Willapa Wanderer
New member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2009
- Messages
- 4
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-24 C SE
- Hull Identification Number
- 2112
- Vessel Name
- Sadie
So I’m walking to the post office in mid-July and I see this beautiful tug on a trailer parked next to our local downtown motel. My mouth drops in awe and I just stand and look at it. After I circled it about ten times, the owner (the motel proprietor and a friend) comes out and the buttons on his shirt are literally bursting with pride as he describes the EC21 and his recent purchase. I’m listening, but I can’t take my eyes off what I consider to be a work of art.
Later that day, I go on-line and try to remember the brand of the tug. Finally, after playing around I figure out it’s a Ranger and I peruse the website which does nothing to quench my interest in this beauty.
Somehow, through my cyber wandering I discover a boat show at the Shilshole Marina in Seattle. We live about half-way between Seattle and Portland on the Willapa River which flows into Willapa Bay which is probably the most pristine estuary on either coast, so the 3-hour trip was not at all daunting. We live in a town of 1,800 and we escape north or south frequently.
My lovely wife semi-begrudgingly agrees to accompany me on this venture – “Just want to explore, dear.” – and off we go on a beautiful Northwest summer day.
At Shilshole we work our way through the yachts and monster powerboats to the Ranger section where a 21, 25,and 29 are moored. There we meet Jeff Messmer, who patiently shows us the 21 and spends as much time as we need discussing features. There’s no pressure, no hype, just a calm, professional demeanor which we found comforting.
It was becoming obvious that I was coming down with some sort of malady. This was one neat boat. I had done my research and the fact that used ones are so rare was a sign that this manufacturer was on to something.
The next week we visit the factory. It’s about 2 ½ hours away. Andrew, the factory tech guru, spends an hour with us showing us the plant and sitting patiently with us in a trailered EC-21. I am so hooked. We then sit down with Jeff and he provides us with an estimate of the total cost with a few added features. (OK, more than a few.)
As we leave the plant I comment that we probably wouldn’t do any serious cruising in the vessel if we got one and my lovely wife responds, “That’s what I would like to do if we get one.”
I knew things were going well when she comments, “We should get the bow thrusters.” as we pull in to our driveway. We’re in.
I call Jeff the next morning and order a boat. Now the fun begins.
We visit the factory a few weeks later on the day the parts are popped out of the molds. It was hard to imagine that those rough hunks of fiberglass would become a work of art, but, they indeed, did, as we see when we visit a couple of weeks later. There it was in all its splendor – our red beauty – the “Sadie”.
Our beautiful craft was delivered last Thursday. Andrew brings it down and I’m trying to run a board meeting of the county historical society when it hits town and he stops across the street from the meeting. I’m absolutely giddy and the meeting comes to an abrupt halt. It’s a small town on Highway 101 and people stop in the middle of the main drag to look at it. My 80-year-old uncle stops and takes numerous photos. It’s a major event.
The boat launch is about a half-mile away so off we go and, after some serious instruction on engine maintenance and a very thorough orientation we see if it will float. It floats. We’re on the beautiful Willapa River in South Bend, WA and I am so on a roll. We motor up river for a ways and after about an hour I’m ready for my first docking experience. Andrew takes it to my slip first and then I try it. Piece of cake. Of course having bow thrusters doesn’t inhibit the docking process any.
I’m hoping to leave it in the water year round. We’ll see. I had the bottom painted but there’s quite a problem with stuff growing on the bottom of boats in our area. It’s also saltwater so I’ll just keep an eye on things and see how it goes. It’s so convenient to just walk down to the dock and play on the boat. I’ve had it out in the pouring rain – we often get as much as 100 inches a year here – and the wipers and heater make for comfortable traveling. I realize that leaving it in the water is hard on it but I bought it to use, not keep in a garage all winter. So if there are problems, I’ll just get them fixed.
I am so impressed with the purchase process. From my first contact with Jeff to delivery and instruction from Andrew, it’s been a customer-oriented experience. Diana in the office and Jim in the factory have been so helpful and patient. I’m a Ranger Tug company fan.
We live about an hour by car from Astoria, OR so I’m looking forward to motoring up the Columbia. We’re about an hour and a half from Olympia, so south Puget Sound awaits as does Hood Canal which is only about an hour and a half away, also. Lots of fun ahead.
So far I’ve logged about 16 hours. It looks like I’m using about a gallon an hour but I am breaking in the engine and running it at different rpm’s per instructions. There is no dockside fuel available on Willapa Harbor so my first fueling experience was a bit of a weighty challenge, but I’ll figure that out. Didn’t spill, but had the absorbent pads handy, just in case.
I went out into Willapa Bay last week for the first time, and got into some chop and, of course, it handled like a dream. Previously my adventures have been limited to the confines of the Willapa River. I can motor about 9 miles up river from my moorage in downtown South Bend and there are a couple of primitive stops on the way. I’m about 12 miles from the Pacific down the river and out the bay. Not going over the famously treacherous Willapa Bay bar, but can certainly play near it.
I just can’t say enough about the quality of this boat. The fit and trim and thoughtful features are so impressive. I'm able to play on the water almost daily. Can hardly wait for some lousy weather. I’m a lucky man.
Later that day, I go on-line and try to remember the brand of the tug. Finally, after playing around I figure out it’s a Ranger and I peruse the website which does nothing to quench my interest in this beauty.
Somehow, through my cyber wandering I discover a boat show at the Shilshole Marina in Seattle. We live about half-way between Seattle and Portland on the Willapa River which flows into Willapa Bay which is probably the most pristine estuary on either coast, so the 3-hour trip was not at all daunting. We live in a town of 1,800 and we escape north or south frequently.
My lovely wife semi-begrudgingly agrees to accompany me on this venture – “Just want to explore, dear.” – and off we go on a beautiful Northwest summer day.
At Shilshole we work our way through the yachts and monster powerboats to the Ranger section where a 21, 25,and 29 are moored. There we meet Jeff Messmer, who patiently shows us the 21 and spends as much time as we need discussing features. There’s no pressure, no hype, just a calm, professional demeanor which we found comforting.
It was becoming obvious that I was coming down with some sort of malady. This was one neat boat. I had done my research and the fact that used ones are so rare was a sign that this manufacturer was on to something.
The next week we visit the factory. It’s about 2 ½ hours away. Andrew, the factory tech guru, spends an hour with us showing us the plant and sitting patiently with us in a trailered EC-21. I am so hooked. We then sit down with Jeff and he provides us with an estimate of the total cost with a few added features. (OK, more than a few.)
As we leave the plant I comment that we probably wouldn’t do any serious cruising in the vessel if we got one and my lovely wife responds, “That’s what I would like to do if we get one.”
I knew things were going well when she comments, “We should get the bow thrusters.” as we pull in to our driveway. We’re in.
I call Jeff the next morning and order a boat. Now the fun begins.
We visit the factory a few weeks later on the day the parts are popped out of the molds. It was hard to imagine that those rough hunks of fiberglass would become a work of art, but, they indeed, did, as we see when we visit a couple of weeks later. There it was in all its splendor – our red beauty – the “Sadie”.
Our beautiful craft was delivered last Thursday. Andrew brings it down and I’m trying to run a board meeting of the county historical society when it hits town and he stops across the street from the meeting. I’m absolutely giddy and the meeting comes to an abrupt halt. It’s a small town on Highway 101 and people stop in the middle of the main drag to look at it. My 80-year-old uncle stops and takes numerous photos. It’s a major event.
The boat launch is about a half-mile away so off we go and, after some serious instruction on engine maintenance and a very thorough orientation we see if it will float. It floats. We’re on the beautiful Willapa River in South Bend, WA and I am so on a roll. We motor up river for a ways and after about an hour I’m ready for my first docking experience. Andrew takes it to my slip first and then I try it. Piece of cake. Of course having bow thrusters doesn’t inhibit the docking process any.
I’m hoping to leave it in the water year round. We’ll see. I had the bottom painted but there’s quite a problem with stuff growing on the bottom of boats in our area. It’s also saltwater so I’ll just keep an eye on things and see how it goes. It’s so convenient to just walk down to the dock and play on the boat. I’ve had it out in the pouring rain – we often get as much as 100 inches a year here – and the wipers and heater make for comfortable traveling. I realize that leaving it in the water is hard on it but I bought it to use, not keep in a garage all winter. So if there are problems, I’ll just get them fixed.
I am so impressed with the purchase process. From my first contact with Jeff to delivery and instruction from Andrew, it’s been a customer-oriented experience. Diana in the office and Jim in the factory have been so helpful and patient. I’m a Ranger Tug company fan.
We live about an hour by car from Astoria, OR so I’m looking forward to motoring up the Columbia. We’re about an hour and a half from Olympia, so south Puget Sound awaits as does Hood Canal which is only about an hour and a half away, also. Lots of fun ahead.
So far I’ve logged about 16 hours. It looks like I’m using about a gallon an hour but I am breaking in the engine and running it at different rpm’s per instructions. There is no dockside fuel available on Willapa Harbor so my first fueling experience was a bit of a weighty challenge, but I’ll figure that out. Didn’t spill, but had the absorbent pads handy, just in case.
I went out into Willapa Bay last week for the first time, and got into some chop and, of course, it handled like a dream. Previously my adventures have been limited to the confines of the Willapa River. I can motor about 9 miles up river from my moorage in downtown South Bend and there are a couple of primitive stops on the way. I’m about 12 miles from the Pacific down the river and out the bay. Not going over the famously treacherous Willapa Bay bar, but can certainly play near it.
I just can’t say enough about the quality of this boat. The fit and trim and thoughtful features are so impressive. I'm able to play on the water almost daily. Can hardly wait for some lousy weather. I’m a lucky man.
