Ranger Tug as warm weather alternative

[Rathmullan]

I'm considering the purchase of an R-29 as an alternative to a warm weather condo (I live in Wisconsin). I would not be trailering the vessel but rather house it at a Marina 24/7 when not out cruising. Has anyone else out there done this? Is it practical? If so, what things should I consider?

Thanks in advance. 🙂

 

[sparky]

We keep our R25 in a marina 24/7, so I don't see any problem with you doing that with a 29. You do want to have someone nearby to check on the boat occasionally, especially the bilge pumps.....and dock lines if you are away for long periods of time. Hire a diver occasionally to check the zincs and by all means get a GOOD coat of bottom paint. :!:

 

[rt11002003]

We kept our Albin trawler in a covered single slip for several years. The marina and yard staff kept an eye on it when we were away. We had shore power and cable tv connected all the time and fresh water in the summer. Our slip fee was $1800 per year and a Ranger 29 would fit in the slip. Winter in AL, where the Albin was kept, is colder than Atlanta, so that area probably wouldn't suit your purposes.

I'm keeping a R-21 EC in a covered slip here, just North of Atlanta. It costs me $3600+ for a shared slip and a R-25 would fit, but not a R-29.

Last year, actually Nov. 2009, we almost purchased a Marine Trader 38 (Trawler) in Tarpon Springs, FL, probably 30 miles up the coast from Tampa/St. Petersburg. I have relatives living in the area and we like it. We had intended to keep the vessel in the area and spend several winter months there. The price of slips and insurance made us reconsider. We would have paid cash for vessel, but the recurring slip fees and insurance made rented condos/apts. more attractive for us. The West coast of FL isn't as bad as the East coast for slip fees and availability of slips where one can live aboard. But, it is something one should look into before buying a boat.

I still like the idea of staying on a boat in the winter in FL, but my wife prefers something more comfortable. I'll admit comfortable is nice and I do have the R-21 EC to get out on the water with. 🙂 And, we have an option of staying shorter periods, with a boat we'd feel we needed to spend more time there.

Gene

 

[Spirit of Gratitude]

I would have to say you are on the right track. We used our old boat and we will be using our new 29 the same way. We live in Colorado and love to use our boat all summer long on a wonderful 33 mile long high altitude lake. In the winter we take our boat to a warm place and leave it there for the winter. We go ether to San Carlos Mexico and play in the sea of cortez, or Ventura California and boat around the channel islands.
I do not like to store my boat in the water 24/7. I like to pull it out when I am done with her and flush the salt out and clean it up nice. Put a custom cover on it and put it in storage. This is better on the boat especially if you are boating in salt. Salt is very hard on a boat and if you have a choice then we think taking it out is best. Also the slip fee's are way more then land storage. For example in Mexico for great storage with A+ security and no worries we pay about $60.00 a month,and they will put it in the water for you for three bucks. Slip fee's would be around $250.00 a month. In California I pay around $125.00 month for dry storage and slip fee's would be around $350.00 month. Then you need to add the bottom cleaner to the slip fee cost. Around $40.00 a month plus you need to have zinks replaced often. If not the electrolysis will first eat your zinks then if not replaced it will start in on your shaft,prop and so on. I have seen it eat stern drives right off.
So all I am saying is that you need to be very mindful of the maintenance that goes along with storing in the water. Oh yeah bottom paint every two years in some cases.
We think that you do give up a little convenience by storing out of the water but it is much easier on the boat in the long run.
There a always guest slips that can be rented with showers in most marinas.
We prefer boating instead of condos because when i am in a condo that is on the water all i want to do is be on the water. It is in my blood. I will always perfer a boat and it goes along with my adventurous spirit.
You have some wonderful boating in your area also so I would say yes go for the 29 and become a adventurous spirit and explore.
Good luck, Stuart 😀

 

[Stella Maris]

If I lived in Wisconsin, I too would be looking for a warm weather location that I could keep my boat to escape the winters. We have done this numerous times. However, we normally find a "cold" weather climate to keep ours as we normally live in warm weather.

We used to keep our Catalina 25 on Lake Lanier in Georgia while we lived in Florida. We used to love to go up in the winter and enjoy the snow. Remember, we got to go home to where it was warm when we got tired of it.....

Now we keep Karma, our R-29, in Port Orchard Washington while we live in Henderson Nevada.

You will always run the risk of someone screwing with your boat whether you live 2500 miles away or 10 miles away. Its just the facts of life unfortunately. When we kept our Catalina 25 on Lake Mead, 10 miles away, someone stole our BBQ. We only left it mounted once.......

If you should decide to take on such an adventure, a couple of things to look at:

1) Good airports. We fly out of Las Vegas to Seatac in Seattle. You will need the same to keep your cost down. If it is too expensive, you will limit your "boat time".
2) Good ground transportation. We take a cab to the Seattle/Bremerton Ferry, then take the "foot ferry" from Bremerton over to Port Orchard. This puts us within a 1000 feet of Karma. If you don't have good ground transportation, you will need to have a car on sight (additional cost.....). Now you will need to find a place to park long term at the airport. Normally $8.00 to $14.00 per day. That will add up quick.
3) Get to know your neighbors in the marina quickly. If you feel they are trustworthy, tell them of your plan. Keep boat here, live there..... Also, get to know the marina staff. Let them know when you are leaving and when you expect to return. Make sure that if you trust your "neighbors", give them contact information on how to reach you in an emergency.
4) Secure your boat with GOOD dock lines. You will be away for maybe four weeks at a time and you want to know that it will still be tied up when you get back......
5) Get good insurance just in case......
6) Buy your R-29 from Gene down there in Florida. Find out what the closet marina is to his office. Become his best friend...... You will have to remember though, summers in Florida=Hurricane..... not good. You will need to move the boat north in the summer to avoid VERY high insurance.......

There is nothing wrong with your plan. Find your location and make it work. You will love it!

If you would like to talk more about this subject, send me a PM and I will send you my Cell Number.

 

[rt11002003]

Lots of good info and advice posted above. Looking at some of these responses triggered another thought. Should you decide to get a trailer and move the boat, say from FL to Mexico, or to WI, or where ever, the beam (width) of the boat will require permits in most states. Don't know about Mexico.

And, the R-29 is fairly heavy and will require a robust tow vehicle. Friends of mine who are towing their boats in the R-29 weight and size range are using heavy duty diesel pickup trucks.

Gene

 

[Rathmullan]

Thanks to you all for the wonderful responses. They are invaulable to me as a prospective owner. I do think it makes sense to locate the boat near the dealer from which I purchase it and have them keep an eye on it and perform maintenance as needed.

Hopefully, I will soon meet some of you tugnuts. What a great community you have going here! Thanks again 😀

Rathmullan

 

[Stella Maris]

Actually I made a mistake when I said to buy it from Gene in Florida. It is actually Mark at "Wefings". Captain D has worked with him and spoke highly. He is a member of Tugnuts so you can look him up under the members section.

 

[rt11002003]

I second that support of Marc Grove of Wefings Marine in FL.

Gene

 

[wefings]

Thank you all for the support ! As a matter of fact we just sold a 25 Tug to a fellow from Arkansas that will be using it as his Florida home base . He was going to come down last week to take delivery , but it was too cold !! He had to winterize his house while we winterized his boat !We also will transport boats for our customers for storm protection,service or exploring new areas . Its all about the service !
Marc