R21 EC and the Dxon Entrance

[groby]

I'm reading about those who are going to Alaska, Glacier Bay in the R21. How good is she in the open water. I'm speaking of normal to calm conditions here of course. My wife and I are just in our late 40s and early 50s and want to start out with something managagle until we get a few boating skills under our belt. We had a 1967 Harvey I/O we bought in 1989 and ran out of DePoe Bay Oregon for 10 - 11 years. We have seen some pretty lumpy bumpy stuff. Just looking here for someone who could give me an honest opinion about the R21. The skills we need are anchoring, docking and new tech navigating. We use to use the compass and a index card and watch, to go out in the fog. Had a 17 fathom mark on my 30 lb. downrigger. Had to use it and then run N and S untill i heard the wistle a few times. Then we bought a Loran. The GPS was something we never had. We are excited and are going to be going North whenever there is a Trawler ralley again. OK this is kind of my introduction and am sure that some of it seems a bit elementary, however I'm sure there is a whole lot for us to learn. Looking forward to my first lesson.

 

[sportner]

Be sure to go to the Bremerton gathering in September, you will get to see all the Ranger models, talk to their owners, and possibly go out for a ride... or two.

 

[Kamalani]

I will try to weigh in here as I have done many times in the past whenever this question comes up. My wife (captain) and I (flunky), have an R-21EC which is kept in the water in a marina north of L.A. Our normal cruising grounds are the Santa Barbara Channel. When you ask how she handles in "normal to calm" seas, I'm not sure I know what those are. It's a rare day indeed when we see calm seas, light winds and sunshine. When we head out beyond the breakwater, we need to be prepared for steep chop atop large swells with a good breeze. While we have never been concerned for our safety, there is a limit to what we can call comfortable. Generally, if we stay head-to, or stern-to the sea, we will ride fairly securely, (but the wipers get a workout). On-the-beam or quartering seas are another matter. She tends to roll severly and we soon wish we had a lot more displacement under us. So in reality, you have to pick your battles, and consider that she is in fact a 3,000 lb. runabout with 30 hp to push her. But she is very well made, and looks fantastic! She never fails to draw attention.
In reality, our plans are to purchase a trailer in order to expand our cruising possibilities to more sheltered places, such as Mission Bay, Lake Tahoe, etc. We will just have to be content with a smooth ride and looking good!
Alex, "Kamalani"

 

[Lobo]

Save your wipers! Apply Rain-X. Since I started using the stuff I haven't had to turn the wipers on.

Dave

 

[Harmony]

Hi there
Trailer Kamalani up to Washington State! Puget Sound is some of the best boating in the world. The islands, both American and Canadian are stunning. And we get many calm boating days. Besides, the folks out there on the water tend to be friendly and you would have a great time. If you do come up this way, let us know in advance and we'll show you around the San Juans.
Harmony

 

[groby]

Thank you Kamalani for exactly giving me the info I wanted. We want to go to a R25 or even a R 29 later. My wife and I want to learn all the stuff like docking, using the thrusters , electrics and many other things together. We are thinking a small yet very capable choice would be the ranger R21. We want to troll for salmon like the good ol days once again. We picked our days, yet didn't stay home if there was a bit of lumpy bumpy stuff. Just looking at the free board it seems a bit shallow yet like you said keep her head in and let the Rain X or wipers do the rest. 😀

 

[Kamalani]

Thanks, Harmony, for the invite! Believe me when I say that I dream of boating in the PNW almost every day. We have enjoyed several visits to the area around Fidalgo Is. (Anacortes, La Conner), and Victoria, and each time the conditions for boating were ideal. Now I'm sure that this is not the case year-round, but it really draws me to bring "Kamalani" back to her home waters on a regular basis.
I would never want to be the official "doom & gloom" spokesman for the R-21. We positively LOVE this boat, and would never part with her, regardless of whatever we might be able to afford in the future. It's just that when this question comes up from someone thinking about this boat and asking about rough conditions, I feel I owe it to them to be completely honest. While the R-21 is a well-built little vessel with head-turning appeal, at a very attractive price, she does have some limitations due to her hull design, displacement, & horsepower. She is a boat designed for a day on the bay, (or lake), or a beautiful calm day crossing Rosario Straight. (My recurring dream, again) I sometimes jokingly refer to her as the last boat one might buy before crossing over to a Duffy. (no offense to any Duffy owners) .
Whenever I read the responses to the rough sea question from all the other Tuggers, I start to believe that I must be in the chicken minority. I suppose it's just a matter of what we are comfortable with, but I dread the thought that I may be much closer to that Duffy than I realized. :shock:
Alex, "Kamalani"

 

[Kamalani]

Groby - in spite of my last rant, your description of enjoying an R-21 for fishing and gaining good experience, while having a vessel one can take pride in, is right on. We actually purchased "Kamalani" when Sherry spotted one in our harbor, and announced that "there is a boat that she could learn to operate". In that regard, this has been the best experience of my boating life. If you were to check out some of the photos in "Kamalani"s" album, it is plain to see that we have had no regrets. As long as you choose your days carefully, you can't go wrong with this amazing little boat.

 

[Shaun]

Groby,
I made a video a while back, when i bought my new computer, and it shows my R21EC on the way to and at Catalina Island in 2 to 3 foot wind chop. Its definitely not going to win any awards but it does show the boat running at 6.5 knots (a sail boat was following me so I had to go a little slower then normal) on auto pilot. We did this for 5 1/2 hours on the way over so its not too bad. It is nicer when you sit out back as you don't go up and down as much. I have had her in way worse conditions and she always gets me threw it. I don't know if you will be keeping it in depot bay but I have seen some video of that entrance and with the lack of speed i might be challenging.
Shaun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k49DU-W-o_k Copy and paste this into your address bar.

 

[groby]

Thats just the stuff we wanted to see. This video reminds me of many trips out of DePoe Bay in our ld Harvey. She was a bit deeper and faster. Being a deep V she handled many way to rough to be fishind days. Now that my wife will be with me all time and I have mellowed somewhat, the R21 EC just seems to be the perfect thing for us and our afordability. Hey I am real intersted in the details of the install for your Auto Pilot and the kicker, as well as how you set up your kicker. You seem to have just about identical the vision we see ourselves in. This is awesome that you gave us some sort of confirmation to our thought about the R21. Hopefully a year from now we will have a vid or two of our own.

 

[NewMoon]

Can't speak to an R21, but we took our CD 22 Cruiser across the Dixon and back without incident. Have done so many times since in our 26-foot cruiser. It's all about paying attention to the weather forecast and actual conditions at the Central Dixon Entrance buoy. We prefer wind forecast no greater than 15 knots, and wave heights at the buoy less than 1 meter. Swells usually don't matter much, just wind waves. Another key factor is wind direction vs tidal current - avoid them being opposed in stronger winds. Same deal crossing the Queen (rounding Cape Caution for the BC North Coast).

Wait for the right day - I'd say that maybe 1/4 of the time we've had nearly calm seas much of the way for these crossings. Right now we're holed up in Prince Rupert waiting to cross - today's winds in the Dixon are 35-45 knots.