Looking for input on R25 - Seattle

[DennisL]

Hi there! My girlfriend and I (and our two dogs) are looking at R25s. We live in Seattle and are trying to find some local owners who might be down to show us their boat through the eyes of an owner. I’ve been on the boats at the boat show and in the factory in auburn, I’ve watched all the videos I can consume, subscribe to PassageMaker and have been following the sea nest crew and others. We’re getting closer to making the move but I’m still torn on whether or not to buy a trailer. How critical a two burner / oven (R27) versus no oven/single burner is. If upgraded lithium batteries to avoid carrying a generator is worth it - do I need AC in the PNW? How do you manage a dinghy without the rack system on the R27? and many other questions. I’ve been racing sailboats for 15 years so have plenty of time on the water but am excited to switch over to the dark side as soon as I feel confident 🙂 anyway, if anyone is in lake union, shilshole, Elliott bay, or out in Kingston/Indianola and would show us around in exchange for a bottle of wine or something we’d be super grateful!! Thanks in advance for any/all opinions.

 

[pbjellythyme]

Replying to your post to put it back in the queue. I’m also very interested in these questions as I consider between a 25 and 27. Thanks for asking.

 

[Pandion]

It's not R25-specific, but I'll give you some oversight on our buying decisions when we purchased our R27OB in 2020. We primarily boat in Puget Sound.

A lot of the same questions you're facing have been discussed in past posts, so it may be helpful to take a look in the archives for more info. Many of the answers will be highly specific to where and how you intend to boat, so the best decision for one of us could be a no-go for someone else with the same model of boat.

Trailer - We intended to initially store our boat in our driveway, so this was a no-brainer. And there are thousands of miles of inland waters to explore if you can get your boat there. But you'll need a capable tow vehicle, so consider that. We already had a 2500 diesel pickup when we bought our R27, but the truck was nearly 25 years-old. Vehicle weight ratings were much different back then, so we would have exceeded our GVWR with the tongue weight. We bought a year-old diesel 3500 to solve that problem, which essentially means the trailer cost us about $65K. I do all of the maintenance on our boat, which would require more money/time/effort than if we didn't have the trailer. But you need to store it somewhere when you're not using it, so more expense if you don't have that space available. And trailers that are parked outdoors, doing nothing, will still require an amazing amount of maintenance.

Stove- This is one of the main items that pushed us to an R27; a single alcohol/electric burner was not going to cut it for us. Some people find it sufficient and others use a portable propane burner. With lithium batteries, an induction burner may be an option, as well (or a non-issue if you're always on a dock with power).

Generator - We've never had one. But our boat, in its stock form, couldn't keep up with being away from shore power for more than a couple of days. The easy but less-efficient solution would have been a portable generator but we chose to upgrade our solar and batteries instead. We now have a highly-modified electrical system (350W solar/LiFePo4 battery) that can keep up with our electrical needs. Some people are using portable power stations to supplement their electrical.

AC - I don't recall ever wishing we had it on our boat in the Puget Sound region. Even on super-hot days, the temp on the water is significantly lower than it is on land. We often notice this just walking from the dock up to the street. I don't believe you can buy a new R25 now without A/C, though. On the opposite side, the diesel heater on our R27 is something we wouldn't be without in our area. If we drag our boat to the east coast to do the Loop, we may change our opinion on A/C, though!

Dinghy Rack - These are now an option on new R25s. Otherwise, check past posts for more info on how people manage this without the rack.

You're on the right track to seek out local owners. Looking at a boat at the boat show is very different than seeing one that is set up to be used continuously. If you're going to cruise for multiple days, you will be moving stuff around a lot to change "modes" - sleeping, driving, cooking, etc. Even though you're looking for an R25, if you want to see what that goat-rope looks like on an R27OB, shoot me a DM.

 

[DennisL]

Thanks so much for this! Since my original post I’m now under contract on a 2024 R25, that has a dinghy lift and the lithium upgrade!! It’s got 400amps of solar and a 2400wh/ 200ah battery for house. Hoping that can power a little toaster oven or induction if we needed it!! I could not be more excited (and nervous) but would still love to chat and get up to speed on the boats! I’m planning to keep it in shilshole when we take possession - assuming survey all checks out.

 

[Pandion]

Hey, Dennis! Congrats on the boat-to-be. I doubt you'll find any too-serious issues on a 2024. The factory can have some hiccups now and then but hopefully those were addressed by the previous owner (I'm assuming it's a local used boat?). The wiring on FM boats can be a bit of a cluster in the places that you can't see, so don't be surprised if something along those lines shows up in your survey.

We bought our R27 new but I think buying a slightly used boat is the best best; some upgrades commonly done, shakedown complete, factory issues addressed, etc.

Perhaps the biggest change for you will be how the boat handles. The light, shallow-draft Ranger Tugs are much more impacted by wind and current than low-slung sailboats. Slow going and lots of anticipation of where you'll be in 15 seconds is the key. Piece of cake for a sailor with decades of experience.

There are some highly knowledgeable owners on Tugnuts so there's a ton of info in the archives regarding common issues . I've done some type of modification on nearly every system on our boat, so I'm somewhat familiar with them. Feel free to reach out if you have a question.

 

[Jesperjo]

Congrats on the new boat! We’ve had our 2024 R-25 Luxury Edition since it was new. I’d be happy to talk to you more about it, just DM me. We’re actually getting rid of it next month though - upgrading to a bigger model, and I’d be happy to talk about why.

You’ll like the lithium upgrade and the AC I think. We use the AC a lot when docked because it lets us leave the dogs on board and ensure they are comfortable. Ours does not have the dinghy lift because we didn’t want to have to fish around that. It would be really nice to have a dinghy though but we weren’t willing to trade it off for the loss of view and obstruction. We’ve used foldable kayaks or paddleboards instead when we needed to get to shore.

While it would have been nice to have the oven, we didn’t miss it that much. What we did use a LOT was the electric grill that came on the back of the boat. We upgraded it with a griddle, and that means we can cook nearly all our meals there. The oven would have been nice, but I think the bigger cook top on the R-27 would have been more important.

The stock prop is a bit pokey. We were going to upgrade it (search for some of Submariner’s posts on props) and you can read up on that, but then we bought two props and the factory threw a boat in with them, so we skipped.

The boat is a bit small, but if you’re coming from racing sailboats, that should be no problems. For two people, it is pretty comfortable and you can stay out for quite a while.

In terms of upgrades and changes, we’ve done a few. I installed a Peplink wifi system on it that presents a single WiFi network to the boat and then decides whether Starlink, Cellular, or Marine WiFi is the best option to get beyond the boat. Submariner has some great videos on that, and I have a full write up on how I did ours, in case you are interested. Kevin Vanderheyde (https://premierceramiccoating.com/), who also has an R-25 turned me onto some upgrades for storage. I replaced the rope locker in the transom with a flip-out tackle box holder that is fantastic, and the single door underneath the grill with a four-drawer system for more organization. That helped a ton.

The Yacht Bedding is probably my favorite upgrade. It makes the v-berth so much more comfortable than it would have been otherwise. Well, maybe right behind the AIS system. Being able to see other boats is amazingly useful. We came across Rosario Strait once in sub-quarter mile visibility. I could see something on the radar off our starboard bow but with the AIS I could tell it was a tug boat, towing a barge, and that it was going 5.4 knots, and exactly where it would become a problem. It allowed me to change course, avoid any issues, all without ever actually seeing it with the naked eye. I’ll never go out into a shipping lane again without AIS.

We did not get a trailer. Ours is at Bayside Marine in Everett in dry storage. I have been there since they opened with my previous boat. I know a lot of people like Dagmars, and it’s a little less expensive. The nice thing with Bayside is that the storage is indoors, and heated, so you have much less winterizing to do. We never had any interest in trailering, so that was never a consideration for us.

DM me if you want to chat more. Our boat will be on the market relatively soon in case the survey on the other one falls through too!

 

[Stclairgal]

Congrats on the new boat! We’ve had our 2024 R-25 Luxury Edition since it was new. I’d be happy to talk to you more about it, just DM me. We’re actually getting rid of it next month though - upgrading to a bigger model, and I’d be happy to talk about why.

You’ll like the lithium upgrade and the AC I think. We use the AC a lot when docked because it lets us leave the dogs on board and ensure they are comfortable. Ours does not have the dinghy lift because we didn’t want to have to fish around that. It would be really nice to have a dinghy though but we weren’t willing to trade it off for the loss of view and obstruction. We’ve used foldable kayaks or paddleboards instead when we needed to get to shore.

While it would have been nice to have the oven, we didn’t miss it that much. What we did use a LOT was the electric grill that came on the back of the boat. We upgraded it with a griddle, and that means we can cook nearly all our meals there. The oven would have been nice, but I think the bigger cook top on the R-27 would have been more important.

The stock prop is a bit pokey. We were going to upgrade it (search for some of Submariner’s posts on props) and you can read up on that, but then we bought two props and the factory threw a boat in with them, so we skipped.

The boat is a bit small, but if you’re coming from racing sailboats, that should be no problems. For two people, it is pretty comfortable and you can stay out for quite a while.

In terms of upgrades and changes, we’ve done a few. I installed a Peplink wifi system on it that presents a single WiFi network to the boat and then decides whether Starlink, Cellular, or Marine WiFi is the best option to get beyond the boat. Submariner has some great videos on that, and I have a full write up on how I did ours, in case you are interested. Kevin Vanderheyde (https://premierceramiccoating.com/), who also has an R-25 turned me onto some upgrades for storage. I replaced the rope locker in the transom with a flip-out tackle box holder that is fantastic, and the single door underneath the grill with a four-drawer system for more organization. That helped a ton.

The Yacht Bedding is probably my favorite upgrade. It makes the v-berth so much more comfortable than it would have been otherwise. Well, maybe right behind the AIS system. Being able to see other boats is amazingly useful. We came across Rosario Strait once in sub-quarter mile visibility. I could see something on the radar off our starboard bow but with the AIS I could tell it was a tug boat, towing a barge, and that it was going 5.4 knots, and exactly where it would become a problem. It allowed me to change course, avoid any issues, all without ever actually seeing it with the naked eye. I’ll never go out into a shipping lane again without AIS.

We did not get a trailer. Ours is at Bayside Marine in Everett in dry storage. I have been there since they opened with my previous boat. I know a lot of people like Dagmars, and it’s a little less expensive. The nice thing with Bayside is that the storage is indoors, and heated, so you have much less winterizing to do. We never had any interest in trailering, so that was never a consideration for us.

DM me if you want to chat more. Our boat will be on the market relatively soon in case the survey on the other one falls through too!

Hi Jesperjo,
Have you sold your R-25 yet? We’re looking to upgrade from a R-23. Thanks!

 

[Bmxer10]

Thanks so much for this! Since my original post I’m now under contract on a 2024 R25, that has a dinghy lift and the lithium upgrade!! It’s got 400amps of solar and a 2400wh/ 200ah battery for house. Hoping that can power a little toaster oven or induction if we needed it!! I could not be more excited (and nervous) but would still love to chat and get up to speed on the boats! I’m planning to keep it in shilshole when we take possession - assuming survey all checks out.

Did Shilshole have dock space for your R25, or did you already have the slip? What size slip are you going to be in?

 

[DennisL]

Did Shilshole have dock space for your R25, or did you already have the slip? What size slip are you going to be in?

No they did not - I had to get my name on the list. I think there might be some slips available for sublet. I think the boat will require a 30' slip

 

[croakz]

Thanks so much for this! Since my original post I’m now under contract on a 2024 R25, that has a dinghy lift and the lithium upgrade!! It’s got 400amps of solar and a 2400wh/ 200ah battery for house. Hoping that can power a little toaster oven or induction if we needed it!! I could not be more excited (and nervous) but would still love to chat and get up to speed on the boats! I’m planning to keep it in shilshole when we take possession - assuming survey all checks out.

Are you buying the Nevermoor? If so, that's a great boat 🙂

 

[J Miller]

Congrats on the new boat! We’ve had our 2024 R-25 Luxury Edition since it was new. I’d be happy to talk to you more about it, just DM me. We’re actually getting rid of it next month though - upgrading to a bigger model, and I’d be happy to talk about why.

You’ll like the lithium upgrade and the AC I think. We use the AC a lot when docked because it lets us leave the dogs on board and ensure they are comfortable. Ours does not have the dinghy lift because we didn’t want to have to fish around that. It would be really nice to have a dinghy though but we weren’t willing to trade it off for the loss of view and obstruction. We’ve used foldable kayaks or paddleboards instead when we needed to get to shore.

While it would have been nice to have the oven, we didn’t miss it that much. What we did use a LOT was the electric grill that came on the back of the boat. We upgraded it with a griddle, and that means we can cook nearly all our meals there. The oven would have been nice, but I think the bigger cook top on the R-27 would have been more important.

The stock prop is a bit pokey. We were going to upgrade it (search for some of Submariner’s posts on props) and you can read up on that, but then we bought two props and the factory threw a boat in with them, so we skipped.

The boat is a bit small, but if you’re coming from racing sailboats, that should be no problems. For two people, it is pretty comfortable and you can stay out for quite a while.

In terms of upgrades and changes, we’ve done a few. I installed a Peplink wifi system on it that presents a single WiFi network to the boat and then decides whether Starlink, Cellular, or Marine WiFi is the best option to get beyond the boat. Submariner has some great videos on that, and I have a full write up on how I did ours, in case you are interested. Kevin Vanderheyde (https://premierceramiccoating.com/), who also has an R-25 turned me onto some upgrades for storage. I replaced the rope locker in the transom with a flip-out tackle box holder that is fantastic, and the single door underneath the grill with a four-drawer system for more organization. That helped a ton.

The Yacht Bedding is probably my favorite upgrade. It makes the v-berth so much more comfortable than it would have been otherwise. Well, maybe right behind the AIS system. Being able to see other boats is amazingly useful. We came across Rosario Strait once in sub-quarter mile visibility. I could see something on the radar off our starboard bow but with the AIS I could tell it was a tug boat, towing a barge, and that it was going 5.4 knots, and exactly where it would become a problem. It allowed me to change course, avoid any issues, all without ever actually seeing it with the naked eye. I’ll never go out into a shipping lane again without AIS.

We did not get a trailer. Ours is at Bayside Marine in Everett in dry storage. I have been there since they opened with my previous boat. I know a lot of people like Dagmars, and it’s a little less expensive. The nice thing with Bayside is that the storage is indoors, and heated, so you have much less winterizing to do. We never had any interest in trailering, so that was never a consideration for us.

DM me if you want to chat more. Our boat will be on the market relatively soon in case the survey on the other one falls through too!

Jesperjo - we have a 2025 R25 and I think we may be the ones taking the spot you are vacating at Bayside Marine. I’m curious what you actually did to winterize. I was thinking we wouldn’t really need to do anything other than pull fuses in 24/7 panel and some fuel stabilizer. Anything else you’d recommend? Other tips for being at Bayside?

 

[Jesperjo]

Sorry for the delay in responding! Congrats on taking that spot. Was it your R-25 I saw on a work rack up there this past Saturday?

I honestly did not winterize this boat or the one I had before it at all since I went there. Since it is heated inside, you don’t really need to worry about liquids freezing. Pulling the bilge fuses isn’t a bad idea, but if you have the LE you have so much house battery you’ll probably loose maybe 15% in a couple of months. Fuel stabilizer is always a good idea. The other thing we noticed is that the boat gets very humid inside in the shed. Opening the hatches just a notch really helped evacuate the moisture. A few moisture collectors also aren’t a bad idea. Apart from that, it’s a really easy place to be.

The crew there is great. The one thing that would be nice is if they stayed open through the fishing season on Sundays, but you can’t have everything. Remember to call them and give them plenty of heads up to drop it in, and don’t forget to call when you are done.

 

[J Miller]

Sorry for the delay in responding! Congrats on taking that spot. Was it your R-25 I saw on a work rack up there this past Saturday?

I honestly did not winterize this boat or the one I had before it at all since I went there. Since it is heated inside, you don’t really need to worry about liquids freezing. Pulling the bilge fuses isn’t a bad idea, but if you have the LE you have so much house battery you’ll probably loose maybe 15% in a couple of months. Fuel stabilizer is always a good idea. The other thing we noticed is that the boat gets very humid inside in the shed. Opening the hatches just a notch really helped evacuate the moisture. A few moisture collectors also aren’t a bad idea. Apart from that, it’s a really easy place to be.

The crew there is great. The one thing that would be nice is if they stayed open through the fishing season on Sundays, but you can’t have everything. Remember to call them and give them plenty of heads up to drop it in, and don’t forget to call when you are done.

Yep - that was us on the rack Saturday. I had just wanted to check how much battery I had burned in the 4 weeks it had been there, which was about 18%.

Appreciate the tip regarding humidity, will definitely keep that in mind. Also happy you didn’t have to winterize at all, that’s what I was hoping you’d say, lol.

Agree regarding the Bayside crew, nothing but positive experience so far.