Family of 5...Ranger Tug?

[marbelliana]

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum, but have been happily lurking here and love the very "familial" community that is Ranger Tug and Cutwater owners. We've been boating for some years in South Jersey and have recently sold our Sundancer 310. Since we're currently boatless and are still paying for a slip (and plan to do the same next year), we're in the market as it were...

First off, I LOVE the Tugs and the Cutwaters. We checked out a few new ones yesterday at G Winter's Sailing Center in Riverside, NJ and I think they're wonderful boats. However, the new boats seem to be more "couple" cruisers (perhaps they all are?). My wife and I have 3 kids (16, 14 and 11) and we're trying to decipher if a used tug (perhaps the 27 or 29) were configured differently in the older models in order to sleep our entire family. I realize it would be tight, but the new versions of the boat, specifically the 27 with Outboard power...there's just nowhere to put everyone. As I understand it, the pre-outboard models had more space for sleeping? So is the inboard-powered, older model tug any different in terms of sleeping arrangements for a family of 5? We really are trying to stay away from Diesel inboards since we tend to not take really long trips and after having twin inboards on the Searay, the maintenance just became unwieldy after awhile.

We'd ideally like to know if anyone else on the forums either has solved or is aware of how to solve for a family of 5 (without recommending that we buy the 41, since that's out of our budget 🙂

We also liked the door on the starboard side where the helm is. That seems to have gone away in the new models?

Anyway, nice to be aboard and I appreciate anyone's feedback!

Marbelliana

 

[Karll]

Welcome to the forum, I am also a new member as I am in the process of purchasing a 2014 R29 pending marine survey approval. I did not look at the 27 as it has a smaller beam and less cabin space. All my children are adults but still like to boat with us. Like you I like the helm door on the 29. I currently own a 24’ SeaSport Explorer but my wife and I have decided we want to do more cruising and less fishing. Good luck finding a boat to fill your slip.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

We have a 2012 R27 “Classic.” We have two adults kids and spouses who enjoy boating with us. However, it’s rare for all six to be onboard at the same time, and it does happen, but never for overnights. For day cruising, an R27 will be OK with a family of five. Not so if berths for all are required, in my opinion. Somebody will be sleeping in a space typically used for storage. Get at least an R29.

 

[ixlr8]

Hi there,

First off, I LOVE the Tugs and the Cutwaters. We checked out a few new ones yesterday at G Winter's Sailing Center in Riverside, NJ and I think they're wonderful boats. However, the new boats seem to be more "couple" cruisers (perhaps they all are?). My wife and I have 3 kids (16, 14 and 11) and we're trying to decipher if a used tug (perhaps the 27 or 29) were configured differently in the older models in order to sleep our entire family.

We also liked the door on the starboard side where the helm is. That seems to have gone away in the new models?

Marbelliana

I have the 27OB and with your kids, the 27OB is going to be tight for you, I think you will find the 27D will also be tight. I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than the 29, especially if you want the helm door. If you are looking at the 29, then I would have the 29CB at the top of my list. As the Command Bridge gives another place/space for folks to spread out to.

 

[BradOwens]

The new version if the Ranger Tug 29 doesn't have the pilot house door. For that, you need to find an older 29, or move up to the 31. For a family of 5, I wouldn't go smaller than a 29. The extra beam makes a huge difference in interior space, and it really feels like a much bigger boat. The mid-berth (commonly called the cave) is also quite a bit roomier than in the outboard models, and will comfortably sleep two. The third child will need to sleep on the dinette which has a filler cushion for sleeping. We've had 6 aboard for four nights, and it was tight, but doable. The 31 has a larger cockpit with fold out bench seats that really open up the space. We have a classic 29, but my favorite Ranger Tug is the 31. Maybe we'll trade up someday.

 

[Matty]

For cruising during the day the 27 is plenty big enough. It is the sleeping arrangements that are tough. Our 4 kids are young adults. About 80% of the time it is just the two of us. So we concluded we could buy a lot of bed and breakfast nights and it would still be cheaper than upgrading.
You are in a bit of a different spot for another 5 years. Unless you do a blow up queen in the cabin area there is just not enough sleeping area for 5 people.

 

[Karll]

I wonder why they took away the helm door on the 29’s as for me that was a big selling point.

 

[baz]

I wonder why they took away the helm door on the 29’s as for me that was a big selling point.

I suspect it was due to the cost of the sliding helm door manufacturing and cabin structure to accommodate it. I was told the helm door just by itself cost RT around $5,000. With this aspect RT decided to eliminate the helm sliding door in order to keep costs in line. When the new/modern looking R29 hit the market it actually was less expensive than the previous R29 Classic with its sliding helm door.

The inclusion and exclusion of the sliding helm door has developed into a talking point for many RT owners. Some insist on having it for various reasons such as the ability for the helmsman exiting when docking and the overall styling of it that matches that for the larger other trawler brands. For me, I've explored the sliding door's use and funcionality without any consideration to its added style and look of the boat from the outside and found it did not offer the proclaimed advantages. The door is relatively heavy and requires a bit of heft to open it quickly when needed, and one has to step up and out of the boat to get onto the side of the boat which does not have that much room to begin with. There are other people here that like the sliding door and will offer their own opinions on all of this.

As others have mentioned.... for your situation the used R29 (Classic), used/new R29 S are the best choices and the used/new R29 CB is even a better choice.

I regularly entertain up to 8 people on my new R29 CB NW Edition at times. I'm a solo sailor and can easily handle the R29 CB on my own. I can have a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children aged 11, 9 and 4) join me on extended cruises and find it works. If the temps are reasonable the kids can actually sleep out in an enclosed cockpit (I have a full cockpit enclosure) which BTW is heated with the Webasto diesel heater.

The new R29 S and R29 CB share the same Volvo inboard Diesel 300 HP engine which has plenty of 'grunt' and will move the boat up to 27 mph (WOT) when needed. The engine is super efficient and noise in the cabin is very acceptable for me, and no worse than what I experienced with my previous R27/OB. The noise difference between the outboard and inboard engines is a 'frequency' thing. The outboard gives a high frequency whine/noise whereas the inboard diesel emits a low frequency noise. Each noise level that I've measured have the same dB levels in the cabin.

The R29 outweighs the R27, has a wider beam, and this is very noticeable when cruising in non optimum sea conditions. Going from (sea trials) the R27/OB to the R29 CB was very revealing for me with this in mind.

The R29's Volvo engine can be upgraded to have a LowSpeed feature that allows the boat to troll at speeds from 1.3 kts to 3.5 kts, and the use of Auto pilot when at these speeds works well and for me being solo is a wonderful benefit. I can troll for fish for a good 4 hrs and use less than a gallon of fuel.

Good luck. 🙂

 

[Gwbru]

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum, but have been happily lurking here and love the very "familial" community that is Ranger Tug and Cutwater owners. We've been boating for some years in South Jersey and have recently sold our Sundancer 310. Since we're currently boatless and are still paying for a slip (and plan to do the same next year), we're in the market as it were...


Marbelliana

Marbelliana

I believe my R23 at GN was what got you looking at Ranger Tugs. Glad to see you are still pursuing. You won’t be disappointed. Good luck!

Greg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[marbelliana]

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum, but have been happily lurking here and love the very "familial" community that is Ranger Tug and Cutwater owners. We've been boating for some years in South Jersey and have recently sold our Sundancer 310. Since we're currently boatless and are still paying for a slip (and plan to do the same next year), we're in the market as it were...


Marbelliana

Marbelliana

I believe my R23 at GN was what got you looking at Ranger Tugs. Glad to see you are still pursuing. You won’t be disappointed. Good luck!

Greg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Greg! Yep, it’s entirely your fault! Haha! Thank for letting me board your boat! That was a great weekend, and the last weekend for my Searay! Didn’t know that at the time, but here we are! Good seeing you here!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bobby P.]

We have a 31CB. I'll get back to that...

Prior to this boat, we had a 36' Albin Trawler. Lots of room!

We have two daughters and we usually had our niece, who was three years older than my oldest daughter, when out cruising.

I'm giving you all this information because we found that between ages 14 and 16, they no longer wanted to spend the night on the boat. We cruised far less during that stretch, when they were 14 - till college. Prior to that, we were on the boat every weekend, fishing A LOT, swimming, tubing etc. We even tried to lure them in by taking friends, but that faded through high school.

I mention all of this because we now realize that you almost need "time period" boats. Prior to kids we had 16' skiff, then a bow rider, then a ski boat, next a 30' sail boat. Shortly after the second child was born, my wife no longer wanted to heel over with a child in her arms and didn't think it was funny that I lashed a car seat to the back stay as a solution. So we moved to a bay liner sundeck. Beamy, spacious, etc. We had lots of fun on that boat. Next is was the big trawler. We towed a 13 foot whaler behind, so that we could tube, crab, fish and water ski. We had that set up for 15 years. Being able to get lots of people aboard, did help keep the kids around. We would pull off day outings, with multiple friends. Better to have them all around, then none around.

But as high school continued, with sports and school stuff, etc., spending nights on the boat dwindled. We kept the big old boat until all the kids were well into college.

Now enter the Ranger Tug period... With just the two of us, a 40 year old leaky old boat that i would spend more time with the engine than my wife, was getting less and less fun. We decided it was time for a change, but we approached it differently.

What boat do we want for the next 5-8 years? Way down the road, we might want to move about something. But not now. We loved the trawler and flybridge, but also like to travel. So we wanted a boat that we could pull down to the keys or up to New England by trailer, or just trawler around the Chesapeake bay. I also wanted something that could handle weather. My mantra became, what is the biggest trawler-style boat I can tow?

When we started examining the Ranger Tug, we carefully analyzed each model in terms of our next 5-8 years. We landed on the R31 CB. We can put enough people on for a cruise, but doesn't sleep a lot, too comfortably (with the exception of our state room, which we don't share)!

I also dido the comment about the cockpit in back. That is actually a favorite place to for people to sleep, when the weather is right. The cave is big enough for two (not us, but others who want to crash on board), and the table drops down for two more to sleep.

Also, the newer R31 CBs, beginning with model year 2016, went to a hard top over the rear cockpit. This improved the seating on the command bridge, significantly. We can cruise with 6 people up top and then others scattered below. Also, the bench seats in the cockpit "kick out" opening up that space as well.

So that is my several cents worth. Think in terms of the next 5-8 years. We love the R 31CB and it really fits our current cruising wants and needs.

Good luck on your search. BTW, I'm a real PIA when it comes to be critical of cars, boats, riding lawn mowers, etc. These Ranger Tugs are very well build machines. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to share my experience with the R31cb.

Best,
Bobby

 

[BradOwens]

Marbelliana,
You may want to consider renting a Ranger Tug for a week to see if it suits your needs before buying one and finding out it doesn't.