Lots of questions for R-27 owners

[WA6BTK]

My wife and I would like to buy a Ranger 27 tug and trailer it to the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, and the East coast. We are in our mid-60's. We have a ton of questions for those owning an R-27 and to the extent that these owners are willing to answer, please email us at travelmutts@gmail.com and if willing to field a phone call from us, please indicate that. It might be easier to talk than to write answers. In advance, thank you for anything you can tell us.

Stu & Sue Clark

Ranger 27 Questions or Comments:
1) How useable is the shower?
2) Is the lack of a helm door to the outside a problem?
3) Is the quarter berth storage adequate and how do you use that space?
4) What is rough weather handling like?
5) How is cooking and food preparation in the galley?
6) How long have you lived aboard?
7) Ease of docking.
8) Single handling.
9) Launching and retrieval to and from a trailer.
10) What is galley storage like?
11) What do you like best and like least about the boat?
12) Are you aware of any R-27s for sale other than what's on Yachtworld.com?
13) Is the V-berth comfortable for two people?
14) What is "trailer camping" like as you travel to various locations?
15) What additions, alterations, or deletions have been made to your boat?
16) If you are a ham radio operator, where have you mounted your gear and what antenna are you using?
17) Do you like the helm seat as far as comfort and visibility?

If we've missed anything, please feel free to add it. This is valuable information to us. We have been on a new R-27 but that's been the extent of it.

 

[Levitation]

Wow, that's a lot of discussion... Since the 25 and the 27 are near clones, nearly everything said about a 25 applies to a 27 with only a few differences - more cockpit room and much better access to the engine... My best advice is to first do an archive search on discussions mentioning the 27... Then do a search on the 25 (jump back so you don't get buried)... Then go to the factory website and take the video tour of both boats - you may have to go to the web to find the classic 25 video tour, but it is out there... Then if you have specific questions perhaps we can endeavor to answer them for you...

cheers

 

[Dale777]

My wife and I would like to buy a Ranger 27 tug and trailer it to the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, and the East coast. We are in our mid-60's. We have a ton of questions for those owning an R-27 and to the extent that these owners are willing to answer, please email us at travelmutts@gmail.com and if willing to field a phone call from us, please indicate that. It might be easier to talk than to write answers. In advance, thank you for anything you can tell us.

Stu & Sue Clark

Ranger 27 Questions or Comments:
1) How useable is the shower?
I find it quite easy to use. I use one of those flexible water blade squeegees to wipe down the walls when done.
2) Is the lack of a helm door to the outside a problem?
I don't find the lack of one to be a problem, but I always have my wife with me to help in docking. When single-handing, a helm door would be helpful.
3) Is the quarter berth storage adequate and how do you use that space?
Yes, for storage. Although, I might have to use it sometimes if I snore too much to suit my wife.
4) What is rough weather handling like?
None encountered yet, since my R27 is only 3 1/2 months old.
5) How is cooking and food preparation in the galley?
We do no cooking, but it is good for non-cooking food preparation
6) How long have you lived aboard?
None, except to sleep aboard at the dock.
7) Ease of docking.
With the thrusters, docking is trivial. Without using the thrusters, you need to practice a lot, especially when backing into a slip.
8) Single handling.
With the thrusters, it is fairly easy. Without using the thrusters, it might be difficult. I've never tried that.
9) Launching and retrieval to and from a trailer.
Very easy. However, I'm still looking for a better stern tie-down solution to my Float-On trailer. I use cargo straps, but they are a pain-in-the-neck since the transom tie-down eyes and any place to hook to on the trailer are not matched up.
10) What is galley storage like?
Only my wife could comment on that.
11) What do you like best and like least about the boat?
I like almost everything about the boat, except for visibility from the helm in the enclosed cabin. Sleeping quarters are a bit tight, but it is a small boat so that is expected.
12) Are you aware of any R-27s for sale other than what's on Yachtworld.com?
No
13) Is the V-berth comfortable for two people?
Somewhat
14) What is "trailer camping" like as you travel to various locations?
Haven't tried this, but do plan to. Issues are with lack of air conditioning and grey water disposal.
15) What additions, alterations, or deletions have been made to your boat?
None yet.
16) If you are a ham radio operator, where have you mounted your gear and what antenna are you using?
n/a
17) Do you like the helm seat as far as comfort and visibility?
Comfort is good. Visibility is somewhat of a challenge to the side and rear.

If we've missed anything, please feel free to add it. This is valuable information to us. We have been on a new R-27 but that's been the extent of it.

 

[commander bill]

The R27 and R25 are nearly the same. I have a R25 built before the R27 was available. I would think that the weight and towing would not differ much & be much easier than a larger R29. I have not seen a R27 but I believe the R27 design improves some of the "Issues" associated with the early R25s. These include difficult maintenance access, opening cabin door and engine hatch at same time, access to rear thruster, and cabin AC location.

 

[Sam Walker]

Hi Stu and Sue. You need to head down the road to Alameda and talk to Patty Garfield and her crew at Farallone Yachts. While I have not purchased a Ranger from them I have gone and kicked the tires several times. Patty and her folks are always very nice and there is no pressure. My point here is that you could probably get a ride on one if she has one in stock and she can put you in contact w/ a couple of local owners who might not be on this site regularly. Also, I am sure that you will get one or more offers to take a ride on one from the folks on this site as well. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[sportner]

Ranger 27 Questions or Comments:
1)How useable is the shower?
We have had our R27 for over a year and have taken over 200 showers aboard, we wipe it down after each use and added a shower curtain that keeps water from leaking through the door.
2)Is the lack of a helm door to the outside a problem?
No
3)Is the quarter berth storage adequate and how do you use that space?
We use the ¼ berth for storage and it is adequate.
4)What is rough weather handling like?
We have been in 3-4' chop with small 10 second rollers and the boat handles well in head and following seas. Its a different story in beam seas as with all boats.
5)How is cooking and food preparation in the galley?
The galley is adequate. We try to cook outdoors on the barbeque as much as possible.
6)How long have you lived aboard?
We spent over six months aboard the first year we had the boat.
7)Ease of docking.
Very easy except in brisk winds.
8)Single handling.
Very doable using the remote for the thrusters. At marinas they will send someone down to help if you request it.
9)Launching and retrieval to and from a trailer.
Very easy.

10)What is galley storage like?
Adequate for short cruises. We added a pantry in the 1/4 berth for added storage.
11)What do you like best and like least about the boat?
We like the trailerability the best. Access for changing the impeller could be better.
12)Are you aware of any R-27s for sale other than what's on.
Yachtworld.com?
No
13)Is the V-berth comfortable for two people?
Yes
14)What is "trailer camping" like as you travel to various locations?
We trailer camped for over two months, we enjoyed it and were accepted everywhere at RV Parks.
15)What additions, alterations, or deletions have been made to your boat?
Shower curtain. Memory foam in V-bert. Shelves in V-berth. Pantry in ¼ berth. Fiddles each side over door entry for books/movie storage. Drawers in galley. Dish, glass, silverware wall storage. Access to ¼ berth under table for storage. Dinghy motor bracket. Weaver davits. Fiddle in office for computer storage.
16)If you are a ham radio operator, where have you mounted your gear and what antenna are you using?
NA
17)Do you like the helm seat as far as comfort and visibility?
Yes

 

[wefings]

Wefings Marine advertises on Boattrader.com as well as boats.com . Those are also good resources for finding boats . Generally weeds out the broker types . We will likely get on Yachtworld as well .
Marc Grove

 

[Levitation]

Let me add a comment about hamming...
I have not 'installed' my ham gear... I have set up the radio in the cockpit (at the dock) with a mobile antenna clamped to Bimini and a couple of radials draped about... As this was salt water it worked great...
Now if you are a 160-80 operator (as I am) it is a poor set up but better than being poked in the eye with a resonator tip...
If you are a 20 meters and down, and through VHF, it should work well...
I have thought about installing the SGC-500 in the generator locker (port locker) and installing a radio under the dinette table and some sort of fixed antenna... Have thought about it - but being phobic about drilling holes in my boat, I haven't... Besides the wife is not fond of listening to morse code all evening...

For those who have not a clue what I am babbling about - be thankful...

cheers - K8DO

 

[bsilveria]

My wife and i have an R-27 and love it !!...........call me anytime (i hate to type)..209-631-8424...Brian

 

[WA6BTK]

Wow! Thank you, so much, for all the useful responses to our post. We have carefully read the responses here on the website. In addition, we've received several via email. Individually, we will get back to each of you with followup. But tonight, we wanted to just say thank you for the time you've spent answering our questions. There is a lot to think about and a good foundation for more research. We can say this: we are very encouraged in buying a Ranger tug. Thank you again.

Stu & Sue Clark
St. Helena, CA

 

[JerryE]

Don't forget Craig's List which lists Ranger Tugs every now and then. You can find "mash up" search engines for boats on the net that will search all the individual city/area Craig's Lists. I found interesting boats, new and used, from Canada on CL.

Ranger Tug buying process 101:
You'll find all the answers to your questions by spending a goodly portion of the winter just reading this Message Board. I started with the very first entry (actually, I started with the first Ranger entry on the C-Dory bulletin boards which predated TugNuts) and read through every posting. I'll admit I sometimes skipped R-21 technical posts knowing I'd be looking at the R-25 and up. However, I did read all the non-technical R-21 stories about trips, places to go, etc. I spent many happy hours, early mornings reading past posts right through the winter. It takes a number of days to do this. A treat was coming across voyage blogs like those of CaptD. What a great story teller and you could really got a feel for what it would be like to take an R-25 (or R-27 by extension) from Florida to the the Abacos, or slowly float up the St. Johns River in Florida. He'll tell you how the boat handles in following waves, etc. I actually put my R-25 on the St. Johns River for a winter after reading some of the great blogs on Tug Nuts and talking with other owners in that area I discovered through the Members bios on this site.

Next, spend more happy hours examining the many photo albums of the boats on TugNuts. I especially enjoyed and learned much from the modifications many owners have made, which will tell your about weak points in the boat and how to address them.

Now you will be ready and psyched to go to a boat show and check out the boats in person. Often you can meet a Ranger factory representative with whom you can then correspond for advice (I did this with Mike Mansfield now of Cut Water boats). Finally you're ready to go to your nearest dealer and take a ride!

 

[Stella Maris]

Stu and Sue,
The other thing you can do is attend the PNW Ranger Tug Owners Rendezvous in Bremerton Washington on the 6th through the 9th of September. Whether you have your own Ranger Tug by then or not, you are welcome to attend. There is a hotel right at the marina if you are "Boatless in Seattle".

David

 

[pease]

Stu and Sue:
We keep our R27 in Redwood City if you want to come down and take a look and talk with us.
Fabian and Caroline Pease

 

[baz]

Stu & Sue: I have replied to your PM via your Email address. -Barry 🙂