Considering a move up

[colvosview]

I posted this question yesterday on the C-Brats site, and among lots of helpful suggestions was one to get acquainted with this group. So here goes:
The only boat I have ever owned is our current '87 22 C-Dory Angler. We have enjoyed a lot of weekends in the south sound, and have gotten it pretty nicely equipped for that function. But still, it involves only a 5 gallon water jug, porta potti, igloo, and coleman stove, in addition to the main and auxiliary outboards.
As we near retirement, I'm starting to consider a move to a Ranger Tug 25, to give us a bit more room and comfort for longer trips. It is interesting to me that most people I know who own larger boats and do lots of cruising grew up in families that had larger boats and did lots of cruising. A lot of stuff they've just "always" known. That's not my situation at all! How much of a learning curve is there in getting up to speed with proper maintenance and operation of the various systems that are part of a nicer (more complex) vessel? And how does one learn? School of hard knocks?

 

[Bruce Moore]

Our first boat, with no prior experience, was an R-25 Classic. In eight years we've upgraded twice - to the R-29 (now classic) and our current R-31 Sedan. Everything we know about boating, aside from dry land Power Squadron classes, we learned from the factory team and many supportive members of our amazing community of tugnuts.

They've taught us how to handle and maintain our boats, and helped us solve every problem, learn every system, and become increasingly confident and competent boaters. And they've guided us, through factory supported cruises and buddy boat adventures to countless destinations throughout the Salish Sea.

You've picked a great place to start. I'd suggest arranging a factory visit (Kent is where the R-25SC and R-27 are built. You'll meet the team and get a feel how the boats are built, and the great folks behind them.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[joempo]

Colvosview,
I'd be glad to meet with you over coffee. I suspect we are "neighbors". We live in Manchester and keep our Tug at the Port Orchard Marina. I'm not an "expert" but I believe I can answer many of your questions.
My wife and I started with an 1985 C-Dory Angler and made the move to an R-25 in 2012 after about 2 years.
PM me and we can set up a meet and we would be glad to show you our SLO Ranger.
Joe

 

[Red Raven]

I'm in the same boat (so to speak 😉 )but just a step or two ahead of you. We just moved up from a '1997 19' Maxum Cuddy this year to an R27. Big difference! As far as how we are learning it is a combination of factory support, reading through lots of Tugnuts posts, other boater friends, the wealth of the Internet, and trial and error. We have tried to minimize the last one but at some point you just have to try the next step. Everyone always seems to be willing to help. I can assure you the comforts of a Ranger Tug will be a big step up and worth the effort!

 

[Crewdog]

Our first boat was a 19' bowrider, which we trailered several places and had a great time on, but decided we wanted more comfort than need-for-speed.

There was a bit of a learning curve, but not daunting, as these boats have a lot more systems, so gathering a good set of tools, spare parts and accessories was important.

The depth and breadth of knowledge and experience on this forum is invaluable, and many questions can be answered by searching for a particular topic.

Bruce is spot on when suggesting a factory tour, as that was also one big factor in making up our minds.

There should be some Ranger Tug gatherings and cruises coming up soon, so if you can't go by water, take a drive and meet with some of the owners and see how they are set up.

Good luck!

 

[Don and Brenda]

The wife and I moved up from a C-dory 22 cruiser to an R27 and have taken it on numerous Desolation trips in great comfort. Our boat is currently for sale but have had lots of great times in it. You cannot go wrong with the tugs and the support that comes with owning one.

 

[Boont Boater]

I grew up spending a lot of time sailing with my folks and a fair amount by myself. That was almost 40 years ago but I do think that gave me a little bit more confidence than a complete newbie when we got our 25 foot C-Dory in 2008. In 2013 we traded in the C-Dory for a Ranger 29. We were very happy with both boats. One thing I would do, before moving up, is think about any places that you wanted to go that required a very shallow draft. I certainly would prefer to not run aground or suck up a bunch of mud into the Yanmar.

I think that you will find that a Ranger is pretty easy to run. I've been told that having a bow and a stern thruster is really cheating 😛 We chartered a Ranger 29 for two weeks from San Juan Charters which helped us make up our mind. A very generous person took us out a couple of times in a Nordic 32 but the amenities and ease of trailering of the Ranger were a big selling point. As mentioned previously the Tug Nuts (like the C-brats) are a great source of information and socializing. Of course the manufacturer is another big plus. I did read a lot of magazines and books in my hope to become a better and more knowledgeable boater. One book that I like is "Coastal Cruising Under Power". If you want a whole bunch more information and opinions, you could check out the Trawler's Forum. A lot of them seem to really like BIG boats but they seem like another good (large) group. Keep us posted.

Jeff

 

[colvosview]

I've been off the grid for a couple of days. Thanks for all the good ideas! Joempo, that sounds great. I'll talk with the wife about getting in touch for a tour and some conversation. We are live just south of the Kitsap/Pierce line, so are not far from you at all. And it's not a long drive to the factory either.