New R-29 debuts at Roche Harbor Rendezvous

First, I must say thank you Barry for the great pictures. When we first saw the pictures on facebook we weren't sure what to think, but didn't really care for the new look. After looking closely at all the inside shots, I must say we are coming around. A couple of comments: not happy about one sink, very concerned about all the glass areas overhead. Down here in south Florida it gets HOT and with all that sun beating down, it's going to be very hard to cool the boat. Any idea how many A/C units and what size will be used? Will the factory offer some way to block out the overhead glass for those hot summer days? We do love all the storage and the way the stateroom is finished. Looks like they are using a little darker wood that gives it a much richer look. We're hoping to see it at the Ft Lauderdale show in October. It's going to be a long six weeks!

Tim and Donna
Gratitude
 
BTW... If I understood Jeff correctly, Ranger now makes all the cabinet doors for this R-29 and this may explain why they've changed from the louvered doors of the past.

I also believe the stock batteries are no longer flooded lead acid types... they are AGM sealed lead acid batteries I believe Andrew said.
 
From the sticker on the R-29, the AGM battery remains a $950 upgrade. After seeing the very nice pictures I can appreciate the new tug much more. Still, from my perspective, it is a technological step forward but not an appearance improvement. Would I pick it over a 290 SeaRay, definitely. Would I pay extra to move up to the R-31 with its more traditional look, most definitely. Many of the improvements appear possible within the look of the traditional Ranger Tug. Hopefully they will offer the ability to satisfy both tastes. Someone used the Harley Davidson analogy earlier - they are introducing electric cycles to appeal to a younger crowd since their demographic is literally dying but they will absolutely continue to offer the V-Twin traditional as well. Losing the pilothouse door to save 5k on a boat that retails for 238,000 is 2%. I bet many would like to have it for the additional 2% It is a beautiful boat though. If they make a 35, I hope it has the traditional look with the feature improvements.
 
More Cutwater than Tug. There are many good features adopted from the Cutwater but does it appeal to a Tug owner moving up in size? Won't it cannibalize Cutwater 30 sales at $80,000 or so less in price? There were two distinct designs and from what I have heard related there are two different buyer demographics. I am confused where this fits in the two brands. And it is the first Fluid Motion model I have seen introduced with the purpose of reducing features to lower the price. No helm door, no opening portholes, fewer sliding windows. fewer opening hatches. I hope Jeff or John will give insight on what positioning they are seeking with this model...or we can just wait for the market to speak!

Lee Shobe
 
I don't dislike the new look but I would never give up my pilothouse door. Essential for short handed docking in my book. Would pay for the option if it was available. I'd like doors on both sides of the pilot house in fact.
 
I suspect cleaning the inside of the curved front windows will be a PITA as they are so far forward from a standing position.

Yes, some form of sun screening will be required for the many overhead skylights and hatches for sure.

For a $5,000 savings I'd rather have auto pilot than a pilothouse sliding door. 😉

On my R-25 Classic I do not have a pilothouse door and when handling the boat single handed I find its quite easy to get things under control when docking. With the remote thruster control and calm waters things are made easier still.

I like the look of the pilothouse door, but for me I find it's not a necessary item.

Can others with a pilothouse sliding door provide examples where it is indispensable for them. Maybe I'm missing something important about its use.
 
Barry,

For the pilothouse door, consider how helpful it is to tie up in a lock when ones navigator is not able to walk the gunwale to man the bow. Then the captain must go to the bow. Or, if single handing through a lock, then working the lock lines via the pilothouse door is even more critical.
 
Barry I really like the side door on our 31 when going forward to work with the anchor. We recently had another boat pull our anchor when he dragged as a squall came in and the door made it a lot easier to get forward in a hurry. I wouldn't have like walking the side of the boat in driving rain. I also find it easier to deploy forward starboard fenders and lines. In the locks it gives me quicker access to man the bow line. My wife is too short to go via the hatch so she also uses the door. But I love most cruising with the door open on a hot day listening to the water.
 
OK...

Locks:
For me I would not negotiate a lock without another able person on board. My wife cannot be allowed to goto the bow as her balance condition is awful and for safety reason can only handle things from the cockpit at best. Thus, passing through a lock requires me to have an extra helping hand on the bow. I can handle lines from either port or starboard windows and can lower my fender at the helm position with ease. I have a large midship fender that can easily be lowered quickly via a connecting line from its base and attached to the cockpit grab handle. My wife can deploy this fender without too much effort. I will add, that there have been times I've had to quickly go to the bow via the overhead hatch in the V-berth. Without a fold-up ladder (some people have installed one) getting up onto the bow quickly and for an emergency is a challenge for me... but can be done with my 37" waist line. 😉 :roll:

Anchoring deployment/retrieval in rough waters:
Yes this is a challenge without the pilothouse door for sure.

Fresh air:
I agree that getting fresh air through the helm window is not that good. I do have a fan above the helm and this helps. I can and do hang my arm out through the window and hold the stanchion cross bar and this directs some need air toward me.

Rearward views:
I suspect the pilothouse door allows better rear viewing than hanging the head out the window.

Question:
Can the window in the pilothouse door be opened ? If not I guess the door has to be open slightly to get fresh air to enter the cabin at the expense of allowing spray to enter helm position which would be an annoyance at times in rough weather.
 
Here's my thoughts (again) on the new R29. We love our 27, but the 29 (classic) has many features we like. The side door, double sinks, 80 gallons of fresh water, a large walk around berth in the stateroom, more house batteries, and a larger fuel tank. With the "new" 29 we're not gaining enought to justify the cost difference in my opinion. Looks like all we would gain would be a larger bed, 20 gallons more water and the bigger house battery bank. I'm still worried about keeping the new boat cool with all that overhead glass, and then there's the sideways roof rack our kayak won't fit on. Another big change we aren't sure about is the helm seat being half the seating for the settee. We had five people out with us a couple of weeks ago and the weather turned bad. We started the genset and the A/C and they broke out the board games and played while I ran the boat through the rain, it was great. Can't do that on the new boat. We're going to keep an open mind and make our decision after that.

Tim
Gratitude
 
Tim: You do make good points.

I had not considered the reversible helm seat issue which I'm guessing is because to use it to face the table the Captain is left without a seat and has to stand. Hmmmm, this leads me to think a seat base needs to be available that can slip into/onto a bracket on the double seat's underside. This then would allow a seat for the captain when the seat is facing the table, and of course the seat must be locked down otherwise you will have a seesaw action. 😉

Of course the same issue is made even worse when Captain is using the double seat and the other double seat is reversed to face the cockpit. This situation leaves the table without seats at all. 😱

To get a pilothouse door the choices are now

1) Buy a used R-29 Classic
2) Buy a used or new R-31
3) Wait for the R-35. R-35 may or may not have pilothouse door though, and I wonder if when R-35 available the R-31 will become an R-31 Classic ?
 
We stopped at the Ranger display at the Seattle boat show a few years ago to look at Rangers and left with a Cutwater 28. We were one of the first in the PNW and loved the boat.....but eventually decided that we needed more room and really liked the amenities on the R29. Now that we're "classic" R29 owners we couldn't be happier.

The new 29 is a great blend of Ranger/Cutwater boats, but is much more a competitor to the Cutwater line. If you love Rangers you'll gravitate to the R27 or R31. But if you're looking at the C28 or C30 then I'm guessing the new 29 is going to get a lot of attention.

In the end it's all about choices and we're looking at the new 29 as being one more, not one less. :
 
Haven't seen any numbers or discussion, but I would think there would be a fairly major difference in performance between the Cutwater 30 and the new Ranger 29 due to the different engines and hulls. What do you experts think?

Jake
 
Jake: When at Seattle's Boats Afloat show last Tue Andrew mentioned he had 8 adults on board the new R-29 and had it up to 20 kts. Mind you, I'm unsure if that was at max engine operating RPM.
 
baz":127mwuvf said:
Jake: When at Seattle's Boats Afloat show last Tue Andrew mentioned he had 8 adults on board the new R-29 and had it up to 20 kts. Mind you, I'm unsure if that was at max engine operating RPM.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Personally, I would be quite happy with the smaller engine, just thought it might be a major point for some.

Jake
 
Jake: One other item of interest to some might be that the Volvo engine in the new R-29 is an engine designed from the start as a marine engine and not an auto engine modified for marine use. I'm not sure what the engine cu-inch/litres size is, but it's a 4-cyl engine so its quite a big banger. I would prefer the 6-cyl as that requires no crank balancing at all.
 
I'll express the same concern as others have about the heat from the overhead windows/hatches. It would be nice if there was some form of shade which could be drawn across these, with the ability to filter the light, or if people are trying to sleep, to completely block out the light.
 
Just wondering if anyone has anymore info or pictures on the new 29. I think it will be awhile longer before we see one in south Florida. Maybe someone could update the website with a few pictures and specs too.

Tim
Gratitude
 
Well, I was going to wander off into a long comment on the 4 cylinder versus 6 cylinder inline engines vibration and balance and stroke overlaps and then tout the good points of a five cylinder.
But, to your great good fortune, I reconsidered . :mrgreen: Ya probably should play the lotto today given that stroke of luck
anyway, here is a discussion that does it reasonably well

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight-five_engine
 
Yep.... the Volvo auto 5-cyl design was long lasting and reliable for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top