We have creative thinkers here. Pick apart this collection of ideas.
For starters, Ranger builds some great boats. Up front I want to be clear this is no jab at them.
However, all boats are a collection of compromises. In the best cases, you give up something of no value to YOU in order to get things that are of value.
The thread topic on stern cleats has been on my mind. The cleat arrangement is clearly optimized for PNW marinas where floating docks are the norm. I'm no expert on the entire East Coast, but many of the Chesapeake docks are fixed piers with short finger piers on one side. I'm thinking this is common up and down the ICW, but I'm not that expert. Backed in, you cross the stern lines to the main dock. Which means even if you solve the issue of cleat location, hanging a dingy off the back is problematic. Bow-in docking against a short finger pier means you are boarding the boat at or near the bow ... awkward at best, especially leading guests (or worse, kids) along the narrow side decks.
So its a collection of layout issues, and not just one. Folks figure it all out, but is there a better way?
So here's a thought:
1) On the east coast AC is of high benefit, if not mandatory even if only for resale.
2) AC means you need a generator. Which is why Ranger packages the combo.
3) With a generator, do you really need a solar panel? In looking at (day dreaming) some seriously large yachts, none seem to have solar panels. Why not?
4) With a generator, does it make sense to simplify by going electric in the galley? Electric stovetop, and relocate the microwave to below, and go with a larger microwave / convection oven combo. This frees up the current microwave space for other purpose (storage, at least).
5) With no solar panel up top, there is cabin rooftop area to carry a dink. Yes, some sort of realistic davit arrangement would be needed. But the space is now there.
So an East Coast Edition would:
1) Add two more stern cleats, located more on the transom top than sides. Retain the existing cleats for those side-tie needs on floating docks.
2) AC and generator
3) Eliminate the propane. Possibly keep that locker, but free it up for fenders?
4) Go electric in the galley, as described above.
5) If Ranger has equipment ideas on a davit & rack arrangement up top, that becomes an option like the swim platform davits are today.
I'm thinking this would actually be cheaper than today's Luxury Edition package, by the replacements in the galley, elimination of gas lines and the like, and elimination of the solar panel.
It would take deeper thinking than I have done about the electric power budget and the bank of house batteries that are already pretty good sized, but having saved money elsewhere the possible addition of another battery would not be adding overall cost.
It would move weight off the stern, which I'm thinking would be a good thing. An additional battery would add it back, but closer to amidships.
Getting rid of propane would get rid of one source of fire hazard.
Going with one of the electric dingy outboards would go in that same direction (at HIGH cost). But you could probably tuck that into a lazarette and get more weight off of the stern.
Now you have a boat that needs diesel and water, period, with the same pump-out needs. Cleats that work. A dink that doesn't prevent stern-in docking. Improvements in boat balance and trim. No dingy outboard gas to store and maintain the needed supply.
Personally, I don't think this would work on the Cutwaters. They have damned fine looking lines on those boats and even if you could organize the logistics I would think long and hard about spoiling that with a dink up top.
It probably would work on the 29 sedan, maybe not the 29CB, 31 sedan, and 31 CB now that they have longer cockpit hardtops. It would work on a 27 with a cockpit hardtop.
Its all just a parlor game daydreaming exercise. But your thoughts?
For starters, Ranger builds some great boats. Up front I want to be clear this is no jab at them.
However, all boats are a collection of compromises. In the best cases, you give up something of no value to YOU in order to get things that are of value.
The thread topic on stern cleats has been on my mind. The cleat arrangement is clearly optimized for PNW marinas where floating docks are the norm. I'm no expert on the entire East Coast, but many of the Chesapeake docks are fixed piers with short finger piers on one side. I'm thinking this is common up and down the ICW, but I'm not that expert. Backed in, you cross the stern lines to the main dock. Which means even if you solve the issue of cleat location, hanging a dingy off the back is problematic. Bow-in docking against a short finger pier means you are boarding the boat at or near the bow ... awkward at best, especially leading guests (or worse, kids) along the narrow side decks.
So its a collection of layout issues, and not just one. Folks figure it all out, but is there a better way?
So here's a thought:
1) On the east coast AC is of high benefit, if not mandatory even if only for resale.
2) AC means you need a generator. Which is why Ranger packages the combo.
3) With a generator, do you really need a solar panel? In looking at (day dreaming) some seriously large yachts, none seem to have solar panels. Why not?
4) With a generator, does it make sense to simplify by going electric in the galley? Electric stovetop, and relocate the microwave to below, and go with a larger microwave / convection oven combo. This frees up the current microwave space for other purpose (storage, at least).
5) With no solar panel up top, there is cabin rooftop area to carry a dink. Yes, some sort of realistic davit arrangement would be needed. But the space is now there.
So an East Coast Edition would:
1) Add two more stern cleats, located more on the transom top than sides. Retain the existing cleats for those side-tie needs on floating docks.
2) AC and generator
3) Eliminate the propane. Possibly keep that locker, but free it up for fenders?
4) Go electric in the galley, as described above.
5) If Ranger has equipment ideas on a davit & rack arrangement up top, that becomes an option like the swim platform davits are today.
I'm thinking this would actually be cheaper than today's Luxury Edition package, by the replacements in the galley, elimination of gas lines and the like, and elimination of the solar panel.
It would take deeper thinking than I have done about the electric power budget and the bank of house batteries that are already pretty good sized, but having saved money elsewhere the possible addition of another battery would not be adding overall cost.
It would move weight off the stern, which I'm thinking would be a good thing. An additional battery would add it back, but closer to amidships.
Getting rid of propane would get rid of one source of fire hazard.
Going with one of the electric dingy outboards would go in that same direction (at HIGH cost). But you could probably tuck that into a lazarette and get more weight off of the stern.
Now you have a boat that needs diesel and water, period, with the same pump-out needs. Cleats that work. A dink that doesn't prevent stern-in docking. Improvements in boat balance and trim. No dingy outboard gas to store and maintain the needed supply.
Personally, I don't think this would work on the Cutwaters. They have damned fine looking lines on those boats and even if you could organize the logistics I would think long and hard about spoiling that with a dink up top.
It probably would work on the 29 sedan, maybe not the 29CB, 31 sedan, and 31 CB now that they have longer cockpit hardtops. It would work on a 27 with a cockpit hardtop.
Its all just a parlor game daydreaming exercise. But your thoughts?