Embarrasing Question

davehogue555 · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject: Embarrasing Question

I've been on the water for 50 years. There's been several boats, from a 14' outboard to, for the last 21 years, a 20' Kayot with a 260 hp Mercruiser but all have had a "pointable prop". I have just bought a 2005 Ranger R21 Classic with a 30hp Yanmar diesel and I have never operated a fixed screw and rudder boat ( with the exception of 6 years in the Submarine Service). Any recomendations as to books to read or old posts on this forum to read before I put it in the water? Thanks!

Dave

rogerbum · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject:

Since this site has been primary devoted to C-Dorys and since the C-Rangers are a bit new to the site, I doubt you'll find much in the way of relevant previous posts to answer your questions. There's some old salts here who can certainly help you out with specific questions. As for books, the old standard of Chapman Piloting:Seamanship and Small Boat Handling has extensive writing on how to handle all types of boats including single screw/rudder combo.

davehogue555 · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:32 pm Post subject:

Just ordered Chapman Piloting.....Thanks

thataway · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject:

Congratulations on the C Ranger. I had the opportunity to one one for a few hours and they are very well behaved. If you get the thruster options, you can almost stand the boat on its head! Generally the thrust of the prop wash against the rudder is what kicks the stern around. In reverse the boat will "walk" one way--this is because the water is denser on the lower blade of the prop, than the top blade, thus it will kick the boat sideways. (I'll confess I am not posititive if the boat had right hand prop or not). Although the boat has a fair amount of windage, there is enough keel and boat in the water, that it does not blow around as easily as some of the outboard boats.

When backing the boat will start to one direction because of the prop walk effect, but you can either use a thruster, or put the rudder over the opposite way from the way the stern is turning and give a short burst ahead to swing the stern back to the direction you want. My experience was that the C Ranger 25 backed quite consistantly and was fairly easy to master. Good luck with the new boat--and welcome!

Get out and practice. In another post I mentioned putting a couple of fenders in the water, tide to a boat look, so they will keep a constant relationship to each other. Practice backing the boat, bringing the boat along side etc. First on a calm day, then when there is a little wind.

Boat docking (Close quarter maneuvering) by Charles T. Low is an escellent book on maneuvering both single and twin screw inboard boats.

Alok · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:18 pm Post subject:

Dave:

My first boat was a single screw 33-foot trawler. In addition to the book Bob has mentioned above, I found "Dockmanship" by David Owen Bell helpful.

There were also a couple of useful chapters in "Getting started in Powerboating" by Bob Armstrong (you can probably read through them while sitting at your local bookstore- with your experience, its probably not worth buying the book).

Some things I learned as a new boater driving a single screw diesel (this is probably all old stuff for you):

I learned to use the wind and current as my friends...The flag on my boat was more than just a decoration...

I did not have a bow or stern thruster... I learned to turn while backing by first lining up the boat at the correct angle using a slight burst in forward gear, then backing the boat...(single screw power boats generally back like a brick)...

I learned to use spring lines a LOT when docking or coming alongside, and I learned to back out using a bow line when the wind was unfavorable (first go forward with the wheel turned towards the dock and a fender in place, then straighten the wheel and back off...). The C Ranger 21 is probably much easier to just push from the dock using hand-power, but is pleasing to see a single screw boat manuver gracefully!

I learned to walk to the stern and see good "water" coming from the exhaust as soon as I started the engine...

I also always added biocide to the diesel...some owner 10 years from now will thank you for having less sludge in the bottom of the tank.

The R-21 is a beautiful boat. Have a great time!

Sawdust · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:50 pm Post subject:

The Ranger 21 is a great handling boat. Large rudder well aft, and she turns on a dime. She will back either direction (not always true with a single screw), and very well balanced. Good choice.

Dusty

davehogue555 · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies..........got several books on order now, can't wait to get her in the water. Think I'll also get some 10"X26" fenders, just in case!

Dave

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 8:22 pm Post subject:

Sneaks · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 8:54 pm Post subject:

davehogue555 · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 11:26 pm Post subject:

I started out on the diesel boats (SS303) in New London, Conn. and we routinely steamed up the Thames River and tied up to one of the piers at the Sub Base without the aid of tugs or anything else. The combination of river flow, tide and wind sometimes made it a challenge to twist the boat to line up with your assigned place and then get up next to the pier. I stood maneuvering watch helmsman watches and was one busy dude. I remember approaching the mouth of the Thames going home one time and the railroad drawbridge across the river had a derailed train on it...... couldn't open for us, so we flooded down till the deck was awash and went on in under it. A little off topic here but I can't resist sea stories!

Dave

cmdnav · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 11:56 pm Post subject:

Hey Dave congratulations on your new boat,

Your question is a good one. Far better to prepare for handling your new vessel ahead of time than through the expensive "school of hard knocks". One thing I would recommend is be generous with your fenders. Even the best boat drivers will have an occasional "oops". Far better to bounce off a good sized fender than your shiny new gelcoat. It always amuses me to see an expensive boat approaching with undersized Walmart fenders.

Although not a book, a resource that I have recommended for some of my students is the Stentec Motorboat Simulator for the PC.

http://www.stentec.com/motorboatsimulator_i/

It is a nice method to practice some of your dockside skills, especially during the too-long off seasons. They model inboard single and twin boats and even include bow thrusters. Just remember this software was developed in the Netherlands so "red, right, returning" does not apply.

Enjoy,

Chris

Sneaks · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 11:59 pm Post subject:

TyBoo · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 12:05 am Post subject:

davehogue555 · Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:52 am Post subject:

Now, that is an old boat! Any idea of the year that picture was made?

davehogue555 · Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:57 am Post subject:

I ordered the download version of Motorboat Simulator. Had no idea how much 29,95 Euro was till this morning when the charge showed up......$41 US....not bad I guess.