27' Tug w/ outboard going offshore?

[sadono]

Hi - newbie here! We are in the "shopping" phase. Really fell in love with the RT and have been devouring all the YouTube videos, discussions, etc. Husband and I are in Florida - wanting to camp/fish in rivers, lakes, inland coastal areas around Florida, but we also really want to be able to go to the Dry Tortugas and the Bahamas occasionally.

I've read a lot of conflicting information - some say this boat is not made for offshore and only for protected waterways. Others say it can handle it just fine, and I've read a lot of accounts of people actually going on these excursions (and coming back in one piece), but I'm still unsure. Is it "doable" but not necessarily "safe"? I even heard of one couple going to Cuba in a 25' RT!

To add to the confusion, it seems there is a difference in performance between the diesel (pre-2019) boats and the Yamaha outboard (2019 and later). The outboard is faster, but you lose the lower CG of the diesel inboard, right?

Kind of a big purchase, so I'm just wanting to make sure we make the right decision!

 

[Bruce Moore]

Bumping post delayed in moderation queue.

 

[Submariner]

My insurance has an addendum for the RT27 outboard that says “stay within 75 miles of shore”.

In addition, that’s sound advice since it’s a 150 gallon fuel tank. After 75 miles out, need enough fuel to get back to shore with some reserve.


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[bluestreak]

Submariner,
I have heard it as 1/3 out, 1/3 to play and 1/3 to get home.
Half and half will also work.

 

[Submariner]

I was talking more about what my insurance actually will cover. i.e. I can go off shore, but must remain within 75 miles of shore otherwise my insurance wouldn't cover me.

Best practices when out on the water, insurance rules aside... I've always done 1/3 out, 1/3 back, and 1/3 reserve. (in bad weather, you'll need that extra to get back).

 

[bluestreak]

I knew what you were referencing on the insurance.

 

[BB marine]

There are many of TugNuts that have gone to the Bahamas and the Dry Tortugas in 25 and 27 Tugs and the same for the Cutwaters. The advantage the new R27 over the diesel Tugs and Cuts is speed. The fuel economy is better in the slow tugs but the 27 outboard holds 50 gallons more then the R27 diesel and 75 gallons more than the R25. You are correct that at least one R25 made it to Cuba (Roam) Rich and Cheryl Odendahl. Now the answer to your question is the R27 considered a Offshore boat? No ! It is a coastal and inland designed boat. Is it capable of cruising to the Bahamas ? Yes pick a good weather window and head to the Bahamas. From No Name Harbor Key Biscayne to Bimini its about 55miles +/-. A 27 Ranger tug will cruise nicely at 30 mph in decent seas. Even if you took a few breaks on the way you could easily make it in 3 hours. I would not want to be brave and head out there with questions weather in a Ranger 27 , Ranger 31 or a Ranger 43 they are all considered coastal cruisers. Honestly I would not want to venture out in a 50' or less if the weather was questionable. It may be doable but not fun!

 

[andmark]

I would not consider taking my R27 offshore. The narrow beam and single Yamaha 300 do not give it the proper qualities for safe offshore work. In any kind of seas you are going to rock and roll all over while finding it difficult to maintain any kind of decent speed. We love the boat, but we avoid big water. All that said, I wouldn't have a bed to sleep in if I did try taking the boat offshore.

 

[knotflying]

All good comments above. With all said, it is also about your personal limits while keeping safety in mind. It is definitely safe to go to the Bahamas or Dry Tortugas, but you need to pick your days and weather windows. I look at predicted sea conditions. I like to see the wave intervals double the wave height. So if you have two foot waves the interval needs to exceed 4 seconds. Will the waves be on the bow, stern or the beam. On the beam you will be rocking and rolling. Boating is like flying a plane, don't get caught in the gotta get there trap. If the conditions won't be good to get there and to get back then don't go. Insurance is a secondary issue, but there is also the concept of being self insured.

 

[Karll]

I believe insurance is a big issue on this topic. Before we bought our Ranger we owned a 24’ SeaSport Explorer. Our insurance limited us to a maximum 12 miles offshore, we could go from Washington to Southern California but not into Mexico and north we could go up to but not into Alaska. This did not make sense to me as they would allow me to go all the way down the coast but not go into Alaska.

 

[lproulx]

The former sailor in me that I have tamped down for several years now in my 21 ec has to escape briefly.

I don't think any power boat is really safe for extended off shore work until you get up in the 40 ft range, and even then they have to be designed right. Racing sailboats have to comply with a couple of rules that almost no power boat can comply with. First, the cockpit volume cannot exceed a certain percentage of the hull volume. Second, you need cockpit scuppers of a certain area relative to the cockpit volume, that drain overboard, not into the inside of the boat, like my 21 ec.

Most powerboats have huge sliding doors leading to the interior. Left open, a wave over the stern could flood the whole interior. Left closed, water pressure on the outside could leave it jammed shut.

Having said that, knowing the capabilities of our boats, and while making use of the wonderful weather information sources available to us, we can enjoy an almost limitless range of activities and create lifetime memories. It is a lot like someone above said about planes. You don't fly one into a thunderstorm. That doesn't mean you can't have almost unlimited safe fun in one.

Larry