R21 Handling in 3-4 foot chop

[Skeeter63]

We may be buying a Ranger Tug in the near future. Our boating would be confined to Long Island Sound. There are days you can go from Connecticut to New York and it is a calm 17 miles across. Upon return, although still sunny, you can find the afternoon on-shore breeze kick in and raise the seas up to a 2-4 foot chop. How does the R21 handle in these conditions?

I appreciate you need to keep an eye on the marine forecast...just was interested in the R21 capabilities.

Thx!

 

[doke01]

I saw an R21 in the middle of Long Island Sound 2 years ago in 3-4 foot chop doing just fine. What are the chances that an R25 and an R21 will meet exactly in the middle of the Long Island Sound on a windy day? Especially a couple of years ago? I don't know, but it happened. We both waved to each other and told each other how much we loved the other guys boat. We were crossing over to the CT side because the wind was coming out of the N, N-NW and we figured it would be calmer there. He was heading south from CT to LI.

 

[dalee62]

I've just returned from a day of 3 to 4 foot chop with my R21 EC. The boat handles it fine at 6 kn but make sure you and everything is well secured. There is no shortage of water coming over the bow which I enjoy but my co-pilot is non to thrilled. The boat is basically a cork on the water.

Dam the torpedoes, full steam ahead.

 

[Kamalani]

We operate "Kamalani" in the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. 2 - 4 ft. wind waves on top of 3 - 6 ft. swells are the norm here. While we never doubt the boat's ability to handle these conditions, it can be very uncomfortable. The last post hit it on the head: she really is a cork on the water. At only 3,000 lbs. and with only 30 hp. to push her, the sea can generally have its way with her. Obviously if your primary course is close to pointing into the wind and chop, you will ride more comfortably than in a beam sea. Her rounded bottom makes a beam sea intolerable. Either way, the boat will get wet, but you have the ability to button up the wheelhouse and stay completely dry. (Running down wind is a blast, however, and a good "surf" can result in 12 - 12 kts.)

The R-21 is built to handle these conditions and worse. The truth is that I will give up long before the boat does, and then she brings me safely home.

Alex, "Kamalani"

 

[WinterIslandYY]

The newer R21, R21EC, has a hard chine giving her a flatter bottom than the old style boat that, I think, Alex has. So she does not roll as much in a beam sea, especially under way.
Cheers,
Peter

 

[Buckwheat]

I was quite concerned about this boats ability to handle " rough" seas. I was not so concerned about large swells as chop. I asked people and posted queries about this and the general response was "Don't worry about it, she'll take it". So I bought her and started out slow getting to know my vessel (R-21 2005). On the return from a longer exploratory trip (Salem,MA to Boston) we ended up with a beam sea with 3-4' seas and roughly 20 knt winds. I learned several things: lash everything down, wear the preservers, get used to the rolling, and enjoy the trip because, by Jeez, she can handle it. I would suggest some padding or safety belt in the pilot house so you don't get too banged up......

Even though the boat rolled heavily, we had no water over the sides.

Another thing I learned was that it was easier to "tack" to our origin (Salem) rather than "straight lining" it although tacking doubled the time it took to get "Home". In addition, keeping the speed down to around 4-5 knts helped.

Buckwheat

 

[rt11002003]

I'll repeat what I've said before about the R21EC. My experience is exactly like Buckwheat's. 20+ knots on the beam with 4 to 6 feet waves, scary. My wife said she was "scared". After few minutes she realized the boat was OK, it was a matter of comfort. Changed her mind to she was "uneasy".

Fortunately, I was able to "tack" somewhat and avoid long stretchs of beam on wind and waves. But, the ride was still thrilling, especially when the tack involved wind and waves off the aft quarter.

gene

 

[Kamalani]

Today I had another firsthand experience with the sort of conditions mentioned above. I was thinking about this post as I plowed boldly ahead directly into the sea. The boat was handling all of it so well that I even thought about posting new comments to soften my previous caution for such conditions. But soon I was forced to turn to a proper heading in order to make the Ventura harbor entrance. That's when the "fun" began. The seas were now on the port quarter, and I had the rpm at 3,000. She was rolling fairly hard, but the speed was keeping her under control. Then the wheelhouse door slammed shut once with a sound that resembled a gunshot. As I was frantically trying to find which part of the boat had snapped off, it happened again. After that one, I finally realized what had occurred, and quickly latched the door open. It felt really good to finally be surfing the swell downhill and into the harbor entrance.

I guess this was all just mind over matter, but I had to laugh at myself for doubting my little tug even for a moment.

Alex, "Kamalani:

 

[ac holmes]

I have had a recent opportunity to test my EC-21 in what is considered "rough water" on an inland lake in NYS, named Seneca. Seneca is 42 miles long, 2 to 3 miles wide and oriented almost exactly N and S. When the wind comes out of the N for a few hours it can build up to a closely stacked 2 to 4 foot chop.

The EC-21 seemed OK, a little wet but the pilot house is cozy and dry. I did remind myself that I was in a 21 foot, essentially open, boat. Taking the chop on the beam ends is not good, but she does not roll as bad as other boats I have had, including a Horizon Cat sailboat which has a very similar hull shape. The Yanmar 30 is plenty of power and the boat is very nimble and turns on the proverbial dime.

All in all, I feel that the EC-21 is fine for the inland lakes where I will use her for fishing and day trips, but I would be especially interested in the weather forecast should I launch in Lake Ontario, which is more like an inland sea.

As we all know there are old mariners, and there are bold mariners, but no old,bold mariners.

I know this discussion has been had many times on this thread, but I am a little concerned about the low freeboard and the possibility of a load of water in the cockpit with only a tiny bilge pump to the rescue. I wish the EC-21 was designed with a self bailing cockpit.

 

[Kamalani]

ac holmes just said it best. We R-21 Tuggers need to be aware of our false sense of security since these little boats are so comfortable and dry. The point about self bailing, rather than expecting the bilge pump to pump out the entire ocean, is valid. (I guess that presents a problem in that the cockpit sole is at, or below, the waterline )

The truth is that she is unlike any other boat her size in her salty appearance and strong build. We tend to forget that she is in fact a 21 ft. runabout, and out we go to test the elements. Just like the tugger in another thread who wants to use his 21 for towing... there are limitations, I suppose, but we like dreaming big in a little boat.

I go back to my earlier idea for the R-23. Same design as the 21, but with some of these limitations addressed. I remember saying that I'd be first in line, but, I'm a little busy coveting the R-27! Did someone say dreaming big?

Alex, "Kamalani"

 

[donnevin]

Spent time in Long Island Sound today - fairly choppy. Boat handles ok -some roll esp inside trough of some strange waves out of nowhere (SWOON) (21EC). Back and forth betw CT and LI on a regular basis will take u a long time.