R21 EC 2011, 2009, or 2007?

[scriddle]

Hello Tugnuts,
I'm new to boating and thinking of buying a Ranger 21. Problem is that there are three available in my area, a 2011 model, a 2009 model and a 2007 model. All seem reasonably priced taking into account their age and how their equipped.

The 2009 and 2011 seem to be configured identically as far as I can see. Were there differences in the default factory configuration that aren't obvious to the untrained eye?

The 2007 model lacks a few of the amenities that the others have. I think the only important ones are:

1) There is no bow thruster. Is this something I'll wish I had or is it mostly an extravagance on these small boats?

2) There is no swim step. Here in the Pacific Northwest we pretty much don't do any swimming, except by accident. Are these good for anything else? One broker suggested they make a good luggage rack, but that doesn't seem very ship-shape to me. Can I add one on for a reasonable price if I decide I want one?

Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

 

[baz]

Hi, and welcome to Tugnuts. 🙂

I don't have all the accurate answers but will do my best. I do have the 2016 R-21EC with most options + it's trailer.

First... what waters will you be using the R-21EC in ?

1) I believe when Ranger Tugs took over the business the only boat being built was the R-21. It was equipped with a mast, a smaller engine than what's offered today and a smaller cabin with the helm centered midships in the cabin.

2) As time progressed this R-21 was modified, the mast option went away, the cabin was extended (hence the rename to EC for Extended Cabin), the engine option went to Yanmar then to Volvo D3 starting around 2015. The engine is a 30HP diesel version and drinks little fuel. WOT would give you no more than 10 Kts with the boat lightly loaded. Of course, the purchase price has steadily increased and now tops out at around $60K (without trailer and full cockpit canvas enclosure) for the Northwest Edition model (see RT web site for more info). For hotter climates an A/C unit can be added.

3) Today the head is a marine head and hand operated with macerator. It sits under a center cushion in the aft section of the V-berth and out of sight.

4) The R-21EC can be had with many options, radar, bow thruster, full cockpit enclosure, Autopilot (no longer offered today, but on some older models you may find it installed.... I have Autopilot on mine and was lucky enough to find a brand new one on eBay at the time I bought my R-21EC in late 2015 and had it installed at the factory.... it performs very well and is an option I would not want to be without).

5) Bow thruster is a bonus for getting into a tight slim slip. I had my R-21EC in a very narrow slip (8-feet wide) and the bow thruster allowed me to get the boat lined up and would then walk the boat into the slip carefully with engine in neutral. The bow thruster needs anode maintenance and should be inspected every 6 months in fresh water and more often in salt water.

6) The swim step is another bonus for assisting filling the fuel tank and is IMO a safety option for retrieving man-overboard situations. The swim step has a fold up and drop down ladder on starboard end. Try pulling a 200 lb person from the water back into the boat over the side.... a very difficult task especially in a rough water situation. I'm sure a swim step could be added with boat out of the water. However, if you want a swim step I would buy a R-21EC with it already installed.

7) If you boat in strong currents beware that the R-21EC has limited thrust and in a strong current you may find yourself going backwards. In an opposing current of say 6 Kts you will be making slow headway.

8) Steering is via cable and operates a very large effective rudder. The R-21EC has a very tight and useful turning circle.

9) The R-21EC is a very very low maintenance boat. It will take time getting from A to B especially if the distance between A and B is great.

10) The R-21EC is very enjoyable and is very sea worthy in IMO. It's a great boat for what it's designed for doing.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[scriddle]

Baz -- thanks for your reply. I will be using this in Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, and up into Canada a bit. My wife's pushing me to get something bigger and faster, but I kind of like the low cost and ease of maintenance you mentioned. The ability to put it on a trailer is a big plus, too.

You make a good point about the safety aspect of the swim platform. I expect I'm going to want one.

 

[baz]

If your wife as your 1st mate has an opinion of what kind of boat you're looking at my advise is to take heed.

No matter what kind of boat you have it's a dual responsibility for having the right boat. Take your time deciding... and even after you've chosen your boat and later you find it does not meet your requirements after some use of it, you can always trade/sell and make another choice. I started looking at the R-21EC but wife wanted something with a few more creature comforts and more space, so we went with R-25, then after some 6 years along with changing requirements and health situations went to a R-21EC and now we're looking at an R-23 or even the new 2018 R-27/OB; again because our requirements, situation and needs have changed. The nice thing about Ranger Tugs models is that they have a model for every situation, pocket book and their after sales customer service is second to none.

Last year I trailered our R-21EC up to Anacortes from Edmonds, WA. Then had it lifted to the water and cruised up into the San Juan Islands to Roche Harbour. It took a few hours and made it to Roche at around 3pm after leaving Anacortes at around 9am-10am. This allowed us to get up to the Islands and to Roche within one day.

 

[scriddle]

Baz - We live in Skagit Valley, so the San Juans are definitely within reach. But I'd like to explore south Puget Sound, too. We took a driving trip down there a year or two ago, and were amazed at how many islands and inlets there were so close to the urban centers. I expect it's a day and a half just to get there from Anacortes at 6 knots.

 

[Boris the Tug]

Did you buy one yet? I bought the 08 that was in Portland (Milwaukie) this month. I was hoping for bow thrusters but it didn't have them. I think they are mostly cool factor. My first day out I backed into a slip with no problem and I haven't driven a boat in 30 years. She is extremely maneuverable with little effort.