HI FOLKS, im. i gonna buy in the very near future a 21'ec (ranger)i am a retired 62 year old whos only experince on a boat is on fresh water lake 25 years ago. i will be taken a courses with the cost guard auxilly and plan on hiring a boat captain to give me one-on-one on the water. i live in fort lauderdale fl. and the little lady will be kept at my apartment complex which has docking facilites as well. i will be alone on the boat with my 2 carin terriers. i plan to day put around and camp on it for 2 to 4 days at a time. i will NOT take her on out on the ocean except for connection from one part of the intercoastal to the next. the reason i'm getting the 21 as opposed to the 25 is money of course. now for the advice i am seeking; what additional equipment if any should i order other then the standard, heres what i plan to add to the purchase,if anyone can think i need something else, please advise me, also can anyone who has a 21 tell me in general how the little girl handels in choppy waters when the wind goes from zero to ??. i am in love with this design so tell me what you think! heres the adons i plan to get: bow thruster,stern thruster (if they have it) camping wrap around, ac/heat, generator, tolet, fish finder/dpth finder, auto anchor up and down,bigger motor (do i need it???),better stove,fridge,micro-wave,if they make it. thank you 'tugnuts' in advance,kenny, o-by-the-way, i drove 18 wheelers for a number of years cross country,and am used to living in small spaces. thanks again.kenny.
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ADVICE SOUGHT
- Thread starter JULY
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rt11002003
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- Loaf'N
My R21EC has almost all of the factory options you mention (bow thruster, GPS and sounder, marine head and holding tank, heater (uses engine heat), AC, reefer, stove and sink (with pressure water) etc., except the cockpit enclosure. They seem adequate for normal use.
The vessel is wired for 12 VDC and all the accessories use that spec; except the battery charger. It needs 110/115 VAC.
The engine keeps the batteries charged very well. I charge mine every couple of weeks, if I'm not using the boat.
Check the post about taking a R21EC from CT across LI Sound for comments about handling. It is a current post.
You don't need a more than a 30 hp engine. You do need a bow thruster, but can live without a stern thruster. The R21EC has a nice large rudder, makes control easier; but, I've sometimes longed for a stern thruster. The anchor is light enough you won't need an electric windlass (I'm 72). You don't need a generator unless you're going to use accessories needing 110/115 VAC. Because the boat is wired for 12 VDC, introducing 110/115 VAC requirements may present problems. You'd have to use extension cords, or wire the boat for 110 volts. You can run some of those accessories, including a small microwave using an inverter. You might not be able to use them all at the same time.
It's a great small boat.
Gene
The vessel is wired for 12 VDC and all the accessories use that spec; except the battery charger. It needs 110/115 VAC.
The engine keeps the batteries charged very well. I charge mine every couple of weeks, if I'm not using the boat.
Check the post about taking a R21EC from CT across LI Sound for comments about handling. It is a current post.
You don't need a more than a 30 hp engine. You do need a bow thruster, but can live without a stern thruster. The R21EC has a nice large rudder, makes control easier; but, I've sometimes longed for a stern thruster. The anchor is light enough you won't need an electric windlass (I'm 72). You don't need a generator unless you're going to use accessories needing 110/115 VAC. Because the boat is wired for 12 VDC, introducing 110/115 VAC requirements may present problems. You'd have to use extension cords, or wire the boat for 110 volts. You can run some of those accessories, including a small microwave using an inverter. You might not be able to use them all at the same time.
It's a great small boat.
Gene
curt
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The prior reply is right on..you don't need a stern thruster, and you might consider a potta potti rather than the permanent pump out version. If you have AC, you have plenty of battery power for an inverter to run a small microwave or 110 coffee maker, one at a time. The existing single burner stove and fridge works fine. I am 72 and have no trouble handling the anchor, but a power winch is always fine..(its a small anchor)
Have fun!
Curt
Have fun!
Curt
johnniethek
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I have a 2009 R-21 EC and love it.
Main options include: Marine head with 7.5-gallon holding tank, AC, bow thruster, bimini top w/boot, etc., etc.
I recently added a 1,000-watt inverter which includes two plug-ins on the inverter (mounted under the stern seat), plus an additional two plug-ins in the cabin. Since I have never used the AC here in the Pacific Northwest, the two AC batteries should provide more than enough well-planned power for the inverter. In your neck of the woods, however, it may be considerably different.
Feel free to tap into the wealth of knowledge here at tugnuts.com. Plenty of folks here have "been there, done that" w/respect to most aspects of operating a Ranger Tug.
Safe seas,
JtheK
Main options include: Marine head with 7.5-gallon holding tank, AC, bow thruster, bimini top w/boot, etc., etc.
I recently added a 1,000-watt inverter which includes two plug-ins on the inverter (mounted under the stern seat), plus an additional two plug-ins in the cabin. Since I have never used the AC here in the Pacific Northwest, the two AC batteries should provide more than enough well-planned power for the inverter. In your neck of the woods, however, it may be considerably different.
Feel free to tap into the wealth of knowledge here at tugnuts.com. Plenty of folks here have "been there, done that" w/respect to most aspects of operating a Ranger Tug.
Safe seas,
JtheK
HI JTHEK, yes, thank you. i read that thread, now i'm thinking about adding (when i buy) a second wash-down/bilge pump. that was one of the items i had been wondering about, if a wave came over the low side,would the bilge pump be able to handle it. you guys (and girls) are fantastic answering my questions/fears. this site is a wealth of advice. i feel like a little kid waiting for santa claus. i wish i could order the boat today, but i'm waiting to see it 'in person' at the palm beach boat show in fl. next week. thanks again. please,anyone thinking i should know something,just 'shoot' it out to me. Albert Einstein when asked ''how does a person gain knowledge'' said; '' the truly smart persons recognizes their limits on the subject at hand and seeks the advice of experts in that field''. thanks jthek,kenny
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Hello Kenny,
Thank you for looking at Ranger Tugs. Here is some insight directly from the factory.
1. As mentioned in previous posts, go with an inverter. They are easy to install and if you are adding AC to the R21 then you will have two extra batteries in the back lazarette to tie into. The factory does not offer this option, but your dealer who you purchase the boat from can get this installed.
2. Bow thruster is the only option on the R21. As previously said, this is all you need and more if you ask me.
3. If you plan on leaving the top up all year, I would go with the Suri Top fully enclosed. If you want to easily take it down and fold it up, I would go with the Bimini Top fully enclosed.
4. Factory does not offer a windlass (electric anchor system) on the boat, but something a dealer might be able to add in.
5. I have tried a larger engine in the R21. 40 hp Westerbeke, 45 hp Yanmar. Didn't matter with the bigger engine. The lil tug was able to maintain the same speeds. We only offer a 30hp Yanmar Engine. This is a phenomenal engine!
Hope this little bit of info helps! Good luck on your purchase!
Thank you for looking at Ranger Tugs. Here is some insight directly from the factory.
1. As mentioned in previous posts, go with an inverter. They are easy to install and if you are adding AC to the R21 then you will have two extra batteries in the back lazarette to tie into. The factory does not offer this option, but your dealer who you purchase the boat from can get this installed.
2. Bow thruster is the only option on the R21. As previously said, this is all you need and more if you ask me.
3. If you plan on leaving the top up all year, I would go with the Suri Top fully enclosed. If you want to easily take it down and fold it up, I would go with the Bimini Top fully enclosed.
4. Factory does not offer a windlass (electric anchor system) on the boat, but something a dealer might be able to add in.
5. I have tried a larger engine in the R21. 40 hp Westerbeke, 45 hp Yanmar. Didn't matter with the bigger engine. The lil tug was able to maintain the same speeds. We only offer a 30hp Yanmar Engine. This is a phenomenal engine!
Hope this little bit of info helps! Good luck on your purchase!
THANK YOU FACTORY, i will do exactly as you suggested,should you think of anything else,toss it my way. i like a company that gets back to you, i'd guess thats another thing that makes 'ranger' a hit.kenny.
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