R29-S

[Irish Mist]

If you go on the factory site you can see the new R29 in detail... I'm still on the fence. I like it but I'll have to go on one to really decide I like the new features but not sure if I would give up what I have for them .

 

[Jake]

All I can say is WOW. Yes, I am swayed by bells, whistles, fringe and shiny things. Love the use of space and cockpit seating is quite important to me, more of a day boater, not a fisherman.

 

[Irish Mist]

I think the "S" stands for sporty , after looking at the new 29 for a bit. the original looks like an older grown up model 🙂

 

[Uboatcdr]

I think it is very nice and the wife really liked it. Wonder what the final price will be? The standard 29' has a base of $229,000 will be interesting to see what they ask for this and how great of a response it will get. 😀

 

[baz]

I think it is very nice and the wife really liked it. Wonder what the final price will be? The standard 29' has a base of $229,000 will be interesting to see what they ask for this and how great of a response it will get. 😀

You should have gone to the Seattle Boats Afloat event earlier this year. It was priced lower than the $229,000 you stated... at least $5,000 less... the cost of not having the helm side door, so I was told.

I cannot see why the R-29S will not be a big hit with boaters. I suspect people will see many benefits it has vs. the discontinued R-29. The use of space and light is truly well done... inside and out. It has more window surface area and more port holes. Personally, I like it... just need to sell my MY2010 R-25... hint hint... 😱 😉

 

[D & C M]

looks nice but I think there is one very important item missing, there does not appear to be "a driver's door'. Which was one of the items I really liked when i changed from a 25 to a 29. As we mainly anchor out I am interested in the lay out of the bow but i have a problem seeing what is there. :roll:
Dave and Chris
R29 'Sequel"

 

[baz]

Dave:
When I reviewed the R-29S at the Seattle Boats Afloat event I spent well over an hour walking around the R-29S thinking about all the things I get up to on my R-25. One of the things was getting to the bow area. I found it was really easy to get onto the bow through the hatch over the forward bow berth... and I weigh in at 175 lbs, 5'-11" and with 71 years under my belt. 😱 I even had my 6-yr old grandson try and he had absolutely no problem getting onto the bow through this hatch.

Even the access from the cockpit to the bow along the gunwale is a breeze, as there's a good supply good handrails within easy reach along the cabin roof... not a problem at all.

I'm sure Ranger thought about the helm side door a great deal when designing the R-29S, and I suspect from a manufacturing cost, assembly cost, fittings cost, extra molding, water sealing, cabin torsional rigidity and so on, they simply thought the savings of around $5000 was worth it for them and future customers. The door does indeed offer a more traditional look for a 'Tug'. Of course, if one really wants the helm sliding door, there's the R-31 and maybe an R-35 in the making. 😉

 

[Irish Mist]

Before the R29s I had advised anyone I talked to looking at a 29 to spend a bit more and get the 31. In my mind it was a no brainer for the differance in price . Now with the new 29 they are different boats. There are a lot of 21, 25, and 27 owners that do not have the side doors and get by just fine. I would miss mine at it makes it very easy when I am alone on the boat. I would also miss the double sinks and the room I have in the mid cabin.. But I like the new cockpit.. And the engine being all outside the cabin . The cabin had to be rearranged and made a bit smaller to make more room in the cockpit. I think they did a great job. I would have a tough decision between the 29-S or the extra $ for the 31.

 

[knotflying]

I think Irish mist hit the marketing concept of the 29S on the head. The price point on the new 29s makes it a financially based decision.

 

[Levitation]

Well, we are all captive of our illusions :mrgreen:
I cannot get past the euro look windows of the 29S
And the complete loss of the sheer line that defined the early tugs (I don't want a flat stern on my ladies either)
And the camel hump top of the house
(every time I look at it I start humming "ahab the arab sheik of the burning sands . . . " )

Now, having proceeded to dump all over the 29S let me say the interior is great. Not sure how they could have done any better
And the boat is flat out value for the money - real bang for the buck
The big name competitors building in asia and shipping across an ocean and then trucking across the continent have to be gnashing their teeth
Given the price point I expect the 29S to sell well - and I hope it does

Now you might say, "why after he trashes the 29S would he want it to sell well, is he daft?"
Well, leaving daft aside (no point in beating the obvious) I want Ranger to do well so they have lots of money to design a boat I want
It will be the R-30D (D for me, natch!) It will be a true 30 footer in keel length and it will actually have a sheer line and a pilot house door, no camel hump, no euro (stuff) windows, and I can offer some suggestions on the interior

To the Livingstons - hint hint HINT think Doug Zern to free hand the sheer line for you - should take him all of 30 seconds

 

[baz]

All good points being made here for sure... Traditional vs. Modern cues.

Regardless of the effectiveness and practicality of the side-door, I find from a visual perspective, the look of the helm side-door on the older R-29 and the R-31 spoils the look and the lines of the boat when viewing its starboard side. It looks best with a blue hull and any other hull color just makes the door stand out and odd looking, as if it should not be there or was an afterthought. The color of the door is 'all wrong'. Choosing a different color combo for the door would IMO make things a lot better.

One of the really nice things that Ranger was able to do with the R-29S is to allow them to make the cockpit color two-tone. The flooring is like on the R-25 and tan-like in color. This is far better than the glaring white of the former R-29.

Ranger has certainly tried to provide a line of Tug products that appeal to a wider boater audience; younger to older folks, shallow to deeper pockets, day-tripers to the long haul cruising types, easy to harder maintenance, and so on.

If the R-29S is successful, it will live on in the product line, else it will be dropped much like the R-25 was dropped.

I consider the R-25SC & R-27 as Ranger's answer to the discontinued R-25 and the R-29S & R-31 as the answer to the discontinued R-29. The cost with taxes spread is from around $65K to close to $300K. Thus, Ranger Tug is in a good position to appeal to a very wide range of potential customers. They're following the aircraft manufacturers product line strategy. Of course Boeing being nearby to the Ranger Tug factories is setting a good example. 😉

The "S" in the R-29S maybe stands for "Successor". :roll:

Ranger now has some seven factories around the Puget Sound area; up from two back in 2009. They've expanded for sure.

I continue to be impressed with what Ranger Tugs does and their after market service has to be the best there is and second to none.

 

[baz]

FYI... about the raw water intake grate on the R-29S hull.... and the frequent blockage issues raised by Tug owners.

When talking with Andrew at the Seattle Boats Afloat event a few months back, we discussed the raw water intake grate and the effort of replacing the raw water impeller on the R-29S's 260HP Volvo engine. Part of this discussion lead to Andrew saying the grate had been enlarged (and maybe there are two now, although this needs to be verified by Ranger) and redesigned in some manner as I don't recall all that Andrew told me. No matter, the point here is that Ranger has taken the trouble on this new R-29S in addressing and improving the raw water intake to avoid issues that have plagued some of us with regard to blockage.

I think the technical aspect of the larger grate opening has something to do with there being less suction and less water velocity at the grate opening being generated, and this lessens the potential for sucking in and/or attracting debris/crud etc.

 

[Levitation]

* * * * I consider the R-25SC & R-27 as Ranger's answer to the discontinued R-25 * * * * *

Yeah, isn't it interesting that it required two new models to replace the R-25 Classic :mrgreen:

 

[knotflying]

FYI... about the raw water intake grate on the R-29S hull.... and the frequent blockage issues raised by Tug owners.

When talking with Andrew at the Seattle Boats Afloat event a few months back, we discussed the raw water intake grate and the effort of replacing the raw water impeller on the R-29S's 260HP Volvo engine. Part of this discussion lead to Andrew saying the grate had been enlarged (and maybe there are two now, although this needs to be verified by Ranger) and redesigned in some manner as I don't recall all that Andrew told me. No matter, the point here is that Ranger has taken the trouble on this new R-29S in addressing and improving the raw water intake to avoid issues that have plagued some of us with regard to blockage.

I think the technical aspect of the larger grate opening has something to do with there being less suction and less water velocity at the grate opening being generated, and this lessens the potential for sucking in and/or attracting debris/crud etc.

What a good marketing idea, "just replace the boat with a new one and all your raw water intake problems go away" :lol:

 

[coreychamness]

We toured the R29-S at the Annapolis Boat Show. I definitely "get it" now that I have seen it and discussing it with Ranger Tug factory and dealer reps. The R29 was essentially orphaned as a logical step for Ranger traditional look tugs when the R31 debuted - especially since their price points were very close - almost overlapping with the sedan. Individuals that are interested in the traditional look have the R31. The R29-S is made cheaper to differentiate in addition to drawing a different crowd with the new euro look (Tugwater). I really, really hope the R-35 will be the traditional look. I personally use the side door every time docking or even if coming up alongside another boat or USCG. Single handed docking the 29S with no opening windows or door will be an interesting challenge for the new owners.

Corey

 

[baz]

We toured the R29-S at the Annapolis Boat Show. I definitely "get it" now that I have seen it and discussing it with Ranger Tug factory and dealer reps. The R29 was essentially orphaned as a logical step for Ranger traditional look tugs when the R31 debuted - especially since their price points were very close - almost overlapping with the sedan. Individuals that are interested in the traditional look have the R31. The R29-S is made cheaper to differentiate in addition to drawing a different crowd with the new euro look (Tugwater). I really, really hope the R-35 will be the traditional look.

All good points made here. 🙂

I personally use the side door every time docking or even if coming up alongside another boat or USCG. Single handed docking the 29S with no opening windows or door will be an interesting challenge for the new owners.

Corey

I don't know about others with R-25s, R25-SCs, R-27s that have no helm sliding door, but for me I always dock my R-25 single handed 99% of the time without issues, and I reverse into my covered dock with a starboard tie. With calm waters, no evidence of strong current and little wind this is a no-brainer for me and I dock the boat with precision every time. The thrusters take all of the difficulty of docking out of the equation. I simply lean my head out the starboard side helm window to obtain a line of sight for the dock edge and the boats hull. When in position, I cut the engine and go to cockpit and take line to dock and tie up loosely and then move to the bow line and do same. Perfect landing every time for me. I don't see having a helm sliding door would make things any easier than what I have today.

Now if docking in an open Marina with lots of wind and strong current such as I've encountered here in the PNW at the Bremerton Marina, having the helm sliding door maybe an advantage if trying this docking single handed. It would mean I can get to the bow line quicker. However, if I know I'm going to dock at places like this, I would have an extra hand on board.

Putting the sliding helm door 'looks' aside, I view the sliding door as a luxury item costing too much brass at around $5000.

Docking the R-29S single handed should be as easy as docking the R-25 and R-27 models, plus it does have a helm sliding window that opens widely.

Of course, all of this is personal choice, comfort level as well as skill level.

The real and biggest benefit to me having a sliding door at the helm position is the ability to quickly get outside if the cabin gangway is blocked by passengers (kids and dogs included) making my exit to the cockpit too difficult and time consuming. However, the $60K difference between an R-29S and an R-31 is hard to cough up for a sliding door IMO.

 

[knotflying]

I also hope the R-35 is the traditional look.

 

[Dale777]

If I were to move up (again) to an R35, I too would want it to have the traditional look, including the helm door.

 

[JamesTXSD]

If I were to move up (again) to an R35, I too would want it to have the traditional look, including the helm door.

Well, that would seem to be the smart way to go... AND, open the door (pun intended) for a R29-S style R-33. 😎

 

[walldog]

I think the "S" stands for sporty , after looking at the new 29 for a bit. the original looks like an older grown up model 🙂

I agree Sporty looks right, but I think it stands for Sedan. Not your father's Oldsmobile though.