R-23 Start-up and shut down checklist

[cdalldorf]

Good Morning Ranger Crew.

We have just purchased a very slightly used 2018 Ranger R-23 with the 200 hp outboard. We are preparing to move the vessel from her current home in the South Puget Sound to Friday Harbor WA. Does anyone have a start-up/ shut down checklist you can share? If anyone also had any other operational checklists to share that would also be most welcome and appreciated!

I have the electronic version of the R-23 owners manual now and will not see any of the other manuals and documents until we finish closing. The vessel is very far away and we will not have much time to review anything until we are onboard and ready to head north. Plenty of trip planning things on had (currents/ tides, port guides, paper charts but anxious to have a few basic checklists for starting and operations.

Cheers and see you on the water soon.

Lindsey and Chuck 😀
M/V Cormorant
Friday Harbor

 

[Ernie]

Have everyone use the restroom ashore. Put on your PFD. Make sure that you have enough pfds on board for everyone. Turn on house and engine batteries. . Turn on VHF, turn on Chart plotter , Check weather, Check tides and currents. Check wind. Turn off shore power at pedestal, unplug power cord and stow. Check water level in fresh water tank, Check fuel level. Lower outboard, Check prop area for debris. Turn on the engine, Check that water is spitting. Out the engine Turn on bow thruster and give quick pulse to make sure it’s working. Release all spring lines, Final check with crew for all clear, Release all dock lines and cast off, Leave the slip, When safe, stow all the lines and bring in the fenders

Before leaving boat. After safely mooring
Turn off engine and raise it, turn off thruster. Turn off all other boat devices Flush the engine with fresh water. Plug into shore power Turn on battery charger. Turn off engine and house batteries, Give the boat a good hose down. Make final log entry. Lock up

More or less before and after each trip

 

[baz]

I would add...

1) Always center the motor to be mid-ship when leaving and docking after a trip.
2) Ensure the engine can be turned fully to port and starboard.
3) Trim tabs are electric and should be fully retracted by default when engine turned off.
4) Keep an eye on the holding tank level as the tank is hidden from view. Pump out frequently to be sure.
5) Have boat hook handy in cockpit.
6) Having a center/mid ship fender is a useful extra for protecting the hull surface from the dockside.
7) If you have a kicker motor that is rarely used, then run it for a short period each month and flush with fresh water after.
8) Shore power should never be turned on until the cord is fully connected to the boat. If not done and chord boat's end drops into the water, bad things will happen. When disconnecting shore power turn off shore power pedestal's breaker and then disconnect from boat.

 

[cdalldorf]

This is all great and thank you for your time in building this checklist for my boat book.

If anyone else is building a checklist - in addition to placing your PFD on and ensuring there are enough PFDs (that fit appropriately, also ensure your Type 4 throwable is placed and ready on the stern deck.

Thanks all and see you on the water soon.

Chuck

 

[Joan and Jim]

1. Brief passengers on: MOB procedures; how to make Mayday calls; operation of the head; use of safety equipment including fire extinguishers, flares, throw lines, hand pump; life jacket policy; where to be positioned to stay out of the way of skipper and crew when undocking and docking;

2. Binoculars out and focused. Charts out and in order.

 

[olygirl]

Be sure to check the oil level in the engine before starting up..especially since the boat is new to you!

 

[Cutwater28GG]

I'll say it again. brief passengers on use of the head..

nothing worse than having to deal with that issue on an otherwise nice day out

 

[baz]

I'll say it again. brief passengers on use of the head..

nothing worse than having to deal with that issue on an otherwise nice day out

Yes, especially children of all ages.... and make sure the fresh water pump breaker is flip ON so they can wash their hands.

 

[cdalldorf]

Thank you all! This is very helpful and thanks a million.

See you on the water!

Lindsey and Chuck

 

[rackline]

Barry is right that we want guests washing their hands. I would suggest that you turn off the pressure water switch while running. This may be old school, but you can't hear the pump while running and a leak or failed connection will drain your water tank. Unfortunate if you need water at your destination - disasterous if bilge pumps can't deal with the flooded bilge. Fittings fail!

 

[cdalldorf]

Hi Ranger Tugnuts -

Thanks again for your help. We are finishing the checklist here and can share it if anyone would like.

Another rookie question here - the only start-up and shut-down procedure I haven't been able to find is - What position should the inverter switch be in and when, during start and shut down?

We are on the boat starting Tuesday! Can't wait.

See you on the water!

Lindsey and Chuck

 

[Joan and Jim]

Hi Lindsay and Chuck. We would appreciate your posting your checklist. We are always tweaking ours and welcome new suggestions. Thanks.

 

[jagizzi]

Chuck,

There may be some room for discussion but the inverter should be off for the most part at startup. You most likely will have been on shore power and would not need it then. The only reason for it is the microwave and the 120 outlets if the boat is stock.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

i run with the principle that I have everything off that I am not using.

so house, thruster, engine breakers on for startup. inverter and crossover breakers off.

 

[cdalldorf]

Thanks Jim and Cutwater 28GG! Perfect and makes sense.

See you in and around Friday Harbor.

Chuck

 

[cdalldorf]

Joan and Jim -

We are going to run through it a few times to make sure it makes sense. We'll post up after some QC (quality control)!

Lindsey and Chuck

 

[cdalldorf]

With your help here are the R-23 Engine start up and shut down lists I have begun. I used these on our recent 2-day trip bringing the gently used boat we purchased home from Jarrells Cove Marina to Friday Harbor.

NOTE: The pre-trip weather, current, tide, safety passenger briefing, head use, MOB checklists will be separate and are being developed. This is strictly about engine start and shutdown.

I am sharing these for your use, edits , comments etc. for the good of the order! Thanks a million for your help.

Chuck

Pre-under way and engine start check list:

Turn on house and engine batteries
Lower outboard, Check prop area for debris
Check engine oil
Turn on the engine, ensure cooling water is spitting
Turn off battery charger
Turn off shore power pedestal breaker and then disconnect from boat
Unplug power cord and stow
Turn on VHF, turn on Chart plotter
Check fuel level
Check water level in fresh water tank
Turn off the pressure water switch while running; you can't hear the pump while running and a leak or failed connection will drain your water tank
Ensure engine can be turned fully to port and starboard
Ensure engine is centered
Turn on bow thruster battery (Stern deck, port side lazarette)
Turn on bow thruster. Quick pulse to check it’s working
Prepare boat hook and walking fender ready at stern
Final check with crew for line procedure and all clear
Release all spring lines
Release all dock lines and cast off -- stow all the lines and bring in the fenders

NOTES: Once the EMERGENCY PARALLEL switch is placed in the on position the power from the HOUSE batteries will be transferred to the ENGINE battery. Use only for EMERGENCY starting of the engine
 
Engine Shutdown Checklist:

Turn off bow thruster and bow thruster battery
Center engine to be mid-ship
Turn off engine and raise it
Trim tabs are electric, should fully retract by default when engine is turned off
Turn off all other boat devices
Flush the engine with fresh water
Plug in shore power. Never turn on until the cord is fully connected to the boat
Turn on shore power at pedestal
Turn on battery charger
Turn off engine and house batteries
Check holding tank level as the tank is hidden from view. Pump out frequently and ensure head valves are secured in proper position (closed)
Give the boat a good hose down
Make final log entry
Lock up

NOTES:
If the house bank drops below 10.8v you must reset the charging relay by switching on the parallel while the engine is running or while plugged into shore power.

When disconnected from shore power the battery charger should not be on and the inverter should have a switch to activate it. Turning on the inverter is a two step process. #1 - Press and hold the inverter toggle switch for about one second. This toggle switch is located near the reading lamp in the cave. #2 On the breaker panel slide the plastic guard from the inverter breaker and slide it over the shore power breaker. (Close the inverter breaker and you should now have inverter available. There is NO NEED and it is NOT recommended to run the battery charger off of the inverter.