Ranger 21 MPG?

[nesibus]

It says pints per hour...so technically it should be getting 15+mpg or over 200 miles on a tank of fuel......does it?

I'm very interested in getting one, but if it only gets 8mpg or so, I could just get a c-dory since its 3 times as fast, and 5.5mpg...which is not much worse.

I like the little tug, I like the idea of a diesel, if its really good on fuel.

 

[Sam Walker]

Good Morning. I have seen several different posts that have claimed near 20 mpg when the 21 is operated at or below hull speed (5 mph +/-) I will be interested to see what actual number feed back you receive on this question.

 

[Tugger]

Our Tugger has sipped about 1/2 gph since we bought "him". I don't have any fancy fuel guages. Just calculated hours under way with gallons of fuel purchased. Lots of fun for the money.

 

[nesibus]

I was wondering the consumption at 10mph, anything lower is far too slow.

Also....is the engine on these fairly quiet?

 

[Rick & Karen]

I was wondering the consumption at 10mph, anything lower is far too slow.

Also....is the engine on these fairly quiet?

Good Morning Nesibus,

The link below is from the Yanmar site and gives the specs on the 3YM30 engine. The second page has three charts, one of which is fuel consumption in liters and gallons per hour.

http://www.yanmarmarine.com/uploads/pro ... chData.pdf

You will note that the torque peaks at 2500 RPM (with an approximate 2 liter or .5 a gallon per hour fuel burn) and running the engine at higher speeds will give you diminished returns. You will be making more noise and burning a lot more fuel with not much to show for it. My engine RPM peaks out underway at about 3250. At that RPM, depending on sea conditions, my top speed has been about 8.5 or 9.0 knots, or approximately 10 MPH. I have started exercising the engine at these speeds for a few minutes when inbound to clean out the engine. I can tell you that you would not want to spend the day running at that RPM. Your fuel consumption will approach 1.5 GPH for a speed increase of no more than 2 knots.

We typically run Kolo Iki at the 2400-2500 RPM torque curve peak when offshore. This gives us a cruising speed in the range of 6 to 7 knots. At that speed, normal conversation, even between the pilot house and passengers on the stern seat is very easy and the fuel consumption is optimized. Our marina is a very large sheltered system of canals and lake like areas. The speed limit throughout is five knots and you can easily spend 2 to 3 hours exploring without seeing the same area twice. In the calm waters of the marina, 1700-1800 RPM (engine noise is very unobtrusive) will give you 5 knots for a miserly quart of diesel fuel per hour or true 20 MPG. Karen and I have done this several times with friends and they are always amazed when you tell them that their "three hour tour" was accomplished for about $2.50 worth of diesel fuel.

The speed numbers I have quoted are off the GPS with a clean bottom and an unfouled prop. Not a problem of course if you are using a trailer most of the time. The joy of owning a Ranger Tug is the journey, if speed is a major consideration for purchasing a 21-EC tug you will probably be disappointed. I tell people that our tug is as fast a typical sailboat, but without the tacking. Our 6 knots is a straight course line and we are smiling all the way to the fuel dock.

Aloha,

Rick and Karen

 

[Shaun]

I take the Rub N Tug over to catalina island which is 32 knotical miles from here. I run at about 2800 rpm and loaded for a three to four day trip ii usually pushes at 6.5 to 7 knots. Making it a 4.5 to 5 hour trip. I burn right around 2 gallons to get there. Sometimes more if the sea is ruogh or there is a large head wind. I have gone 13 knots SOG in a following sea but the boat does not like it. She is happy in the 6.5 to 7.5 range. Pushing the boat past 2800 RPM just burns more fuel with little to no more speed.

 

[nesibus]

Can the rangers handle rough water well?

I know the c-dory is known for being tough and handling big seas, what about the ranger?

 

[Rick & Karen]

Can the rangers handle rough water well?

Hi Nesibus,

I tell people that the crew will give up or threaten mutiny before the boat does. I have had Kolo Iki offshore in six foot seas and she takes it all in stride. I actually enjoy the challenge of helming the boat in those conditions, but it is not so much fun for the crew 😀

Aloha,

Rick and Karen

 

[ron cowan]

The comments in the replies were right on and I started not to post and just be redundant but want to emphasize one point. MPG and speed are totally at the opposite ends of what you can have and you can just not get both. I have a 2006 Ranger Tug (now for sale) and I just bought a 22'Classic C-Dory to address the speed issue. Love the tug and all about it other than about 25% of my use is to reach a destination and 4 hours was longer than I could stand. Of all boats I have owned I liked the tug the best for the 75% use. If you are in the market please be realistic with yourself on your intended use. Boats are perhaps the biggest compromise item I have owned and if you are not realistic you can wind up on the wrong end of a compromise.
Yes I got close to 20 MPG but it was at about 6 kts. It was perfect for just cruising and you have to worry about the diesel fuel getting old instead of running out. You can spend a lot of time on the water for a little money but you will not go long distances in that time. Good luck with your choice and you can't go wrong with either boat. (from one who has both- for a short time I hope) Wefings has a great 21' they can put you in for a good price.
Ron