Time for a bottom job, boat bottom that is! —

Because of limited time in our schedule, when we took delivery of Kismet, we did not address scheduling the boat’s bottom paint until our after arrival in Florida. A couple of weeks after our Florida launch, I made arrangements to have our new boat travel lifted, power washed, and set up on jack stands at the DIY Glades Boatyard on the Caloosahatchee River. A day’s cruise from the marina. I did the research for the proper bottom paint. We use our boat in both salt and fresh water and for trailering, so I needed paint to cover all those usages. We choose Seahawk Cukote.

La Belle is A Great Stop On The Caloosahatchee River
A couple of weeks after we settled into our slip at Legacy Harbour Marina, we headed west on the river, stopping at the La Belle town dock for one night. We arrived at Glades on a Wednesday, late morning, and had to be finished by Friday afternoon. Otherwise, we’d have to stay over until Monday as they don’t operate the travel lift on weekends.

After we secured the boat on stands, I went to work prepping the hull for the “job.” After tapping off the paint line, I started de-waxing the surface by applying acetone to the entire hull. I did this for better adhesion of the Cukote. Next up was to lightly sand the cleaned hull for more adhesive abilities, followed by another acetone wipe.

With the hull prepped, I started rolling the first coat of Cukote, brushing in the areas where a short-nap roller would not reach. I applied a second coat the next day along with tape removal and cleanup. The last of the details were to paint under the jack stand pads and keel supports after the team at Glades moved the stands and lifted the boat.

Two days of crawling around on my hands and knees was a sufficient amount of time to feel that this could be the last time I’ll attempt this job on my own. We were lucky to have excellent weather, beautiful, not windy, and cool enough to get the job done quickly. We were in and out according to our schedule. A real big thanks to the team at Glades Boatyard for delivering, as promised, on the haul-out, launch. We splashed in a timely and cost-effective manner.

In addition to their boatyard, they have a huge storage lot for boats.

The post DIY Bottom Paint Job at Glades Boat Storage appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Gaining Capacity in Our Fresh Water Tank –

We just downsized to a Ranger Tugs R25OB from a Ranger Tugs R29S. We plan on keeping this boat for a long time, not our typical four to five-year history. Lisa and I are preparing for another stage in our boating adventures, one where trailering and maintenance are less of a chore. So, as we age, trailering will be easier because the boat is shorter, narrower (not requiring permits), and lighter than our prior two Ranger Tugs (an R27, and R29S).

We found several advantages in the new R25OB:
• Easier to Load onto a Trailer and Tow
• Less Expensive to Insure, Store, and Dock
• The R25OB is Faster Than All Our Other Boats

With a smaller boat comes some challenges, though.
The freshwater tank capacity on our new R25 is 38 gallons, black water capacity is 14 gallons. This was our first and main concern when ordering our new tug. With these smaller tanks, we would have to change how we boat, having to return to a marina every few days, to fill up our water tank and pump out our holding tank. Not a fun activity, if you’d rather be communing with nature, miles into the wilderness.

If you have been reading our blog for some time, you know how much we like to go off the grid for extended periods of time. We have devised a few ways of coping with water storage and holding tank capacity issues. Even with bigger tanks on the R29S, it was a challenge to conserve and manage (R29S freshwater capacity is 45 gallons, and blackwater capacity is 40 gallons).

The size of the boat was never a concern. We don’t mind a smaller space and all the tug models offer such amazing features in the standard packages. Always the Luxury Package for us, because it includes air conditioning. Those few gallons less, of tank storage, however, will hurt on long trips. We needed to address this problem with a workable solution before we ordered the boat.

Lisa and I brainstormed ideas.
The freshwater tank would be doable, but not ideal, by carrying extra 5-gallon jugs of water with us. However, we could not come up with another solution for the holding tank without changing the source of the problem, which, in turn, helped to solve our freshwater situation. We solved our holding tank problem by exchanging the factory-installed electric toilet for a composting Airhead toilet. (See a link to the post below on the installation of the composting toilet.)

The number one benefit of a composting toilet is that we would never have to visit a pump-out again. The second advantage is, that by switching out the factory-installed toilet for the new compostable Airhead, we increased our freshwater capacity by 14 gallons. We would do this by converting the NEVER BEEN USED black tank to a freshwater tank before we contaminated the tank with waste. This turned out to be the perfect answer to our tank issues. It was easy to do since the boat is new and the factory-installed black water tank was never used.

We did the composting toilet conversion within days of taking possession of our R25 (it needed to be done immediately so that we could use it), however, we waited a bit before converting the black tank to fresh water.

See our previous post on the installation of the composting toilet:

Black and Freshwater Tank Solution on a Small Boat

More water, please!
With the toilet installation completed, we turned our attention to marrying the black water tank to the freshwater tank. This increased our freshwater supply by 36%. Mike Rizzo, a boating friend who had done the same thing when he had his Ranger Tug, coached me through the project.

With the purchase of $100 worth of fittings, clamps, a diverter valve, a water hose, and a PVC board. I was ready to start the project. The large hose connected to the macerator pump feeds to the bottom of the black water tank. I disconnected it at the pump. I masterminded a reducer to take the hose from 1 1/2 inches down to the 1/2 inch water hose and connected it to one of three fittings on the diverter valve and capped the macerator. Next, I took the water line from the water pump, added some hose, and ran it to another diverter fitting. Then I installed a new water hose to the water pump and ran that to the center fitting of the new valve.

With everything in place, I secured the diverter assembly to the cabinet wall and crossed my fingers in anticipation that everything would work as planned. After a short time, with the water lines getting primed, we had success and 14 gallons more in our tanks to boot. One more thing we did was to name both tanks, MAIN, and RESERVE, and write them near the switch with a Magic Market. We decided that we would always start with the RESERVE tank and move on to the MAIN tank next. The water gauge only works on the MAIN tank, so that way when we are on the last tank we will have a reading of where we stand on water.

The extra capacity we gained by switching toilets increases our freshwater capacity to 52 gallons. This would be an increase over the capacity of our last Ranger Tugs R29 (45 gallons). Installing a diverter valve in the water lines between the water pump and the two tanks would give us access to that converted tank. By turning the valve to the tank of choice, you’ve just increased capacity.

On to the next project… having fun cruising on our new RT25OB.

The post Fresh Water Tank Capacity Dilemma & Solution appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Kismet Gets a Shining With A Ceramic Coating

If you own a boat, you understand there is a great deal of time, effort, and ongoing expense associated with keeping a boat’s finish like new. Even when washed and waxed regularly, gel coat finishes need constant attention, with detailing needing to be done at least once a year. After a few years, oxidation will creep in. The need for compounding the finish comes into play, requiring more time, effort, and expense. A good-looking boat takes effort!

With the above statement in mind, I wanted to look into the pros and cons of ceramic coating and how it might benefit, or affect, our new Ranger Tugs R25OB over the long term. As in our prior two Ranger Tugs, this one also has a bright red hull. Dark colors are notorious for becoming oxidized after several years and therefore require more and more attention. During my research on ceramic coatings, I found out that a boat will have protection against salt, hard water spotting, bird droppings, and those nasty UV rays when properly prepared and coated. This will make the gel coat have a deeper gloss and mirror-like finish.

This new technology comes at a cost.
I found out it is more expensive to prepare and install than traditional wax detailing. In the end, I thought it was worth the price. We wouldn’t have to detail our new boat once a year. Once the ceramic coating is applied properly, the boat should maintain its shiny glow as long as I wash the boat regularly and maintain the finish by applying a Hydroserum spray every 6 to 12 months.

I wanted to have our new boat coated before we took delivery, so my research led me to Premier Ceramic Coating, outside of Seattle, owned by Kevin and Carol, fellow Ranger Tug owners. I found out this company has quite a reputation for being thorough. That was clear in my discussion with him prior to, during, and after he completed the job. Kevin explained, “How the hull is prepared is the key determining factor for the best-finished product.” In our case, because our boat was new, there wasn’t any oxidation to be addressed. All of the boat’s graphics were installed ahead of the ceramic coating.

Kevin explained, “Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer applied by hand to the exterior of a boat. It chemically bonds with the boat’s gel coat and, when cured, it transforms into a rigid, super slick shield. Ceramic coating is easiest to understand if you think of it as a second layer of skin that is transparent.”

Kevin also stated, “Surface prep and cleaning is critical to how long the ceramic will last. So, we have developed a process that we believe is unmatched in the industry for prepping the boat for coating.”

The process after the surface prep and cleaning:

• Clean & decontaminate the entire exterior of the boat.
• Buff & polish all exterior surfaces before coating.
• Apply the first coat of ceramic, then hand polish off the solvent flash with a microfiber towel, then wipe a second time with a fresh towel.
• A second coat is applied and finished the same way, a few hours later.

Kevin’s philosophy is, “We believe in ‘detail!’ Every surface on the exterior above the waterline is coated. The gel coat, windows, stainless, and even the radar dome are coated. Keep in mind that glass and stainless steel are not porous enough to hold any material for very long. So it will need regular upkeep with the Hydroserum.

Our boat took approximately 48 hours.

To find out more visit: premierceramiccoating.com

Or call Kevin direct:  360-471-5882

The post Our Introduction to Ceramic Coating appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Above-Left:  Interior of the hull, behind the refrigerator. Here you’ll see I installed the fitting to the hull that houses the 12V fan, to exhaust the Airhead solids tank.
Above-Right:  The grey hose is the vent hose. It runs from the solids tank through the hull interior to the vent exhaust. 

Lisa and I plan on keeping our new boat for a long time, not our typical four to five-year history. We still want to trailer Kismet to distant cruising grounds and inland lakes. We also want to be home with our boat, in the Great Lakes, most summers, and down to Florida with winter getaways. Trailering the new Kismet will be easier as we age because it is shorter, narrower, and lighter than our prior two Ranger Tugs. However, we needed a black and fresh water tank solution.

The new R25OB has many advantages. It’s faster, easier to maintain, and less expensive to insure, store and dock.
Owning a smaller boat comes with some challenges though, as it relates to black water capacity (14 gallons capacity. We’d be looking for a pump-out every five days, not a good use of our time) and freshwater capacity (38 gallons capacity). We wanted to address those two issues immediately.

We enjoy spending copious amounts of time in remote waters communing with nature. That means, we not only need food and various provisions to tide us over for a week or two at a time, sometimes without ever getting off the boat, we dinghy to shore for a walk in the woods or through a small town. But, we need to have more control over the waste situation and we need to store enough water to keep us hydrated and clean during long trips anchored out between marina visits. I love a challenge!

I did extensive research while we waited for our boat to be built, mostly on the black water solutions available.
In this scenario, taking care of the black water limitations will lead to help solve the water limitations on the new boat. So, we will increase our black water capacity by exchanging the factory-installed toilet for a composting Airhead Toilet. This will solve our freshwater storage because we plan to put into service the UNUSED, black water tank for more freshwater capacity. This, of course, would not be possible with an older boat, where the tank had already stored black water. Besides enlarging our fresh water tank and extending our need to visit marinas, we were looking forward to a more odorless head situation.

After a lot of research, online, and consulting with other cruisers with experience, we bought the Airhead composting toilet. My research, with friends, who have composting toilets, told us one can go up to three to four weeks, versus the five-day limit, on the solids. The liquid, which flows into its own container which attaches to the toilet, needs to be emptied more often. The factory does not install compostable toilets, so I knew I would install them myself. I had most of the process figured out and materials bought before we took possession of our new tug.

Right after we received our Ranger Tugs Factory Delivery Experience, a two-day orientation of boat systems and operations, I began our first renovation, to make our new boat work how we needed it to work for us; it was a four-step process.

  
Above-Left:  The grey hose is attached to the solids tank, in the rear. Notice the crank handle, used to stir up the solids tank to foster the composting

Above-Right:  This is the completed installation of the Airhead Composting Toilet. I mounted the unit to a piece of starboard to give the overhang support. The solids tank is towards the back, while the liquid tank is in the front.

First, I removed the factory toilet and then mounted the Airhead on the same base as the other. Next, I connected the vent hose to the toilet tank and ran it inside the wall cavity (had to take the refrigerator out for access). Then, I cut a hole in the hull’s side (that was fun!) and mounted it to the interior of the hull. I mounted a clamshell at a 45-degree angle on the exterior to keep water out and exhaust for the vent line. The last step was to electrify the 12V fan that will keep air flowing from the airhead tank.

Above:  Here is the clam-shell cover. It will protect the exhaust fan from moisture. I measured for the hole about six times to assure my one-shot at cutting a hole in our new boat would be done right. Only get one chance at this!

The entire process, which sounds easy, but because of working in such tight spaces, and having to move the refrigerator in and out a few times, took parts of three days to complete. In the end, we’ve increased our freshwater capacity, won’t be time-constrained in finding a pump-out station every five days, plus we’ll have an odorless result.

Not a suitable solution for everybody, but it helps us stay out on the water for longer periods of time without having to go into a marina or fuel dock for a pump out. That’s a big plus for us!

For more information on composting toilets, go to Air Head Composting Toilet

We later converted the black tank to a freshwater tank, read about the process here…

Fresh Water Tank Capacity Dilemma & Solution

The post Black and Freshwater Tank Solution on a Small Boat appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Thought our blog readers might be wondering what we have been up to as we await our brand new 2022 Ranger Tugs R25OB to be built. The factory scheduled delivery for the end of summer, in Des Moines, Washington. We are now in a holding pattern and it just feels weird not having a boat to hop on at a moment’s notice, especially as the warm weather hits northern Michigan. Jim and I have had one boat or another since 1995.

We’ve had a good plan in place since before we sold our Ranger Tug R29 last summer. First, we made a list of home improvements. We started it as we were enjoying our last days in Anacortes, Washington, completing the boat sale of our R29 with the new owner. Jim put the list into motion after arriving home from the Pacific Northwest, after a summer of cruising the San Juan Islands, Puget Sound, and South Sound. There were a lot of house projects that needed our attention when we got home. When you are out cruising for half of the year, those house projects build up. Jim’s list started with a bathroom renovation. Followed by a bedroom cabinet installation, a guest bedroom re-do, hardwood floor renovation, kitchen cabinet replacement, driveway asphalt addition, and lots of minor updates.

As we moved forward with the home improvement list and we needed to take a break from those projects, we made lists of items we needed for the new boat. This is always a fun task! Having lots of time to research products to deck out our new boat ahead of time will only make taking possession of the new boat easier. By now, we know what our boating needs are and, for the most part, what brands we like. However, with the now smaller R25, we had a few unique challenges to address.

Our last two boats were an R27 and then an R29. Yes, we have downsized again in choosing the new 2022 Ranger Tugs R25; we wanted to downsize to the smallest Ranger Tug we could, but keeping in mind what amenities we could do and not do without. The location of the head on the R23 was a deal-breaker for us. We plan to use this boat a lot; we live on our boats for months at a time, so we need a comfortable, private head. There will be less storage than the R29, but we think we can deal with that. I will have to learn to take fewer clothes and be more discerning about some items, such as kitchen utensils and work-related computer stuff. I already know I have packed too many of those items in the past.

Some items were easy to come up with. After all the boats we’ve owned, we know what anchor we’ll order, a Rocna to replace the one that comes with the boat (we will use the factory anchor for stern tying). We still have the BBQ grill we had on the R29, but we needed a rail mount to secure it to the boat. On our last boat, we just stored it below deck. Jim knows all the spare parts he will need to maintain the new boat and has been ordering those to put in his kit. He also ordered a brand new Tool Bag for all the tools he will need onboard to work on the boat.

When we sold our last Ranger Tug, there were a few items we just left on the boat for the new owner. We had to replace a couple of little things such as ratchet straps (above-left). They go over the cockpit and secure the back of the boat to the trailer when towing it cross-country. Jim also bought a brand new hose. This (above right) is the kind he likes.

Our primary concern was the smaller size of the black water (14 gals) and freshwater holding tanks (34 gals). As mentioned above, we live on the boat for months at a time and we like to anchor out a lot, so this was a major concern. The R29 had almost double the size of tanks as the R25. However, we both felt with some creative thinking, we could solve this problem. We have a couple of friends who have composting toilets with excellent reviews. Jim spent a lot of time investigating different models, watching YouTube videos to see how they work, and getting recommendations and a feel for how they would work with our cruising style.

In addition, we may use the unused, existing black water tank for additional freshwater storage. We spent the most time researching this item than the others, but we feel confident it will work best for us and we won’t have to pump out every week.

We parked all of our trailerable trawlers in our driveway during the summer months and that spot on our driveway is under a maple tree which sheds a lot of debris all summer long. So, Jim ordered a custom cover that will keep it clean when we are not using it. It will also enable us to store it outside in the winter and keep it protected from harsh elements. Also protecting the gel coat for longer life.

While Jim was working on his list, I worked on mine. My major concern was the galley not having a stove/oven. Also not a deal-breaker for me, as I feel we can adjust the way we cooked a little. I did not use the oven on the R27 and R29 very much, used it for storage instead. The R25 has only a one-burner electric unit. Therefore, Jim ordered the rail mount for the grill, I expect we will use the grill more on this boat. I also ordered a large, stainless steel, electric skillet. I like to cook in one large pot on the boat, and I don’t think the built-in unit will satisfy my cooking style, but the additional skillet should work out well.

We will also pack a slow cooker. On our last boat, besides the inside refrigerator, there was a small refrigerator in the cockpit. We used it for drinks and an overflow of food items. While working on our lists, we realized we would miss that unit, so we ordered a plug-in AC/DC cooler/freezer to store below the deck.

The sheets for the bed are always a puzzle!

I am trying to figure out what sheets to fit the cushions in the V-berth. Last time, (on the R29) I cut up a mattress pad into sections to fit each cushion on the bed. Then I bought jersey-style sheets (think stretchy, like a tee-shirt) to fit each cushion. This scenario enabled us to lift each cushion when needed. It worked out well on that boat, and it may be an option on this boat. However, I may have a problem making that work as Jim would like to get a dense foam mattress pad for more comfortable sleeping. He has a good point. I am still figuring this out. My goal is to have the sheets, mattress pad, and foam in hand before we leave home.

We have ordered, received, or will order soon most of the items on our list. One item we have not quite figured out yet is what to do about the dinghy. We don’t want to mount one to the back of the boat. Maybe we can tow it when needed. Jim is still researching different options… smaller dinghy, stored below and blown up when needed, or a lightweight one that would store on top of the boat. We don’t always need a dinghy, can’t tell you how many times we’ve taken the dinghy and never used it.

However, we know there are times we’ll need one. In addition, we are looking at a small electric engine for the dinghy. The larger ones we’ve owned were very clunky and hard to move on and off the boat. It took two of us to negotiate the transfer, and I always worried about it slipping into the water during the process. We have been eyeing those lightweight electric motors for some time now. Looks like the right time to try one out.

This is what the crew of Kismet has been up to over the winter. Can’t wait to get back out onto the water. I know all our pre-planning will pay off big time when we arrive in Des Moines, WA, to take possession of our new 2022 Ranger Tugs R25OB. We will have everything ordered, shipped, and stowed in the back of our pickup truck, ready to make the trek west across the USA to the Pacific Northwest. One of our favorite cruising destinations. Beyond that, we look forward to joining many of our fellow TugNuts and Tugettes at the 2022 Ranger Tugs Rendezvous in Roche Harbor, Washington. If it happens this year it will be the weekend after Labor Day. Fingers crossed!

The post Preparation is Key – Taking Delivery of Our New 2022 Ranger Tugs R25OB appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Ranger Tugs Have the Perfect Size Boat for Everyone!

When we put our Ranger Tugs R29S up for sale, at the end of last summer, our family, boating friends, and acquaintances asked us, “What’s Next?” as it relates to our next boat. Or, they’d ask, “Are you getting out of boating?” This situation also happened to a friend of ours, an avid boater, when he was in between boats. Someone asked him if he was finished boating. His reply was, “Did you hear I died?” He, like us, had boating in his blood. We also plan on boating until we can no longer manage it.

Lisa and I have been boaters our entire lives and have owned six boats together during our married life. We moved up from our first boat together, a 21’ Four Winns I/O Sundowner Cutty Cabin, to two Silverton Convertibles a 31’ and a 42’ followed by a 40’ Fathom Trawler, and onto our Ranger Tugs R27 and R29. Now we’re heading in a new direction, a Ranger Tug R25, but this time with an outboard.

The questions we expect we’ll be asked the most are, why a 25’ boat, and why an outboard engine?

For a quick minute, we (mostly me, Jim) thought of buying an older classic trawler or a decommissioned working tugboat. However, reality soon set in and we had to ask ourselves, would we then spend a lot of time, and money, fixing up, or converting an old boat instead of getting out on the water? It would require a lot of work to bring one up to our standards, dealing with mechanical and other issues that come with an older boat. Although we also wanted to reduce our financial footprint in our boating lifestyle, we haven’t ever done the fixer-upper thing and decided we didn’t want to start. After we got that idea out of our systems and we came back to reality, we turned our attention to what we know and love best, Ranger Tugs. It’s always nice to own a new boat, especially if you are particular about how it is maintained.

Over the years, we’ve bought cars, trucks, boats, houses, and more. In our ten-plus years of owning two Ranger Tugs, the factory always treated us with respect and took care of us above the call of duty on any warranty issues and we’ve been provided technical guidance as if we’d bought our boat the week before. We know what we are getting with a Ranger Tug. When one has this kind of relationship with a company, as long as they have the desired product, why would we ever consider another boat brand? Ranger Tugs (aka Fluid Motion), has always treated us like family!

We are happy to have enjoyed our Ranger Tug R29S for almost four years.

I learned a lot about the permit system and once you get set up to roll, it wasn’t that difficult. However, looking forward to and planning for our 70s and beyond, we felt we needed to have a boat that would be a little easier to trailer than our R29S but still have the amenities we’re accustomed to. The Ranger Tugs R25 fits our requirements. The window and interior design are like the R29, with lots of visibility from inside the salon. Moving the head down below allows more light inside. The R25 is 8’6” wide, so no oversize permits are needed. The styling and color on the R25 resemble our R29S, just a little smaller, but that’s about the only sacrifice we’re making to get to our stated goals.

About five years ago, we were attending the big Fluid Motion Rendezvous in Roche Harbor, Washington. During one of the evening events, we talked with Mark Mansfield, former Cutwater National Sales Manager. Mark was telling us about the new outboards being introduced in some Cutwater Boats. I recall him stating something to the effect of “Mark my words, you’re going to see outboard engines become a dominate force in the marine industry.” Fast forward to 2021 and you’ll find Mark was accurate in his prediction. Chris Craft, Sea Ray, Hinckley, and Tiara, to name, just a few, all offer outboard engines as part of their lineup of boats. Not to be outdone, Cutwater Boats and Ranger Tugs introduced outboards in 2016/17. Later the new Ranger Tugs R27 and just this last year the redesigned R25 hit the water with a 250HP 4-stroke Yamaha.

More Water Sports for the Family!

We have two grandchildren that we are introducing to boating at a very young age. Our plan is to continue having as much fun with them on the water as we can and feel the R25 will help facilitate that by being able to not only take them cruising but immerse them into water sports as well. Water sports require more speed. The R25, with the 250 Yamaha, fits that bill as well.

We like the outboard engine for its quietness, ease of service, and how it mounts onto the integrated walk-behind swim platform. In addition, Ranger Tugs has gone to six lithium house batteries in place of a generator option on the R25. The lithium battery bank will run the air conditioning at anchor, charge all the electronics, make coffee, etc. and keep a charge for up to seven hours–depending on the load. We like the idea that we can enjoy our anchorage without having to run, or even have, a generator. Not good or bad, just a quieter option. In addition, the outboard has an alternator that will recharge the house bank while on the move.

Last, but not least, we’ll be maintaining the Hero Red hull color, so keep an eye out for us in the PNW, with a planned delivery in August 2021.

The post The New Kismet Will Be A Ranger Tugs R25 Outboard appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Christening Kismet – Christening is a Ritual
Started by Seafarers Thousands of Years Ago –

We finally got the boat graphics installed on Kismet – time to christen her. Christening, or naming ceremonies, were meant to bring good luck to new vessels and those who sailed on them. The tradition of christening goes back to the early days of boating – thousands of years ago.

Viking ships were marked by the spilling of blood in early rituals. In the Middle Ages, religious shrines were placed on ships and a libation of wine was offered as the vessel hit the water. Wine became a substitute for the earlier practice of a blood sacrifice, consequently, for good luck and a safe voyage, wine was poured on the deck to appease King Neptune.

Ancient seafaring peoples, rimming the Mediterranean, launched their ships with rituals having religious overtones. These practices, varying in form as nations and cultures evolved through the centuries, have carried over to the present christening and launching ceremonies.

Some interesting christening facts…

The Titanic was never christened! The USS Arizona, sunk by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, was christened with water rather than wine or champagne. Both examples ended with bad luck, certainly nothing we’d ever want to come close to while cruising on Kismet.

7 Most Common Superstitions of Seafarers

So with all that that said, we’ve asked some of our boating friends to join us today to help christen the Lady, Kismet.

We have christened most of our boats.
Our last Ranger Tug was christened in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Today We Come to Name this Lady… Kismet

For thousands of years, we have gone to sea.
We have crafted vessels to carry us
and we have called them by name.
These ships will nurture
and care for us through perilous seas,
and so we affectionately call them “she.”
To them, we toast, and ask to celebrate… Kismet.

To the Cruisers of old… to Kismet

The moods of the sea are many, from tranquil to violent.
We ask that this ship be given the strength to carry on.
The keel is strong and she keeps out the pressures of the sea.

To the cruisers of old… to the Sea!

Today we come to name this lady Kismet,
and send her to sea to be cared for,
and to care for the FAVORS family.
We ask the cruisers of old
and the mood of God that is the sea
to accept Kismet as her name,
to help her through her passages,
and allow her to return with her crew safely.

To the cruisers before us… to Kismet.

The post Today We Come to Name this Lady… Kismet appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Even Experienced Boaters Need Help Sometimes! –

Because of our many years of boating experience (six of those years on a Ranger Tug), we didn’t feel we needed to have the “New Boat Delivery Experience” provided by Ranger Tugs when we took possession of our new Ranger Tug R29S – but, they insisted. Boy, were we wrong! Way wrong!

We have been avid boaters for almost all of our adult lives. In all the new boat purchases we’ve made we’ve never, ever, EVER had such a thorough and rewarding new delivery experience as we recently had when taking delivery of our new R29S. The only other experience that was close to comparing was when we took possession of our R27, in 2011. In six years, Ranger Tugs has only improved the process, amazingly not cutting back on it in any way. We think they get how important this is to the new owner’s buying and satisfaction quota meter. Pretty smart in the long run don’t you think, to educate new owners on their new boat’s systems and features. This process can only enhance their confidence in the factory support team and help them to feel they got their money’s worth. On the other end, think of all the time saved by educating in advance, rather than after the fact with panicked phone calls at all hours of the day and night because an owner was unfamiliar with the boat. We see it all the time with Fluid Motion, It’s just plain and simple, this company is successful because they work smart! They know what boaters want and need, they’ve even fostered a community atmosphere among owners to cinch the deal.

Andrew Signed Us Up for the Two-Day Orientation

Well in advance of our arrival, Andrew Custis, Ranger Tugs Customer Service Manager, made arrangements for our two-day training. The training is tailored to each boater based on their knowledge or lack of knowledge as it relates to the boat they are buying and their relative level of maritime skills. For those needing more instruction, more training is available by the experts at the factory. We’ve always felt that Fluid Motion’s mission is to get people out on the water to go boating. They have fashioned their support services with that premise in mind. If that boat is a Ranger Tug or Cutwater, even better.

Ranger Tugs R29S Kismet Orientation

Day One

Thirteen days after we left our home in Traverse City, Michigan, we arrived at Des Moines Marina and met Customer Service Representative, Tim Bates. Tim didn’t waste any time taking us out on the dock to meet our new, shiny red hulled, Ranger Tug R29S.

Under Tim’s friendly guidance, we immediately dove into day one
of our dock-side training.

What was amazing to us, as Tim reviewed the boat’s features and operational functions, was how much has changed since our last boat purchase, 6 years ago. Tim had designed a multiple-page guide and checklist to make sure every operational feature on the boat was covered, from the propane stove to the boat’s power management of shore, generator, solar, and inverter.

This checklist was new to us and we’re thinking Tim has brought some serious skills to Ranger Tugs from previous work experience. The items on the checklist are too numerous to number, but suffice it to say, we got a thorough education and understanding of our new boat. Over the last six years, we have always been wowed by the factory personnel. Tim is no exception, it was nice for us to have a chance to get to know another customer service representative, and Tim gets high marks for the introduction to our new tug.

These wonderful boaters (above left) just randomly gave us these flowers. They said that they wanted to help us celebrate taking possession of our new boat. Thank you so much, it was a wonderful surprise for us today!

Day Two

Kenny Marrs met us at the boat early in the morning of day two of our orientation. He would be covering the Volvo Penta’s engine operations, Garmin electronics, dinghy deployment and retrieval, and much more. We’ve known Kenny from the beginning of our Ranger Tugs association, a nicer young man than you will ever meet. We have seen Kenny in action, his dedication to his customers’ needs is intuitive and honest.

After our dockside training was complete Kenny went with us for a sea trial and our maiden voyage on the new Kismet. One of the first things we noticed was the stability of the ride. The Volvo Penta D4 300hp engine runs with authority but yet is relatively quiet. When I say the engine runs with authority I’m meaning the boat does what you want it to and when you want it done. Kenny reviewed the breaking-in procedure, impeller, filter, and oil maintenance. I could go on and on but there were way too many topics covered to review in a blog post.

This Volvo Penta D4 300hp engine is going to take us to some amazing places!

I think during the sea trial, it really hit home – this boat is amazing.

The two-day training of our new Ranger Tug R29S was the best new product delivery experience we’ve ever encountered. Thank you Ranger Tugs for being the professionals that you all are. Special thanks to Tim Bates and Kenny Marrs for sharing their knowledge and expertise.

The post Ranger Tugs R29S Kismet Orientation Day appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

When does a boat become a boat?

My thoughts are… “when it is ready to float and cruise!” Based on the final assembly production photos we just received from the factory, it appears Kismet, a Ranger Tug R29S, is ready to become a boat.

The Ranger Tug R29S sports a larger head than our R27. There will also be more privacy with the head being positioned in the stateroom. The stateroom is a step up for us, having slept on a V-berth for the last six years on the R27. We are also loving the spacious under-bed storage area. There will be plenty of natural lighting and more elbow room in the galley for better maneuverability. We had our new Kismet built in the same Hero Red as our recently sold R27, as this is our favorite boat color. You just can’t beat the photo op of a bright red hull sitting on deep blue water. You might also notice the brows around the cabin roof are white now instead of matching the color of the hull, like on our last tug. This will make ongoing maintenance easier.

Roomier Cockpit with Built-in Seating

The cockpit on the R29S has some features we look forward to using, such as the electric engine cover hatch. It covers the quiet Volvo Penta D4 diesel engine. New for us on this boat will be a small cockpit refrigerator and fold-up side cockpit seats. No need to carry chairs with us for cockpit seating with those built-in ones. There is also a large, cabin cockpit-facing, window (see photo below) that opens completely out of the way thereby opening up the salon to more fresh air. On the inside of that window is a flip seat that serves both inside and outside seating.

You’ll notice we opted for a transom-mounted hard-bottom dinghy, the first hard-bottom dinghy we’ve had in all of our boating years.

We are only about a week away from actually getting onto our new Kismet for the first time. For this to happen, we first need to pack the truck up and make the 2500-mile cross-country road trip to Washington. A trip we are anxiously looking forward to getting underway.

You’ll notice we opted for a transom mounted hard bottom dinghy (above), the first hard-bottom dinghy we’ve had in all of our boating years.

The post Ready and Waiting at the Factory – Kismet a Ranger Tug R29S appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Marrying the Hull of the New Kismet Ranger Tugs R29S

Having something built from scratch, such as a house, car, or in this case, a boat is usually best left to the professionals. As you’ll see from the following photos there is evidence that a tremendous amount of thought and mindful design goes into building a boat, before and during manufacturing. There is a coordinated effort, before the actual production starts, to have on hand all of the hardware, wiring, hoses, batteries, glass, lighting, engine, generator, electronics, solar panel, seating cushions, tanks, etc. This ensures production occurs smoothly and on time. If not planned properly, I could see how delays and backlogs in production could very easily happen. In this case, our new Kismet was complete almost before we knew it, that’s because of the efficiency of the professionals at Ranger Tugs… they know how to build boats and they build them well.

In the past, when we’ve ordered a boat to be built, we have always gotten photo’s taken of the whole process.

We do this to understand the boat’s innards. It makes it easier for me to know how things are assembled, especially in areas I cannot see. For instance, in case I want to run wiring for additional electronics. It’s important to know where things are located such as tanks, or really anything hidden beneath the fiberglass shell. Also, it’s helpful to know the easiest way to access something for maintenance, especially something difficult to get to. Besides, it is cool to understand how the parts come together to make this beautiful new boat.

The molding process is fascinating.

Once the hull, hull liner, and top side are popped from their molds, it takes about a week to lay these molds up, then actual construction starts in earnest. Then they get to work on cutting out openings for windows, doors, hatches, etc. Once each major mold piece is ready the liner is married into the hull and is built out with tanks, engine, generator, cabinets, and more. At the same time, the deck has had parts added to it in preparation to be married to the hull for final assembly. Although months go into parts ordering and coordination the actual production of a Ranger Tugs R29S takes only about one month.

The bright red hull is being lifted out of the mold (photo-top).

The liner of the hull is shown just before cables and wiring are added (photo-top)

You can start to see the transom take shape (photo above).

The engine is in place (photo above).

Kismet will be powered by a Volvo Penta D4 300 HP diesel inboard (photo below). We’re excited to be getting back out onto the water soon to experience our new boat with an engine that has more power than we had in our R27, with the added benefit of having a quieter ride. Can’t wait for this engine to take us to new boating destinations!

The New Kismet Ranger Tugs R29S taking shape at the Ranger Tugs factory located NE of Seattle, Washington.

The post Construction of the New Kismet Ranger Tugs R29S appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

UPDATE on the NEW KISMET!

Having sold our Ranger Tug R27 a few months ago, we ordered a Ranger Tug R29S, we’ll take delivery of our new Kismet in August 2017. So, we are spending the summer boatless! Lots to do at home while we prepare to travel west to Seattle, next month, to take possession.

This tug, with a sportier look and a Volvo Penta diesel engine, will take us to some exciting cruising destinations with a quieter, more stable ride.

Our new tug will be just a little bit bigger, but still trailerable. Yes, Kismet will look good again in that Hero Red hull. Looking forward to a little more room to accommodate our growing grandchildren. One of our new goals is to share our love of boating with them for many years to come.

Construction photos to come soon!

The post Construction of the NEW KISMET! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

BUMS Did a Professional, Efficient, and Seamless Bottom Job on Kismet – 

Lisa asked that I write a post about my bottom. I looked at her with amazement that she wanted me to write about such a personal thing. But here goes!

It had been over three years since I prepped Kismet’s bottom and applied two coats of non-ablative bottom paint. It was starting to show. During that three-plus year period, I did touch up the water line and bow area twice when the boat was on its trailer. That area was in good shape but the hull was truly in need of a bottom paint job. My goal was to have a complete sanding of the hull and have two coats of bottom paint applied before our Pacific Northwest summer cruising season started.

We left Victoria, BC the first of March for Port Townsend, Washington. We met the owner, Joe VonVolkli, of BUMS (Bottoms Up Marine Service) at the boat show in Seattle in January. Later, he followed up with us about having a bottom job done on our boat, we couldn’t say no.  BUM’s business is hull work, bottom painting, detailing, zincs, etc.

We arrived in Port Townsend a Day Early

Joe met us at the haul-out dock at the pre-arranged time and Kismet was lifted from the water after a thorough power wash to the bottom of the hull, the boat was stationed on jack stands. The crew from BUMS then went to work with dust-collecting orbital sanders. When the hull was smooth to the touch, the first coat of paint was applied.

All the while we had Kismet plugged into shore power and going about life on our boat as if we were in the water. Yes, we stayed onboard the boat while work was progressing. Day two on the hard came with the second coat of paint. Once completely dry, we were back in the travel lift returning to Kismet’s more natural water environment.

It felt good to have a fresh bottom job, Kismet glided through the water into the Straits of Juan de Fuca on our way to Anacortes where we would trailer the boat to head down to Portland Oregon for the birth of our second grandchild. A big thank you to BUMS for such a professional and efficient bottom painting experience.

The post BUMS Did A Great Bottom Job! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

A Boat Yard with Muscle!

Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven is a massive boat yard with 475 commercial and recreational vessels and more than sixty marine trades businesses located on the property. You can get anything from a complete boat restoration to bottom painting, and major or minor repairs. Not only that but, you can have coffee, lunch, dinner, or grab a beer and buy fish all at different establishments right in the yard, it’s that big. With a Laundromat, a couple of restaurants, and a brewery located on the grounds, you don’t need to go far to take care of the necessities, and to top it off there is a full-sized grocery store right across the street.

We stayed at the marina for a night before we were scheduled to be lifted out of the water for our bottom paint job. Work was done by BUMS. So the next day Kismet joined the huge fishing boats, trawlers, and yachts on jack stands in the smaller boat section at the back of the boat yard. We had power during our stay, so it wasn’t so bad. It was chilly and rainy most of the time we were there, but we have a small electric heater we use when boaterhoming. It was on most of the time. We must have been on the hard for three nights, plenty of time to check out downtown Port Townsend and get a real feel for life working or living in a boat yard.

The post Port of Port Townsend – The Big Boy Boat Yard appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Boat Graphics are Finally Applied!

After designing, measuring, and visually laying out the boat graphics on the back of the boat, we were ready to order the vinyl from a sign company located just a block away from the marina. Jim has done this before so he was familiar with the process.

First, thoroughly clean the back of the boat (above).

Second, measure and block off the area, then tape the double-layer vinyl to the clean surface (below).

Third, drop the vinyl down and peel off the protective paper layer (above).

Four, tape it back up (above) and start burnishing the vinyl onto Gelcoat, through the protective cover layer.

Lastly, carefully peel the top protective layer off with the burnishing tool, a little detail work will make it perfect.

Voila! Kismet finally bears her name.

The post Installing Boat Graphics to Our Ranger Tug Kismet appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Hurley Davit System Worked for Kismet!

We had been towing our dinghy for over a year when we finally decided to get serious about finding a davit system. Towing is easy and inexpensive, however towing can also become problematic in rough seas or at higher speeds, so we wanted to find a solution, a viable launch and retrieve system where the dinghy would rest upright while overhanging the swim platform slightly. We thought it should be lightweight and detachable when needed, We also needed it to be somewhat flexible, so we could still use our swim platform without completely launching the dinghy.

After much research and contemplation, we found a davit system, made by, HURLEY MARINE. It fit our specifications exactly. This will make things simpler for us, we won’t have to always be conscious of having to pull up the dinghy line when we slow down for a bridge or lock opening or to anchor or dock. We won’t have to concern ourselves with how the dinghy is holding up because it will be safely resting on our Hurley Davit system, high and dry.

We ordered the unit from Hurley before we left home to cruise the Tennessee River. We packed it in the bed of the truck along with all the other gear we would need for our trip south along with the necessary tools for installation. When we had a spare moment at Grand Rivers, I unpacked the davit to assess the requirements for installation and see what tools or equipment might be needed while we still had the truck close by and could run into Paducah for supplies. We needed to do this before we left Grand Rivers, and our truck, to cruise south down the Tennessee River.

Two days after we left Green Turtle Marina we found a free afternoon at anchor in Cypress Creek. The installation was easy as could be with calm water in a well-protected anchorage. We are happy we waited to find just the right dinghy rig, the Hurley Davit System fits our needs perfectly.

The post Installing Our New Hurley Davit System appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Bottom paints are like opinions; there is plenty of each. There are several brands we could have chosen but in the end, I decided on Pettit Vivid for the bottom paint and their corresponding Pettit Skip Sand Primer. The primer is described as a “pre-treatment primer designed to adhere tenaciously to an un-sanded fiberglass gel coat.” We lightly sanded the hull anyway, so the primer should stick well. I applied one coat of the gray primer, then two coats of the Pettit Vivid (three coats at the water line).

It’s very satisfying to see the final result of all my hard work. Now we can rest easy and not be concerned with what is going on underneath the boat.

The nasty, but very necessary, job of bottom painting was completed within 48 hours. We stayed on the hard one more night to let the paint dry and we were back in the water 68 hours after our haul out.

The post Boat Yard Blues – Part Two appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

We never addressed the issue of bottom painting our Ranger Tug until one day, while taking our boat out of the water in Ft Myers Beach; we were surprised by the excessive growth of barnacles on the hull of Kismet. We recognized the problem and we wanted to take care of it ASAP. After arranging to have our boat hauled by 3D, a self-service boat yard in Key West, I began researching how to clean the hull and what to apply to help the process along and what kind of paint we might need. Because we use our boat in salt and fresh water, trailer it and, at times, it will sit out of the water, we found we needed to have a hard ablative paint for our particular usage.

After leaving Marathon and arriving in Key West, we launched our boat on Stock Island and cruised the short distance to the 3D Boat Yard to have Kismet hauled out by a travel lift for the first time. After a thorough power washing and initial scraping, the boat was settled onto jack stands and wood blocks for three days of bottom prep and painting “fun.”

This was our “home” for three days while I worked on this nasty chore and the sea breeze and the water view helped ease the pain a little during our stay.

Our first dilemma? How I was going to clean the remaining stubborn barnacle scales from the entire underneath the hull of the boat? It was a mess and seemed almost a daunting task. Lisa did some online research and finally found a product called On & Off and boy what a time-saver it turned out to be. After being brushed on the hull the product instantly goes to work and dissolves, the barnacle residue. I applied the On & Off solution by brush, let it work a bit, then I scraped a little and rinsed. I did this two times on the entire hull, three times in a few tough spots.

The bottom line is, it’s really better to take care of the bottom painting chore before this happens and, in our case, we should have done it a lot sooner.

Lisa kept me drinking lots of water (above – here I am asking for more) and reminded me to wear my mask and gloves to keep all the chemicals and fumes off my body and out of my lungs. I had prepared ahead of time by procuring old clothes from the local Goodwill store; I will throw them away in a few days.

The post Boat Yard Blues appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

If you’re a boater or have ever walked a marina dock, sat on the back deck or cockpit of someone’s boat, you’ve most likely had the occasion to inhale the odiferous and unpleasant aroma coming from the vent of a black water holding tank as someone flushed their business down the boat’s toilet. I came across a solution a couple of years back and I’ve just installed it on our Ranger Tug. It helps us, our guests, and dock neighbors not be bothered by disagreeable odors.

The product I installed is an inline, charcoal-activated, holding tank vent filter called SaniGard. To install you cut out a section of the vent hose coming from the black water tank to the exterior vent. The SaniGard (there are other brands on the market as well) is installed above the black water tank, where you’ve cut the vent hose away. Miraculously, the activated charcoal eats the odors away before they escape the exhaust vent.

Depending on usage, the filter is good for up to two boating seasons and can be recharged when it’s time to replace (and you’ll know this by the return of the annoying smell) or you can just replace it with a new one when the time is “ripe.”

The post Getting Rid of Odiferous Aromas appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.