What are the three most important things I need to find out about the boat that are not in the manuals or covered by the Factory Delivery Experience?

1) If you are brand new to boating, then docking techniques will be a must.... practice, practice and practice.

2) Handling the boat in various weather/water conditions; following seas, waves on port/starboard bow and so on. I takes considerable time experiencing different sea conditions to know how best to operate the boat.

3) The importance for taking the USCG new boater's training course; a 6 week course at least. If you're a new boater or even one who has some experience this course will be very useful and with the knowledge gained improve your confidence in using and operating your boat safely. As captain, your passengers look to you for safety while on the water. Always wear your PFD.

Good luck and enjoy your boat.

 

[Red Raven]

1. What is best lesson you have learned since you have acquired your Ranger or Cutwater that you were not aware of when you acquired your boat?

2. What is the biggest mistake you made during your first year?

3. What are the three most important things I need to find out about the boat that are not in the manuals or covered by the Factory Delivery Experience?

1. Boat handling at docking speeds is all about momentum. Once you learn how to control the direction, magnitude, and rotational momentum. It all becomes much easier and the stress of docking goes away. As Baz says this can only be learned with practice, practice, practice.

2. I didn’t adequately seat the oil dipstick once after checking the oil level. There is a definite snap on the Volvo D3 dip stick when it is fully seated. Don’t know about the other models. In our case more than 4 quarts of engine oil blew out the stem opening into the bilge before the low oil pressure engine alarms went off. Fortunately, a passing boater had a gallon of oil that he passed to us. After cleaning up a huge mess we were on our way no harm done. Four lessons learned. A) Always make sure to fully seat the dipstick, B) always carry at least a full gallon of extra engine oil on board, C) pull the bilge pump fuses immediately if this happens to you to avoid pumping oil into the water, and D) Dawn dishwashing soap in hot water, and a good extra bilge pump where you can control the output into 5 gallon bucket is essential to clean the bilge.

3. A) Annually clean the fresh water screen on the pump. The water will be undrinkable if you don’t. B) Add a charcoal filter to the holding tank vent if you don’t have one. No smell on flush is bliss! C) Put the biggest anchor on the boat that will fit if you plan to anchor out. Nothing better than a worry free nights sleep at Anchor.

 

[jcarrdive]

#1 (I have spent a ton of time on boats prior to owning our current Ranger Tug, so this lesson was small: Keeping the stainless steel and fiberglass in top shape is important and not hard unless you let it go for a while, then you are in trouble. Another might be "don't stop to talk to someone or begin another task while you are doing an important one, like cleaning the raw-water strainer".
#2. Starting the engine with the sea-chest closed.
#3. A) Prepare your boat properly for rough water if it is coming. Get things put away if you are making a crossing or if weather is changing. Get things tied off, get things to a low spot in the boat, check all windows are closed.
B) Paint your propane bottles with clear lacquer so they don't rust right away.
C) Keep an accurate and detailed boat log and don't cut corners, log weather, passengers, pets, wind direction... All of this is good record keeping. Also, log fuel, maintenance, problems and all other events. We also log TACO NIGHT, because it is important 🙂 (just kidding).
Jeff and Ela

 

[gigharborite]

These are all great suggestions, thanks! I would welcome more responses and will take the lessons above to heart. It was very nice of you to spend your time helping me.

 

[aculverwell]

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned since I started boating 3 years ago. Most of them aren’t RT or CW specific and reflect mainly on my initial boating inexperience:

1. Do not turn off the engine when docking/mooring until you are firmly attached to something
2. Do not leave any lines loose that could get in the water and foul the prop
3. Do not use the thrusters for more than a few seconds at a time to avoid blowing the fuse
4. Do not accidentally (and unknowingly) hit the “Throttle Only” button on the throttle control with your elbow—especially when docking or leaving the dock.
5. Always latch the refrigerator doors when underway
6. When refueling, go very slowly for the last 5-10 gallons to avoid spillage/burping
7. Make & use checklists for leaving/returning to help ensure you don’t do anything stupid like forget to open the raw water seacock before starting the engine.
8. Make sure you know how high the boathouse roof is relative to your mast.
9. Pay close attention to wind & current to understand how they will affect the boat when docking/leaving the dock.
10. Always check the marine weather forecast & know how to get updates when underway. Know what a Small Craft Advisory means.
11. Wax early and often to keep your boat looking beautiful. As far as I know, our boats aren’t waxed prior to delivery, so that should be one of the first things you do.
12. If your boat is going to be documented with the Coast Guard, do not purchase and install the state registration numbers until you know whether you really need them (i.e. you aren’t allowed to have the Washington State registration numbers on your boat if it is Coast Guard documented).
13. Understand that some stainless steel fasteners/washers are going to rust even if they are marine grade (316). Keep the gelcoat around them waxed and remove the rust with a rust remover. Or, plan to replace the fasteners/washers.
14. The plastic outboard storage bracket provided by RT is not really wide enough (or strong enough) for the Yamaha 9.9 outboard.
15. Make sure that you (and your first mate) can easily & safely lift/maneuver your outboard to and from the dinghy- even when the boats are rocking. Don’t get an outboard that is too heavy to handle (Yamaha 9.9). Hello Torqeedo.


What to ask the factory: the preferred setting for all of the many electrical control switches when leaving the boat for extended period (to ensure that batteries are being charged).

 

[aculverwell]

Oh, and one more:

16. If you are going to cruise to/from Canada, a Nexus pass is an excellent investment and avoids the need to personally visit the U.S. and Canadian customs docks.

 

[S. Todd]

1) The Volvo throttle control does not take a lot of pressure to put into reverse so don't accidentally do that when you are trying to position yourself along a pier or dock (30 years driving a Mercruiser and never did it once, have done it twice now with the Volvo and made me feel really stupid both times - where is all the current coming from? Oh stupid me, from my own prop.). It does make it lots easier to pivot the inboard boat without using the thrusters (something everyone should practice and get good at) so it is not all bad.
2) The thrusters will turn themselves off if not used for a period of time. When you leave the boat with your mate to go get the trailer and try to use them as she drives the boat up to the trailer it is not her fault they won't work from the remote if you never told her to turn them back on. (Hopefully I've learned that lesson.)
3) I'm still working on this one - How do I retire and spend more time on the boat?

 

[gsc3]

Important to have a galvanic isolator if boat is to be plugged in to shore power, to protect in-water metal fixtures.

 

[REO6205]

Take a boater's safety class and do some homework also.

...The Coast Guards book on ColRegs is a good place to start.

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/navrules/navrules.pdf

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRuleChanges

Read Rule 9. I don't think a lot of pleasure boaters are familiar with this part of the rules. There's a lot of heavy commercial traffic in your area. Don't force your ROW. You'll be operating a small, nimble vessel and you're not on any kind of a schedule or trying to operate at a profit. Give the big guys the room they need.
Pay particular attention to tugs towing a barge...sometimes 2 barges... behind them. Never ever try to pass between the tug and the barge. The odds are against you making it. Also be aware that due to wind or current the barge may not be tracking directly behind the tug. Use your radio to communicate with the commercial traffic. Believe me, the guys in the wheelhouse appreciate it. Trying to second guess a recreational boaters next move creates stress that they don't need.

Have fun with your new boat. Use your head and be constantly aware of your surroundings. Watch the tides, the current, the wind, obstructions, navigation markers, sea state, and other traffic and you should be alright.

 

[bob daily]

Good judgment comes from experience,
And a lot that comes from bad judgment!
Go slow and be safe!
Capt. Bob