New member hailing

[ChesapeakeJohnny]

Greetings TugNuts-

Forgive me if I've posted in the wrong area of the forum.

I'm a new member on the forum and want to introduce myself to folks, as well as solicit advice on local waters. We plan to graduate from our 23' center console Whaler Dauntless to an R25 or R27 this summer, and welcome any and all communication from members regarding those plans.

In particular, we'd love to hear from members in the Chesapeake region who might have opinions on 25 vs. 27 performance in local chop, ideas on ownership in the area, and anyone who wants to meet up so that my lovely wife might better appreciate in person what these cool little boats can do for family life. We have an 8 y/o daughter and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoy kayaking/canoeing, fishing and bird watching on shipboard trips in the area.
Looking forward to meeting folks and joining the fray!

Regards,
John R. in Grasonville, MD

 

[pugtug613]

Get the biggest boat you can afford. The R27 has more room then the R25, but they are both great boats. They handle a chop better than most Vee Hull boats. The thrusters are amazing in tight quarters. I am on Long Island, so I can't help you with your area. I know you wont be disappointed.

 

[baz]

Hi, and welcome to TugNuts forum. 🙂

The R27 is more expensive than the R25.

The R27 has a slightly larger head room/locker and the stock toilet is electric flush. R25's come stock with manual toilet, but can be upgraded to electric flush for around $1000. I have done this for my R25 and actually used fresh water for the toilet.

The R27 has about 18" more cockpit length than the R25.

The R27's cabin area is about same size as for the R-25. The extra room in R-27 is mainly in the cockpit area.

Engine access in R27 is better than for the R-25.

Engine hatch for R27 can be lifted with cabin door open whereas for the R-25 the cabin door MUST be closed.

Overall, the R27 is a nicer boat than the R25, but as mentioned above will cost you more.

The R27's interior cabin is styled very well with teak veneers used on the walls.

The R25 has a 75 gallon fuel tank, whereas the R27 has a 100 gallon fuel tank.

If you happen to get a very recent R27 you will also find it has a dinette table that folds down making the gangway easier to negotiate with others at galley area. The console is also adorned with a very nice mocha brown leather surface which makes it very handsome.

The R27 has a 180HP Yanmar or a 200HP Volvo engine. The Volvo engine is only for the more recent R27 models starting late 2012 I believe.

Both the R25 and R27 perform very similarly in the water. The R27 will likely give you a higher top speed as well.

The price difference between a new R25 and a new R27 equipped the same was about $30K, if I recall.

Shop around for a used R25 or R27 to see what your budget will support... or splash out for the R27. The R25 (known as R25 Classic these days) is no longer produced since around 2012. It has been replaced by the R27. However, there's the R25-SC still being produced so go look at Ranger Tug's web site to find out about the R25-SC.

Good luck, I will will say with our 2010 R-25 we've had almost no major issues... just the odd little thing, and we continue to really like it.

For two adults and small child + two 80 lb dogs both the R25 and R27 will be AOK in my opinion.

 

[Irishpilot]

John,

There is, I am guessing you already know, a Ranger Tug/Cutwater/Eastern dealer in Grasonville. They are right off the North side of 50 hwy.

Mike...

...also in Grasonville ;-)

 

[steveandtina]

johnny, as a former r25 classic owner who cruised the sea of cortrez , pnw, california delta. and the redneck coast,, with 2 dogs and my bride, i can only advize that a 25 will get real small real soon. get the 27 if you can afford it--- a shout out to all my tugnut brothers and sisters----steveandtina 😀 😀

 

[baz]

johnny, as a former r25 classic owner who cruised the sea of cortrez , pnw, california delta. and the redneck coast,, with 2 dogs and my bride, i can only advize that a 25 will get real small real soon. get the 27 if you can afford it--- a shout out to all my tugnut brothers and sisters----steveandtina 😀 😀

The implication here is that the R27 offers more room.... This is really incorrect IMO. The R27's cabin is quite likely no more than 8" longer and has a larger area in the head... that's it. ~95%+ extra space for the R27 comp[ared to R25 is all in the cockpit area. The only real way to get more room in a Ranger Tug is to move to the R29 where substantial more cabin and berth area is available, along with a greater beam.

 

[Just Limin']

Hi. We own a two year old R25SC near Annapolis (West River) and love it. I go by that old saying, "don't buy more than you need." Take a look at our photo gallery. Feel free to ask any questions. Purchased from Pocket Yachts on the Eastern Shore. Good people, great builder.

Nancy & Bill Eggert
Just Limin'

 

[knotflying]

The boat you buy is a matter of personal choice with always a compromise. Each size boat has advantages. I own an R-27. I felt that it gave me the larger cockpit with a decent size cabin. It has a bit more power and speed. I personally feel that it is the sweat spot of the Ranger Tug models. Going larger or smaller will have to do with affordable cost and towing desires. See if you can spend a few days on each and that will help you to decide what may work for you.
The selection process is part of the fun, so take your time and enjoy!

Mike Rizzo

 

[ChesapeakeJohnny]

Thank you to everyone for your responses. I have been reading through many forum entries and have concluded that this is a helpful, congenial group! Your information in this thread only reinforces that perception.

We met Chesranger's/Pocket Yacht's Chuck Wistar at the recent Bay Bridge Boatshow. When I climbed aboard the R25SC, the proverbial lightbulb went on over my head. We've been looking for two years to replace or supplement the Whaler. The Rangers seem wonderfully designed vessels, and seemingly perfect in one form or another to take my 90 year old dad on his many decades old dream of doing parts of the inland waterway, as well as some cruising along the coast of Maine. Of course, climbing aboard the neighboring R29 immediately kicked in the "what if" scenarios :idea:

I have a hunch (unsubstantiated) that the longer hull & same width beam of the R27 would punch through local chop a bit better than the R25. Please correct me if I've assumed wrongly.

A lightly used R29 is within our budget, and we currently own a Chevy 2500HD crew cab 4x4 with the Duramax diesel and air bags on the rear axle (re: tongue weight -- have carried ~3,000 lb pallets of stone in the bed with no issues), but the thought of going through the hassles of permitted towing during our annual sojourns to Maine & coastal Georgia and a planned trip or two to Bellingham WA/inner passage is unappealing.

Cockpit size is important for multiple reasons. Hanging out, a place for the pups, outdoor cooking and gear stowage, etc. We are avid kayakers, so there will frequently be gear drying aft ship.

The quieter the cabin, the happier my wife.

Again, many thanks to contributing parties!

John

 

[coreychamness]

John,
It sounds like you went aboard the currently available R29 when at the Bay Bridge show. We originally looked at that exact vessel but ended up getting the R-31 which was immediately astern. I started looking at a R-27, checked out a 29 then somehow ended up with our 31 - which you may have boarded at the show. Since that 29 has been for sale awhile now, maybe the Dr would take considerably less.

 

[Lone Star Ranger]

hey John,

I sent you a PM.