Advice for a fresh-to-boating guy who wants an R29?

[JonnyWannaR29]

In early 2009 I saw the ads for the R29 in the magazine Motorboating and I quickly fell in love with the design and quality of the craft. I am a gearhead trying to help my parents with retirement ideas, and the R29 sent me into months of research on boating and it's technical details and the naval "laws of the road." I have never owned a boat before (unless a 6' inflatable counts) and I am asking experienced boaters their opinions on whether owning an r29 and acting as a driver for my parents (in their early 60's) would be a doable thing. They love to travel and to entertain, and I would love to own this craft and do that, but since I am so fresh to boating, I'm not sure if this would be plausible....


...advice is very welcome...

Shoutout to anyone in Hampton Roads area, Virginia;
another to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii;
and a third to the Sea-Tac area.
Y'all are in places I've called HOME.

Mahalo, and God Bless.

 

[Bruce Moore]

Aloha Jonny - I'm a California transplant to Seattle ('98) and I lived in Honolulu for half of 18 months while assigned to a sub crew based on Ford Island and operating out of Guam. I'm with you on 2 out of 3. Spent another stretch in Charleston while operating out of Holy Loch, Scotland... close enough for TugNut's purposes. Oh yea, I'm in my early sixties.

We have an R25, which is our first boat. We're two years into it. I can tell you, without reservation, you're on the right track. The 29 would be a great boat for you to pursue your dream. Just let your folks have the forward berth, and you take the quarter berth. And don't assume you'll be doing all the piloting (driving). You'll want to share the watch, and know more than one member of the crew can get you home and into the slip. The 29 is a perfect boat for sleeping three (or 4), dining 4 (or 6), and entertaining several more. And for building competence and confidence on the water.

Come out to WA, visit the factory, get yourself a production slot, and then go home and take some courses from your local US Power Squadron or USCG Auxiliary. You'll know as much as most boaters before you christen "No Refunds"... and believe me, you won't want one.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[captain's cat]

Jonny, there will probably be an R29 at the C-Brats gathering at Langford Bay Marina (across the rt50 bridge from Annapolis) on June 4-6. It'll be there courtesy of the dealer in Annapolis who is bringing it there for folks to look at/ride on. I'm sure he would welcome you and you can see the boat (and C-Dorys and a Ranger EC21) at the same time.

Charlie
Captain's Cat

 

[chesranger]

Hi, I hope you are enjoying the Tugnuts site.

By way of introduction, we are the new Ranger dealer for the Chesapeake Bay Region, and would be delighted to have you visit us in Annapolis. We usually have Ranger 21, 25, and 29 models ready to go. We have delivery and commissioning resources in the Tidewater region, too.

If you would, share your regular email with me and we'll add you to the list to whom we direct a bi-monthly email of things particular to Ranger activity in the region.

As Charlie said, we plan to be at the rendezvous in June. If that doesn't work there will be a Ranger 29 delivered through us in Tidewater by mid-June that you can see. Of course you're always welcome in Annapolis.

Best regards,

Chuck Wistar
Chesapeake Ranger Yachts
222 Severn Avenue, Building 7
Annapolis, MD 21403
o: 410-280-5688 c: 443-370-5706
chuck@chesranger.com
http://www.chesranger.com

Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:14 am
Private messageWebsite

 

[JonnyWannaR29]

Thank you all, I feel like family already! 😀 Chuck, I was just mapquesting directions to the Chesapeake outlet yesterday! Hahaha! funny how that works... I've been planning a family outing to DC, during which we will go to the dealership and see the R29. dates are not yet set, as my father is still in the military, and has to go where they tell him, when they tell him... but his birthday present was mainly a "certificate" entitling him to "1 family trip to Ranger Tugs in Annapolis, with a possible sidetrip to DC." Hopefully we'll be up there before summer's over! 🙂

 

[Harmony]

My advice would be to beg, borrow or steal... just get that R 29. She's a worth every penny!! I've never seen so much boat put into such a compact vessel... and with such class!!! Just kidding. Don't steal, or kill off that rich old uncle. but yeah, maybe borrow!

 

[bluebayou]

JonnyWanna29,
Like you, I had never operated a serious boat, before I bought my R-25 in 2008. With a lot of encouragement from non-boating (inexperienced) family and friends, I made the leap of faith.
Mostly, I got by. There were dangerous moments, and I nearly rammed another boat in the first two months, in a high wind. That experience sobered me up, and I decided, after the fact, to take my first boating course.
Anybody can plunk down cash and buy a boat. Operating a boat safely is a whole other matter. I highly recommend you begin now, before you buy the boat, and take some courses.
All over the U.S., the United States Power Squadron offers courses in safe boating. Some states accept these courses in lieu of a boating "license." Here is their website, so you can find a basic course near you:
http://www.usps.org/
The US Coast Guard also offers courses everywhere, I believe.
With regard to buying an R-29, go for it !!! As Bloody Mary says in the musical, South Pacific, "If you don't have a Dream, how you gonna have a Dream Come True." My Ranger Tug experience was a dream come true.
Charles
formerly captain of Blue Bayou, R-25, now in San Francisco Bay as Queen Mary (after the new owner's wife, Mary)