So What Did You Do On or With Your Ranger Tug Today?

Made the trip around Middle Thompson lake, about 5 miles. Mrs Dee has a C-80 Raymarine. I think I can convert the track to a route and have the autopilot follow without having to steer. Guess I need to crack the instruction book to get it right. This tiny lake is a good place to practice. Those trusters are great, I wouldn't want to be without them.
Capt D
 
Took the little tug out the the day after the Holiday, July 5 and ran
up to Little Sucia island in the San Juans and turned around and came
back arriving today the 10th. Nice weather but lumpy seas and
fairly windy afternoons. Only problem changing from to perfect to
not perfect was the note on the windshield of my tow vehicle saying
that they had banged my fender on my trailer and left me a phone
number to call. First dent and first time in salt water. Guess its used
now. This run gave me a change to hone those C80 skills and its a
big book with lots of info in it to learn. Tomorrow its off to a lake to
flush out the motor and get some fresh water in it.. Bob Heselberg
Eatonville Wa
 
50 hour service on CR 25 110 hp turbo 735.00

Engine & Tran fluids & filters

Shaft alingment

6 hrs @ 90.00 and. 100.00 in parts.

How Does this square With the rest of you?
 
I think that's more than I paid for the same work (fluid / filter changes, valve adjustment, shaft alignment, etc - 50 hour maintenance) in Portland. I can't be absolutely sure how much more (maybe 10 - 20%) since I had some additional work done at the same time and the bill doesn't split it out very well.

The good news is that it's quite a while before Yanmar recommends any preventative maintenance that I can't do myself. Didn't like the bill for 50 hours but didn't expect it would need shaft alignment either which I certainly couldn't do.

Sorry I can't be more specific.
 
I would learn how to do these proceedures yourself. None of this is difficult. Is the boat in the water? The engine alignment needs to be with the boat in the water for several days after launch.

Buy a Jebsco or Sureflo pump on a bucket or a vacuum chamber to remove the engine oil. You can easily put a fitting on the pan drain plug, which remotes the drainage, and allows all of the fluid to be pulled out of the pan. There are also built in systems for draining oil--Reverso is one of these. I have not had as good luck with the hand pumps, or pumps checked into a drill.

We would change engine oil (with larger amounts of oil) at sea when crossing oceans. If you have the right set up, it is not messy and easy to do.

I think that the number of hours is excessive--Unless, the engine was not properly aligned at delivary. It should be the responsibility of the delivering dealer to be sure that the engine is properly aligned. Again, this means after the boat has been in the water for several days.
I would want to check and be sure that my dealer's technicians know how to align the engine.

Engine alignment--several sites to check on general problems:
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/alignment.htm
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/Alignment2.htm

A good book for all inboard diesel engine owners is Nigel Calder's book "Boat owners Mechanical and Electrical manual" and "Marine Diesel engines."

To check the alignment, loosen the bolts on the coupling--put a feeler guage between the coupling faces--it should be within .006 inches in four quadrants. You will have to raise or lower the mounts, and move the engine right and left at each engine mount until it is within tolerance. But--the engine should not change unless there has been some major problem.
 
Wow, it seems like an outrage...who charged you this much for the 50 hour service? I think we all want to avoid that place like the plague.


C-Sick":3nrx4kl6 said:
50 hour service on CR 25 110 hp turbo 735.00

Engine & Tran fluids & filters

Shaft alingment

6 hrs @ 90.00 and. 100.00 in parts.

How Does this square With the rest of you?
Click to expand...
 
Frankly, as Thataway points out, none of this maintenance is all that difficult with the right tools. There is a lot of info out there that explains the processes including to a limited extent the books that he mentions, which are part of my on board library.

Certainly we all probably know how to and do change our own fluids and filters. If you cruise any distances, it's all pretty routine. Although I am still puzzled as to why marine diesel designers can't all come up with a way to mount the oil filter vertically instead of horizontally. Gives us a reason to cuss them, I guess.

Whether you want to do engine alignment or valve adjustment seems to me to be more a matter of personal choice, time and desire. Many years ago I would have done it for the challenge - plus I couldn't have afforded to have it done. Of course at that point we would probably have been talking about a Volkswagen bug not a boat. More recently I would have done it just for the experience. Today, I'd probably leave it to the professionals. All a matter of choice.

I'm a strong believer in having the appropriate tools, spares and knowledge to fix the things that are most likely to go wrong in your boating envrionment that need to be fixed. What that amounts to varies a great deal depending upon local conditions. In the northwest, if you are boating in Lake Washington, almost any problem other than a fire is no more than an inconvenience. Most of Puget Sound - a lot more dangerous possiblilities but generally rescue is close at hand. Much of Alaska or the west side of Vancouver Island, you better be pretty self-sufficient.

All about choices -
 
There is a good Yanmar mechanic at Seaview West boatyard. He is independant of the boatyard, just has a shop there. He is pretty good and I always found him to be reasonable. His name is Mark. Don't remember the company name. The shaft alignment is probably one of the easier chores on a diesel tug. It takes a little time but is pretty straightforward. I would rather do that than change the darn oil. Being a turbo might complicate things a bit, but have never had one. The naturally aspirated Yanmars are pretty simple, and I do not claim to have mechanical abilities. Digging in and doing it yourself will prepare you for doing it when an emergency arises. There is a small book out there on basic diesel mechanics that I found valuable. I will look on the shelf tonight and try to post the name of it tomorrow.
 
C-Sick,
That is outrageous, 50 hour service should be less than $200. Fluids and filter. If the engine was out of line , the dealer or factory ought to pay for it. It probably would be twice as much as a diesel pickup just because it is a boat. I don't think my 50 hour service took more than an hour. I also had two bilge pumps installed on the port and starboard side.
I will avoid that outfit.
Captd
 
I talked to the mechanic and he backed off from saying it took 3hrs to align the motor/shaft. Said it was poor communication with the billing department. He said it took 1.5 hours. Even 1.5 hours is a bit extreme.

He then said because it is a turbo he had to crack all the fuel injectors and remove the valve cover in order to adjust the valves. I looked at the engine today and all of the injectors and the cover our accessible.

I want to be sure I am not out of line before naming this company so if there are others who have completed your 50 hour service and you are willing to share the cost please chime in.
 
Patty had made an appointment with I-90 Marine in Issaquah for the 300 hour service on the BF150, who quoted $1,000. I could not believe that was even close to reasonable, so we called West Coast Marine in Bellingham - their quote (and they have been doing a lot of C-Dory service on Joe and Ruth's recommendation) was $300. I have no hesitation to name names coupled with objective facts about what they charged. I think we need to share this kind of information for the benefit of all.
 
We also take part in a truck camper forum and they polled all the members about their dealers, service, prices, etc. and posted them. It is slowly starting to have an impact. Some of those that didn't fare too well are joining the forum and promising to do better. This forum, by comparison, has a huge membership and wields a lot of clout. It cost us a lot of hard earned dollars to earn that advantage and we should use it for the current members, and those in the future. I had experience with two dealers, one was dismal but EQ was outstanding. Stuff like that matters.
 
As I live in Colorado and have my R-25 in Edmonds I relied on others for advice on who are good people to do my 50 hour service.

Galley Marine did the shaft alignment, valve adjustment and belt check. Apparently the shaft needed alignment and two valves needed adjustment. Don't have the bill and hours required for the work yet (still in the mail), but I called and got the total. They charged me $482.03.

Edwards Marine Services in Edmonds changed the engine oil and transmission fluid including 2 new filters for $310. They charged me for two hours of labor, at $85 per hour, to do the work.

Total for the 50 hour service = $792.03.

I was told that hourly charges begin when the technician leaves the business and, I assume, until he gets back again. This was Galley Marine.

Live and learn.

Anders
 
Vikingbaat":1w8quc77 said:
Edwards Marine Services in Edmonds changed the engine oil and transmission fluid including 2 new filters for $310. They charged me for two hours of labor, at $85 per hour, to do the work.
Anders
Click to expand...

As a benchmark, marine engine service here in the greater San Diego area ranges between $95 and $100 per hour at most reputable shops and yes, if they go to the boat the clock starts ticking when they leave and stops when they get back.

The price we pay for living in Paradise.

Don
 
CSR Marine in Des Moines (Marina) reissued my bill but did not change the bottom line. They simply reassigned the hours spent.

Repair - 4.5 hours / $405.00
Changed engine oil & Flt.
Changed transmission oil & filter
Adjust bels and check valve clearances
Replace on engine fuel flt and Racor filter
Clean sea strainer
Adjust V belt
Check hoses and clamps
Test run

Engine Alignment -1.5 hours / $135.00
Check Engine Alignment
Found to be out of alignment
Adust engine alignment

4JH$-HTE/KMH4A gear

Materials
Filter -12.26
cartridge - 70.96
Racor Fltr - 21.00
Oil- 18.00
Trans Oil - 6
Recylce - 5
TOTAL _ 133.22

GRAND TOTAL 733.14

I think they gouged me considering the rest of you and your experience.
 
As it states in the "Yanmar Manual" That is part of there 50 hour service reccomendation. All of the shafts are aligned with a feeler gauge at the factory. We then Run the boats at the Factory and I then run the boat on the water for the day. Every boat we build we do this test. If I had the pleasure of running the same boat for four or five days I wouldn't be able to help all of the people I do on a daily basis. But unlike many other boat builders we get the pleasure of running every single boat made.
 
I am long over due in thanking the entire Ranger Tug Team for their NORDSTROM like customer service. They have gone above and beyond the all of duty in trying to make things right for me as a new Tug Owner.

I had the usual issues with a new boat - a ground strap bolt that wasn't tighten all the way - the relocation of the cabin heater water pump to improve flow, and a bead of caulk needed in the shower.

Every issue they have responded by coming up with the right solution and completing the work in a timely manner.

They even went to bat for me when I had a clogged intake - (Lk Washington sea weed) which meant replacing the exhaust muffler.

Andrew has been the man on the scene and has worked with me in trying to establish what is fair and reasonable considering the 50 hour tune up.

My experience with Ranger to date tells me the willingness to bend over backwards to help the customer permeates the organization. In my conversations with them they are committed to trying to build this DNA into the company so that it is not lost during their growth spurts.

Living with Five Woman believe me I understand the Nordstrom approach to customer service. Plus we have a deal. Every dollar I spend on the boat they spend at Nordstrom.
 
Had 50 hour service performed on my ranger 25 tug early July. I stopped off at the Old Lyme Marina on the Connecticut River on my way from the Houstonic River in Stratford, Ct to Block Island, R.I. Total bill including 2.5 hours labor was $296. This was the marina I purchased the boat from. Unfortunetly C-Ranger has seen fit to drop this fine marina from their list of dealerships.
 
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