Do Ranger Tugs come with a “Calm Seas” button?

[OC Tugger]

Hi everyone,

I’m Jorge, and I’m new to TugNuts. I’m in Dana Point, CA, and I’ve been seriously looking at Ranger Tugs for a while now, particularly the R-25 and R-27.

At this point, I feel like I’ve watched just about every Ranger Tug video on YouTube but one thing I’m curious about though, is how different the Ranger Tug experience is here in Southern California. So many of the videos I see are from the PNW or Great Lakes, where they seem to be cruising through relatively protected waterways. Here in Dana Point, once you leave the harbor, you’re pretty much heading straight out into the Pacific.

For those who own Ranger Tugs in Southern California, what has your experience been like? Do the R-25/R-27 handle our typical coastal conditions well? Am I overthinking the difference between boating here versus the PNW?

Looking forward to being part of the community!


Jorge

 

[scross]

The boats are pretty strong. It’s more about your personal comfort level.
In our R-25 Classic we occasionally were in solid 2 ft / 2 second seas. Not fun but not really uncomfortable. When they got over 2 ft we looked for closest shelter.
Our C-28 is a bit beefier. Seas of 2 ft / 2 seconds are ok. Not fun but ok. We have been once in unforcasted 4 ft / 2 second seas and it was VERY uncomfortable. By 4 ft I mean solid foot or more blue water over the bow and crashing hard on the windshield. My biggest concern was the windshield giving in. We could feel the boat flex fore and aft - which the factory later confirmed is by design. That 45 minutes did about $2,000 in damage to the boat and gear.
If you want to see what conditions are in the area you plan to operate, get the Windy app and check it frequently. If it consistently reports waves at or under 2ft / 2 seconds in your area you are probably ok.
I think all of have held in sheltered positions waiting for better weather. Or ran like hell to get to to safety ahead of bad weather. While cruising you need to be checking the weather (current and forecast) frequently.

PS Martin of Channel Surfing has a video of similar rough sea conditions on YouTube. I think it’s titled: “The Johnstone Strait Misjudgment”

 

[TodosGarth]

Hi Jorge,
What is your intended use? I have a R-27 OB down in San Diego and don't have any problems in the ocean. I frequently take it out and it handles well as long as you adjust your speed accordingly. I've made two upgrades that help with larger seas. One is a 5 blade prop that allows me to stay on a plane at lower speeds to match the ocean conditions and the other is the SeaKeeper Ride trim tabs that help with the how the boat handles (e.g., reduced slamming and pounding), it automatically manages pitch, roll, and yaw. It's not a boat you can blast out to the fishing grounds at WOT in any conditions, but certainly a boat that is capable. I've made the round trip journey to Catalina from San Diego in less than ideal conditions with pretty sizable ground swell and wind chop. Feel free to reach out or come down and we can go for a ride.