ranger tug 21 ec

[gumshoe]

I am new here and looking to buy new 21 ec ranger tug to use in michigan on lake michigan can any one if the boat is good for the big lake and any stories about using there 21 on rough waters I would appreciate any input
Gumshoe

 

[SlackwaterJack]

From what I've been told, the boat will survive just about anything...the driver...who knows?

for a 21 foot pleasure boat, it's about as safe as they get.

 

[evilskier]

I don't have any actual experience on a 21ec on Lake Michigan, however, I'm looking to purchase a used 21ec to use on Lake Michigan as well. I have tons of hours cruising Lake MI from the straights to Grand Haven and I have worked at a marina for 11 seasons. Lake Michigan can be unforgiving to ANY size vessel, but as long as you take extra time and watch the forecast, the 21ec will be a very fun boat on the big lake.

When I make my purchase, I plan on cruising Little and Grand Traverse Bay, the islands, and maybe trailer up to the UP to check out Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore and Cruise to Marquette from Munising on Lake Superior (weather permitting on the mother of all lakes!)

Good luck with your research. I have yet to see a 21ec on the lake itself, hopefully you don't beat me! I have seen 1000's of similar size vessels cruise in safely to the marina where I work over the years and have developed a pretty good "eye" for what works. For the size, the 21ec is my only choice at this point. Plus it would look good next to the R25 that's based out of my workplace.

 

[johnniethek]

I bought my R-21 EC in June, and the worst weather/water conditions I faced was on the leading edge of small craft advisories in south Puget Sound.

It was my first overnight trip in the boat (which I have affectionately named the Red Ranger) and I was a little nervous as I made my way to Penrose Marine State Park near Shelton. But the boat handled like a dream. I was very pleased, and my own personal self-confidence as a skipper has increased every time I've even been on the Red Ranger in remotely rough water.

When Andrew gave me my 3-hour tutorial on the boat, he said he hasn't been in water conditions in Puget Sound that the R-21 EC wouldn't handle. The crew, he said, might get a little sick and urpy. But the boat will handle whatever Puget Sound can throw at it.

If that's the case, then I'm sure it will handle anything Lake Michigan wants to stir up, as well.

I get lots of people asking about my boat and remarking how "cute" it is. I always thank them, but note that what most pleases me about the Red Ranger is its seaworthiness.

 

[gumshoe]

Thank you all for your answers i have 30 foot that I just sold called a true world marine with single diesel yanmar 315 engine
that will take anything the lake has to offer but I am down sizeing and I Love that tug look so I will give it a try maybe will buy a 2009 0r 2010
Gumshoe

 

[Kamalani]

Gumshoe - Here's hoping you do go forward with your choice of the R-21EC. It's a lot of fun for the size, and is a real eye catcher. We operate "Kamalani" out in the Santa Barbara Channel,(CA), and while she is certainly seaworthy, the humans aboard will often throw in the towel and head back to the breakwater rather than continue enjoying the abuse. She is a bit tender, probably due to the light displacement, so she will roll and pitch. We always feel safe, just not always comfortable. I always try to be honest when this question comes up because, like all boats, the R-21 is better suited for some things than others. We love this boat, but we'd probably be smart to choose a more suitable patch of water.

 

[Kamalani]

I owe us all an update since my last remarks were a bit negative. Sunday was an exception to the norm for the area and resulted in great boating. (Why is it that these experiences always seem to happen on the days we are out solo with no one to back up our story?) I decided to try to head out early and make Anacapa Is. about 15 mi. across the channel. Typical marine layer and fog, but the sea was unruffled except for a 3 ft. swell. Made it to Arch Rk. on the east end in 2 hrs. with no real excitement. In good conditions, as this was, I like to ease in close to small coves and sea caves to about 5 ft. depth and enjoy the solitude. That is, if you can ignore the gulls, cormorants, pelicans, sea lions, etc that call these islands home. Such an amazing change of scene from the So. Calif. only 15 miles away in the fog. After about an hour of poking my nose into all the wildlife's business, the overcast begins to break up, and with that will come the wind. So I reluctantly begin heading back across the channel. Soon I found myself playing "chicken" on a collision course with a Liberian tanker in the northbound shipping lane. I let him win, and got out the cell phone camera as the monster slipped past my rather tiny bow. (I thought I might have to send that pic back to Cap. Sherry, stuck at work, so she could see what I was doing with her boat.) After resuming a course for Ventura, here come the porpoising sea lions, followed by hundreds of common dolphins, not so unusual, but then one lone critter glided past me so close that we briefly looked each other in the eye. About the size of a pilot whale, this guy was somewhat more pointed, and I am guessing that this was a False Killer Whale. A first for me in these waters. Awesome! As I finally cruised close to the sea buoy, I pass within shouting distance of racing sailboats with a rainbow of spinnakers flying. But this time it's little "Kamalani" getting the thumbs up and waves as she so often does. These days are what it's all about, and why we keep heading out to test the waters again and again.
Alex, sadly alone, aboard "Kamalani"