Social Distancing on Kismet This Summer –

This summer’s cruise feels unique. Because of the pandemic, we are not forcing schedules to meet up with many people. There are no rendezvous to attend – all canceled this year. The social aspect of cruising has been a little different, leaving us feeling a little out of our element. The upside is we have been so relaxed with the simple day-to-day existence of floating on our little island of a boat, Kismet. We’ve been cooking, eating, playing games, and walking more than ever before. It is a good life without the daily, ongoing pressures of news reports of dire sickness, death, and unreal politics. We weren’t sure when we left home if this was the absolute right thing to do. I can say confidently now, we made the right decision.

Although we are keeping our distance,
we still mingle when at the dock, or visit by dinghy.

We always wear masks inside for grocery shopping or keep our distance outside, with masks when moving around near others. Jim and I have had Happy Hour in our cockpit while next to another couple on their tug’s back deck. We met in a park to sit under the shade of a tree to visit another couple. Everyone brings their own chairs to get the required distance. We hike in the woods with our masks, but only put them on when we encounter other hikers. The trails are narrow, and some people are talking, laughing, or out of breath from hiking, or kids are running past us. We have not gone into a restaurant since March. But do get take out occasionally and bring it back to the boat if we can.

Other friends, Bruce and Vicki, on their 41-ft Ranger Tug, Soundtrack. What a pleasure to be able to visit with friends without those uncomfortable masks, worry, or concern for our health or theirs.

We’ve paid visits to other Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats and had many visits to our boat, from Tugnuts and Tugettes, this summer. It has been the highlight of these idyllic, warm days in the Pacific Northwest. Jim and I enjoyed the local boaters and “Tuggers” welcoming us to these waters, many bringing gifts like shrimp, crab, homemade jam, a sprig of rosemary, and even puzzles and dockage, we are a caring, productive and creative community.

Jim and I have been impressed with how many Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boat cruise these waters since our last trip here.  I can safely say, there has hardly been a day gone by without seeing one of these boats out on the big water, at the park docks, in marinas, and at anchor. They are everywhere!

As I said, we have been very careful about the social distancing aspect of our summer trip. So, if we didn’t invite you on Kismet, or we didn’t accept an invitation to board your boat, or we did not offer to raft up at the dock, it was for that reason alone. We care about others, and we look after our own health. We hope everyone understands. To everyone who stopped by to say hi and welcome us to the PNW, left notes or gifts… THANK YOU!

The post Social Distancing Aspect of Cruising During the Pandemic appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Call us Snowboaters or Boaterhomers – Using Our Boat On Land And Water! –

We’re certain you’ve heard of the term “Snow Birds.” Southern Boating just coined a new boating-related term for what the crew of Kismet has been doing for over seven years. “Snowboaters!” We also like to reference our over-land adventures by saying we are “Boaterhomers.”

Whatever the term you use to describe what we do regularly, as a lifestyle choice, it’s working for us in a big way. Using our trailerable boat as both a land vehicle and a water vessel provides us with some amazing flexibility in our adventures. Not only on water but on land too!

To read the article, click on the screenshot below…
OR CLICK HERE

To read more posts by Trailer Trawler Life on their adventures as Snowboaters/Boaterhomers,
CLICK HERE.

The post Snowboaters Paradise – Kismet Featured in Southern Boating Magazine! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Lovers Key, at New Pass Inlet, South of Fort Myers Beach,
is a Wonderful Anchorage Surrounded by Two State Parks –

This is a place we “LOVE” to return to. After a brief stay at Salty Sams, in Fort Myers Beach, we followed Matanzas Pass south, past Ostego Bay. We then crossed Big Carlos Pass on our way to this anchorage between Lovers Key State Park and Pelican Landings Beach Park. We anchored in six feet of water, with the Dog Park (part of the Lovers Key State Park) to our north. The beach park was west of us and the opening to the Gulf, New Pass Inlet was between the two. It was Saturday, and by the time we arrived the place was full of weekend activity. Dogs were running and playing in the dog park. Many boats beached on the shore. Ferry boats hauled people back and forth to the parks all day long. Plenty of boating activity all around us.

By mid-afternoon, however, boats slowly began to depart. By sunset, we had the ENTIRE New Pass, Lovers Key Pelican Beach area to ourselves… just as we had planned.

We spent a peaceful night on the hook, watching the sunset over the white sand beach, as we caught a sliver of setting sun through New Pass, looking west into the Gulf of Mexico. Day two started with Kismet standing sentinel in the bay, all alone. We enjoyed the early morning peace and quiet, enjoying our coffee and breakfast as the crescendo of the busy day ahead slowly unfolded. Just like the previous day, small boats stirred up the cove, and dogs noisily played on the beach.

By mid-day, one could hardly find a place to beach-land a boat. The Dog Park has as many dogs frolicking in and out of the water as there were boats. Then, as the day wore on, it was as if someone set off a timed alert. Boats started to migrate back to their home docks around 3:00 pm and by 6:00 pm, we again had the entire place to ourselves again.

Spending another peaceful night at anchor also meant the Gulf was calm and flat so, just as planned, we were able to venture out of New Pass early in the morning, making our way to the next planned stop, Marco Island.

The post Lovers Key – Party Central During the Day, Quiet and Peaceful at Night appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

The first Stop After the Flotilla to Cayo Costa is Roosevelt Channel –

One of the fun parts of cruising, and anchoring, is discovering new places to throw the hook. Kismet is beginning the slow process of heading down to the Keys. On this morning, we left Cayo Costa State Park, after anchoring with the flotilla of tugs for two nights in Pelican Bay. Our destination is Roosevelt Channel, off Captiva Island, next to the Buck Key Preserve and Patterson Island Preserve.

We were buddy boating on this day with the crew of Liberty, another Ranger Tugs R29S, heading to Roosevelt Channel off Captiva Island. We also had company (below) join us on the boat during lunchtime, think it was the tuna salad he was interested in, more than a boat ride.

Look who we bumped into at the head of the channel, Miss Norma, as in Driving Miss Norma fame, Norma’s son, Tim, and his wife, Ramie are taking a page from Miss Norma’s book and having an excellent adventure of their own, doing the Great Loop boat trip.

We actually, very briefly, met the owners of this red-hulled Ranger Tugs F29S, in Charlevoix, Michigan during our 2017 Great Lakes Ranger Tugs/Cutwater Boats Rendezvous – Charlevoix, MI, when they were buying the tug, it was just like our Ranger Tug. We buzzed their boat, but unfortunately, the crew was not onboard. It sure is a small world!

After we all got settled into the anchorage and watched the resident dolphin make his rounds, we hopped in the dinghy, picked up Ethan and Tammi, on Liberty, and went for a ride up the channel to check out Buck Key and Patterson Island Preserves.

The crew of Liberty, anchored just ahead of us in the channel, are from California. They have sold their home there and are currently living on their boat while doing the Great Loop.

Pretty low-key Valentine’s Day for us this year. However, I have to say, whenever anchored out in a peaceful spot with my man, cool drinks, and some soothing music – we seem to have many romantic evenings on the hook.

The post Valentine’s Day in Roosevelt Channel with My Sweetie– Captiva Island, Florida 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.

We Decided to Secure the Oversize Load Permits Ourselves –

There are many things in life I enjoy, two of those things are saving money and learning. In this spirit, I forged ahead with the Oversize Load permit process one has to go through when traveling on highways with an oversized load. I looked forward to learning how it works, as well as saving money by doing it myself.  If you are trailering a load, that is wider than 8 1/2 feet, you have to get an oversize/wide load permit from every state and each Canadian Provence you’ll be traveling through. You can do this yourself or pay a company to obtain the permits. Each has advantages, obviously, if you do it yourself you’ll save money. In either case, you need to gather the same data to provide to each State/Province government agency. Your planned route, dates of transit, trailered measurements and weights, insurance information, state registration information, and more, depending on the government unit.

Physically there are a few things you’ll need
to display on the tow vehicle and trailer unit.

An oversize load” banner needs to be secured to the front of the truck and back of the boat as well as two red flags. The flags should be placed at the widest parts of each side of the boat. Oversize load permits vary in price with each state, we’ve paid between $10.00 to $60.00 for the 12 one-time permits we’ve purchased to date. One-time permits are for 5 to 15 days, depending on the State, are date specific and each state has its own rules regarding what day of the week, time of day, holiday, and weather dos and don’ts. Whether you obtain the permits yourself or purchase them through a permit company you’ll need to study, understand, and obey every state’s laws you’ll be traveling through.

If you have the time and like to save money, obtaining the permits on your own is worthwhile, once you get past the learning curve. If it’s not a consideration, because you don’t want or need the experience. Hiring an approved “Permit Company” will save you time, but keep in mind you’ll pay an upcharge for their service. Lastly, I’d point out one has the option to purchase annual permits. This may be beneficial for your home state or a state you’ll be transiting through on a regular basis. An important part of this exercise is to calculate which is better for your trailering plans. We did this for Ohio, where we knew we’d be traveling through 3 times within 12 months.

Thinking of trailering an oversize load? This is a good place to start…
U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration.

Finally, we relaxed and enjoyed the trip!

By the time we stored Kismet in Ohio for her three-month nap, we had experienced everything but snow during our six-day cross-country travel. There were no mishaps or problems at all trailering this bigger boat. With each passing day the initial apprehension, of trailering an oversize load, slipped away. Finally, we were able to relax and enjoy the road trip.

Sometimes you see some interesting stuff while driving cross-country.

Crossing the Continental Divide. Lots of bugs on our trip!

Due to traveling later in the season, we did not boater home at all during this trip. Also, we forgot to bring our small, portable, heater with us. So, we stayed at motels along the way. We always check with motels ahead of making reservations, to make sure they have appropriate parking for our oversize load. This one, in Wyoming, was perfect for our truck and trailer. In addition, we were able to walk, just down the hill, to a fantastic restaurant (below).

We stopped at all truck weigh stations on our route. Most were either closed or just waived us through. If they stopped us, we asked what the protocol was for their state. One time while stopped at a Rest Area, we were approached by a State Police officer, no problem, he just wanted to check our papers.

Our end route was Sidney, Ohio – where my mother lives. We would visit with her a few days after Kismet was stowed in her winter berth, a landscaper’s storage building. Then we would continue home, to Traverse City where we would be land-locked and catching up on time with family and house chores, until after the holidays.

We have stored the R27 at this same storage building previously, this time we had to park the boat outside and leave it there for a while, as another boat needed to go in before we stored Kismet. Since we planned to leave Ohio with the boat in January and the other boat would be stored all winter, we needed to go in last. Our brother-in-law, Steve, who lives in Sidney, kindly moved the boat into the shed a few weeks after we left her there. Thanks, Steve!

The post Delving Into the Oversize Load Permit Process – DIY to Save Money! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Heading Back to Des Moines Where We Will Be Loading Kismet Onto its Trailer for the First Time.

Apprehension is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.” As our time in the Pacific Northwest was coming to an end, I was beginning to feel a little uneasy about trailering our new boat cross-country. The new Ranger Tug R29S is two feet longer, one and one-half feet wider, a little taller, and a couple of thousand pounds heavier than our previous R27. I’ve been known to worry a lot when faced with something new to me. Trailering an “oversize load” through city traffic, construction zones and steep grades in the mountains were not something to take lightly.

After loading Kismet onto the trailer in Des Moines, our plan was to tow her cross-country to Ohio, where my mother lives. We would visit with her a few days after Kismet was stowed in her berth, a landscaper’s storage building. Then we would continue home, to Traverse City where we would be land-locked and catching up on time with family and house chores, until after the holidays.

In preparation for trailering the boat, we knew it was important to have an equal distribution of weight on our boat. So we moved as much of the contents as we could off the boat and into the bed and back seat of the truck. During our final days of cruising in Puget Sound, as we approached the haul-out day, we made sure the fuel tank was about empty. Also, the water and holding tank were emptied just before the haul out. We completely winterized the boat’s engine and systems when the boat was out of the water and on the trailer. With Ivan Guzman’s help, a customer service rep from Ranger Tugs, we got the boat out of the water and prepared Kismet for her inaugural 2,500-mile cross-country trip.

The crew at CSR Marine were very helpful in making sure Kismet was hauled out of the water and placed on her trailer just right.

It was nice to have Ivan on the boat to take care of a few punch list items.

Much to our surprise, soon after we arrived at Des Moines Marina, we ran into Lenny and Louise, on their new Ranger Tug R31, Then Again. Lenny and Louise are from Portland, Oregon. Louise is also a fellow member of Ranger Tugettes, a Facebook group of women Ranger Tug and Cutwater Boat owners. We’ve bumped into this friendly couple several times during our trips to the Pacific Northwest. It was nice to see their friendly faces before heading home.

Finally, the boat sat on the trailer for the first time seemingly ready to go, but our work was not finished.

Unlike our previous Ranger Tug R27, we had to prepare the boat according to to permit regulations for transporting an oversize load on the highway. So, before we took off we attached an “oversize load” banner on the front of the truck and on the back of the boat (attached to the dinghy), along with two red flags at the widest point of the load. Those needed to be on both sides of the boat. Because of the boat’s ten-foot beam, we also had to get “Oversize Load” permits from each state we would be traveling through. A challenging job to say the least, but it was our first time, so hopefully, next time will be easier.

The next post will cover the procedure of securing permits for the nine states we traveled through during our trek east.

The post A Little Apprehension Loading Kismet for Her First Cross-Country Trek appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

PNW Operation Completed at Bell Harbor Marina – Seattle, Washington –

Having concluded our mission to first… take possession of our new Ranger Tug R29S, spend a week cruising with our grandson on board, attend a fabulous Ranger Tug Rendezvous in Roche Harbor and explore South Puget Sound. All this along with returning to a few favorites in the sound and the San Juan Islands, we are winding down our end of summer and early fall, cruising time in the Pacific Northwest, with the last stop at Bell Harbor Marina in downtown Seattle, Washington.

Without a doubt, we would have to say the week with our grandson onboard was the best boating experience to date. To be more specific – the best in all of our thirty years of cruising. However, there is something quite special about docking in downtown Seattle, so we saved it for last. Not hard to savor this cruising destination for the city lights, cultural diversity, visit with friends, and easy access to some of the best food offerings in the world. Pike Place Market never disappoints with its visual array of produce and seafood. We will walk for miles exploring the city and never get tired or bored of what there is to see, hear or experience.

We always plan an excursion to the market to get ingredients for dinner on the boat. On this day we decided on king crab legs. It was a feast, fresh caught king crab is something we don’t have access to in Michigan.

In 2007, we docked our Fathom 40. Now, both our Ranger Tugs have been moored at Bell Harbor Marina.

Pastries in the morning are easily procured a short distance from the marina. Happy hour at this establishment is in the morning!

From the 40th floor of the Columbia Tower is a Starbucks we like to walk to. The view from up there is amazing and a bonus was we could see the Bell Harbor Marina where our boat sat. Can you find Kismet?

A visit to downtown Seattle is never complete without visiting our friends Vicki and Bruce Moore, who live downtown. We hosted them, this time, for happy hour on the new Kismet.

A visit to Pike Place Farmer’s Market is an adventure and a visual delight. Some things are new, but mostly iconic seafood and produce offerings endure. We are never disappointed.

During this visit to downtown Seattle and the Pike Place Market, we decided on King Crab Legs for our night’s feast. Simple, but heavenly!

After dinner, we watched the full moon make its way over Seattle’s skyscrapers, across the dark blue sky edging its way over Puget Sound. That, along with the sparkling city lights, provided us with a memorable night – one for the books, thus ending our time in the Pacific Northwest for 2017.

The post Saving the Best for Last… Bell Harbor Marina – Seattle, Washington appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Blake Island is a Marine State Park in Puget Sound, Southwest of Seattle

Before we leave the Pacific Northwest to put an end to our fall boating cruise in the new Ranger Tug, we had to fit in a stop in downtown Seattle. But first, we wanted to linger and enjoy a few of our favorites in Puget Sound – Blake Island and Eagle Harbor. We also wanted to spend a few days in Lake Union and Lake Washington with a short stop at Fishermen’s Terminal, on the way to Bell Harbor in Seattle, to visit with friends.

Blake Island located north of Vashon Island, south of Bainbridge Island, and east of Manchester, is always on our to-do list. Imagine being so close to Seattle you never lose sight of it from the laid-back mostly wooded island, except for a thick fog that is.

There are more ways to get to Blake Island other than your own boat. You can take the Tillicum Excursion from Argosy Cruises.

Many trails are available to get off the boat to stretch your legs and explore. The island featured 15 miles of hiking and bike trails, a few campgrounds, and a saltwater shoreline. Wildlife on the island includes black tail deer, eagles, osprey, geese, and other native animals. During one of our daily hikes in the woods, we found this slug, they grow ’em big out here in the Pacific Northwest.

We found these deer grazing in the park just up from the marina, apparently, they swim to the island from Manchester.

On the northeast end of the island is Tillicum Village, a showcase for Northwest Coast Indian arts, culture, and food.

The post Blake Island Overlooks Seattle, Washington appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

The reality of Life Does Not Stop When You Board a Boat
and Take Off for Ports Unknown –

The real world will eventually catch up and find us. Such is what happened during our 2017 Puget Sound cruise. My brother, Ken Targal passed away after a long battle with cancer – too soon. We took a time out and flew back to Michigan to be with family for a few days.

Ken was a boater, he loved to be on the water as much as Jim and I do. We were raised on summer visits to a family cottage on Lake Huron where our family had at least five boats of varying sizes. Ken lived in the water during the summer and loved the sunfish and hydroplane in our menagerie of boats. He later moved on to speed boats. He was in his element when he was with his family out on the water, boating. He was an amazing, loving soul and we will all miss him terribly.

So, we’ve stepped back a bit during this cruise, as the grief, especially after also losing my mother only five months ago, has been at times overwhelming for me. I don’t know of a better place to heal than near the peace we feel when on the water.

We’ve been taking photos and collecting our thoughts (there are many) about our time spent in the Pacific Northwest and will begin to share again soon, we promise.

The post Saying Goodbye is Hard to Do! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Sucia Island Marina State Park –

As long-distance cruisers, we are routinely motivated by an appetite to explore the unknown. We push ourselves to seek out that which we have not yet seen, filling in with returns to some of our favorite finds. Sucia Island is one of those “return” places for us – this being our third visit to this horseshoe-shaped island refuge. We still remember the first time we set foot on this island paradise with its natural sandstone caves. The park includes 564 acres of parkland with over 77,000 feet of shoreline

Spanish explorers, circa 1781, called the island “Sucia” or “foul.” A nautical term describing navigational obstacles such as the rocks around the island.

Previously we’ve moored in Shallow Bay and another time anchored in Fox Cove, but this time we opted to tie Kismet up at the southern dock in Fossil Bay. Sucia Island is roughly two-and-a-half miles long and one-half mile wide. The island offers scenic hiking trails, primitive campsites, plenty of room for anchoring as well as being able to tie to a dock or catch a mooring ball. The reason we love visiting Sucia Island is probably for the same reason others do… the island’s natural beauty and that laid-back feeling you can get when afforded few creature comforts other than the ones you have on your boat. Which we have to admit is quite cushy on a Ranger Tug.

Sucia Island is ideal for boaters who like to get off their boats and stretch their legs.

After docking, with a full view of Fossil Bay from the cockpit of our boat, we set off for a long hike over to Echo Bay. The next day we took a trail up through the woods. It gave us some stunning views of the surrounding bays and open water that encompasses the island. From the bluffs, located on the western side of Fox Cove, you can look out into the southern reaches of the Strait of Georgia and the Canadian/USA water border. Sucia Island provided a backdrop to relax and enjoy nature, which we did for two glorious days and nights.

Staying on the dock gave us more of a social environment than we experienced when anchored or moored previously off the island. The dock is a popular spot, usually, spots are taken right away as soon as one is vacated. This would be a fun spot to come off-season if you require a more isolated experience. The boating season in the Pacific Northwest can really extend year-round if you want to take advantage of the mild winters and avoid crowds.

Kismet is docked in Fossil Bay (above).

Kismet is not the only Ranger Tugs here on Sucia Island we enjoyed having the crew from Puffin join us on the dock for a chat one afternoon. They were not far from us, on the other dock located in Fossil Bay.

Looking down at Fossil Bay and, in the distance, Fox Cove (above).

Fox Cove (above & below).

Echo Bay (above).

Shallow Bay (above).

Our view of Fossil Bay from the cockpit of Kismet (above).

The post Island in the Sun – Sucia Island, San Juan Islands, Washington appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

If you are Fluid Motion, the parent company of Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats, you hold the largest “Thank You Rendezvous” the boating community has ever seen! –

We attended our first Ranger Tugs Rendezvous in August of 2011, just after taking delivery of our 2012 Ranger R27. At that time it was organized by the owners and supported by the Factory. It was held in Bremerton Washington that year and attended by approximately 68 boats and over a hundred owners. It was a fun event, “Parrotville Party” was the theme that year, very similar to this year’s theme, “Cruise to Margaritaville.” These tuggers sure like their margaritas.

One has to ask why has this event gotten so big, five times the size of the one we attended in 2011. We finally decided it was not just one thing. But it does revolve around one central fact. Fluid Motion takes care of its customers and the yearly rendezvous is a way of continuing this effort. Making a big statement without even saying anything. They make great boats and take care of their customers. It’s that simple and I’m often perplexed by how other companies don’t understand this basic principle of business.

Fluid Motion doesn’t do it alone, but they are the driving force.

They enlist their suppliers and vendors to help support this large event. Garmin had a team of five in attendance to conduct educational seminars on GPS, Radar, and Autopilot as well as perform software updates on anyone’s Garmin equipment. They were also at the 2011 Rendezvous and every event in between. Volvo Penta, a sponsor since these boats have been powered by them, held a diesel Q&A seminar and had a D4 300 HP engine on display for demonstration purposes. Global Marine Insurance had five of their own in attendance and held two Q&A sessions and were sponsors. In all, there were 42 partners and sponsors for this very successful event, so it was definitely a group effort.

Attendees also had the opportunity to sign up to have one of the countless Fluid Motion techs on hand to visit boats to address any questions owners may have and/or perform any warranty work, all without charge. Good reason to attend one of these rendezvous. Right? The process sounds daunting when you think of how many boats were in attendance, but they have perfected a very well-organized and orderly system to make sure everyone is happy.

With a minimal sign-up fee, the theme in place, activities, and competitions well organized, and more food and beverages than one has the right to expect, the Factory dove in to provide another memorable event most of us attendees will not soon forget.

So, a big THANK YOU back to Fluid Motion from the crew of Kismet. We had a great time during the rendezvous and the Cruise to Margaritaville!

Dave Livingston (above middle), the creative mastermind behind Fluid Motion’s success. Accompanying him are Christie Messmer (left) and Ann Marrs (right).

John Livingston and Jeff Messmer (above-left) are the driving force behind Fluid Motion’s success. Communications Director, Sam Bisset (above-right) with his girlfriend, Ashley.

The Owners Group is Not the Only Thing Growing!

There is a huge sense of community among Fluid Motion’s factory personnel (currently, about 300) and Ranger Tug and Cutwater Boat owners as if we are all part of one big family. All or most of the Fluid Motion staff bring their families to the event. Over the years we’ve had the opportunity to, not only get to know the folks we’ve worked with on our boat, we’ve met their families, girlfriends, and wives and watched their families grow. At this year’s event, Ivan was not able to attend as he was with his wife, back on the mainland, as she gave birth. We hope to meet the new addition in the near future. We also got to meet Sam’s girlfriend Ashley and met Tim’s family during one of the dinners. Looks like a bright future for all.

The joint winners (above) of the Best “Cruise to Margaritaville” Costume Competition.

Ranger Tugettes, and a few others, gathered for a group photo (above and below, left).

The crew from Global Marine Insurance, Troy, Holly, and Ben (above).

These folks (above) had just shared with us their decision to buy an R29, after spending some time with us onboard Kismet.

We met Kathy and Craig (above) at our first rendezvous in 2011.

The post How Do You Say Thank You? appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Port Madison is One of Our Favorite Anchorages in the Puget Sound Area! –

Still getting to know our new Kismet. Our first get-a-way after we dropped our grandson Silas off with his parents was to return to Port Madison, Washington. Located east of the Olympic Peninsula, at Bainbridge Island, We first visited this anchorage in 2012 soon after we took possession of our then Ranger Tugs R27. So we thought it would be appropriate to make a return visit with the new and improved R29. We are headed north of Puget Sound now, anchoring out as we make our way to Anacortes and then the San Juan Islands.

We remembered how peaceful and beautiful it is there and after a week with our active grandson, Silas on board, we were ready for something quiet and restorative. There are a couple of yacht clubs in this long narrow inlet, we passed them to go further back, seeking the quietest spot we could find and fit into.

Once settled, Jim took a well-deserved, early evening, nap. Guess he’s found a spot on the back deck where he can fit into and get the job done.

Tonight we played around with the interior lights. It sure gives a warm glow to our boat at night.

The post A Gem of an Anchorage – Port Madison, WA appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Lots to do with Silas in Tacoma! –

By Thursday, knowing that Silas would be ready to burn up some pent-up energy, we headed to Dock Street Marina in Tacoma. Just cruising into the busy port gave Silas some maritime visual stimulation. He asked lots of questions about his surroundings at the busy marina – all day long.

After docking, we gathered up the accumulated garbage bags to dispose of and walked a short distance into town. One nice thing about Dock Street Marina is its close proximity to a fairly vibrant harbor town. We wanted to take Silas to Tacoma Children’s Museum, where he could hang out with kids his own age.

Silas had fun at the museum, which was more of an inside playground chock-full of activities.

We had all really worked up an appetite by that time, so next, we headed over to The Spaghetti Factory for a late lunch followed by ice cream. Perfect ending to a busy day in Tacoma.

If the above photo is any indication, I think we can safely say we were starting to wear him down.

The next day, on our way to Des Moines, Silas asked to see the engine. Because he likes to know how things work we told him we would when we got into port – the engine had time to cool down. Silas helped me rinse off the week’s worth of dirt and salt water. I had a brush with soapy water, and Silas used a rather large squirt gun. The boat was clean and both of us were completely drenched from clowning around.

Then we made cookies!

Later that afternoon, we decided it was time to show Silas the engine and review how it worked. I have to say for an almost 4-year-old, he sure has a grasp on the mechanics of what makes a boat move. We must have spent an hour or so going over all of the engine components and just as I’m ready to close the engine hatch Silas says….”No, wait! I have one more question!”

And this is why we think Silas is turning into an avid mariner, at the very least a mechanical genius.

He never worried, complained, or acted up the whole trip. Seemed like it was natural for him to live on a boat. It was bittersweet when our week came to an end and Silas had to go back to his parents in Portland. Bitter in that our week together had come to an end, but sweet because we will always have wonderful memories to look back on of our week-long boating adventure.

Goodnight and Sweet Dreams, young Silas! You were an excellent First Mate, honorary Captain, and Chief Cookie Monster. Can’t wait for our next boating adventure!

The post Out of the Wild and Into City Life – Tacoma, WA appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

We’ve Waited a Long Time to Have Silas Onboard
for a Weeklong Adventure! –

Monday afternoon, Lisa, Silas, and I waved goodbye from shore to Ross and Hadley and headed back to the boat. To see the wonderment in Silas’ eyes, as we departed Gig Harbor, brought back memories of when I was a child spending time on the water in a boat. From Gig Harbor we cruised through the Narrows into Hale Passage en route to Penrose Point State Park, off Carr Inlet. We have never cruised much in South Sound, except for one trip to Gig Harbor in 2011, when we took possession of our Ranger Tugs R27. The day was sunny warm and clear, the water very calm, so we decided to anchor out for our first night. What a delight to have Silas onboard with us.

We wondered what Silas would think about sleeping on the boat, which he has done many times, but always at a marina, never on the hook. We tried to involve him in as many of our boating chores and activities as possible during his week on the boat. We had Silas help as we lowered the anchor into the water.

A New Adventure for Us Too!

After getting settled at anchor and other boat chores, we had dinner followed by games and finally, when it got dark enough, we watched for fish by the blue light under the swim platform. We were all pooped from a big first day of experiences on the boat, so we ended the day all snuggled up in bed for a relaxing night’s sleep. Lisa and I looked at each other, thinking the same thing… On the hook, gently afloat with our Silas securely tucked in between us. A new adventure for us… a week-long boat trip with our grandson.

Silas had lots of energy – think he was a little disappointed in his grandparents though. After a full day of activities, we were pooped. But no nap or downtime for him today, no sir, too much to do on the boat.

After a little game of hide-and-seek, Silas found his surprise bag full of little puzzle boxes. All his favorite characters plus some we all thought Hadley might like.

Every morning Silas needed some quiet transition time with Papa. Lisa knows how he feels.

On Wednesday morning, we pulled anchor to motor a short distance to dock at Penrose Point Park’s dock to spend the day and night. We found out, that this is a wonderful place with many hiking trails, campsites, and a pebble-strewn beach close to the dock. Lot’s for a kid to explore.

Silas and I went out to walk the park, while Lisa made lunch, and to see how far we could skip stones out into the bay. He collected a bag full of seashells to take back to the boat. Silas was so excited when he showed Ana all the neat things he found on our nature walk.

Amazing how kids can keep themselves entertained with nothing other than nature and someone to share it with. We thought about this when a few days into the trip we realized that someone forgot to pack any toys, I mean NONE! The amazing thing was he never missed his toys, not even his favorites. He made do with what we had on the boat and never even mentioned the lack of toys. Of course, we did prepare for his trip by picking up some new activity-type games and puzzles ahead of time and we doled them out sporadically during the trip.

After our short excursion on the beach, Silas and I returned to the boat to have lunch and we made plans for an afternoon hike, through the woods, over to another beach. Later that evening, Silas and I had to row across the bay to the little marina to get ice cream.

We introduced Chutes and Ladders, a board game, to Silas, and he beat us, of course.

The next day we leisurely cruised a few miles away through Pitt Passage and into Filucy Bay for another day and night on the hook. By this time, Silas was so attuned to our routine that one would think he was born to be on the water. We had bought Silas some small-sized, but real, tools, as he is so inquisitive about how things work, we felt he would be interested in helping “Papa” do some work around the boat. I had a couple of fire extinguishers that needed to be mounted, so we spent some time figuring out where and how to mount them. As we finished our chores, Silas mirrored me by putting all of his new tools away.

The post Silas Onboard Kismet – Penrose Point State Park and Filucy Bay appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Our First Guest on Our New Ranger Tug, Kismet! –

It is often said that people are a “product of their environment.”

We had our grandson, Silas, on his first boat ride, in 2013, before he was a week old. Since that day, we’ve had a few boat rides with him, his parents, and recently minted sister, Hadley. As he is now almost four years old, we thought it was time to immerse him in our boating lifestyle. So we invited him to join us for – Silas’ first boating adventure – a week-long cruise in South Puget Sound, Washington. There was no hesitation in his reply. “When do we go?” he said. We chose South Sound for its close proximity to Portland, where Silas, his sister, and his parents live.

After our Ranger Tugs orientation in Des Moines Marina, we spent several days commissioning the boat with many shopping expeditions to stock and equip the boat. We left there Saturday mid-day to cruise to Gig Harbor to anchor out that night. On Sunday, our son, Ross, and Hadley delivered Silas to us in Gig Harbor. Silas’ mom Sarah could not come and we missed her terribly. They all spent one night on Kismet – our first guests on the new boat.

Hadley thought the new boat was a new type of playground

Before Ross and Hadley left the next day, we had a good time exploring Gig Harbor and getting a feel for the new and upgraded features on the boat. We took a short boat ride while Hadley explored every crevice and seemed to gravitate toward anything she could jump on, climb, swing off of, or tumble over. Interestingly enough Silas is so used to being around boats he was more than eager to start his first week-long boating adventure. Boating just seems to be in his DNA.

Hereditary, or is he a product of his environment?

Before everyone arrived we pulled up to the town dock and emptied the holding tank (above).

I think we couldn’t wait to get our hands on these two kids and hug them like crazy.

Silas is a natural at the wheel, we think he remembers the old boat and how much time he sat in Papa’s lap steering it on the Columbia River, in Portland, Oregon, the last time we were here. Silas’ first boating adventure started off with a cruise through the Narrows with the whole crew on board.

Hadley looked like she was auditioning for acrobatics or gymnastics as she has a lot of energy and is not afraid to climb anything. Consequently, she had a hard time calming down.

The first chore on the boat was to help Papa to put the front windshield cover on the front windows.

We walked around town, hoping Hadley would fall asleep, but not a chance. We got some dinner and visited a few stores. She was a live wire the whole time, which made for an interesting late night on the boat. Too many new things to explore and discover. She is probably wondering when her solo trip on the boat, with Papa and Ana, is scheduled.

The post Silas First Boating Adventure – Gig Harbor appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Kenny Marrs met us at the boat early in the morning of day two of our orientation. He would be covering the Volvo Penta D4-300 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. Thanks again, Kenny!

The post Ranger Tugs Gives Orientation on Volvo Penta D4-300 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.

Packing for a Cross Country Trip is Like Preparing for a Marathon

Getting ready for a cross-country trip requires some mental gymnastics! We’ve only got one shot to pack up the truck before we head west. Better to be well-organized from the start. We knew it was going to be tight, especially since we were taking a few containers of personal items to our son, Ross, and his family, who live in Portland, OR.

We actually started the packing process back in April when we unloaded the contents, of our sold Ranger Tugs R27, from our truck into the garage. I sorted through it all and weeded out things we never used. Then I put most of the boat paraphernalia into containers that would eventually fit neatly in the bed of the truck. Once we depart home there’s no chance we’re turning around, unless it’s Lisa who’s not in the truck. We are fairly familiar with the drill and what we need to take, so it does get easier.

We started getting organized several weeks before the actual departure day.

I made a list, sorted through the old boat stuff again, and made a staging area on the floor of our garage. I then started ordering new items such as a 22 lb. Rocna anchor, BBQ grille, and an electric pigtail adaptor. These were items that sold with our R27. That was the fun part. About a week before the departure date I started packing, first by loading all the containers, that were ready to go since April, into the bed of the truck. Then I fit more items between the containers, or on top of containers, to ensure we used up every possible inch of available real estate.

Amazingly everything I had sitting on the garage floor fit in the bed of the truck.

This left the back seat of the truck for clothes and personal belongings, or stuff we needed to access on the road trip. As we were packing the truck we also kept an eye on what needed to be done to close down the house for a two-month adventure. This process sometimes feels like a well-choreographed marathon. Again we’ve had practice, as this is our second time packing up to drive west to pick up a new Ranger Tug. In 2011, we drove out to Seattle to get our first tug, an R27. All-in-all, we’ve made this cross-country, round trip, five times, if you count the time we drove out in the winter of 2007/08 to watch our Fathom 40 be built. Two of those trips were made by hauling the boat to and from the West Coast specifically to cruise Puget Sound and British Columbia.

We left Michigan early Sunday morning. Feels good to finally get on the road!

When not towing a boat, like now, we will cover about 500 miles per day, give or take a few. We anticipate the trip will take four straight days of driving from Michigan to Idaho, where we will visit friends for a couple of days, then one more day to Portland, OR, we’ll visit family for a few days before we meet up with the new Kismet. Although we usually take in some sights on the way – on previous trips we’ve visited  Glacier National Park, the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, and a few side attractions. This trip is a straight shot for us, our focus is getting on that new boat as soon as possible.

By using a hook and a pole, I was able to quickly push the containers to the front of the bed of the truck.

Don’t think we forgot anything. The truck is filled to the gills.

The post Insights Into Jim’s Packing Science 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.

Coming Home to Charlevoix, Michigan for the Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous!

Charlevoix Michigan was home to the Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous. What a spectacular setting for this year’s event. Lisa and I have a fondness for Charlevoix as this was once our homeport. That was before we became enamored of trailering our Ranger Tug all over the United States. So being in Charlevoix again was like coming home.

Arriving on Monday morning, for our 3-day event, we had nothing but clear sunny skies while greeting attendees as they arrived. With 40 people in attendance, we had boaters from Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Washington, Ohio, Kentucky, Ontario, Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. Also in attendance were sponsors and representatives of Reed Yacht Sales, Manitowoc Marina, and Volvo Penta. The event was also sponsored by Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats and Global Marine Insurance. By the very nature of being able to trailer these boats, Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats have a broad, ready-made, community spread far and wide.

When we get together at events like this some of the boaters may already know one another, if not, we’re a friendly bunch, we are here because we all want to have a fun time with other tug owners.

We spent the first day getting settled in. For us, being boatless meant first checking into a local motel and then setting up chairs and a table on the end of the dock for the Pot Luck dinner the first night. Day one was a casual affair, making sure people get their ditty bags, and questions answered. For some, it meant finding a parking spot in town for their truck and maybe their trailer.

For 2018 we’re planning on heading to Ontario’s Trent Severn Waterway.

During Happy Hour on the dock, Jim welcomed everyone with an overview of the agenda and introductions of attendees just before we dug into the potluck offerings.

Matt Hartman and Christine Carlson (above), from Volvo Penta, were with us for our three-day event. Although they were working on Public Relations and Marketing projects for Volvo’s “Where Does Volvo Penta Take You” campaign they both did a good job of blending in seamlessly with our Ranger Tugs and Cutwater boats community.

Mark Derene (above), the representative from Reed Yacht Sales, always had a friendly smile, you could tell he was having a good time. He brought the beautiful red Ranger Tugs R29S to the rendezvous, I think so Jim and I could drool over it. It is just like the one we have on order, we’ll take possession in a few weeks. Thanks for letting me crawl all over your boat Mark!

Everyone is enjoying the Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous.

We started day two off with a catered breakfast followed by US Coast Guard Safety inspections and a boat crawl. We offer the boat crawl in order to learn about enhancements people make to their boats. It’s also an opportunity to share maintenance tips that can save us time and money as well as keep us on the water.

No rendezvous would be complete without a happy hour on the docks, we had one every night. We had a wonderful view of downtown Charlevoix and Round Lake. The day was capped off with a catered dinner on the town’s waterside park lawn.

Matt and Christine were kept busy most days interviewing attendees. Can’t wait to see the photos and videos they took.

Charlevoix has one very special ambassador in their Harbor Master!

Hal Evans is a legend in the boating community, at least to those who have visited “Charlevoix the Beautiful.” You will never encounter a more friendly greeting when docking your boat. Most often Hal will shout a warm “Welcome Home” as you approach to dock your boat. Hal is a one-of-a-kind individual – one of those rare people whom the sun shines through so naturally and radiates out even brighter to all in close proximity. A genuinely good man. Retiring next year, Hal’s shoes will be hard to fill.

Hal helped to make our rendezvous happen in Charlevoix this year. We invited him and his wife, Mary Ann, to dinner Tuesday night and he, in turn, brought his guitar to sing a few old sailor songs during happy hour. Thanks, Hal!!!

After dinner, we played a short game of LAST PERSON STANDING. The last person standing won a parts certificate from Fluid Motion (Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats).

The Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous ended Wednesday on a high note with a tour of John and Zita Winn’s exquisite boathouse and fascinating maritime collection.

Winn’s collection includes unique, and mostly one-of-a-kind boats, outboard engines, seat cushions, paddles, burgees, toys, artifacts and so much more. After crawling around the boathouse, John invited us upstairs to his “Chart Room.” Lots of activities and memorabilia to keep a boater entertained.

John and Zita’s view of Round Lake from their Chart Room.

Later, we had a catered lunch on the dock followed by a presentation about marine insurance by Matt Anderson and Ben Belyea, President of Global Marine Insurance (below). There was also some free time scheduled each day, so people could explore Charlevoix, relax and or go for a cruise out on Lake Charlevoix. The last night we had a pizza party on the dock where many discussed their departure plans for the next day.

Pictures are great and we know not everyone can always attend, however, we hope this gives you a small taste of what a Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats Rendezvous is all about.

A fun time was had by all! Thanks to the attendees, the sponsors, the marina staff, the dealer representatives, the City of Charlevoix, and John and Zita Winn for a one-of-a-kind tour of their boathouse and maritime collection.

The post Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Come One, Come All!
Own a Ranger Tug or Cutwater Boat?

2018 Great Lakes Area
Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats
Summer Rendezvous

Orillia, Ontario – Canada
on the Trent Severn Waterway

Tentative Dates:  August 17 – 19th

– Since 2014, the Great Lakes Area Rendezvous has moved to different areas on, or near, the Great Lakes. This way, we can explore different ports. Last year’s event was held on Round Lake in Charlevoix, Michigan. This years planned rendezvous will be held in the beautiful Trent Severn Waterway. A must-see boating destination for any serious cruiser.

Check Out Last Year’s Event…

Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous

We know it’s not just around the corner, but what better time than now to start planning a 2018 cruising itinerary? For Tugnuts and Tugettes, who are shoveling or snowplowing driveways, summer can’t come soon enough. Winter seems the best time to organize trip details and dream of parts unknown.
Please take a moment to think about the possibility of joining us this summer in Orillia, Canada for a fun time.

Come by water, if your homeport is in the area. If your tug is far away, load her up onto the trailer and tow it nearby. Aren’t trailerable boats wonderful? You won’t regret exploring the Trent Severn Waterway with a group, or on your own, before or after the rendezvous. For example, the crew of Kismet is thinking about launching in Alpena, Michigan, crossing Lake Huron to Georgian Bay, and entering the Trent Severn Waterway to Orillia. After the rendezvous, we will continue cruising south/southeast on the Trent Severn turning north on the Rideau River to Ottawa and finally the Ottawa River to Montreal. We are getting goosebumps just thinking about this new (for us – Rideau to Montreal) cruising adventure.

This year we are working closely with Ryan Stovold, of Lefroy Harbour, Ontario’s Ranger Tugs dealer, and Fluid Motion. Ryan has attended and co-sponsored all our rendezvous so far. Details will follow once Ryan secures the dockage dates in Orillia. There will be cruising in the scenic Trent Severn Waterway available for groups before and after the Rendezvous, or do it solo on your own schedule.

More info will soon follow – in the meantime, if you have an interest in attending – email us directly (info@trailertrawlerlife.com) so we can add you to the list – You will get updates as the plan formalizes. Official registration will not start until late spring.

Don’t miss this opportunity to cruise a historic waterway. Sign up to grow social relationships with other tug owners from all over the United States and Canada. In our world, when it comes to boating activities, it’s more about making memories and sharing adventures, than almost anything else.

See you in Orillia!
Jim and Lisa Favors
M/V Kismet
Ranger Tug R29

The post Own a Ranger Tug or Cutwater Boat? Add to Your Cruising Calendar! 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.

TRAILER BLAZING!

Sea Magazine just did a fantastic article about the crew of Kismet in their August 2017 issue.
Find out more about this amazing lifestyle choice.

Kismet Sea Magazine

The post Nice Article on Crew of Kismet – Sea Magazine – August 2017 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.