tugs vs. anything else

Just returned from our shake down cruise. We took possession of our R27 on Tuesday, spent a few hours with the dealer getting familiar with the handling of the boat. Then took off on our own. While we were offered the use of a slip at the dealer in Essex, we traveled a few miles up the river to Hamburg Cove where the dealer had taken us earlier in the day. There, we picked up a mooring and spent our first evening gently rocking in an idyllic setting.

We left Hamburg Cove on the Connecticut River on Wednesday morning, crossed Long Island Sound to Greenport where we spent two nights, We then circumnavigated Shelter Island and spent the night in Dering Harbor. Next we crossed back across the sound to Mystic where we spent the afternoon enjoying a brilliant early autumn afternoon in this popular seafaring town. We stayed the night at Mystic Shipyard before returning today to Essex, Connecticut.

Our initial impression is very positive. We are happy with the handling and even happier with the fuel economy. We traveled about 105 nm and burned about 30 gallons of fuel. I haven't done the calculations for the entire trip. But, today with a 5 kt wind on the stern we used 1.4 gallons per hour at an average 1950 rpm with average speed of about 6.5 kts.

Initially, we were concerned about feeling cramped in the small saloon. Surprisingly, even after five days, we didn't feel confined.

We are very pleased with our new boat.
 
I have a 25sc and I am permanently on the boat and couldn't be happier. Cruising all over at between 5 and 7 knots and sipping fuel. I had a 47 foot trawler before this and docking was always a Maalox moment now it's a snap. Rough seas or smooth water doesn't bother this boat and I've had it in both. I live on the boat in South Florida and I get plenty of breeze through the windows and hatches. Only use the A/C when at a marina and when I'm not pointing into the wind. I looked at every boat available and I would not change my mind one bit. New or old, this was the boat for me.
 
Interesting question about the low wheel height, I am used to the comfortable height of the wheel on my Murano (Auto) and I did feel the Tug wheel is too low..............anyone else notice this?
 
Guess it's what you get used to. I am tall and have no problem. In fact, in good weather I frequently pop up through the open port light above and steer with my toes. If the seaway is wide open I will pull up all the way through the opening, sit on the edge, and steer with the AP remote. Kind of a poor mans flybridge. The only height issues (adressed in other threads) are seeing the chartplotter and the Yanmar display because of the angle. Minor workarounds will solve those problems. Love the boat, no real complaints.

Frank
 
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