R21's at Rendezvous / Cruises ?!

[VGNXPLR]

Hi there Tugnuts.....
We are new bees to the Tug World.
I have always been a Sailor, my Wife really Loves Ranger Tugs....
( I do like them also very much, but I am still a Sailor at heart )
So in an effort to meet half way we are in the process of purchasing an R 21. I am doing a lot of research on them and find them amazing. Having sailed the San Juan Islands and spend time in Roche Harbor, I was very impressed and amazed at the Awesome turnout at the 2016 Rendezvous !! It looks like an absolutely amazing time.
I was looking through all the pix, but had a hard time seeing any R21's.
So my question is.... Do R21 owners participate in the Rendezvous and if so, are they able to keep up on Cruises with the the Big Dogs ???
Also, going out for a 4-5 day trip, is there enough storage space for personal belongings etc.....
I would appreciate any and all input, especially from R 21 owners !!
Thank You in advance for your Time & Input
Mario & Jeanne

 

[Pilotnavigator]

We can store food for 10 days out at anchor. We use Rubbermaid totes and can fit four under the sink and counter area be side. Also we use all back packer type nesting pots by MSR all these also fit under the port side of the sink. We store extra supplies that we restock these bins with, in two totes under the port side of the birth. I fill an extra five gallon water jug and keep it in the cockpit. I have put a six inch access port into each step on the aft end. In the port side we store water bottles, in the other our shore shoes. In the aft bench seat I store another case of water bottles and tools.
The fridge is big enough for two pork chops, two NY steaks in the freezer, two salad in a bag salads, a package of sausages, condiments,and a dozen eggs. Breakfasts are bacon, precooked stuff you buy in a box, and eggs in a wrap, for a few days then cereal, the individual boxes, we use individual boxes of milk that do not need refrigeration, and OJ.

Anyway you get the picture, think in terms of canoe tripping or back packing and you will get the concept.

 

[VGNXPLR]

John,
Thank You for your reply !!!!
Sounds like you are making great use of all the small spaces, I love it.
Saw some of the pix of Wanderer, She looks Incredible !!!!
Do you have any pix to share of the access you made on the aft steps ??
Wouyld love to see more of all you ingenuity.
Where do you do most of your cruising at ?
Thanx again for all your info !!!
Mario

 

[Pilotnavigator]

We were on the boat from July 1 to September 5 this year. Our cruising area is the north channel of Lake Huron. I will add some more pictures. Latest addition for this year was an attic. The design for the cockpit was a solid welded frame. The main post is two inches. From there I have an extra bar on top of that for a solar panel. The attic is a bag with a zipper along one edge. It suspends between the roof support tubes. Dimensions are 28L x 24W x 6 deep. I can store life vests, collapsible fishing rod and lures, mask and snorkel, etc.
I would really recommend any 21 Owner to think about a solid frame over what typically is used for tops. It does not shake or rattle and the welded posts provide a strong hand hold while moving about. And it provides a platform for all sorts of future additions. For next year I have started to add lights to the two inch tube so we can read in the cockpit at night. The size and location of the tube makes this possible as the end plates are open and sit over the hole where the rod holders where! So the cockpit is always dry and warm when needed and cool when all the screens are opened up. With lots of shade from the sun.

 

[sandj]

Storage is not difficult to create. We took the bow cushions and detatched them from the plastic board, put upholstery fabric on the cushion backs and sliced the boards into 3 pieces for better access under the bunks. I sewed bags like a saddlebag out of outdoor fabric put a velcro flap on the top and a dowel throught the flap. We sling them on line passed around the cockpit stancions. We have 4 on each side. I also made a set for charts which fasten to the aft seat using the dome fasteners for the back cushion. If you only make the side bags 4 inches deep they dont interfere with moving around. In the cabin, we remove those side cushions and I used mesh fabric and velcro to hold in clothes along the side shelves. With outdoor fabric and velcro you can create many custom storage unit for the cabin and cockpit.
Sandj

 

[rt11002003]

I'm also a sailor at heart. So far, I've owned three R21EC's. They are not a good substitute for a sailboat, too noisy. Engine boxes do not suppress sound as well as burying the diesel deep in the cabin and closing the hatch. However, you don't have to tack up and (jibe?) down wind, nor do you have the labor of sail handling to contend with.

They're also slow. My 2014 with a Volvo barely touches 9 knots. I think I had a tailwind at the time. Normally, I run around 6 to 7 knots using less than 1 GPH. But, you'd need a 36+ foot sailboat for that speed, unless it was a sportboat. My RF-246, 24 1/2 feet, would run 28 knots, burning 28 GPH.

It's small. For two people, it's adequate. For one, it's roomy.

IMO, its shortcoming is the lack of adequate cabin ventilation in the Southern US, in the Summer. An opening front windshield would solve that problem. I use a Wind Scoop which helps, but interferes with portside sightline.

My wife is NOT a boat person. Most of the time, I single hand the boat. I have no doubt that I could run the entire length of the TN River by myself. It's a breeze to handle alone; and has everything one needs. And, some that are just convenient, such as AC when conditions allow.

Considering the fact I've bought three of them, it's obvious I'd recommend the vessel. It's always my compromise boat. But, all my 20+ boats were compromise boats, at the time I bought them.