Port Madison is a very well-protected anchorage, it felt more like being on a little lake. We are finding that the Ranger is not only easy to handle while docking but dropping the hook was almost effortless.
Puget Sound is the second-largest estuary in the country. It was formed around 15,000 years ago by a massive glacier moving south across the area. This glacier was over 3,412 feet thick. As it moved south, it shaped the land like a giant bulldozer, carving out the basins that make up Puget Sound. Over fresh waters of 10,000 rivers and streams of the Seattle area flow into the Puget Sound creating the estuarine habitat that's so valuable for wildlife in the sound. Our first stop is Gig Harbor, a very unique boating destination. We'll be attending the PNW MTOA Rendezvous…
Our son, Ross, who lives in Portland, OR, joined us for a few days. We explored Gig Harbor together, he helped us get to the store to stock up on groceries and we played a few games of Liverpool. Kismet, sitting pretty in Gig Harbor Captain Ross! Christopher, (above-left) brother to Sarah, our soon-to-be daughter-in-law (fiancé to son Skyler), lives nearby, just south of Seattle so he made a special trip to Gig Harbor to have lunch with us on Sunday. It was nice to spend some time with Christopher and get to know him a…
Can't think of a better location than Gig Harbor, Washington for the PNW MTOA group of boaters to come together to laugh, share and learn. We never felt the "odd man out" (being from out of state) with this group of boaters, we got a big, warm welcome, right away, from everyone we met and the group is just small enough that it really was possible to spend time with almost everyone to hear boating stories and/or tips. We had so much fun, we think we'll have to come back in two years. Bill Stults hosted the rendezvous and worked…
The big day finally arrived, the day we saw the results of our long-planned transition into becoming owners of a Ranger Tugs R27 trailerable trawler. We were so excited to see our new boat, that we arrived an hour earlier than scheduled to start our new boat orientation and sea trial with Andrew. Andrew Custis, Ranger Tugs Customer Service Manager, is responsible for our new boat training and introduction. The better part of a day was spent on Lake Washington with Andrew going through the boat systems and answering our questions, the session finished after a sea trial – Andrew wanted…
Thursday afternoon, after we provisioned the boat, Andrew drove us down to the boat launch in Point Defiance, waved goodbye, and said to call him when we got back. We left the truck and trailer at the factory this time out. So, long story short, we're off on our own and FINALLY back on the water on a new Kismet. Gig Harbor, here we come.
We arrived at Glacier National Park early Saturday, with plenty of time to drive around the park and take a hike before we settled in our little mountain cabin at Rising Sun Motor Inn. We spent Sunday on a Red Bus Tour, a thrilling ride up the Going to the Sun Road. A perfect day spent with a busload of people and a very knowledgeable "Jammer" bus driver. We learned about the glaciers and how they will soon cease to exist (estimated to disappear by 2030), hard to believe. We learned that it will be the fifth time the glaciers…
Where did the summer go? It seemed to fly by for us as we quickly organized and packed up all our boating paraphernalia, clothes, and a multitude of personal luxury items. The boat is finished now and recently passed the sea trial and as the Ranger Tugs Custom Service Manager said in his recent email message to us, "It floated!" So, on Tuesday, we hit the road running with our thoughts focused forward to the new adventure ahead of us. We'll take possession of the boat in Kent, Washington, and get situated and familiar with her before we head to…
Above are photos of a Ranger Tug Rendezvous, courtesy of Herb Stark. When I was a child, our family would drive to Lake Chemung (Howell, Michigan) to spend summer weekends, a family event I always enjoyed. Like many things children look forward to, like getting to the lake, it never seemed to happen soon enough. If I said it once I’d bet I said it a hundred times, “Are we there yet?” and I’m beginning to feel the same way about heading out west to get back to boating. This time with our Ranger Tug R27 trailerable trawler. Later this…
Now that we’ll be towing our trailerable Ranger Tugs R27 cross country, down south, or anywhere in between, we wanted a truck that could do the job effortlessly and dependably. We chose the GMC Sierra 2500 and equipped her with a Duramax Diesel engine, 4WD, trailering towing package and a few creature comforts to make our travel days more relaxing. Besides the 11-year dependable track record of the Duramax, we liked the fully boxed frame, diesel exhaust brake, automatic locking rear differential, and the StabiliTrak that came with the GMC. To read more about these features check out the more…
With the price of fuel spiking up to as high as $5.64 gal on the water in Miami, Florida, it’s no wonder there’s so much chatter about not boating as much this summer season. For those planning long cruises or embarking on the Great Loop, I have a couple of thoughts on how to have your cake and eat it too. Several Internet sites provide daily updated fuel prices, the two I use are waterwayguide.com and cruisersnet.net. In checking prices as I was writing this article I found fuel prices to range (eastern Florida) from as low as $3.60-gal to…
Still in Florida – we took a little break from our boat search and got back onto the water for 10 fantastic days. Our friend Rick Garton asked if we would mind taking his Fathom, Wishing Star, from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. How could we refuse such an offer? So the day after the Trawler Fest we worked our way through the busy ICW of metro Miami; we were headed 17 miles southeast to the Island of Boca Chita. If you’re heading south in this area Boca Chita is where the Florida Keys really start and we have always…
Two Boat Shows – Lots to Consider While in Florida for the Fort Lauderdale and Naples Boat Shows, we had a free afternoon to walk along New River in Fort Lauderdale. As we were strolling the River Walk on this clear sunny day, we came across a rather large yacht named After You and thought the name seemed an appropriate description to the process Lisa and I are going through, as it relates to changing our boating lifestyle from a full-size trawler to a trailerable trawler. (The "after you" reference would, of course, refer to our previous boat, Kismet, a Fathom…
Ok! Ok! Ok! So enough of this winter snow and cold weather. After several years of cruising down south on our boat during the winter, enjoying the warm southern climates, we were actually looking forward to spending our first winter in our hometown of Traverse City, Michigan. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a blast – but, It’s been nine months now, enough time to have had a baby. We haven’t spent any quality time in and or around boats (not counting the sale and delivery of Kismet) since we moved home. Sure, last summer, we walked the docks, had…
Why? More Flexibility! When we look back at our on our years together we fondly remember how we discovered that one of our mutual passions was boating. It all started with a 20-foot Four Winns runabout. We used that runabout, as a family boat, to water ski, to overnight on (under the stars many times – very romantic) and trailer places a little farther from home. We hauled that little boat all over our little corner of northwest Michigan, and surrounding areas, exploring the many lakes we’re so blessed with in the Great Lakes state. We found that we could…
