New to group. Interested in the R29 as a potential loop boat. We are in S.E. Michigan (Go Blue !) and looking for owners nearby that might entertain a tour of their tug and a chat about loop worthiness.......
New / future looper - Michigan
- Thread starter mperetto
- Start date
New or used? the boats are capable, we went out on Lake Erie when the forecast was 1 to 3 and we were in 3-7s, boat handled it well and we made our destination. At the point where the Lake really kicked up we were at the worst spot possible, half way. The forecast was nothing of our actual conditions and the buoy reports were off as well. The next day was more of the same, 1-3 subsiding to 1 foot or less.... well 3-5s for about 3 or 4 hours until it started calming down. The boat handled it and we are safely at home. We have a R31. if you want to know more DM me
watson1987
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- Jun 7, 2021
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- R-31 S
- Hull Identification Number
- FMLT3119L718
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- Clifford
- MMSI Number
- 368265640
I've done crossings in my R31 a few times with 2-4s at 3ft, it's not comfortable but the boat manages it fine. Normally it's the owner that can't handle the conditions before the boat can't.
I have a sedan. My friend who used to have a C30 command bridge though would experience a completely different situation in similar conditions. I know the C30 is more V-hull, but the CB adds a lot of weight and upsets the COG of the boat. I'm sure the R31 CB experiences similar issues as well, even if the hull shape is better - something to consider in your search
If you are interested in an R31-S - mine is for sale 🙂
I have a sedan. My friend who used to have a C30 command bridge though would experience a completely different situation in similar conditions. I know the C30 is more V-hull, but the CB adds a lot of weight and upsets the COG of the boat. I'm sure the R31 CB experiences similar issues as well, even if the hull shape is better - something to consider in your search
If you are interested in an R31-S - mine is for sale 🙂
I have the R31CB, it will roll more than the R31 but we have been in heavy "seas" on the great lakes. we were in 3-5 footers on the delivery trip home with a following sea and it rode comfortably, but you did feel it. Our latest trip we had a day where it was a bad forecast and saw waves as high as 7ft and we made it safely. a few good rolls but nothing felt unsafe, the next day was more of the same. a head seas of 4-5 footers but the boat handled it okay. we did about 10 mph till it calmed down
BB marine
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- Feb 1, 2016
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I am a Lake Michigan boater and a Gold Looper. I began doing the Loop in a C26 Cutwater, 2016 that I purchased new in 2016. I would consider any Ranger Tug or Cutwater a good Loop boat as long as you are careful and learn to use good weather apps. The typical go no go day when Looping is 2' Max sea's with no more than 15 mph predicted winds. When I owned my C26 and cruised Georgian Bay Ontario. The worst sea's I Experienced were 1.4 M while making way on the North Channel. 30 + mph winds with a Gail warning posted after we left port. This was not predicted, if predicted I would have never gone. 1.4 M was the wave height given by the weather buoy 45154 at the time we were passing it. 1.4 M = 4.5 ft wave. The worst waves that I encountered in my C26 Cutwater and the most I would want to encounter in that boat or any Ranger Tug or Cutwater. It was not comfortable at all and the boat actually was under powered handle those waves properly. It was falling off the steep short period waves. We put about 3000 miles under the keel of our Cutwater and 650 hours. I can count on one hand and use two fingers the amount of times I was in more than 2' waves. I did not finish the Loop in the Cutwater. We traveled from Racine Wisconsin to Marathon Key in the Cutwater and decided we wanted a larger boat with more power and ,fuel capacity, water capacity and interior room. After selling the Cutwater I purchased a 34' pilot Mainship Pilot.. I purchased this boat in Port Washington Wisconsin a harbor on Lake Michigan. I left August 2022 to do the Loop and finished October 2023. During this trip I never encountered more than 4' seas and that was only a few times when predictions were incorrect. This included cruising all of Lake Michigan, a portion of Lake Huron, North Channel, Georgian Bay, 150 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, Cape May to Sandy Hook New Jersey, Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, the sounds of Georgia and South Carolina and the Gulf of Mexico. A good captain and crew with good planning and the understanding of how to read weather apps will give a good chance of never being in seas' 4' or more. Any Ranger Tug or Cutwater will handle that. 4' may be uncomfortable but it will be safe. It will be wet, Rangers and Cutwaters are wet boats they will throw spray over the windshield in a 1' wave. The Rangers and Cutwaters are coastal cruisers designed for inland water cruising. That is what the Loop is. In 2025 6 Ranger Tugs completed the Loop. I met and cruised with a few Ranger Tug owners in 2022/2023. I was a buddy boat to a 27' Ranger Tug when crossing the Gulf of Mexico "Karl" a TugNut. We crossed the Gulf in less than 1' waves and zero visibility full instrument navigation. I am a delivery captain now and when I hear someone saying that there boat will handle 5' to 7' seas and it is a pleasure craft I have to say why? Why would you do that? Why would you want to do that. I know I don't want to and will not go if I think there is a slight possibility. If you're interested in doing the Loop in a Ranger Tug don't worry about sea worthy capability. Use good judgment and you will enjoy the ride.
We didn't plan on it, we looked at forecasts, wind apps, buoy reports ect. Actual vs forecast. Forecast says 1-3 and subsiding. buoys reporting 2, you get out there and it’s 3-4ft and then at half way it got worse. Sometimes you get caught and that is what happened.
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