New Members

[bbelongie]

Well, here we are. We've spent the past 3 years trying to find a boat that fit our particular needs. About a month ago, I (Bob) was wandering through the "For Sale By Owner" lot at the local Dan Gamel RV dealership while Brenda gave a hapless salesman her version of the Third Degree over a trailer we were considering. The lot is alongside Interstate 5 just south of Redding, Ca. As I walked between a huge houseboat and an antique GMC motorhome that had seen much better days...there she was...Love At First Sight. I practically dragged Brenda over to see her. We did a little research, found this web site, did a little more research, contacted the owner, did a little more research, sought opinions from a trusted friend who probably has more time on the water than most people have been alive as well as members of our Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla, did a little more research, took a test float on Whiskytown Lake a week ago, went to the bank, waited on the bank, waited a little more on the bank, argued with the bank about the asking price...

And yesterday took delivery. A 2003 R21 currently named Beau Jangles but soon to be re-christened "Queen Bee"

We're sooooooooooo new to boating, which is why we joined the Auxiliary in the first place. One of my first steps was to get registered here so I can tap into this storehouse of knowledge. We'll be posting photos soon. We have NO IDEA what we've just gotten ourselves into, but that's 50% of the fun, isn't it?

Anyway, greetings to all and we hope to be able to participate and perhaps be able to contribute in some meaningful way.

Cheers,

Bob and Brenda.

 

[terraplane]

Good luck with the new baby.
I own hull 52 in the R 25 line...these boats are great boats. And this site is better than having a live in service manager!

tom in rock hall md.

 

[ron cowan]

Congratulations on making the plunge with your new boat. The Ranger tug is a great boat and you should have many hours of fun. My 2006 tug is for sale in Fl. since I picked up a C-Dory and already miss the little tug for the things it is so good at. Be ready to answer many questions from on-lookers and ready to spend so little on fuel that you will think it is making it instead of using it.
Good Luck, Ron

 

[Stella Maris]

Bob and Brenda,
Congratulations on your new boat! My wife and I own R-25 Hull #24, Solitude.

I cannot tell you how great these boats and the people behind them are. Just as Ron said, the fuel economy is incredible. The response that you will get from people at the marina's, fuel stations (when your filling your truck of course because you won't stop often to fill "Queen Bee"), to just about anywhere you stop, will amaze you.

Good luck with your new toy. Enjoy Lake Shasta. It is one of the premier lakes in the West if not the entire country.

 

[Gregg]

Congratulations on your new boat!

Gregg

 

[rt11002003]

Welcome to Ranger Tug World.

We're also new to the Ranger community. Bought a 2009 R-21 EC in Jan., haven't had much opportunity to use it, only 6 hours so far. We had a small Albin trawler and multiple sailboats over the past 35+ years. I'm very impressed with the R-21. Most things are easy to get to for maintenance, that's always a plus. Also, it is a breeze to handle, love that big rudder and the bow thruster.

We'll be posting our thoughts on this vessel as we gain more experience with it.

Gene

 

[bbelongie]

Thanks for the welcome. I'm a videographer/web content creator by profession, and one of the requirements was a very stable platform with plenty of places to mount a camera. We're also excited at the resources we will be able to offer our USCGA flotilla as a support and patrol facility. And if that were not enough, Brenda and I are both Amateur Radio operators, so I am already getting plenty of suggestions on where/how to mount the HF antenna.
Even on the day we took the test float on Whiskeytown, a couple of curious folks came over to inquire about the tug.
So yeah, we're looking forward to a lot of fun. Sadly, we won't be able to take her out until Friday...work comes first, at least until Brenda retires in five years and one day!
Cheers to all,
B&B
Belongie Entertainment Enterprises

 

[Bruce Moore]

Congratulations. You made a great decision. I'm a transplanted 4th generation Californian, living the good life in the Pacific Northwest. Moondance (R25) is our first boat, as well. We joined the local power squadron while she was being built so we would have, at least, a clue. And, like you, we knew within minutes of seeing the tug it was the boat we were looking for.

We'll look forward to following your adventures.

Cheers,

Bruce & Vicki

 

[ccconway]

I have a new R25 named Belle Fin. I have had it now for 4 weeks, but, except for less than an hour's seatrial upon taking delivery, i have yet to be out on the boat. The day after towing it home, i had an operation on my foot and strict orders to STAY OFF THE FOOT until given permission to become more ambulatory, which will be, hopefully, tomorrow. So i have been reduced to being driven past the storage yard where it sits on its trailer and looking at it longingly when i can get someone to take me out in the car.
This past Sunday my son, grandson and I towed it to Annapolis and left it at a yard where the bottom was to be primed and painted--me on my crutches and they doing all the work to hitch and unhitch and wheel-chock the trailer. I had thought that I would save some money by painting it myself. The Chesapeake Bay is not forgiving of a boat with an unprotected bottom that is kept in the water for long periods. However, I soon realized that I could not do that while in the cast and that if I waited until I was out of the cast, then I would have yet at least a week more to wait while I painted the bottom before I could take the boat out. That was not acceptable to me and so it was worth the cost of letting the pros do it.
The weatherman here promises a wonderful day in the mid-80s on Sunday when I will finally be able to go aboard and take her out. My youngest son and his wife and 2 boys will go with me--we will need to spot one car at Belle Fin's new home in a marina on Mill Creek off the Severn River while leaving another at the yard where the work was done. We will, of course, take the long way home to get as much pleasure out of the maiden trip as we can. After owning a motor sailer for 8 years that could not exceed 8 knots falling off a cliff, it will be such a delight to be able to go so much farther in a given amount of time than ever was possible before.
I am a little nervous about making this first trip in the boat. There are so many more systems to master and an unfamiliar engine to work with and i worry that I will not remember everything that needs to be remembered for a safe boating experience. During my confinement I have poured over every manual in detail and made checklists and cleaned and repaired equipment I did have and ordered that which i did not have so that the boat will initially be crowded until i can come up with a good storage plan and get everything in its place.
I will report how it all comes out. I hope to get a photo album started and can perhaps have some pictures to share. (I also hope to learn how to insure my "i"s capitalize when i type, but it seems easier to apologize than to correct.) Wish me luck.

Chuck Conway

 

[captain's cat]

Good luck Chuck, I'm sure things will go great. It's a nice boat. Sunday looks great here in the mid Bay too, we're down where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake.

If you can, plan on coming to the gathering at Langford Bay in early June. We've already got several R25's signed up as well as lots of C-Dorys!

Look forward to your report, have a great trip!

Charlie