Cutwater 30 CB or Ranger Tug 29/31 CB for cruise/fish

[jconsani]

Currently have a really nice 2014 CW 28 but after a 2 week cruise, we have decided that we need:
1. a boat with at least a 10' beam and an island bed as I am too long for the V berth and we are tired of having to setup / breakdown the dinette berth for the "admirable Admiral".
2. we prefer to stay with diesel power as we are not in a hurry to get anywhere
3. need to be able to fish (saltwater ) proficiently as we do a LOT of salmon fishing

Looking at the CW 30 CB /Ranger 29 / Ranger 31 CB .(2016-2020)

Which boat would you choose and why?

TIA

 

[SKing]

We don't fish with ours but still chose the C30CB. We liked the layout better. And it has more power. If my memory is correct the hard cover over the cockpit on the cutwater is smaller so that you can fish easier. The cammand bridge has turned out to be the best decision of them all. I run the boat from there 90% of the time. Cold weather or sunshine. I just go inside for rain.

 

[Gwkessel]

A little bias however my Cut 30CB would be my favorite. Fish all the time, bridge helps spot fish,paddies,foarmers,birds,breezers and stern has plenty of room to troll,
cast and keep a large ice chest. Good range and easy on the fuel bill.
Cheers
G

 

[abastos]

Looking at the CW 30 CB /Ranger 29 / Ranger 31 CB (2016-2020)

After more than 2 years researching (and off course saving money) we came up with the same list. We visited the boats during boat shows for multiple times to make sure we checked all the details. We bought a C-30S in April/2025.

From our list:

- Ranger 31 is gorgeous externally with a great salon layout, plus the helm door. Cockpit similar to C-30, with the foldable seats that we love. Head space ok, no port lights and single hatch in the state room was THE "no-go" to my wife. She felt claustrophobic.

- Ranger 29 is more beautiful than C-30S imho. Salon ok, cockpit with no foldable seats, but not a big deal. Head space ok- (my wife ranked the heads), state room with 2 port lights each side + 2 hatches, good.

- Cutwater C-30S: not the most beautiful one (when compared with both Rangers), intelligent internal layout, creating a big counter top on port side. Bigger engine (I liked that), large head with the acrylic enclosure for shower, that was one of the key factors for my wife followed by the state room with 5 port lights that open and brings lot of fresh air, 2 big hatches right over the bed, that give her some psychological comfort/safe.

 

[S. Todd]

We selected the R29 for the following reasons: Flat windshield with large eyebrow reduces glare and sheds water well. I dislike the glass in the roof because it is too hot in the summer sun, but we have dense phifertex covering it, so it is bearable. The drawer under the master bed is super useful for access to clothing storage (there was no drawer in the R31 when we ordered the R29). Storage under the helm seat is also super useful. We had no need for the second head in the R31. We disliked the flip out seats in the R31 cockpit but loved and use the cockpit seats in the R29. The large helm allowed for two Garmin screens. The biggest drawback to the R29 is the limited engine access on the belt end (front) of the engine (reaching the high-water bilge pump is nearly impossible). Access to the stern thruster is excellent, as opposed to what it was in our R25SC. Countertop cover on the port side of the C30 seemed like a non-functional piece of added weight that would be prone to rattle and/or vibrate (if not bounce in rough conditions). The ability to get the C30 in white, which limits the appearance of water spots, is a big positive for it.