Extended Cruising on a R21EC

C

cruz-in

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 19, 2016
Messages
168
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Non-Fluid Motion Model
18 foot cubby cabing Catboat
Vessel Name
Auuumn Wind
Hi,

Been searching and find bits and pieces on this topic. As a potential new owner, I would be interested in hearing you all's thoughts/experiences on extended (7 plus days) cruising with a R21.

Thanks
Dan
 
thanks you. those are great links. They will keep me dreaming for a while...
 
Hi cruz-in,

My wife and I have also cruised to Alaska starting out from Prince Rupert, BC to Ketchikan, Prince of Wales Island, Yes Bay, Misty Fjords; with stops in Foggy Bay, Workman Canal (BC) with our R21EC... just an incredible little boat. So reliable, comfortable, sea-worthy, very easy to handle (previous boat a 64' S&S yawl), and can say that my wife had an incredible experience, as I did. We have since used the boat closer to home on inland waters of Oregon and bays. Always look forward to setting out in our tug, wherever.
 
We spent 6 weeks on Wanderer last summer, most days at anchor, needing to get to port every 10 days or so. This summer we will be on the boat for 8 weeks. I have a full cockpit enclosure and 3 group 27 AGM house batteries and a solar panel. We can stay 3 - 4 days on anchor without starting the engine. We cook in the cockpit with a butane stove and a BBQ on the swim platform rail.
 
John, will you be in the Rideau area?
 
Not this year, going from lake simcoe to Killarney then spend the rest of the summer in the north channel. Have a few other ranger tugs up,there with us for a few weeks in August. We leave on July 1.
 
Dan,
In my opinion going on an extended cruise of 1-3 wks or longer on a R21EC is possible and can be a lot of fun but there are a lot of things we consider in planning our trips. First, my wife and I want to be as comfortable as we can be while cruising. The first day out is always fun as we motor our way to our destination and marvel at all the sights nature has to offer. However, after a while being in sweltering heat with no breeze even the dolphin and eagles disappear. Access to marinas, supplies, weather, etc. are factors that determine our length of stay on the hook. Here in Florida, where summer temps typically run in the 90's with 60-70% humidity and afternoon thunderstorms that will make you wish you'd never left home, staying out on the hook for 3 days and 2 nights is about our max time out. In early spring and fall when the weather is cooler 4-5 days are possible. This time of year we like to return to a marina for a shower, some good meals and shore power for the AC. Once we've "recharged" ourselves we return to our adventure. Bottom line, WE wear out a lot faster than we used to but still love our boat and time on the water and continue to plan many future trips. As Toby Keith so appropriately stated, " I ain't as good as I once was but I'm as good once as I ever was"!

Cheers!!
Karl and Sara
Maneo
 
We spent 6 weeks on Wanderer last summer, most days at anchor, needing to get to port every 10 days or so. This summer we will be on the boat for 8 weeks. I have a full cockpit enclosure and 3 group 27 AGM house batteries and a solar panel. We can stay 3 - 4 days on anchor without starting the engine. We cook in the cockpit with a butane stove and a BBQ on the swim platform rail.
John -21EC "Wanderer"
Click to expand...

Just buying a R21 EC and wondering about anchoring out. What type of dingy do most folks plan for in this situation? My experience has been with larger boats and trying to think through the anchoing process. Thank you. Cheryl
 
Hello Cheryl,
When we went for a 2 weeks trip last summer, we brought our Zodiac cadet 230. It fit sideway on the swimming Platform and extend about 6 inches on both side. While underway, we bring it in the cockpit this way, there is no dragging and I do not have to worries about the boat while using the locks. Go in my photo album, in the summer 2016 folder you will see a picture of the zodiac onboard and the outboard installed on the rail...

For shorter trips, we normally do not bring the dinghy with us.
 
We use a porta bote eight foot model and a 2.5 Suzuki. We tow it behind our boat. Lots of rocks on the shore where we cruise and wanted a hard bottom that will take abuse. The porta bote is 10 years old and still going strong. We also upgraded the anchor system, see phot album, with a rocna 6 Kg main with 30 feet of chain and a bruce 5 Kg back up with 10 feet of chain. We do locks very rarely and when we do the Berta bote folds up along the side of the cabin against the rail. We drive with the porta bote on the roof racks of the truck. The motor sits on a motor mount facing inward on the starboard rail.
 
Hello John, pretty cool the porta bote! I am impress about the design and construction material. I wish that a 6 feet long boat was available...
 
Six feet with that design would not work. Eight feet is perfect for two people, three in a pinch.
 
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