Question about Helm on R 21 EC

I

ibex

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Boston Whaler
Hey there:
I have a question for the ranger 21 EC owners. I was wondering if it is possible to stand at the helm with the seat folded. Is it comfortable to drive while standing? Is it too tight to stand at the seat when in is in the seated position? Is the only way to operate the vessel from a seated position? I was at the boat show but didnt spend enough time. I am curious about people's thoughts about the driving comfort?

Also how does it do in seas? I am from NJ. It will be inland waterway cruising but will be delaware bay crossing etc. Thanks for the help.
 
I usually sit while cruising, but I can stand comfortably when needed. For a small boat, the 21 handles well. Care needs to be exercised to avoid a beam sea. I have been on he Chesapeake in 4 ft seas. This boat bobs up and down without burying
the bow. I wouldn't want to be in those conditions often, though 😉
 
Most of the time I'm seated but also partially sit/lean on the seat and also drop the seat and stand. Changing positions on longer voyages... I'm 6'2" and standing at the helm is no problem. The seatback leans a little too much back so sometimes put a cushion against the back of the seat for more support. As you probably noticed, visibility while underway is excellent in the 21...
 
I spend more time standing, have plenty of room to drive and move about.
Only sit after a couple hours cruise time.
 
The helm position was one of the few things I disliked about my R21EC. I found it very difficult to get in and out of the cabin with the helm seat up, very little space between it and the galley structure. There isn't a footrest, so one winds up putting one's feet on the v-berth. The seat isn't very wide and my right hip always blocked the engine instruments and the electrical switches, sometimes causing me to turn a switch on.

gene
 
When I was at the helm on Equinox (2001 R21 EC) I found it referable to be standing up with the seat folded. On heavy weather, which I can say first hand the little boat can take) it was better to be on the seat the keep my balance.

Though there is not a ton of room it was actually quite fun to motor around on it. its a fantastic boat.

Jorge
 
I will echo most people's sentiments here...you can comfortably stand or sit in the helm of the 21-EC. I have had the Red Ranger since spring 2009 and usually stand about one-third of the time while underway, sitting the remainder.

Love my boat...regardless of whether I'm standing or sitting, she's a real joy to operator.

Johnnie the K
 
I luv the way my R21 EC handles. It is the best handling boat I have ever had the pleasure to steer. Once when I was returning from Annapolis to Solomons, the bay was glassy and the sun was out and bright. I decided I wanted to get some sun so I retired to the aft bench. Sitting in the middle of the bench seat allowed the little tug to run straight and true. If I needed to steer to starboard or port, I would just lean a bit to either side as needed. I wouldn't recommend anyone else do that. I just brought it up to point out how easy the R21 EC is to to drive and how well balanced it is. I have had one boat that never did do a straight track.

I agree with Paradox. You do not want to have any wave on the beam. But, the 21 turns so easily and quickly, that you can quickly quarter into a wave to take it smoothly. I quartered into some waves that were well above the handrail on the bow (over 6 foot wave) and she handled it nicely. What was nice to know is with that much water coming down on the bow, it drained off nicely to the side drains and none went into the cockpit.

As far as the helm seat goes, it is pretty comfortable. I just wish I had a foot rest. I tried to get the factory to make a taller foot board, but they refused. I currently lay a towel over the foot board and mattress to protect them. I am mulling over several ideas for a foot rest. I have a large belly and must lower the seat back if I have to move aft when the seat is up. I prefer to stand at the helm, but will sit on long trips. I prefer sitting in rough weather.
 
We dealt with the seat, height problem on our Ranger 21 by changing the seat to a smaller custom made seat that doesn't take up as much room. We also made a box that sits under the seat and can be used by the vertically challenged to step up to the seat. The box also provides storage for some tools.
Sandj,
The Imp
 
Like others, I prefer to sit with my feet on the v-berth which I protect with a towel. If I get tired sitting, I stand next to the seat along the boat's center-line. I don't think there is enough room to stand in front of the seat.
I motored from above Philadelphia down to the C & D Canal with no problems. I've been at the mouth of the Delaware Bay in other boats and know it can kick up a bit with opposing tide and ocean waves. I've encountered similar conditions on the Chesapeake, and the 21ec handles it nicely except, as others have noted, for beam seas. Another surprise was taking my first big wake at full throttle--the boat jumped off the first wave and pounded into the second. I learned quickly to throttle way back and take large wakes angled off about 30 degrees!
 
i actually prefer standing when at the helm of our R21EC. If there is a lot of wave/wake action on the lake I seem to be able to get myself adequately braced. I am a big guy so I find the seat a tad cramped when I do use it but not uncomfortable. I am still in the design (read mental machination) stage for a better foot rest. The co-captain prefers sitting when at the helm and would appreciate a better foot rest. I like the box idea, must try and inorporate that into the 'design'.
Rick
 
Sorry - I'm weighing in late on this one, but so many comments here hit home with me. Of course, Kamalani is Captain Sherry's boat, and at 5' 3" she fits the helm area prefectly. Myself, however, at 6' 5"... well I need to get creative at times. When seated, I am never positioned forward, but rather turned toward the center of the wheelhouse and knees basically in the V-berth. ( i think Sherry is using 2 bath rugs or the like, since we also use the end of the berth as a footrest.) My sightline when sitting is fairly good. The problem comes in when standing.

If I'm standing, it's always on the centerline. No way can I stand directly at the helm with the seat raised! So when I stand, my direct line of sight is at the overhead panel. Therefore, I've learned to stand with one foot on each of the angled sole mouldings, braced by the side bulkheads. Then my sightline is improved somewhat, and also, I feel very stable when she gets to rolling.

RProffer has hit upon one of the untold secrets of these boats. I also enjoy hanging out outside the wheelhouse, and as he noted, the "shift your weight" steering system works pretty well. I prefer straddling the engine box, since I can see forward better than from the aft bench, but either way, a shift to port will bring about a turn to starbord, and vice-versa.(Not recommended in large following seas.)

I knew before ever buying this boat, (for my wife?) that headroom, and elbow room was going to be a challenge. But Kamalani is a fun little boat which suits its purpose perfectly. No regrets.
 
My wife and I just did a run from Lake Park Florida to The Bayside marina in Miami and back over a three day period. Running time each way was about twelve hours plus stops along the way for a total of fourteen hours. Two nights sleeping on the boat and a full day in Miami. I am 6'2/210 and she is 5'4". Carol fits behind the wheel and I sit turned sideways with my back against the cabin and seat back. I also stand in the center of the cabin rather than lifting the seat and have a great view both ways. Bottom line is that all boats have tradeoffs, we also averaged .66 gallons of fuel per hour over the 24 hours of running time. We now have 90 hours of running time on a boat we have owned for six months. Our past boat a 36 foot Wellcraft would have burned about 125 gallons during the same trip and only cut about an hour off the trip time each way in the ICW.

Phil Rudin
 
I know this is an old post but thought I would weigh in any how. I had a customer that did not want to sit so I made him a custom "leaning" seat that uses the same hinges that come in the boat. The seat does not have a back rest so he can sit up on it if needed. I made it so the original seat can be re-installed in a matter of a few minutes.
Cheers,
Peter
 
WinterIslandYY":32dm0t7y said:
I know this is an old post but thought I would weigh in any how. I had a customer that did not want to sit so I made him a custom "leaning" seat that uses the same hinges that come in the boat. The seat does not have a back rest so he can sit up on it if needed. I made it so the original seat can be re-installed in a matter of a few minutes.
Cheers,
Peter
Click to expand...

Peter did this for me back when I had Claret Tug and it worked perfectly!

Ted
 
We removed the helm seat. We have all the room in the world. We stand and lean in comfort.
 
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