R21 Sports

[Bevan Hill]

Hi, this is not really a question but rather a suggestion. I'm in Western Australia and absolutely rapt in my R21ec. We have a number of the different size tugs in the West however I'm aware that though many people admire them greatly, the price tag is a constant party pooper. Admittedly the decline in the Australian Dollar over the last 3 or 4 years hasn't helped but for some time I've felt it worth suggesting a variation on the 21. With much of our Australian climate, several features of the 21ec aren't called for. Here's the thought.
Revamp and simplify the interior removing the following - Porta Potti, Fridge, Stove, Sink, Water tank, Pump, Heater, Search light, Horns, Bimini. Replace the Port seating arrangement with a simple (maybe transverse [fore - aft]) slightly lower seat. A built-in icebox (or 'esky') for ice and drinks would be essential to match and service the standard aussie day out, and a full length surrey from wheelhouse to stern is essential given our sun exposure here. Marketed as a fun day boat for fishing, chilling out, or swimming anchored offshore or in the rivers (the contexts in which countless Australians enjoy the Sun and water), and with a worthwhile reduction in price tag, I believe they would sell. There aren't enough offerings of lower speed 'chug-a-lug' diesel day boats here. As a budget model I don't believe It would detract from the regular classy 21ec but would open up a new market segment here. Doubtless some owners of these would inevitably look to eventually upgrade to a bigger brother tug in due time.
Basically in oz, we have a 12 month round boating scene that reaches its zenith over the Christmas holiday period. The cold of the northern half of the U.S. and which shuts down so much use of boats is unknown here. It's a very outdoor lifestyle so boat ownership per capita is very high. A great percentage of boat activity is day out fun stuff. Perhaps someone from marketing needs to pay us a visit and survey the nature of our prolific boating scene in this very egalitarian recreational boating culture. There's always a bed and a boat ride waiting here in Mandurah W.A. !!
Bevan Hill ("Queen Bess")

 

[harry ames]

If they just dig out the top mold for the 21 Classic, you've basically got what you describe. If you don't need semi planing hull speeds, they can use the old bottom mold for the 21 classic.

 

[Jake]

Agree QB. I would think that most 21 owners use their boat as a day boat rather than a true cruiser. A day boat version makes a lot of sense to me. Even a day boat version of the R25 would help expand their appeal outside of the PNW.
Jake

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Don't knock the 21ec for cruising. We spent 25 days last year at anchor. They make a wonderful boat for a couple.

 

[LAKERtoo]

.. altho I've only had my 21 Classic for part of last summer, I'd been looking for an affordable one for some time.. I've often thought that Ranger was missing a large market of folks that wanted a bare bones utility boat .. my preference would be the 21 EC cabin, no skylights, with ice box and the cabin heater ( PNW) and comfortable seating for 2 .. and leave any customizing up to the individual as they identify a need for their circumstances .. so many of the forum topics relate to wiring issues, leaks behind the monkey fur, electronic issues etc .. the KISS principal in other words .. Rob

 

[knotflying]

If you want bare bones there is always the c-dory. I have learned a long time ago in business you can't be everything to everybody and if you try you lose. Ranger has a chosen market and it is working well. I think making a "bare bones" version of any of the models will weaken their market on each model. They will be competing against themselves.

 

[harry ames]

This may not deal directly with this thread, but it sort of fits in keeping the size and complexity of our boats consistent with the actual use to which we put them.

Having owned a 22 C-Dory cruiser prior to my 21 classic, even the Dory had real limitations as a true cruiser. Aside from the slightly larger bow sleeping area, which was very difficult to get in an out of, (and I'm not a big guy), I think that the classic and even the 21 EC can be as, or more comfortable. Now, (caveate), our cruising is on lakes like Lake Powell and Yellowstone and the big lakes in Northern Idaho and is all done during the late spring, summer, and early fall seasons, so the cabin and weather protected dinette and sink and stove were seldom used. We almost exclusively used the tiny C-Dory cruiser cockpit for all activities other than sleeping, and then either my wife or I used the bow and the other slept in the cockpit. There was really no way to jam more than two adults comfortably into the Dory cockpit, even for a day cruise. The classic has a huge cockpit that we've already used on our sea trial on Lake Havasu for our lounging and cooking and underway. Of course, my twin 50's on the Dory cruised us at 20 MPH and the classic struggles to get to 7 mph with it's displacement hull. When we had the Dory, we spent at least 95% of our time at around 8 mph off-plane.

Boats are a very personal thing. People do ocean crossings in 16 foot boats and the great loop in 15 foot boats. Bill and Ell of C-Dory fame lived out of the back of a pickup truck and their 22 foot C-Dory for years, seemingly happy. Others of us need our enclosed shower and big bed and room for entertaining.

I don't know if the 21 Classic will serve as a 4 or 5 night cruiser or not, I'll know by the end of the year. But it will serve as well as the 22 C-Dory Cruiser did in the range of our applications and use. Also, the price was right, and the diesel sips so little fuel that the cost of fuel is not even in our equation of costs to operate. Boating cheap usually means MORE boating in my world and experiences. If I had a spare hundred or two grand, I'd buy a bigger boat with a bigger trailer and a bigger truck, but would probably be on the water a lot less.

I'll know after a my boating season with Poopsy if I've found the right compromise.

 

[REO6205]

I'd like to see an economy model 21EC or even the option of a return to the Classic cabin. For the way I use my 21 there are a lot of the standard equipment items that would be useless to me. Most of the options offered, while nice, wouldn't be of any real benefit. Our 21 is a day boat, no cruising, no camping, no long trips. I'd rather have a few more deck cleats and a good kingpost on the bow than a 'fridge or a stove.

Don't get me wrong, I like gadgets and toys on a boat as much as anyone but in our particular case the boat is used for business and too many pretty but unnecessary items get in the way of what little profit there is.

 

[Stevan47]

Hi Bevan: good points. Must catch up some time for a chat and a coffee. Regards, Stevan