Looper Tugboat Rental?

[Capt Rob]

Ahoy All, I hope you are doing well.

My wife and I are US Coast Guard Licenece 50 Ton Captains and American Sailing Advanced Coastal Cruising Certified Instructors. Since 1983, We have owned and operated a boat lesson and rental business on Lakes Lanier and Lake Arrowhead in North Georgia (close to Atlanta). We are "Loopers". We started looping in 1990. We have completed the loop from Aqua Yacht Harbor in Mississippi to the Statue of Liberty in New York (We do have a Delaware Bay gap.)

We would like to complete the upper part of the LOOP in 2025 (Hudson River to Chicago). Rather than buy another boat just for this trip, we would be interested in renting, leasing, chartering, or delivering a Ranger Tug. As professional captains and business owners we do carry commercial insurance for your peace of mind. If you are interested, please contact me. Thanks !

 

[mlanger]

I can't help you other than to let you know that that part of the Loop was, by far, my favorite part. I did a side trip to Lake Champlain and then came back down to the Erie Canal and took that to Lake Ontario. I didn't have time to explore the Thousand Islands area, but I did take the Trent-Severn Waterway to Georgia Bay and the North Channel before heading down to Chicago. What a GREAT cruise! I liked it so much I'm thinking about buying a boat on the east coast and traveling that area 3 seasons out of the year every year.

Good luck on your search. I'm putting my boat into charter in Bellingham, WA this spring and can tell you that chartering a boat will cost a LOT of money. I think they're asking $4K or more per week for my boat.😳

 

[Capt Rob]

Thanks for your response. I have been told that the upper loop is the best part.

Since we are in the business of teaching people how to sail and then charter for over 40 years, $4000/week does sound reasonable (a 40ft cruising catamaran goes for $10,000/week in high season)

What is size of your Ranger Tug?

Can you send me a link to your rental website?

Would you consider bringing it closer to you, so when you are not using it, it could help earn it's keep?

Blessings,
Capt Rob

 

[mlanger]

My boat will be part of a charter fleet in Bellingham starting in April. It will definitely earn its keep in the San Juan Islands while being close enough to home for me to use when it's not being used by a charter guest. I just towed it back from Chicago in August when I finished the loop. I'm definitely not interested in sending it back there. When I go back to cruising east of the Mississippi, I'll do it on a different, larger boat.

If you have any questions about the upper loop or the Erie Canal and Great Lakes route, let me know. I've done them both on Ranger Tugs.

 

[Capt Rob]

Thanks for your reply. I have watched and enjoyed your videos of your Looping experience. Thanks for doing that.

My wife and I are in the process of buying a Ranger 27 located in New York. We are starting this summer.

 

[McRory]

My wife and I are also interested in chartering a 27/29/31 ft inboard diesel Tugboat around Sept /Oct/Nov for exploring Washington/B.C. waterways for a month.
If that period suits anyone please get in touch .
This is a precursor to us buying a tugboat .

 

[RVK]

My wife and I are also interested in chartering a 27/29/31 ft inboard diesel Tugboat around Sept /Oct/Nov for exploring Washington/B.C. waterways for a month.
If that period suits anyone please get in touch .
This is a precursor to us buying a tugboat .

We chartered MV Blue from Anacortes Yacht Charters in May 2024. It's an inboard diesel R27.
Like you, this was a precursor to our purchasing an R27.

Highly recommend doing that.

 

[McRory]

We chartered MV Blue from Anacortes Yacht Charters in May 2024. It's an inboard diesel R27.
Like you, this was a precursor to our purchasing an R27.

Highly recommend doing that.

Super,we will explore doing the same