Looking at 21 EC's

[Ahab]

Hi folks,

I've started down the path to possibly purchasing a R21EC. I looked at a newer model boat yesterday and have a few questions I'm hoping you can help with:

How do a decode the hull ID number? The number I see is US-FMLT21 20I415. It's the last sequence I don't understand. 20I(i)415.

The boat is equipped with the holding tank and marine head. For owners that have that option, do you also have a overboard discharge valve on the holding tank?

I see from other postings that there is no coring in the hull below the waterline but foam is used elsewhere(?) In the decks and gunwales? I noticed that there are some cleats and backings to the cockpit rails that cannot be accessed, therefore not properly re-bedded if a problem developed over time. Same may apply to the bow rail (not sure about this). Water intrusion at these points being a real possibility, will a foam core go mushy?

I really like the boat, but coming from a 34' cruising sailboat, my wife and I would have a big adjustment to make for the lack of space and also for the increase in motion I would suspect. (Our sailboat displaced over 20,000 lbs) Have any in the group made this change? Would appreciate hearing thoughts and experiences.

Thanks!

 

[tlkenyon]

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.htm

 

[rt11002003]

Ranger numbers their boats a little differently, if memory serves. so that link above may not help. Mine hull # is: FMLT21 351607 and claims to be built in 2014. It has the VOLVO engine.

My marine head system has an overboard discharge and a pumpout discharge.

I'm on my third R21EC. Had a leak on the second one, a 2007 model. It didn't get mushy. That's the only leak I experienced.

During the period I owned one of the tugs, I also owned a CS30, a very heavy stable Canadian built sailboat. The tug comes closer to feeling like a dinghy than a keel boat. I gave up sailing within the last year because of the difficulty of moving around onboard. I'm 78 with some spinal issues. Because everything is close at hand; and, because of handhold placement, the tug is much easier to move around on. Space is limited compared to a larger boat.

 

[tlkenyon]

The link worked for both of my rangers... a 2005 R21 Classic and a 2015 25SC....

 

[rt11002003]

For a retired CFO my paperwork is dismal, got my boat HIN's mixed up. The HIN for my '09 R21EC was USFMLT2127J809. It appears to conform to the link. However, I bought it in Jan. 2009; obviously it had to have been built in 2008. So, how could it be certified in May 2009, four months after I purchased it?

The HIN for my '07 R21EC was FMLT21351607. It is likely the "1" in 1607 is really an "I" for April. However, the GA state registration system supposedly matches numbers with Ranger's numbers. So, what is the real certification date? Maybe the link works, maybe not.

The HIN for my current tug is FMTL2113H314. It was registered in NC on March 17, 2014. The H314 is a certification date of March 3, 2014.

I'm not sure what "certification date" really means. I've been chasing HIN's for more than 40 years.

Back to Ahab's original post. I've never had a R21EC in open sea; however I've had them in heavy weather on lakes and rivers: weather of plus 35 knots and waves as high as the top of the bow pulpit. Fortunately, shelter was always close by and I only had to manage conditions for distances of little over five miles. I always say the little tug reminds me of a cork, or a duck. They just bob along. The last time I was caught in squall; I wasn't able to get into the marina because the conditions were so bad. So, we just rode it out. The lake I use most of the time is subject to sudden squalls; and, we don't always have good warning. Last week, our house took a really, really close lightning strike; about 10 minutes afterward, the National Weather Service issued a storm warning. The terrain is such that it depends on the direction of storm travel as to whether one can see it coming.

I raced small centerboard sailboats (dinghys) that were capable of planing/surfing in the right waves and winds. Some of my racing sailboats with keels could also plane/surf in the right conditions. A R21EC will also plane/surf. It's controllable if one is practicing good seamanship. I used to think I'd take one offshore up to 10 nm. I've amended that after almost seven years of piloting these little tugs; five miles is my new limit: with a good weather picture.

I advised a couple who were moving from a large Tartan sailboat to a small keelboat I had owned at one time. I asked if they'd ever sailed dinghys; told them that it would be good experience for them. They sunk the keelboat in first squall on our lake, less than a year after buying it.

One can alter direction of a R21EC by simply moving from one side of the boat to the other. I strongly suggest you get a good ride on one before buying. I love the boat, but I'm a single hander; and, only use it for day trips. I'm sure I could take it on a long river, or lake cruise, if I wasn't in a hurry. My new tug, with the Volvo engine (about 40 hours now), pulls about 8 knots at max rpm of 3,000 in flat water with light wind, less than five knots. I could surf the 2009 tug at 10+ knots with wind (plus 12 knots actual) and waves on either after quarter.

 

[Ahab]

Rt, are you saying you've experienced a reduction of speed with the Volvo 30? A dealer is telling me that the 21EC equipped with the Volvo 30hp is capable of 12 knots at WOT.

 

[Champ]

Rt, are you saying you've experienced a reduction of speed with the Volvo 30? A dealer is telling me that the 21EC equipped with the Volvo 30hp is capable of 12 knots at WOT.

The Ranger 21-EC is what attracted us to Ranger Tugs. We were sure it was the right boat for us. We were ready to buy without a test ride. I'm glad we had the chance to take a ride thanks to a wonderful Tugnuts member. He told us it was a slow steady ride and we figured how slow could it really be. We found out what slow is! That was the deal breaker for us. We went with the R-23 which we hope to have by the end of the month.

Definitely take a ride before you buy. It may be just what your looking for, maybe not. Many including our host on our ride seem to enjoy their R-21's.

I will also say that if the R-21EC came with say a Yamaha 115 hp we would have bought that. We loved everything about it but the speed.

 

[rt11002003]

Ahab

Overall, my 2014 tug with the Volvo is a bit slower than either of my other tugs with the Yanmar. For one thing, the Volvo doesn't have the same max rpm when operating: 3000 rpm Volvo vs 3400 rpm Yanmar. I'm talking about a difference of maybe one to one and a half knots. I don't know the prop specs of the three boats; but, they do have an effect. The equipment on board is about the same, except the 2007 had radar.

I was surprised when 8 knots was top end. It could even be in the GPS readings. But, I can assure you the dealer who gave you a 12 knot figure was incorrect.

I'm sure my current tug will surf/plane under the right conditions and reach a 10+ knot range. But, it will be to the forces of wind and waves. Not the engine.

Compute hull speed for it. 6 knots, approx.?