R27 Cockpit comfortable?

[Clive Multrim]

I’d love to purchase the Ranger Tug R-27 OB. I love everything about it but question how comfortable the foldout cockpit benches are. In photos, the transom bench backrest looks as if it doesn’t stick out far enough to support your back. When I go to boat shows and sit in them, I don’t notice any discomfort but it’s so brief a time.

I want to hear from owners of the R27 who are out on the hook relaxing in their cockpit seats with 4 people on board. Besides the flipping dinette seat (and of course bringing folding chairs), is the cockpit set up for comfortable lounging?

 

[serendipity]

We have owned and cruised our 2023 R27 OB for 3 seasons. Our cruising has involved two 3-4 week trips during which we lived onboard. When not cruising long trips, our usual stays last 3 days and 2 nights on a mooring.

Now, we have been boating for 35+ years mostly on sailboats with constrained cockpits. Interior salon seating was the usual bench style seating. We also have our small dog with us, as well.

We have found our R27 to be acceptably comfortable, both inside and outside. We have had 8 people in the cockpit for cocktails, snacks, and etc. with room to move. However, our usual entertainment includes 2 - 4 other people.

For just the two of us we feel we have an abundance of space compared to our sailboats. My wife, the Admiral, plays her full size keyboard in the cockpit: we store the keyboard in the cave. I play guitar and practice with music stand in the cockpit.

OK, the R27 cockpit is not palatial, but, in our 35+ years of boating, sufficiently comfortable and “spacious” for us. The flip down seats give us a variety of relaxing spots. The port side seat can be used to take a nap with a pillow aft and feet on the side deck.

All boats, small and large, are usually a collusion of compromises. The R27 packs a lot of living in a small boat format. Our prior boat was a 42 foot center cockpit cruising ketch. To be honest, we are more functionally comfortable living on our R27.

We cruise more and enjoy less boating complications/complexities/costs. We have found our R27 provides us with a sufficiently comfortable cruising platform: cockpit, cabin, and all. However, one’s boat choices are best are best when matched with intended cruising lifestyle.

We are extremely happy with or R27 OB. The design and layout works for us.