Sailboat to tug

[wndwalkr]

For those that have made the switch looking for some feed back.

Looking at an R27, coming from a Catalina 27

The lack of draft on the tug would be a big thing for us, getting back into those gunkholes that we used to go to when we had a 2' draft 22' sailboat.

How does the tug compare singlehanding? I'm guessing tying up in the slip is gonna be more of a challenge with the tug.

With the sailboat some of our best day are when there is a SCWA, all the powerboaters stay home and we have wind. How's the little tug gonna do in 2-3' chop and 20kt winds? gonna get uncomfortable? Right now we sometimes don't go out cause there is no wind, don't want to just move the problem around with the tug and not wanting to go out if its 15kt winds.

Can you run the AC on the R27 off the generator while on anchor? Someone I was talking to said there isn't quite enough power? That's a big sell for the wife having AC while on anchor. We had some hot nights on the sailboat this summer.

Just looking for some thoughts from those that have made the switch, thanks.

 

[captstu]

I have owned sailboats and now own a Ranger R25 Tug.

Your question is similar to asking if I should own a car or a dog. They’re completely different and hard to compare.

I own a ranger 25 tug. I have previously owned many different kinds of sailboats. I use the tug primarily for inshore cruising, frequently on the ICW or the Okeechobee waterway. A similar cruise on any of myself it’s required opening a dozen or so bridges.

When I own sailboat I frequently ocean sale including an ocean crossing the took under 200 gallons of fuel. Similar trip is not possible in my tug, however it’s well within the range of larger ocean capable boots.

In my sailboat I received a 22 knots and often sailed in waves in excess of 6 feet. Our strongest solutions and countered in the Ranger tug was a 4 foot 6 foot Crossing of Lake Okeechobee. It was very uncomfortable.

Both my sailboat and my Tug are Air conditioned because we live in South Florida. The bugs in late summer or uncomfortable force at night. The tug has the smallest Mace generator Built and easily runs generator and battery charge.

The problem with the generator being insufficient is most likely related to people who run small Honda generators and try to run there are conditions. It is a separate issue unrelated to owning a Tug. Factory generator on my Way Tug is adequate for the boat.

Single handing the tug is straightforward. My Ranger has power and stern thruster’s, so entering the slip is equivalent to the TV ads That showed automobile equipped with auto park. I come up to the slip, wiggle all the joysticks, reach out the window, tie up to the nearest cleat and I’m docked.

After some practice I could do a similar but more difficult maneuver on any of my previous sailboats. I taught Sailing for years, there’s no secret to good doc: take the boat out yourself to private place in practice for hours day for a week. At the end of that time docking is automatic.

Enjoy whatever Boat you choose.



Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796

 

[Retirement Dream]

I have just made the transition from a MacGregor 26X sailboat to an R27. I had many of the same concerns you have.

As far as wind and handling go, I usually boat on Monterey Bay in California. Wind and wave conditions that the Coast Guard calls "small craft advisories" we call a normal day. I would routinely sail in 20+ knot winds and 4 foot swell with some sort of wind chop on top of that. Now I routinely power boat in those same conditions. While it is true that the sailboat handled slightly better in the stronger winds and waves than the Tug handles, most of that difference is due to the simple fact that most sailboaters, by their very nature, tend to sail with the winds and waves. Many power boaters have the tendency to go from point A to point B without much consideration of what the wind or waves are doing. Once you learn to power your Tug pretty much the same way you sailed your sailboat, you will find that the ride is very comparable and the handling quite nice.

My usual crew consists of my Pugs, Yoda and Chewbacca. Needless to say, they don't handle lines very well and are pretty much useless when it comes to docking the boat. Having said that, I find it much easier to dock the R27 into either a slip or back onto her trailer than it was to dock/trailer the 26X for the simple reason that the R27 has the remote control for the thrusters. Once you learn to use the thrusters and their remote properly (it took me about 6 times before I got it right) you are going to be the envy of almost every other person on the dock or boat ramp.

I routinely run my AC while at anchor. However, I have to run the generator for about 20 minutes before I turn the AC on or both the AC and the generator will trip off. My broker told me this is normal for the generator in the R27, but you might want to ask others and see what they have to say.

Congratulations on your making the switch to tug boating. I hope you enjoy your R27 and much as I am enjoying mine.

Scott Malsom
Ranger 27: Retirement Dream
(831) 600-5697

 

[Captain Steve]

We transitioned from a Mac 26X to a Ranger Tug 25 classic. Its great and no looking back!

 

[Admiral S]

I have a 2017 R-27 and have no issue running the AC with the factory MASE 2.7 generator. I use it for the heat in spring and fall while on anchor and once in awhile during the summer for AC.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

Handling wise. the difference is using thrusters and a single screw prop to control handling as apposed to the pivot on a keel. but its very easy.
My biggest challenge is driving from inside and getting outside to tie lines quickly at the moment of docking when single handing. the outside steering station helps a lot.

beam seas are the biggest challenge in waves. but not unsafe. Above 15kts it starts to get uncomfortable.

 

[Windermere]

Handling wise. the difference is using thrusters and a single screw prop to control handling as apposed to the pivot on a keel. but its very easy.
My biggest challenge is driving from inside and getting outside to tie lines quickly at the moment of docking when single handing. the outside steering station helps a lot.

I have many of the same questions, and apparently, according to salesmen I’ve talked with, many of the tug/trawler owners are old sailors. I have a 34’ sailboat I had build in 1985. It resides in the Chesapeake Bay, but I’ve also sailed it in England and Maine. I’m clueless when it comes to powerboats, having owned sailboats for 50 plus years. I’m thinking I’ll keep the sailboat and buy a smaller tug/trawler, one I can easily go out in my myself, or with a dog or two, and perhaps even my 75yo wife who has balance issues and has not been on the sailboat in years. My biggest question has been comfortably getting in and out of a slip by myself. The bow and stern thrusters seem great, but they don’t address the issue of a wind coming from behind or in front of the boat. The cabin side doors by the helm and across from it would seem to be a big help when docking on windy days, and your comment about getting outside quickly enough seems to confirm this. Also, especially on the smaller boats, the area between the cabin side and toe rail seems very small - I’m sure they do this to maximize the area inside the cabin. I went to the Bay Bridge marina Trawler Fest on Sept 28 to see the Nordic tug and the Ranger Tugs. I didn’t see a Ranger 25, 29 or 31, but I liked the 27’ diesel model a lot. I’m going to the Annapolis show next week to see the other Rangers and the Rosborough RF-246 with cabin side doors. The first few minutes of the video https://vimeo.com/236842508 shows the Nordic Tug 26 and the Ranger Tug 27. I didn’t expect this much difference from looking at them on the internet and video sites. I want to get a used boat because if after using it I want a larger boat (that seems pretty commonplace from what I can see on this site), selling it won’t entail an lot of depreciation. The sailboat had a good bit of teak, and teak decks, and I really want something easy and simply to maintain.