Newbie considering R-31CB

[WT1J]

Hi all,

I'm a somewhat experienced boater - a few transatlantic race crossings under sail, coastal sailing and nav off S America, Africa and SE Asia, but I'm out of practice, haven't done any coastal nav in US waters, and I'm completely new to Ranger Tugs and Tugs in general. I'm not completely hopeless around diesel engines or in a bilge getting muck on me while I fix a stern gland or bearing.

My wife and I are moving to Orcas Island in WA after being on the mainland for a while. We have been considering a sailing boat - a cat specifically. And after spending a lot of time on Orcas and doing some homework on local conditions etc, it seems that a rugged tug like the Ranger's would be absolutely perfect. Plus they're really cool looking!

We're considering a new R-31CB and I'm chatting with Andrew C at the factory, who I'm sure many of you know. He's been really helpful and seems like a cool guy.

I guess the purpose of my post is to just say hi and introduce myself. And to find out your thoughts on the 2021 31CB, if any, and since we're considering a factory order, I'd love to hear if you have any suggestions on essentials that are often overlooked.

I'm hoping to use Orcas as a base during about 9 months of the year and head mostly north into Canada e.g. across to Duncan along Vancouver Island east coast, and perhaps up to Squamish and then if we've built up our courage, perhaps even further north. If that's crazy talk, now would most definitely be a helpful time to let me know. 😀

It sounds like the range of the 31 is 300nm at around 16 knots and maybe 500nm if slower? Does that sound about right? Anyone done work to extend range? Is it even needed? It sounds like diesel is fairly available in the Salish sea.

I obviously have a lot more questions but I'll leave it there. Would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!!

Mark M. (WT1J is my FCC callsign. I'm a radio amateur.)

 

[Bruce Moore]

Bumping post from moderation queue.

 

[scross]

Mark,
Again welcome to the forum. As to cruising in the San Juan and Southern Gulf Islands, assuming Canada opens up in 2021, its wonderful! Starting from Orcas, there are dozens and dozens of places in the San Juan’s to explore including many marinas, even more WA state parks and plenty of safe anchorages away from most of the crowd. And there are hundreds of places to stop and explore in the Gulf Islands!
As to cruising up to Duncan/Cowichan and then to Squamish I just want to know what you will do after the first day? Everything from Nanaimo south on Vancouver Island and Secret Cove on the Sunshine Coast could be a day trip for a R31. Heck we 50-60 miles a day on a regular basis when we are heading into the Gulf Islands from Bellingham in our little R25 Classic. Three days gets you to Desolation Sound if the weather cooperates.

 

[WT1J]

Mark,
Again welcome to the forum. As to cruising in the San Juan and Southern Gulf Islands, assuming Canada opens up in 2021, its wonderful! Starting from Orcas, there are dozens and dozens of places in the San Juan’s to explore including many marinas, even more WA state parks and plenty of safe anchorages away from most of the crowd. And there are hundreds of places to stop and explore in the Gulf Islands!
As to cruising up to Duncan/Cowichan and then to Squamish I just want to know what you will do after the first day? Everything from Nanaimo south on Vancouver Island and Secret Cove on the Sunshine Coast could be a day trip for a R31. Heck we 50-60 miles a day on a regular basis when we are heading into the Gulf Islands from Bellingham in our little R25 Classic. Three days gets you to Desolation Sound if the weather cooperates.

Brilliant! Thanks very much - that's super helpful! Looking forward to seeing you on the water.

Regards,

Mark.

 

[Red Raven]

Hi Mark,

Just a couple of inputs.

With your experience you will have no problem. The R31 is a great boat!

You are right, Andrew C. is a great guy and someone you can trust.

You may have set your sights too low for planned trips. You can go all the way to Glacier Bay if you want. We did in our R27 in 2019. Send me a PM if you are interested in the details. If you do plan such a trip you may want to upgrade your anchor and increase the length of your rode. Solar and propane are a must if you plan to anchor a lot.

I think your range estimates are a bit aggressive but that is not a problem as there are plenty of places to fuel up if planned properly. Plan to leave around 30% in the tank. With a 100 gallons in the R27 Classic that gives an effective range of about 150nm at 14kts and 250nm at 7.5 kts. At 6 kts we could conceivably achieve 450nm (haven’t tried it as currents could significantly alter this range by +/- 50% and I don’t have the patience to run all day at 6kts!). We carried an extra 15 gallons in cans in Alaska on the long legs but really never needed it. The R31 carries more fuel but also burns at a bit higher rate. Overall, with an R31 you’ll probably get a little more range than than the above.

We are on Whidbey Island. Feel free to look us up sometime!

Curt

 

[WT1J]

Thanks very much Curt! That's really great data and also really inspirational.

I'll shoot you a PM now.

Regards,

Mark.

 

[Beardco]

Hi Mark,

Ha. That's a good one. I have zero boating experience but, thought going to Alaska would be fun. I looked at Ranger Tugs on day 1, and by day 4 put down a deposit on an R-31CB. Andrew is great to deal with, and was helpful because I haven't the slightest idea what I'm doing. Andrew is also very patient and either answers his phone, or gets back with you quickly.

We spend a week at West Sound on Orcas each year and, I'm going by boat this year.

I switched out the cockpit refrigerator for a freezer. A friend made that suggestion because you can just turn up the thermostat and use it as a refrigerator, if needed. From years of traveling in a campervan, more freezer space is always desirable.

Personally, I think the 31CB is the best size and style of the Ranger Tugs. It puts the diesel completely in the cockpit, and has that traditional tug look. I initially thought of buying the sedan but, the extra seating and console up top looked like fun.

-Mike

 

[allanrs74@gmail.com]

Mark,

Ranger Tugs are very capable boats and with proper planning and an eye on the weather can take you on coastal cruising adventures where ever you wish. As an example, I bought my 2016 R-27C in Anacortes in 2018. My mission was two fold. I wanted to use my boat in the waters of SE Alaska for a comfortable fishing/cruising platform as well as complete a 'bucket list' trip from WA to AK. So, after getting the boat ready in May 2018 on day 1 I travel from Anacortes to Nanaimo and cleared customs into Canada. Day 2 was Nanaimo to Malcolm Island (Port Hardy area). Day 3 was Malcolm Island to Shearwater Resort. Day 4 was Shearwater to Butedale. Day 5 Butedale to Prince Rupert and a few days rest. I was doing 100 miles +/- a day at 12-13 Kts, pushing really hard. From there I took it a little easier through Alaska including a three day transit from Elfin Cove to Seward, AK. Crossing the Gulf of Alaska may not be for everyone but with the proper planning and weather window it can be done. Fuel all the way to Elfin Cove is not a problem but from there onward I carried an extra 80 gals in 2 X 40 gallon drums on the back deck. The distances across the Gulf of Alaska and available fueling (only Yakatat) is beyond the fuel range of the installed fuel capacity.
So, your boat will safely do whatever you want to do with it, in comfort at a reasonable speed or slowing down to 'smell the roses'. The beauty of Ranger Tugs is that I trailer easily between Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet to enjoy some of the best cruising and fishing areas in the world. I also used it last summer as the hunting base camp for a week long mountain goat hunt in Kachemak Bay (Homer, AK) area. This coming summer I plan on taking her to Kodiak Island as the base camp for a Kodiak brown bear and deer hunt.
If a Ranger or Cutwater meets your missions objectives, I think you will be happy with the boat.

Good luck.
Bob Allan

 

[WT1J]

Hi Mark,

Ha. That's a good one. I have zero boating experience but, thought going to Alaska would be fun. I looked at Ranger Tugs on day 1, and by day 4 put down a deposit on an R-31CB. Andrew is great to deal with, and was helpful because I haven't the slightest idea what I'm doing. Andrew is also very patient and either answers his phone, or gets back with you quickly.

We spend a week at West Sound on Orcas each year and, I'm going by boat this year.

I switched out the cockpit refrigerator for a freezer. A friend made that suggestion because you can just turn up the thermostat and use it as a refrigerator, if needed. From years of traveling in a campervan, more freezer space is always desirable.

Personally, I think the 31CB is the best size and style of the Ranger Tugs. It puts the diesel completely in the cockpit, and has that traditional tug look. I initially thought of buying the sedan but, the extra seating and console up top looked like fun.

-Mike

Hi Mike. Agreed on all. We're also going with the cockpit freezer based on RV experience. I have a 4 year old australian cattle dog that will be traveling with us and, since he eats better than I do, he needs his freezer space.

 

[WT1J]

Mark,

Ranger Tugs are very capable boats and with proper planning and an eye on the weather can take you on coastal cruising adventures where ever you wish. As an example, I bought my 2016 R-27C in Anacortes in 2018. My mission was two fold. I wanted to use my boat in the waters of SE Alaska for a comfortable fishing/cruising platform as well as complete a 'bucket list' trip from WA to AK. So, after getting the boat ready in May 2018 on day 1 I travel from Anacortes to Nanaimo and cleared customs into Canada. Day 2 was Nanaimo to Malcolm Island (Port Hardy area). Day 3 was Malcolm Island to Shearwater Resort. Day 4 was Shearwater to Butedale. Day 5 Butedale to Prince Rupert and a few days rest. I was doing 100 miles +/- a day at 12-13 Kts, pushing really hard. From there I took it a little easier through Alaska including a three day transit from Elfin Cove to Seward, AK. Crossing the Gulf of Alaska may not be for everyone but with the proper planning and weather window it can be done. Fuel all the way to Elfin Cove is not a problem but from there onward I carried an extra 80 gals in 2 X 40 gallon drums on the back deck. The distances across the Gulf of Alaska and available fueling (only Yakatat) is beyond the fuel range of the installed fuel capacity.
So, your boat will safely do whatever you want to do with it, in comfort at a reasonable speed or slowing down to 'smell the roses'. The beauty of Ranger Tugs is that I trailer easily between Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet to enjoy some of the best cruising and fishing areas in the world. I also used it last summer as the hunting base camp for a week long mountain goat hunt in Kachemak Bay (Homer, AK) area. This coming summer I plan on taking her to Kodiak Island as the base camp for a Kodiak brown bear and deer hunt.
If a Ranger or Cutwater meets your missions objectives, I think you will be happy with the boat.

Good luck.
Bob Allan

Thanks Bob. Congratulations on an amazing trip and thanks very much for all the data. I used a map to plot your journey to get a sense of the locations and distances. That crossing from Elfin to Seward is impressive. I've done transatlantic sailing trips with family as a young man, but we had sails, so if we run out of diesel we just sail home. Having a single engine and a very finite amount of diesel requires careful planning as you point out, and I'd think a lot of faith in that single diesel engine. Perhaps after boat and I have developed a relationship, I might get there.

You mentioned trailering your boat in Alaska. How did the trailer get there? Or did you acquire or rent one while there?

I'm chatting with Andrew C at Ranger about a downrigger setup. Sounds like they install some kind of mount that may be compatible but I need to get the details from him. Let me know if you have any tips about this.

Thanks,

Mark.

 

[allanrs74@gmail.com]

Mark,

I had my EZ Loader trailer shipped from Bellingham, WA to Haines, AK on the Alaska State Ferry. It was the most cost effective option at about $2500. I keep a GMC 2500HD pick up in Alaska so I drove to Haines to pick up my trailer when it arrived and eventually remated the boat and trailer in Seward. I store my boat through the winter in Soldotna, AK. and trailer her to either Seward or Homer.

I have the factory installed down rigger mounts and power outlets on my boat and use them for trolling for salmon as well as using the pot puller for shrimp pots. Pulling a string of 2 or 3 shrimp pots from 600 +/- feet of water is a breeze with the pot puller.

I added an EPIRB and carried a rented Sat phone for my trip up the coast in case I needed assistance.

Good luck in getting your boat into the San Juans.

 

[WT1J]

Mark,

I had my EZ Loader trailer shipped from Bellingham, WA to Haines, AK on the Alaska State Ferry. It was the most cost effective option at about $2500. I keep a GMC 2500HD pick up in Alaska so I drove to Haines to pick up my trailer when it arrived and eventually remated the boat and trailer in Seward. I store my boat through the winter in Soldotna, AK. and trailer her to either Seward or Homer.

I have the factory installed down rigger mounts and power outlets on my boat and use them for trolling for salmon as well as using the pot puller for shrimp pots. Pulling a string of 2 or 3 shrimp pots from 600 +/- feet of water is a breeze with the pot puller.

I added an EPIRB and carried a rented Sat phone for my trip up the coast in case I needed assistance.

Good luck in getting your boat into the San Juans.

Thanks Bob, that's very helpful!! Sharing this with the admiral. (my wife)

 

[WT1J]

Thanks again everyone for the help. We've placed our order today and are under contract for an April delivery for our R-31CB.

We should be on Orcas once we have taken delivery and will hopefully see some of you on the water during the season.

Kind regards,

Mark Maunder.

 

[georgesilverman]

We owned a R31S with the D4-300hp motor. A new boat has the D4-320, which in addition being more powerful is a little more efficient. We typically cruised at 3050-3100 rpm, burning 10-11 gallons/hour. Specific range generally averaged 1.4 to 1.5 nm/gal at typically 15-16 knots. You do have to watch how much stuff you carry and where you locate the extra weight. Loading too much weight aft will affect your specific range slightly. I also found that not always filling the boat with fuel when we were locally cruising also improves the specific range. Typically, I’d fuel to 150-160 gal. Finally, I would spend some time building your own rpm vs speed vs specific range (nm per gal). I think once you are over 2000 rpm you’re going to need bow down trim with the tabs. I found that the boat runs efficiently either at 6.5-8 knots or at 14.5 to 16 knots assuming the water conditions cooperate. Corresponding rpm is 1600-1800 for slow cruise and 3000-3125 rpm for fast cruise.

I made the mistake of running with a little too much bow down trim when cruising at 15 -16 knots. I programmed the chart plotter to display nm per gal so i could see the effects of adjusting trim real time. Also one thing to keep in mind is that the pickup for the diesel aux heater is around the 30 gal level so you don’t want to run the fuel level below that point if you plan to use the heater. If you buy a boat from Andrew, you’ll get 1 day of system training. The rep will teach from a detailed checklist which you can use to make notes. It’s invaluable.

Finally, one recommendation I would give you regarding additional equipment would be to install a galvanic isolator sooner rather than later. Will help with prolonging your anodes especially if you spend a lot of time plugged into shore power.

Andrew and the folks at Ranger Tug are a great source of information and are always willing to help with any questions you might have. We’ve owned three Ranger Tugs with a 4th on order. Needless to say we’re really pleased with the ownership experience.

R/ George

 

[RichBirk]

Hi Mark,
Soon after receiving our 29 CB, I found myself wanting a freshwater hose bib for rinsing gear with a salt-away applicator. Especially useful for rinsing salt crystals off the side of the boat where the bumpers lie. It was an easy install on our boat, starboard transom corner behind the transom door. If I had it to do over again, I would try to get Andrew to install a hose bib in the front anchor well for rinsing windows. Much easier to do in the build process. Be sure to use drain valves at a low point for freeze protection.

We also had them add 120 and 12 volt outlets at the Admirals chair. Admirals need power.

Hope to see ya this next summer, our family meets every year at Jones Island.

 

[JLHolmes]

Hi Mark,
Soon after receiving our 29 CB, I found myself wanting a freshwater hose bib for rinsing gear with a salt-away applicator. Especially useful for rinsing salt crystals off the side of the boat where the bumpers lie. It was an easy install on our boat, starboard transom corner behind the transom door.

This is something I would like to do as well. Could you give some detail on how you accomplished this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[RichBirk]

JLHolmes
On our boat I was able to tap into the cold water supply to the transom shower where it passes through the starboard lazerete. Pex tubbing and fittings from Home Depot. The key ingredient for me was having a son-in-law that is fearless when it comes to drilling holes. 😱. We are currently sitting on our boat in Edmonds. I'll take a picture tomorrow when lighting is better.
I see you are from Olympia, we will be hauling out there on our way home on Sunday.