If you came from sailing, why did you choose a R31 CB
- Thread starter AdamJB
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sgeary
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- Sep 14, 2019
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- 145
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- R-31 CB
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- FMLT3122I415
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- SELAH
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- 368136310
My wife and I bought an R31 after decades of sailing, and living aboard sailboats for 10 years when we did not own a "dirt" house. We have owned the R31 for six years and bought it with the expectation of trailering it to many places, which we have done. Our prior sailing as a couple was primarily on the West coast between San Francisco and Ensenada Mexico. We both still love sailing, but found that so many of our sailing trips were motoring as we were either traveling "upwind" or had a deadline to be home. I also wanted more speed than our 40+ foot sailboats could manage. And we were both a bit tired of being cold and/or wet and wearing foul weather gear. And the physical aspects of sailing get harder with age.
With our R31, we have done multiple trips along the Pacific Northwest Inside Passage, Southern California (our home waters) and the northern sections of the Great Loop. Trailering lets us see places we could not have easily traveled with our sailboats. We have regularly gone 3 or 4 months on these trips in our R31.
We are in our mid and late seventies and the R31 still offers us the opportunity to boat to new places, in comfort. We are quite happy with our decision to buy a Ranger Tugs and travel the "dark side."
With our R31, we have done multiple trips along the Pacific Northwest Inside Passage, Southern California (our home waters) and the northern sections of the Great Loop. Trailering lets us see places we could not have easily traveled with our sailboats. We have regularly gone 3 or 4 months on these trips in our R31.
We are in our mid and late seventies and the R31 still offers us the opportunity to boat to new places, in comfort. We are quite happy with our decision to buy a Ranger Tugs and travel the "dark side."
serendipity
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- Marion, MA
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While we transitioned to the “dock side” from sailing on an R27 OB, had we made the move earlier in our boating lives we may well have chosen the R31. The accommodations and seaworthiness of R31 added to the design charm.
We knew our boating plans would not include ocean crossings. Yet we kept with our Westsail 42 ketch until we realized we were really a 2 masted trawler. At that point, the R27 OB fit our cruising plans.
However, the quality of the Ranger Tugs product line and the supportive depth of the owners community made our transition from sail to power a happy process.
After 3 years of RT ownership we often wonder why we didn’t evolve sooner!
We knew our boating plans would not include ocean crossings. Yet we kept with our Westsail 42 ketch until we realized we were really a 2 masted trawler. At that point, the R27 OB fit our cruising plans.
However, the quality of the Ranger Tugs product line and the supportive depth of the owners community made our transition from sail to power a happy process.
After 3 years of RT ownership we often wonder why we didn’t evolve sooner!
hawk232
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- Crystal River, FL
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I dont have an R31 so I am not sure my opinion will be valid!
We still absolutely love sailing and have plans for another sailboat as we get older and have more free time. With the sailboat a dinghy is a requirement (here in Florida's shallow waters) where the R27OB can beach and negate hauling a dinghy in alot of places. I have no more worries about wind direction relative to my destination. Climate control while driving is certainly nice. The ability to bring the boat home to work on or when a hurricane is imposing is certainly nice and helped with insurance costs. We typically travel and trawler speeds but since we both still work, 30mph cruising speeds expands our cruising grounds profoundly. We are also in a unique situation in that where we are in Florida is extremely shallow, so our sailboat had to be kept over an hour away for us to use it with any regularity, That drive got old. The tug allows us to keep the boat 15 min from the house so we use it was more frequently.
I will say, though, that the motion is not near is pleasing/comfortable as a sailboat. Also, the hull slap when trying to sleep takes far longer to adjust to than halyards slapping the mast (and cant be fixed like halyard slap can), though we have adjusted.
We still absolutely love sailing and have plans for another sailboat as we get older and have more free time. With the sailboat a dinghy is a requirement (here in Florida's shallow waters) where the R27OB can beach and negate hauling a dinghy in alot of places. I have no more worries about wind direction relative to my destination. Climate control while driving is certainly nice. The ability to bring the boat home to work on or when a hurricane is imposing is certainly nice and helped with insurance costs. We typically travel and trawler speeds but since we both still work, 30mph cruising speeds expands our cruising grounds profoundly. We are also in a unique situation in that where we are in Florida is extremely shallow, so our sailboat had to be kept over an hour away for us to use it with any regularity, That drive got old. The tug allows us to keep the boat 15 min from the house so we use it was more frequently.
I will say, though, that the motion is not near is pleasing/comfortable as a sailboat. Also, the hull slap when trying to sleep takes far longer to adjust to than halyards slapping the mast (and cant be fixed like halyard slap can), though we have adjusted.
A&Etug
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- "God Speed"
We are 74 and 76, we were sailors for 35 years on inland lakes, Great Lakes and sailed on Chesapeake, Atlantic, ICW, and Pacific also chartered in the BVI!
We loved sailing but we decided that we wanted to change our plans but still wanted to live the WaterLife. So after 1 1/2 year search we bought a fresh water used Cutwater 30 S LE from Sturgeon Bay, wisc. .It has been and interesting journey.... There are differences but ask me in a year if the differences are major!
We see this as another chapter in our life, still on the water and something new to accomodate to!
We still miss sailing but This is different!
Accept the new learning challange!
We loved sailing but we decided that we wanted to change our plans but still wanted to live the WaterLife. So after 1 1/2 year search we bought a fresh water used Cutwater 30 S LE from Sturgeon Bay, wisc. .It has been and interesting journey.... There are differences but ask me in a year if the differences are major!
We see this as another chapter in our life, still on the water and something new to accomodate to!
We still miss sailing but This is different!
Accept the new learning challange!
Thank you for your response! A few questions that are top of mind.
- Is your R31 a CB?
- How does being anchored in a rolly anchorage in your sailboat compare to being in a similar rolly anchorage on your R31?
Thanks again!
Adam
A&Etug
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Our Cutwater 30 is the sedan Luxury edition hence LE S
As Far as being anchored, we are on Lake Erie, -the shallowest of the great lakes-hence short period ,steep waves that can build quickly to 10ft in storms.
We Always keep a weather eye out and our selective on spots where we anchor,
We have no dingy at this point.
Hope this helps!
As Far as being anchored, we are on Lake Erie, -the shallowest of the great lakes-hence short period ,steep waves that can build quickly to 10ft in storms.
We Always keep a weather eye out and our selective on spots where we anchor,
We have no dingy at this point.
Hope this helps!