Checklist for 7 Days of Cruising

This is the equipment, food and clothing reminders that we use to prepare the Laurie Ann for a 7 day or longer boat trip.  Our planning strategy is to re-supply once every seven days to get the local food and goods.

Boat Exterior & Engine

• Fuel tank: Rule of 1/3: never let the tank be less than a 1/3 full when planning how much fuel to get
• Check both tool bags, both repair boxes, coolant and oil?
• Racor filter checked?
• Belt checked, 3/8 inch deflection is desired; more means tightening
• Drinking water filled
• Trailer checked: lubed, tires & brake fluid, straps, lights
• Rain-X the windows
• Spare: oil, coolant, belts & filters, tools, fuses?
• Straps & ropes checked
• Batteries checked and charged?
• Anchor systems checked?
• Fueling system: absorbent pads, nozzle extension
• Water filtration system

24 hours Pre-Trip:

• Charged batteries
• Refrigerator cold

Boat Interior:

• Galley Checked
• Sleeping area checked?
• Propane tank checked?
• Raingear checked?
• Lifejackets checked?
• Fire Extinguishers checked?
• Flare kit checked (9/14 expire)
• First aid kit checked?
• Chartplotter checked?
• Check all flashlights
• Cell phone amplifier cords
• Technology Bag: laptop, MiFi, power cord, iPod, chargers for phone & iPod, cameras & data cords, rechargeable battery kit
• Hats, sunglasses & sunscreen
• Re-chargeable flashlight
• Two-way radios checked?
• Wallace stove fuel checked & started, less than 1/2 tank should be filled

Other Stuff:

• Dinghy filled and checked
• Honda & gas filled gas can
• Dinghy pump & paddles
• Crab trap, bait, & license
• BBQ: brush, lighter, pizza stone
• Fanny pack
• Boat Towels: 2 face, 1 full-size
• 2 folding chairs
• DVD’s
• Shore Power Cable
• Checkbook & Passports
• Coats, gloves for all
• Sun and rain hats
• Truck: full tank, plug, knee pad
• Bicycles: helmets & gear?
• Stern-tie line? 

Freeway Road Trip:

• Canvas off
• Front fenders off
• Ladder, spare trailer tire
• Air pillows to 50 lb.
• Extra Dinghy tie-down lines

 Food:

• Marinated frozen chicken breast
• Frozen steak
• Frozen rice – from Trader Joe’s
• Small potatoes
• Chopped onions in container
• Jell-O cheesecake mix
• Kebobs (chicken, shrimp)
• Lots of fruit
• Romaine lettuce
• Fresh veggies – zucchini, celery, etc.
• Hotdogs and buns
• Container of soft butter 
• Hamburger patties, frozen
• Bring just one kind of bun
• Container of juice
• 6 pack beer
• Mayo in squeeze bottle
• Small dressing – one kind
• Garlic bulb
• Salsa
• Small jam
• Grated cheese
• Wraps or bread
• Deli meats (turkey, RB, ham); sliced cheese – in container
• Pickles
• Oatmeal – full container
• 1 doz eggs: 2 sm. plastic oDried plums
• Dried mangos
• Cereal: plastic container
• Containers of crackers; extra box
• Cinnamon rolls to make
• Pizza dough to make

Galley Supplies:

• Trash bags
• Freezer bags – gal & qt
• Bamboo sticks
• Soap & dish towels
• Kahlua flask full
• Extra paper towel roll behind trash can
• Granola bars
• Chocolate candy in container
• Brownie mix
• Nuts, brown sugar, raisins full
• Coffee and decaf full
• Hot choc full
• 2-3 cans soup
• Pasta and marinara sauce
• Tuna fish – 2 cans
• Instant mashed potatoes – 1-2 meals
• Bag of chips
• Jar of peanut butter & Jiffy PB-individual size

Drinks:

• 2 water bottles
• Packets of lemonade
• Wine (Box-4 days)
• coffee mugs

Head Supplies:

• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Soap & deodorant
• Pain reliever
• Razor & cream
• Face cream for Laurie
• Microfiber towels 
• Extra toilet paper
• Electric toothbrushes & charger
• Deodorizer
• Mosquito Strategy for Laurie

Boots (Cat):

• Blanket
• Litter box and scoop
• Food, treats, pills
• Dish & water bowl
• Carrier
• Full-size towel
• Scratch pad with catnip 

Specifications and Operating Instructions.  This is a combination of information from the manufacturers and our experience.

Specifications

• Ranger 25 Tug, 2008 Model
• Built by Fluid Motion in Kent, Washington
  
• Delivered July 8, 2007, first hull of the 2008 model year, also first hull in green color
• Hull Identification Number: FMLT2536F708
• Washington Registration: WN 2168 NW
• Engine Model: 4JH4-HTE, 110 HP w/turbo
• Engine Serial Number: E20805
• VHF Radio MMSI Number: 338067763
• Hull length: 25 feet, with swim step and anchor: 28 feet
• Vertical Clearance: 
• On Water: 10’-0” with antenna down; 15’-0” with them up
• On Trailer: 12”-6”
• Fuel Capacity: 75 gallons
  
• Water Capacity: 30 gallons
• Holding Tank: 30 gallons
• Typical Road Weight (boat & trailer): 9,100 pounds

Operating Notes
Speed

• Idle is 800 RPM
• Warm up: 10 minutes minimum
• Cool down: 20 minutes minimum
• No Wake and engine cool down speed is 1,400 RPM or less
• Maximum fuel efficiency is 1,600 RPM which is hull speed of 5.5
• Poorest fuel efficiency is 2400-2800 RPM
• Turbo starts to kick in at 2400 RPM
• Engineered cruising speed, unlimited time, and cleans turbo and heats up oil is 3,100 RPM. 13-14 MPH with ideal conditions; run at least 20 minutes per day
• Wide Open Throttle is 3,400

RPM’s/Gallons per Hour/Horse Power/Speed (mph)
1400 rpm/.5 or less gph /5 hp/4 mph
1800 rpm/1.0 gph /20 hp/7 mph
2100 rpm/1.5 gph/35 hp/8 mph
2300 rpm/2.0 gph/40 hp/8.5 mph
2400 rpm/2.5 gph/50 hp/
2700 rpm/3.0 gph/60 hp/
2800 rpm/4.0 gph/70 hp
2900 rpm/4.5 gph/80 hp/11 mph
3100 rpm/5.0 gph/99 hp/13 mph

Electrical Gauges

• 12.6 volts, no load, battery is charged
• 13.4 volts is normal charging
• Alternator reaches max charge of 14.25 volts at 1,200 RPM
• 120 volt battery charger starts at 15 volts and adjusts accordingly
• Battery Volt Meter; Selector Switch:

1. Left or 1 is Engine Battery
2. Middle or 2 is Thruster & Windlass
3. Right or 3 is House Batteries

Temperature Readings Using Infra-red Sensor

• Oil Filter: 180-260
• Stuffing Box: less than 20 degrees above water temperature
• Raw Water Difference from water temperature, entering & leaving: 10-25 degrees
• Wet Exhaust parts: 90-140 degrees (none more than 200) 

Instrument Gauges

• Fuel Gauge is accurate, ½ means 37 gallons
• Temperature: 175 degrees is when thermostat opens, anything less than 190 degrees is normal, higher temperature indicates impeller is worn or obstruction in cooling system
• Oil Pressure: 55-58psi at 1500 rpm is normal, less pressure at lower rpm is normal
• Fresh water tank sensor: 2/3 means half full; 1/3 means quarter full

Engine Controls

• Start with key, Stop with kill switch
• If engine does not turn over, the cause is the neutral safety switch in the gear shift-wiggle the gear shift when it is vertical
• If engine will not stop at kill switch: use manual kill switch on engine block, I painted it red 

Wallas Stove

• Stove is hard-wired to House battery bank with a stand-alone 20 amp blade fuse and is labeled at the house bank
• If stove does not start in two attempts, it will automatically “lock up.”  Fix is to pull the fuse, wait a few seconds, re-insert
• Use kerosene at least once a year to clean the unit. Do not store it for over a year in the tank.

Windlass & Anchoring (65 feet depth capability)

• Scope of 1:3 is normal, use more for conditions
• Windlass pulls about 1 foot per second
• Rode: 260 feet: 25 feet of chain and 240 feet of rope
• Rode Markings: four stripes is 40 feet; six stripes is 60 feet; 8 stripes is 80 feet; Color change at 100 and 200 feet

Cold Weather Storage Precautions

• Chairs, BBQ, dinghy, and outboard are stored indoors
• Water tank at least half full
• Diesel tank half full
• Batteries receive a charge once a week
• Use oil-filled space heater (no flame) and keep cabin at least 45 degrees
• Use yellow, plug-in thermostat sold for heat tape that turns at 35 degrees and off at 50 degrees
• Open bilge access plate in head
• Open engine access at door step
• Open head door
• Two golden rods, 120 volt heat, under engine
• Run cabin heater fan to keep air circulating at fresh water pump and water tank when temperatures are in the low 20’s or less
• Do not boat unless the air temperature is mid-30's or higher for 12 hours (damage impeller)

 Specifications and Materials

• Oil: Delco, 15W-40W; uses 6 quarts (a gallon and a half) but some oil is always left in pan
• Oil Filter:  NAPA 1064, Phram PH3593A
• Coolant: Use ASTM Rating D4985; Havoline Extra Long Life
• Steering Hydraulic Fluid: Teleflex fluid at West Marine 
• Fuel Filters:

Racor R12P (30 micron)
Yanmar # 129574-55711 ($45 each)

• Engine Belt:

Gates 9455 or
Dayco 17455 or
Goodyear 17456 or
Mitsubishi 6455

• Seawater Impeller:

•Yanmar part 129670
•Johnson 1027 BT in a pinch

12-Volt System

Usage Worksheet
Description Amp/Hrs per Day
Lighting: interior, anchor light/3.6
Refrigerator/55.6
Stove (after initial start)/1.6
Computer/phone charger on Inverter/22.8
Electronics (typically used while underway)/25.3
Water pumps and Fans/5.4

Total: 112.6 amps hrs/day

Charging/Storage Worksheet
Alternator Output: 80 amps
Time to recharge house batteries with alternator: 4.5 hours
Engine Start Battery, Group 27, 105 amp
Thruster/Windlass Battery, Group 27: 105 amp
House Battery Bank: use-able capacity: 450 amp
Number of days able to run on house battery:3.8

Maintenance Procedures

Oil Changes:

• Raise boat on trailer to get engine level.
• One absorbent pad in the bilge, another folded and under the oil filter
• Have five rags ready to cover engine compartment and deck.
• Have garbage bag ready for pads, rags and filter
• Heat oil by running engine at least 20 minutes
• Open oil filler cap to prevent vacuum
• Suck out oil with vacuum tank-will take two full processes
• Use filter wrench labeled “Yanmar” to remove oil filter
• Fill oil with 5-6 quarts of 15-40W diesel oil from cabin side and check oil level with dipstick.
• Run engine for 5 minutes to check for leaks.  Let stand for 10 minutes before checking oil level again.

Racor Fuel Filter Change

• Absorbent pad under Racor filter
• Use filter wrench, labeled Racor
• Drain clear reservoir into custom-made pan
• Use filter wrench and push toward the bow to loosen filter
• Change filter and use new gaskets: o-ring between bowl and filter, black gasket between filter and housing
• Put fuel from custom pan into Wallas tank
• Use Yanmar bleeding system to draw fuel into bowl before starting engine: Loosen bleed screw, wrap rag under bleed screw and use thumb pump on top to pump out any air in line

Yanmar fuel filter

• Remove step wall and set aside the coolant reservoir
• Loosen clamp on the heat shield
• Disconnect electrical connection between the sensor at bottom of filter and the wire from the port side by pressing on the white piece.
• Use 13mm socket on a ratchet and remove the two bolts holding filter assembly at the top
• Remove the heat shield and take electrical connection through it and set it aside after wiping it out. Then, loosely put the assembly back together with the two bolt so you have leverage to unscrew the filter with a wrench.
• Filter is full of fuel but can be removed while full, put rags around the top, lay one pad underneath, have Racor can ready
• Use black spanner wrench labeled filter wrench to unscrew filter
• Pour fuel into Wallas stove tank & use funnel
• Put old filter on work surface
• Unscrew white electrical connection and re-attach it to the new filter but be careful for cross-connection; press down vertically while slower screwing on
• Re-assemble and reconnect
• Open the bleed screw with two turns and finger pump, 15-20 times to purge air and fill filters with new fuel.
• Run engine for 10 minutes, checking for leaks

Battery Maintenance:

• Check water level in cells once a month
• Use hydrometer to check health of each cell in the spring
• If significant water is needed or a cell is weak, remove battery and charge it separately from the bank for at least 24 hours and re-check cells after waiting 24 hours

Impeller Replacement:

• Put pad over door sill to lay on
• Have flashlight on and position on engine mount
• Use hose clamp socket on ¼ inch drive ratchet
• Close seacock valve.
• Remove four bolts on cover
• Use angled needle nose pliers to grab fins of impeller.  Pull on each side and wiggle.  Takes 10-15 minutes to remove impeller.
• Lube inside of new impeller with a non-petroleum product
• Follow Yanmar manual on direction of impeller.  Turn and insert.  Use thumbs to push on the sides and wiggle. Takes 5 to 10 minutes to insert.
• Try to use old O-ring.  New ones are hard to keep in the groove.
• Replace cover.  Open seacock valve and start engine to check for leaks.