Tug Operation Training

[Carlykea003]

Hi folks,
Thanks in advance for your time.
We have a our cabin for sale in Trout Lake BC and if and when it sells we are going to jump into the Ranger tug world! Does anyone have any suggestions for a training course or introduction to Ranger tugs? I have my boating license but I would like to do some BC coastal trips and have zero experience with that. Feel I should take some kind of course.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[greeninbetween]

If you have little or no boating experience, you might start with joining the USPS and going through their course offerings. You will also meet experienced boaters who are willing to share their knowledge, experience and tips, and might be willing to give you hands-on instruction on your vessel. The Coast Guard also offers instruction. The best path, after gaining basic knowledge of boat management, maintenance, navigation, rules of the road etc is time on your own boat in fairly benign conditions until your skill set and level increases. There are various sailing/boating schools that offer excellent instruction- check google, and have fun!

 

[greeninbetween]

I forgot to mention that Ranger Tug offers a familiarization process at their facility when you buy a new Tug.

 

[Lehill]

Agree with Greeninbetween. A very good idea to take the Power Squadron Boating Essentials course and the Power Squadron VHF Radio course with D.SC. Endorsement Restricted Operators Certificate - Maritime. These courses are offered over the winter at various Canadian Power Squadron clubs in Southern Ontario. They will give you all the basics you need to feel confident that you will be safe on the water......with some practise in your new tug.....Lance

 

[Haidian]

Hello, I wonder what tug you are looking for?

Power Squadron is absolutely worthwhile - be sure as well to upgrade your VHF certificate.

Important things besides boat operation that are really necessary to understand are tides and currents, weather and wind, and of course navigation using charts as well as your on-board Garmin. I always have my paper charts at the helm when we are underway although I do not often used them except when I need a broader overview or an in-depth perspective.

Pat

 

[Crewdog]

I see that your profile lists a ThunderJet 23 as a current vessel (cool boat, I think we rode one in NZ once), so I would bet that you probably have the basics of boating safety down, as well as a handle on launch, recovery and towing.

Buying new from the factory or a dealer should get you 2 or 3 days of owner familiarization, and enough basic systems knowledge to get on the water and have fun safely.

When we purchased, even tho we'd had 250 hours on a 19ft bowrider, the owner fam was a must.

We had an overnight launch cruise with another Tugnut up the Florida ICW about 30 miles and that helped us get our confidence up to take our next overnight cruise solo.

I'm sure wherever you launch from that you can find a fellow Tug to travel with for the first time.

And there's plenty of threads here on what to get for an onboard tool kit.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

 

[Red Raven]

The courses are a must. The Ranger familiarization is great (but like drinking from a firehose). You won't remember much. But most important I think is practice and experience. It is not at all like handling a small boat with a jet, outboard or stern drive.

The first thing we did after going through the RT fam is to take the boat out and try to repeat everything the RT captain taught us multiple times. Docking is especially stressful until you get it down. Do it port bow in, starboard bow in, port stern in, starboard stern in, port side tie, starboard side tie, several times each with no wind or current. Then go out and do it all again when it is blowing or the current is moving. You'll have to learn it all over again. With the thrusters it is really easy but you need to know how to do it all without thruster in case of a failure or high winds, current, or waves.

Next, go out and try a few passages with real current. Learn how to time your arrival for slack and what to do if there is more current than you planned (reserve power is your friend). Be conservative until you really know the passage.

Read up on the basics of anchoring before you try it. You don't want to drag anchor your first night. Try a lunch stop first. Then go out and do it overnight in conservative conditions. Don't be afraid to tug (pun intended) on the anchor (power in reverse) to see what holds (and what doesn't) in different conditions with your set up. You won't know what it feels like to be firmly set or be dragging until you experience it. Use an anchor alarm until you are comfortable with your anchoring skills.

Go for it. You will not regret it. Ranger Tugs are great boats!

Start with calm seas for each experience and work your way up to taking greater risk. The boat can handle way more than you or your passengers but when you are at your limit of comfort you will know it. Don't hesitate to head for the nearest shelter and try again another day!