Ranger Tug R31 - Semi-Liveaboard

[Oloh]

Hello TugNuts. Before I get started, thanks a bunch for this community. I have found a ton of great information already and look forward to using these forums much more if all goes according to plan.

I am seriously considering the R31 was a "semi-liveaboard" (I'll explain). I want to run my rather unique situation past the TugNuts for advice or suggestions.

Short story is that I was relocated from Pittsburgh to Boston for work for the foreseeable future. I have 4 kids and a wife and, as a family, we have gotten used to me being out of town Mon-Thurs. Flights are cheap and easy, cost of living is much better in Pittsburgh, and we have kind of taken to the dual city super-commute life. So, we are strongly leaning towards getting a second place in Boston rather than a full family relocation.

My "end game" (when the kiddos leave the house) has always been to get a yacht style trawler (like a Nordhavn) and spend my mid to late 50s on the sea travelling the globe. The idea of seeing all the world has to offer is ultra compelling to me. Every time I get on a boat, I feel the same pull.

Sooooo...you probably can see where I am going.

I am thinking of getting a Ranger Tug 31 to liveaboard Monday through Thursday of each week in Boston. My plan is to really use the life changing event of relocation to nudge me off the path of least resistance. I have no experience at boating (other than driving a friends a few times) or on living on a boat (other than a Disney cruise for a week!) I do have a pretty high tolerance for frustrating moments and a general curiosity on how things work.

With that long winded background, my actual question is, what do you think of a Ranger Tug 31 filling the role of a "learning" liveaboard where I will mostly live docked in a marina, dealing with cold winters, loving the hot summers, and occasionally cruising around coastal waters for fishing, a weekend, or short week to get some nautical miles under my belt?

All thoughts and suggestions welcome.

 

[ixlr8]

With that long winded background, my actual question is, what do you think of a Ranger Tug 31 filling the role of a "learning" liveaboard where I will mostly live docked in a marina, dealing with cold winters, loving the hot summers, and occasionally cruising around coastal waters for fishing, a weekend, or short week to get some nautical miles under my belt?

All thoughts and suggestions welcome.

I don't have a 31, it would work well for spring, summer and fall, but I am not sure the 31 is insulated enough, or set up properly, to handle living on in the -5 to 20dF overnight lows of Boston winters.

 

[knotflying]

Boat type, size etc. are all up to the individual and what they need or want. Just look at all the different boats and manufacturers and that tells you something. I think before I decided on what boat and size I would talk to the marina or marinas in the area you plan on staying for the winter. Pick their brain and see how they handle winter live-a-boards. Water will be you biggest issue. They probably turn it off and you will have to bring jugs on board. You will have to also do some winterizing of waterlines and engine. The other issue will be condensation. The tugs handle it pretty well, but you will have dripping from hatches and some other areas. Winter can be tough on a boat in the northeast. When all is said and done, a small apartment and a 38 foot Ranger Tug at retirement may not be a bad option

 

[Craig]

I like how you think! I friend at work lived rather comfortably on his Ranger R29. But we live in PNW and don't have the winter you have on the east coast. That would be the biggest challenge for you. Good luck


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[Hamish]

Hi and welcome to Tugnuts. I have a Ranger 27 which I launched in Salem, near Boston in early March. We then promptly had a long period of very cold weather (significantly below freezing - down to 11 degrees f). I stayed onboard a number of nights at a very comfortable 65-70 degrees with the Webasto diesel heater running. That thing is amazing. I left it running keeping it in the 50's when not onboard. It stopped once, when snow melted and then froze in the vent - causing the sensor in the heater to shut the furnace down. Got real cold real quick!

The hardest challenge I had was keeping the water between the closed seacock and the hull from freezing (or at least my paranoia that it would freeze!). The rest of the raw water system was winterized. I had a heater in the engine compartment as well. Of course if you winterize the seawater system, you have no water to the head. You also won't have fresh water except from bottles if you winterize the fresh water system. However, many of the liveaboards did not winterize their fresh water system.

It's a challenge, but doable if you are up for it. In March, the warmth of spring didn't feel too far away. May be a different feeling in November! I did not experience condensation. I now stay on the boat two nights a week as the boat is near my office which, unfortunately, is about 90 miles from home! Now, it is absolutely fantastic! I also have AC which I fitted as an after market addition.

Good luck!

 

[NorthernFocus]

It is perfectly doable, particularly for one person. Plenty of room for sure. With your lack of experience I'd recommend starting in the spring so you have several months to figure things out before having to deal with winter issues. Being aboard during cold etc. isn't the issue. When you are away from the boat for days or even hours is when things go wrong(freezing up etc.)

As others have mentioned you can learn a lot by simply hanging around marinas and talking to liveaboards about the issues they face and how they deal with them. Each state/city/marina has different issues. Since you are already working there that'll give you something to do every evening.

 

[Disaster Relief]

I don't think you would have a problem using the 31 as a live a Board except for about 3 to 4 months of the year in your area. Personally I would have it hauled during the cold months and use it the rest of the year in the water. The tugs are great boats and are comfortable as boats go. The 31 offers a lot of room. I would be concerned about the winter months though. It might be easier to haul it during that time and commute in my opinion.

Brian Suggs
2017 Ranger Tugs 31CB

 

[Phil Nersessian]

Might be a challenge finding a marina that will let you live aboard year round. I think there might be a couple in Boston. The few people I've met down here near Cape Cod seem to do it on moorings on 40ft plus boats. Many Marinas Insurance companies don't allow them to have boats tied to their docks through the winter. My only experience with the winter is checking on my boat on the hard in the marina in winter, and it always seems cold as hell with that wind off the water.