At the Factory

captd · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:50 am Post subject: At the Factory

Today, Wed, October 22, 2008. We go for our 1st ride on the Lucky Fin. We came into the Ranger factory on the 20th. Marc, from Wefing Marine flew in that day as well. He spent his 1st day at the C-Dory factory. The second day Marc and Doug ( his right hand man ) spent the day on the Lucky Fin. So at this point they know more about my boat then I do.

Dee and I hung around the Tork Lift company in down town Kent. They specialize in fabrication of hitches and towing equipment. They are the best I have ever seen. We now can get in and out of our camper with a boat trailer on behind. They built a deck off the back on the hitch extension and the folding steps now come down off the side instead of the middle. A cargo rack underneath will carry a Honda gen set, ( 2000 watt ) and leveling blocks, etc. The new ( to us) 2004 Northern Lite is a 9 1/2 foot and 2000 lbs lighter, all fiberglass slide in.

We met Marc and Doug at Saltys down on the water front last night. It wasn't any fun as far as picking on Marc. He picked up the tab without ever reading the pressure post on another thread. Marc is not all bad, I don't care what everyone else says.............. His dinner tab must been $200 Crook

The truth is: he is the only boat dealer I would drive 3000 miles just to buy a boat from. I cannot praise him and the factory enough for how well they stand behind their boats. C-dory lost some great hands when they lost them to Ranger Tug. Jeff Mesmer and Andrew have got to be the best customer advocates I have ever run into. I guess that is why they have a back order of 4 months while other boat companies are closing their doors. I'm am a satisfied buyer of the Ranger Tug.

Pictures are coming up
captd

Island Ranger · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:57 am Post subject:

And it looks like you wil have a beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest for your first ride today! Wish I could run down to see you.

Congratulations on your second Ranger Tug. You must be the first to buy two!

Mac

Belltown · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject:

Congratulations - enjoy your fun. It is gorgeous today. I'm looking out my windows at Elliott Bay, wishing I was on the water instead of watching it.

And I'd like to add my endorsement to your praise of Jeff, Andrew, as well as Dave, John, Jim, and the rest of the outstanding Ranger team. Top notch!

Pat Anderson · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: At the Factory

Well, I don't know Marc, but I will definitely second your motion on Jeff and Andrew - the best, and I say that from personal experience. Rich Finlay should be so lucky to have people of their caliber taking care of C-Dory customers. But Rich made it clear, other than the factory party I guess, they really do not see themselves interfacing with their customers at all. If anybody from the C-Dory factory wants to clarify that, I would love to hear it, but that was my take-away from my conversation with Rich in Bellingham in August.

RichF · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

I hope I didn't say that we wouldn't interface with our customers at all. We are certainly out of the retail business - all sales of boats and parts are directed to our authorized dealers. We are here to support the dealers not compete with them.

Otherwise, I know everyone here does welcome interactions with C-Dory owners and owners-to-be. The factory is open to visits and my phone is (nearly) always answered on the first couple of rings. You will also see Mark, Andy, Sam or I at most of the major boat shows coming up this year. I trust the slow or lack of communication has come to an end.

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression - it was my first gathering.

Rich F.

Ron on Meander · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject:

Capt D,

Congrats on Lucky Fin. It sure looks great!

acustis · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject: The Eagle has landed

We can never take enough praise from our very loyal group of customers. We (Ranger Tugs) all love what we do and we are all very fortunate to run across some great Ranger and C-dory owners! That must be why we get the praise. Thanks for the great compliments guys!

captd · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:54 am Post subject:

It was a great day yesterday, proving once again how Ranger, Andrew, Jim and the rest at Ranger Tug crew solves problems.
With five good sized people on board the 150 cummins kicked along up to 18.5 miles an hour. That is full of fuel with 1/4 water. Andrew tested two different props with the load. At full speed there was a resounding pop and the Lucky Fin came to what would be a screeching halt if on land. The high pressure hose on the transmission fitting came apart shooting oil around and about in the engine compartment. Andrew called for reinforcemnts. Low and behold a 21 foot Ranger came to the rescue. A tug rescueing a tug. That only fitting. On this very capable little red tug was the Cummins mechanic with a new hose and some replacement oil. Up an running in no time. Now we had 7 good sized people on the boat. I run it up to full RPMs to, I believe it was 3900 down from 3950.
Only one problem, we had no beer during the wait.

I have to admit during the feasco, there was a look on Andrew's face. It was a look of total shock. He swears it had never happened before in all the test runs he had ever made. He thought maybe it was my wife, Mis Dee that was hell on hoses. When she is aboard a hose somewhere lets go.
Marc, Jim and myself took lots of pictures. Some of the little red tug with Mount Rainier in the back ground. I am sure Marc will be posting. Some pictures of Andrew looking a little sheepish. I'll be posting them.

We had lunch at Ivar's on the water. Some of their famous clam chowder.

It was a very satisfying day. The new 2009 Ranger is everything I was told it was. Even better.

Lucky Fin will be detailed out today and a few little thing to finish up. I will be posting pictures of the boat and the new porch with stairs. That came out very functional. Should be back in Montana by Friday.

captd

Wefings · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

I have a slow connection right now , but here is a shot while we were fixing the hose on "Lucky Fin" . I dont know how you folks live here with the sunshine and scenic beauty surrounding you . This Mercer Island place is a real dump !
Marc

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Cruise-Ship-4&id=small_21_ranger&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Or id that does not work , it is in the Cruise ship #4 album . Ill post more later.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject:

Marc - how about this? Laughing

Wefings · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks Pat , Jeff gave me your # Ill call ya and see if we can get together . Im here till Sat.
Marc

localboy · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject:

Sea Wolf · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject:

Speaking of

"At the Factory"

Would it be appropriate or possible in terms of time, for the Ranger Tug portion (only, perhaps) of the C-Brats to have a factory tour during the SBSCBGT?

Would those folks be interested?

Just a suggestion from a bystander.

(I realize they probably couldn't accommodate the entire C-Brat contingent.)

Joe, with too much time on his hands. Teeth

thataway · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject:

Congratulations on the new boat. If I correct 18. 5 miles an hour is 16 knots.

Just a question for the factory folks: At how many hours is it acceptable to take the engine up to max RPM?--3950 RPM?

Thanks.

captd · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject:

Bob,
In case the factory don't respond, I would make a comment. The factory in all cases runs every boat up to the max. In this case after the hose blew, Cummins was on board. To test it again we went pettle to the metal.
If we had not tested this boat wide open the hose would have been a weak spot that would have stopped a trip and would have needed a Sea Tow in a place where it might not have been so convenient. I don't imagine the factory or Cummins would recommend a high speed run for a long period of time.
captd