R-23 OutBoard in Coastal Georgia

[Vince N]

Hello Friends ~ After many years of sailing and other powerboats, I'm ready to become a Tugnut. A 23 will fit in our dry-rack storage with access to the ICW and We've decided its the perfect boat. PROBLEM: we have a 50 and 80lb labradoodle, and I really need to make sure its gonna work to spend a couple days with 2 humans and 2 dogs. The boat I'm looking at is half-way across the country with no easy way to fly in and out. Hoping to get on a 23 here locally and then just rely on a survey to make the purchase. Any 23 owners in Coastal GA or Northern Florida that could oblige us with a quick tour? Thanks Much! Vince.

 

[mik]

Hello Friends ~ After many years of sailing and other powerboats, I'm ready to become a Tugnut. A 23 will fit in our dry-rack storage with access to the ICW and We've decided its the perfect boat. PROBLEM: we have a 50 and 80lb labradoodle, and I really need to make sure its gonna work to spend a couple days with 2 humans and 2 dogs. The boat I'm looking at is half-way across the country with no easy way to fly in and out. Hoping to get on a 23 here locally and then just rely on a survey to make the purchase. Any 23 owners in Coastal GA or Northern Florida that could oblige us with a quick tour? Thanks Much! Vince.

Our boat is on Lake Erie right now, sorry. I have just spent 6 weeks on our 23 with my wife and 1 dog (20lbs). If the dogs are well behaved and can remain relatively calm and quiet I think it would be doable but tight. If not, it won't matter what size boat you get.....

 

[Vince N]

Our boat is on Lake Erie right now, sorry. I have just spent 6 weeks on our 23 with my wife and 1 dog (20lbs). If the dogs are well behaved and can remain relatively calm and quiet I think it would be doable but tight. If not, it won't matter what size boat you get.....

good point. thanks. their 8 years old, and calm until the fishermen walk down the dock at 5:30a. I'm sort of thinking that at night I would turn the dinette into "their bed" so I could have that narrow path through to the aft deck. But they may have other ideas. I asked Chat GPT and it suggested one dog and person sleep in the V-berth, while the other dog and person take the convertible dinette. not ideal, but doable for 2 or 3 days, which is all we plan to be out.

 

[mik]

Our dog claimed the “quarter berth” under the dinette as her apartment!

 

[az9133bm]

You're welcome to see Ruby anytime. Likely, too far for you since we're located near Ft Meyers. You might consider contacting Grant Wilson at FreedomVanGo, he has an R23 in Jacksonville, FL.

 

[DC3]

Try Edgewater Yachts in Pensacola Florida. They are a Fluid Motion Dealer and usually boat on site.

 

[hawk232]

Everyone is certainly different but sometimes our 27 is too small with an 8lb and 20lb dog on multi day trips.

 

[Vince N]

Thats my worry!

 

[hawk232]

Thats my worry!

Well you are certainly on the right path by doing you due diligence before pulling the trigger. Definitely find a way to walk on one. I will second checking with Edgewater. Its a little bit of a drive but the confidence you will have moving forward is invaluable.

 

[Vince N]

I'll be very close to Grand Haven, Michigan in a couple weeks and I know the team there has a 23 and probably others. I almost grabbed a 27 from them years back, but decided I had one more sailboat in me. Would love to make the 23 work for a variety of reasons, and sort of hope that with a canvas enclosure on the cockpit it would cruisable for 3-4 days in 60 to 80 degree weather.

 

[hawk232]

The enclosure would make a huge difference. When we have the door open (and the dogs are free to move around) its not a problem. The only time it feels small is when we are closed up at a marina or at anchor due to bugs. Being able to include the cockpit in living space would make quite a difference.

 

[mik]

This one is in LaSalle, MI at Reed Yacht Sales

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2019-ranger-tugs-r--23-10287753/

 

[SeaCabin]

We have two standard poodles…55 and 70 pounds.

They love curling up together in the rear section of our R23 cave. Somehow they manage and appear quite content in there. The real negative is getting them on and off the boat at a marina without floating docks, and dog hair in everything. Truthfully i love those dogs and they are very well behaved, but I can’t endure more than a couple days with them sharing the space.