Ranger R27 - Outboard or Diesel for Inside Passage

[crowleykirk]

I'm assuming we can still get a diesel option over outboard for the R27?

For the San Juans and Alaska I believe the diesel engine would be much better than the outboard as far of fuel economy,
ease of service etc... plus cleaning your outboard of salt water may be difficult along the way. Just seems a lot more could go wrong for a long voyage. Speed would not be the goal as the diesel would be plenty fast when needed. Obviously not in the same speed category as an outboard.... but for our intended purpose and travels I just don't seems any advantage of the outboard. I do love the idea but I'd much rather have one diesel tank on board and no gasoline.

If anyone here can chime in and comment your experience with either that would be helpful🙂

Thanks

Kirk

 

[jagizzi]

Getting a Yamaha outboard services anywhere along the way would be easy, a Volvo Penta not so much.

According to Yamaha the engine does not need flushed after everyday of use. We do it as a habit but I doubt that missing flushes would be a big problem and it could be flushed from freshwater on board easily.

Buy the boat and engine that you prefer, they will both be fine to Alaska.

 

[crowleykirk]

Just got an email from Ranger Tugs and Andrew informed me that the diesel option had been discontinued.
So that answers that question unless you buy used.

As a former diesel tech for boats I sure favor them over outboards.... but I don't know enough about modern outboards.
Guess i just need to sea trail one and do some due diligence on outboards.

I'm a capable mechanic that's not the issue. One engine has to be super reliable. I'd love to read some reviews and stories of folks that have taken an R27 outboard up the Inside Passage. Hard to find many details but this is a new boat so that's probably why.

We have been looking at the Aspen and we really love it, just not in the price range we can swing right now. The R27 is a decent price. Really like the 29 and 31 but just not there yet.

🙂
Kirk

 

[Red Raven]

Check with Ranger Tugs to see if they have any used classic R27s that were traded in. We bought our boat used from the factory and they treated us the same as buyers of a new boat!

I’m sure you can get a quality used one elsewhere as well.

 

[Matty]

I love our 2018 R27 with the outboard but I am biased as my prior boat was outboard as well Seems a lot of questions on the site are about the diesels whether it be an issue or maintenance. But having never owned a diesel I don't know but it seems you almost have to be a diesel mechanic to own one.

Not that you would do it often but the R27 with the 300 yamaha topped out at 42 MPH on delivery. That is impressive. But of course a more relaxing range of 12 -15 is more enjoyable. We will be taking our first overnight trip next month and I am sure will learn more then.

 

[Uboatcdr]

I have never had a diesel boat so can not attest to them, albeit when I do get a trawler it will have a diesel motor. I can say that I have always had outboards on all my current and past boats. Yamaha 4stroke outstanding reliability they just run. I would not be afraid of cursing the inside passage with them. They are designed for saltwater use. I would not worry about flushing the motor at all. When you get somewhere that has a fresh water hook up then by all means. That being said everything is mechanical will break down at some point. Do your maintenance and you will be fine. Just my 2cents.
Have a great trip.

 

[baz]

My local Yamaha shop tells me they get the F300 motors in from Alaska fishing boats every year for servicing. These F300s get heavy/tough and constant use and do get abused. I've seen these engines in the shop and they are truly beaten up, with pieces missing and bent props. The local shop says these F300 love to be used and are very sturdy and take a lot of punishment from the fishing activities and even with that type of use they continue to be serviceable.

From these tales I would venture to say the F300 outboards are as reliable as the Diesel engines.

Diesel engines will also require fresh water flushing at times. Some have internal zincs which means salt water rusting can be evident just as much as for the outboards. Salt water is also used for Diesel engine cooling as it's used to cool the captured engine coolant via the heat exchanger, thus salt water is again evident inside the engine.

Yes, some people are against having gasoline vs. diesel on board and that's is a personal choice of course.

If diesel is a requirement then look for a used R-27/Diesel or a non-RT diesel boat.

Consider the R-27/OB with its 150 gallon fuel tank....

1) A slow cruise (8.6 mph, 3.1 GPH and 416 miles in 48.37 hrs on a full tank) with a decent fuel efficiency... and travel the 416 miles in 2 days or the 301 miles as for the fast cruise in 1.46 days.

and

2) A fast cruise (30.7 mph, 15.3 GPH and 301 miles in 9.8 hrs on a full tank) with less fuel efficiency.... and travel the 301 miles in 0.4 days.

...and the R-27 Diesel (Penta D3-200) 11.5 knots gets 1.7 NMPG for a range of 136 nautical miles (80 % fuel used).

 

[NorthernFocus]

...As a former diesel tech for boats I sure favor them over outboards.... but I don't know enough about modern outboards...

How recent is your experience on marine diesels? And what size? The small, light weight, common rail, emissions compliant diesels in these boats have nothing in common with traditional marine diesels. They have many more potential points of failure that will leave you dead in the water. And regardless of which variety you get, parts are hard to come by, even harder in backwaters of Alaska.

Modern four stroke outboards also have little in common with traditional two strokes. But they've moved in the opposite direction of diesel. Modern OBs are extremely reliable. And Yamaha is the brand of choice with commercial fishermen in Alaska so parts/service are fairly easy to come by.

To be clear we own an R25 classic with diesel power. And love it. And love the fact that we're not standing on 100 gal of gasoline that's constantly trying to find a spark. Just go in with eyes wide open that diesel is no panacea.

 

[jagizzi]

A Cutwater 24 did the inside passage with the Waggoner flotilla last year with no trouble. Yamaha F300. I went this year, not in my R23, but have to say that I would have no reservations about taking it up there at all. Fuel stops need to be planned but with the 150 gallons on the 27 fuel would not be an issue.

 

[Bruce Moore]

There's a small flotilla of small Ranger diesels up in SE right now. An R-25 and two R-27's. You can follow their trip here.

Cheers

 

[crowleykirk]

WOW... that's why I love Tug Nuts, always someone out there that has has some experience you have not.

Matty, please keep us posted on your experience on your new R27 outboard, love to hear details.

The Yamaha OB seems to be a very reliable engine for sure. As we all know if it's mechanical is can break. I'm pretty anal when it comes to all things mechanical and like to know every detail. In a lot of cases it's us out there fixing a problem.

My diesel experience goes back 30 years. I was certified by Ford, CAT and Cummins as well as Onan and Borg Warner.
Obviously things have changed. I used to do R&D for Yamaha on motorcycles, so I feel like I'm very comfortable with anything mechanical and if I not I will get up to speed if my life and family depend on it.

That shop in Alaska that works on these OB's sounds impressive. Thank you so much for that info.

I do have concerns as to fire hazard but not overly so. That's really just matter of keeping and eye and nose on things and being smart. Gas fees on modern boats are that common anymore. Do wish the Rangers came with a Hylon system though, kind of surprised they don't at least offer that as an option, it would be one I'd sign up for all day long.

Ii have been following the small flotilla of Rangers, looks like an amazing trip. And the one couple with the handicapped daughter is amazing. So much work and effort getting their boat prepped for them and her, my hat is off to them. Hope that all have an amazing safe trip.

I'm hoping we can get our boat next year, things are looking good🙂 It will be a couple years from making the Inside Passage but hope to to it with some folks from this board. We will need to just spend time in the San Juans etc... as most of out boating experience has been Southern California and Mexico. Usually aboard a GB 36, 42 or 49 on occasion.

Thanks again for all the comments, appreciate the time. Keep them coming. It's hard to get certain info from a dealer, it's nice to get real world answers from TN.🙂