Ranger tugs made by bayliner people?

Kpeters

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Joined
Jun 20, 2015
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6
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Sailing catamaran
looked at a beautiful ranger tug 25 today, followed by a really beat up cdory25. The sales broker showing us the cdory said the ranger tugs are built by the bayliner people- who make really poor quality boats. Any truth to this? Should I be concerned with build quality of the ranger 25? Year 2009. Cummins 150 Engine has 500 miles on it.
 
My advice... Run away from that broker because at best he's incompetent and at worst he's lies. I've owned a C-Dory 25 and currently own a Ranger Tug R25. Liked both boats but having owned my Ranger Tug, she'll always have my heart.

Oh, and the quality of Ranger Tugs is unsurpassed!
 
First off.............. Bayliners are not cheap boats. They are designed and targeted to a certain segment of Boat buyers They use quality hardware and modern design techniques. They keep their price points down to attract that consumer base. I have owned three of them and been a boater for 45 plus years and can speak to their seaworthiness and construction. David Livingston,(chief designer for Fluid Motion Boats including ranger Tugs) designed for Bayliner among other boat manufactures in past years. These boats were and are noted for their excellent use of space and quality per dollar spent.

Secondly.... Marine engines are measured as to their length of service by HOURS..... not miles !!
 
As a matter of fact - the Bayliner people - the Livingstons - made some of the toughest, longest lasting, most versatile cruisers on the coast for a fair price - look closely many of them are still on the water. Ultimately the company was sold to a big mass production outfit and sport boats took over the line-up. The Livingston design genius then applied itself to starting Ranger Tugs and then Cutwater, once again tough, well designed smaller boats capable of doing what boats many times their size and price can't do any better. Dump that salesman - he knows squat. A Livingston boat is a great boat, and a long lasting one that's not afraid of west coast conditions. Like all boats, if it's not been looked after there will be issues, but these are lifetime boats with a little TLC.
 
Thanks all. Just wanted some reassurance from the tugnuts groupies. Now to convince my husband that we should buy that ranger tug!
 
Hey Husband -- buy that Ranger Tug. Just had to part company with ours due to family health issues. A sad, sad day for us. Tugs are great, highly enjoyable boats!
 
Hey husband I just bought a RT 25sc. My wife and I love it. Every time we are on the boat people come up and compliment us. Giving more tours than at a boat show. The C-Dory can't compare in fit/finish with the RT. Really two different mission profiles. Buy a C-dory for salmon fishing and crabbing and riding hard and putting away wet. Buy a RT for cruising and using as a weekend get away.
 
We have a 2007 R-25 Ranger Tug, Hull #7 and just went over 800 hours on then engine. This was the first year they built the R-25s. This boat is 8 years old and it is amazing how well it has held up. The quality even then was great and they have only improved on quality over the years. It is a very seaworthy boat and can take much more than the crew can handle! People still think it is a new boat. If you want a really solid boat that will last a long, long time you won't go wrong buying a Ranger Tug, that's for sure. I'm sorry but you can't compare it to a Bayliner. Bayliners are/were the low cost alternative and you get what you pay for, as the saying goes. Bayliners compete well with boats of the same style but there is no comparison to a Ranger. This so called 'salesman' is leading you on and doesn't know what he is talking about. Walk through a Ranger and walk through a Bayliner and you'll see what I mean.

The most amazing thing is, I can still just send off an email or call with a question about the boat and they get back in touch with me right away to help. You definitely don't get that with a Bayliner.

Oh, and the original Ranger tug (like mine) was called a C-Ranger and took some of its pedigree from C-Dorys. In fact, you can go and join a C-Dory forum and they'll be happy to have you on board.

Doug
 
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