Ranger tug Why so many for sale?

D

duff

New member
Joined
Nov 23, 2013
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4
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Non-Fluid Motion Model
last boat Seaway 25 coastal cruiser
My wife and I had decided on a Dyer 29 hardtop but now the Ranger Tug 27 has caught our eye and made it a two boat conversation. We are going to look at them at the Seattle Boat show. Hence My question, why are there so many Ranger Tugs for sale at a year or two old. I know some have traded up to a bigger Ranger Tug. Is that the only reason. and how is there sea keeping ability? We cruise from Seattle to Alaska And I know many make that trip. How does the boat do in Johnstone Strait on a rough day that sort of thing. do you ever feel the trip is to much for the boat. I hope this question does not offend any one I'm just trying to get a real world feel for the boat I like the sea keeping ability and ride of the Dyer, But the Dyer hardtop is not exactly a pilot house. My wife likes the amenities of the Ranger tug. Thus we thought a Ranger Tug may be a good Compromise between the two.
So thanks for your input.
 
I am not familiar with cruising the PNW, but I have been in 7 foot seas on the east coast in my R-27 and the boat handled it better than us. I would not want to do it on a regular basis. I see that the Dyer has a wider beam so it may be more stable. However the amenities on the Ranger seem to be far better than the Dyer. The R-29 is a better size comparison and has a wider beam than the Dyer. The factory and Ranger community support is the best around! I know of no design flaws that would make people want to get rid of a Ranger other than twofootitis and they go with a bigger Ranger. There are also those who bail out for health reasons or became disenchanted with boat ownership.
Why not rent one for a week and give it a try and see what you think? I suspect you will be very satisfied with a Ranger.
 
I had to go look up the Dyer. A bit of an apples and oranges comparison.
The Dyer (handsome boat btw) is more of a day boat / picnic boat / party boat, with accommodations for a long weekend.
The bigger tugs closest to your Dyer 29 are the R-27/R-29 and are full time live aboard boats with all the comforts of home. The have extensive systems from electronics and radar to bow and stern thrusters. They are pocket yachts.
The tugs don't have the Dyer's vast cockpit for entertaining. So if happy hour weekends are your pleasure, then the Dyer is likely the better choice.
Also, the tugs you get are just a few years old and most, if not all, are ready to go to sea. I would think a boat made in the 80's is going to need a bit of restoration first.
The Tugs are eminently sea-worthy and can take more than the owner can (and I proved it). The boats you see up for sale are just a small slice of the hundreds of Tugs that have been built and sold. This installed base of Tugs means there will be a number of boats for sale on any given day. I suspect that Tugs for the most part have flown under the radar of the typical recreational boat owner and not having heard about them assume they are just a tiny boat maker selling a few boats a year. I suspect the typical Tug owner is older than the typical recreational boat buyer.

Let us know what you decide.

Cheers, eh wot.
 
Dyer 29 hard top is less of a live aboard, more of a day cruiser/utility. Its lines are more DownEaster-y and probably more similar to the Cutwater than the Ranger tug in concept. We see one around hampton roads every now and then. Sharp looking boat with classic lines. To get a recent clean one in good repair be prepared to pay!

As others have pointed out I don't see them as a "cross-shop" competitor to the ranger... the cutwater maybe. The Rangers/Cutwaters are more of a "floating RV" experience with commensurately high SAFs (Spousal Acceptance Factor) than the Dyers. The Dyer 40 is reputed to be a great boat if you are into the classic hobby resto thing!
 
Before getting a Ranger 27 I owned two "Down East" boats - a Legacy 28 and Legacy 32. While researching lobster style boats I also looked at the Dyer 29. The Dyer hull, like the Legacy has an excellent reputation and if I was to be out in really heavy seas I'd probably choose one these over the Ranger. That said, I'm very comfortable with the Ranger in any conditions in which I'm likely to be boating in any US/Canadian cruising region and I wouldn't hesitate to take it on an extended cruise - in my current cruising area that would be the Keys and Bahamas. I tend to be conservative. Back in my working days when I had deadlines to meet I once covered almost 100 miles on Lake Michigan in 6/7ft seas in my Legacy 28 but nowadays I'll remain at anchor or in port if there is any likelihood of serious storms or wind.

We bought the Ranger 27 since at this point in our life we wanted a small, reasonably priced boat with full cruising amenities that we could keep on a boat lift. The Ranger met our needs better than any other boat out there. We, and in particular my wife, would now be very unhappy if we went back to a boat like the Legacy 28 or Dyer 29 for anything longer than a weekend.

Pete
 
Thanks so much for your thoughts and observations. it helps to hear comments form people that have these boats.
 
Hi Duff,

If you're interested in the Downeast style, but are looking for a good cruising boat, you might want to consider the Cutwater line (also made by Fluid Motion, the parent of Ranger Tugs). I did a lot of research and the Cutwaters are an amazing value, and have a great use of space. Not only does the Cutwater have 3 berths and a head with shower, but the cockpit is actually useable for fishing, crabbing and entertaining. Either way, the support one feels from the factory and their dealers really makes buying and owning one of their boats really great!

Speaking as someone who does boat in the PNW, I have no fear that the Fluid Motion (Ranger Tug and Cutwater) boats are able to take most conditions you might find in the Salish Sea. (Though I can't speak for Alaska)

I agree with Knotflying, you should just rent a Ranger Tug and/or a Cutwater and try them out. I don't think you'll be disappointed, I know I wasn't.

See you on the water,
Nick
 
This is Really helpful information, the Dyer is legendary among lobster fisherman for there sea keeping ability and smooth ride in rough chop and great fuel economy. and there still small enough I can trailer it. The downside is it would need some work on the hardtop to be become a pacific northwest ready. so that why the Ranger Tug is so interesting it also has semi displacement hull which I love in a cruising boat. but I'm looking for better than average quality and sea keeping ability. And it doesn't hurt that the wife loves it. So thanks for all your input. My next question how are they to work on, can you do your own maintainance.
 
if you are a contortionist with two elbows per arm and 4 knuckles per finger measuring no less than 7 feet in length total you are good to go!

🙂
 
We have a 29 and I'm a DIY kind of guy. The engine bay is reasonable accessible considering my decades of consuming beer while I work on my projects. The boat is very basic if you deal with the individual systems. They are not integrated like a modern vehicle. They are more like a floating rv with a collection of stand alone bolt on features. Download the service manual and do regular maintenance, no witch craft required. My standard comment to my wife is if I do it myself I will pay for the tools in labor alone! I have a lot of tools!

Good luck!
 
duff":3ohtee37 said:
My wife and I had decided on a Dyer 29 hardtop but now the Ranger Tug 27 has caught our eye and made it a two boat conversation. We are going to look at them at the Seattle Boat show. Hence My question, why are there so many Ranger Tugs for sale at a year or two old. I know some have traded up to a bigger Ranger Tug. Is that the only reason. and how is there sea keeping ability? We cruise from Seattle to Alaska And I know many make that trip. How does the boat do in Johnstone Strait on a rough day that sort of thing. do you ever feel the trip is to much for the boat. I hope this question does not offend any one I'm just trying to get a real world feel for the boat I like the sea keeping ability and ride of the Dyer, But the Dyer hardtop is not exactly a pilot house. My wife likes the amenities of the Ranger tug. Thus we thought a Ranger Tug may be a good Compromise between the two.
So thanks for your input.
Click to expand...


In nine replies, no one has answered his main question. I would like to know also 'Why are there so many newer used Ranger Tugs listed with low hrs'?? Are people getting disenchanted or are the sea keeping qualities not that great?? Price, or operating costs to great?? Just asking.
 
This is totally anecdotal, but the dozen or more people we know who's Rangers made it to market sold (or traded in - in which case the boats wind up on the market) because they were stepping up in the Ranger family. Two friends who were not in that "camp" wanted something bigger than was offered. We traded up (27 to 29) after a year. Haven't spent a dime other than recommended maintenance. Looking through Tugnuts posts on Volvo D3's or 4's, there are darn few issues.

In terms of seakeeping, we try not to venture out when seas exceed 4' but have been "north" of that several times. Not comfortable for us, occasionally have to tack a bit but haven't felt unsafe.

Good Luck!
 
We are one of those that traded up to a new Ranger Tugs R31 from a new R27. We did so after only 2-3/4 years of using the R27. After a trip of about 3 weeks on the R27, my wife decided crawling in/out of the V-berth was too much for her shoulders both of which had rotator cuff surgery previously. I jumped at her suggestion of considering a bigger boat!

For us, the R31 has several advantages over the R27:
1. Walk around bed - #1 advantage for my wife!
2. Very large cockpit for a small boat, much larger than the R27 and R25.
3. Very easy access to all engine components, since the engine is entirely under the cockpit sole - no cabin access needed.
4. Wider beam, so passing each other in the cabin is possible, without going sideways and sucking in the belly.
5. Wider beam and weight that make it even more sea-keeping friendly.
6. Generator mid-way between port and starboard, so there is no tendency to list to port.
7. Mid berth that is actually usable and comfortable for an adult, unlike the R25 and R27.
8. Improved head/shower and location next to the berth.
9. Day head next to the mid-berth, useful at night for anyone sleeping there.
10. Like many others stated, we have been out in seas that were not at all comfortable. However, the boat managed just fine by slowing down and/or tacking to minimize being hit abeam by waves with 4-6 foot seas off the coast of SW Florida. We don't normally go out with seas greater than 4 foot.

The R29 has most of these same advantages, except for a shorter cockpit and more limited engine access.

Disadvantage of R29 and R31:
1. 10 foot beam requires a permit for trailering, unlike the R25 and R27.

Conclusion:
We loved our R27, its handling, and trailerability. We trailered it about 11,000 miles before trading it in on the R31. We love our R31 even more. With either boat, we consider it totally suitable for day trips, waterside restaurant docking, and much longer multiple, overnight cruises.

For those that trade up within the Fluid Motion boat lines, I suspect many have similar reasons as ours. So, with the trade-ups and a large number of boats produced over a very few years, I would expect to see many used ones on the market.
 
Perspective. Ranger Tugs makes/sells a lot of boats... not an industry insider, but I would guess it is more than any other manufacturer of pilothouse boats. That means there are always boats being turned: new buyers moving up, some people getting out of boating. Can't say that I've heard of any significant number of folks who aren't delighted with their Ranger Tugs. The bigger boats will be more sea-kindly... physics.

Just another hunch, but I think people get into a Ranger Tug with a 25 or a 27, then discover they LOVE boating, want to spend even more time on the water... and move up to a 29 or 31. Talking with boat folks on the docks, Ranger has cultivated a very dedicated and loyal group of owners (by taking good care of 'em - smart business).
 
Only reason I am selling my R-25 is that when the last kid moved out of the house we decided it was time for us to move out too. We bought a forty footer and have been living on her for 16 months now.

When my Ranger does sell it will NOT be the "happiest day" for me. I will grieve the loss of the best boat built under 35 feet.

Great boat and a greater company.
 
My two year old R25 is for sale because I traded up to a R29SC.

Not a statistically valid sample size, but there you have it...........
 
its a small % of the total tugs out there and many people love them so much they spend more time on them and then upgrade to larger tugs

good old 2 footitus
 
We went from an R-25 (classic) to an R-29 (classic) after 3 years. Two years later we went to an R-31 Sedan. The first two boats were traded in and sold quickly.
 
We bought our 2012 R29 used from the factory. The original owners had moved up to an R31. Having retired from the Coast Guard, I've seen a lot of boats, and there are none in this size that I would rather own than Ranger Tugs.
 
I think most sales are twofootitis . We bought a used 31CB that the previous owner put 20 hours on in 2 years. He just did not have time. We got a great deal. Awaiting the 33!
 
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