R21 Seaworthiness?

[Webstar]

I understand that everything is relative and certainly the Captain's capabilities is a major factor in the performance of any craft. That said, I am looking at purchasing an R21 and cruising some of the southern ICW and areas. For this northern boy this would all be a new experience. One of my desires is to trip across to the Bahamas but wondering whether the R21 is up to the task. I'd certainly wait for a window of good weather but have to be prepared for the worse (thinking that out running a storm would be a challenge) . Although I'd look to partner or convoy over for my first crossing, my concern for the boat is the low free-board and the rather narrow beam. I understand that the R25 is better suited for this but that is currently beyond my reach. Sincerely appreciate any feedback, relative to this specific question and the boat in general (handling solo, seaworthiness, quality, etc.)

Jerry

 

[henrym]

Every summer great numbers of Floridians transverse the Gulfstream in small outboard boats etc. to get to the Bahamas. Generally speaking, if you cross when the wind is NOT out of the northern quadrant, you should have a easy crossing. The shortest jumping off points are Miami to Bimini and Palm Beach to West End. You can usually find a slow moving trawler hanging around the inlet waiting to make an early AM crossing that you can tag along with. Not to mention, at this time of year if you have problems you can usually always contact someone by VHF.

Crossing during the winter months is another story. You definitely have to time your crossing as the wind is mostly out of the northern quadrant blowing against the 3± knots of Gulfstream current resulting in very short in duration steep high waves. Not a situation you want to be in!

Henry

 

[rt11002003]

The vessel is a great singlehander. In fact I've had it out with someone else aboard maybe four times; I almost always singlehand it.

Quality of the boat is very good with the exception of the fuel system. Its design and execution are not to my liking. The venting system doesn't work well at all, forcing fuel/spray out the exterior vent fitting and the filler fitting. The tank doesn't have baffles, nor does it have inspection ports. The lack of baffling results in fuel sloshing around causing the leaking out the vent and the filler. I'm also leery of the mounting of the tank. The back edge sits on a pan/bulkhead joint, raising it about an inch resulting in the tank bottom being unsupported.

I'm working with Andrew on all of this and am hopeful he has a solution.

I, and others, have commented in this forum on the sea worthiness of the vessel. I don't like the way the cockpit drains water into the bilge instead of overboard, depending on a single bilge pump to keep things dry. Some of the folks have added a second bilge pump. The handling is very, very good. Especially for a small boat with such a narrow beam. It bobs like a cork and punches thru waves as high as the bow pulpit (four feet?) without a problem. It can handle aft and quartering waves if the pilot knows how to drive it, but is a little slow in responding, feels like it weighs about 5000 pounds more. Large rudders will do that, but they allow good control.

I base my comparison on years of sailing and a few years of running an Albin trawler. The trawler is very similar in size, weight, etc, to the Ranger 29 and was designed for North Sea conditions. In other words, a good heavy weather vessel.
Most of the sail boats were off shore designs.

With the right weather conditions and a second bilge pump (and a manual bilge pump) I'd take a R-21 EC to the Bahamas, without concern. And be comfortable with the optional air conditioning.

Gene

 

[captd]

As Henry stated you must pick your window. With a 7 knot boat I would plan on 12 hours. 10 should do it but.... Your heading would be about 15 degrees ( just a guess)to the south of your true heading because of the stream flow to the north. Course your new electronics will take care of that. These new gadgits make it easy.

We have made this trip about a dozen times. One of those trips taught me a lesson. Winter trip coming back to Palm Beach. Weather report .....Wind from the south so. east. Seas one to two feet. Six boats started out. Four trawlers, One was a krogen, one other cruiser besides our Cherie Lynn. We putsyed along with the floatila for awhile than decided we better kick it in the butt. This boat would do about 12 to 15 knots it was 45 ft. Half way across the wind did a 180 degree flip flop. Now it is out of the north. Seas built within minutes. They became big and square . A wave would pickup the bow of the boat and set it down 90 degrees due south. Had to work the helm hard to get back on course only to have it happen again. Two passengers stayed up in the v-berth and got very sick. :mrgreen: My wife sat on the hatch way on the bridge with huge eyes. We were taking green water over the bow with splash clean over the bridge. (7 to 8 ft bow over the water) twenty gals of water was slasching around behind me on the bridge. ( enclosed bridge )
A cruise ship headed for Palm Beach gave sheltered water for the last few miles into port. We got into the Marina and tied up. A couple hours later the other little cruiser came in. they had lost their dink. Had to cut it loose. The name of the boat was Scraps. The guy owned a lumber yard and built it himself with left overs, hence the name Scraps. The other trawlers turned back. It was several more weeks before the could come home.

I tell this story to let you know. It is hard to predict what the weather is going to do. You must take a beam sea when the wind is from the north. A beam breaking sea would not be a fun thing in a 21 foot Ranger or any small craft. If that would happen with a 21 ft Ranger you would have to go further north toward Fort Pierce about 90 miles and take those waves on the quarter. I thought about doing it.

Summer would be the choice time to go. I have seen lots of small open boats with outboards over there, but they may be able to do 20 to 30 knots. Exposure time would be a lot less for them.

Normally the wind clocks around. going from the north to the east to the south to the west back to the north. This time it fooled me. From the south it flopped straight to the north.

I would do it with a 21 Ranger, but I would do it very carefully. :roll: 😉
captd

 

[Webstar]

Guys, thanks for all the information on the crossing as well as data on the boat itself. I'm still in the hunt for the right boat at the better price. Since the availability of these boats, North of the Border is sparese, I'm also hoping either our Canadian dollar will improve or the US dollar will decline in value. Would love an EC Model but it appears the pre-2007 are available for at a significantly better price point.

In the meantime I'll keep lucking about these forums.