Smoke stack

E

eric

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2011
Messages
137
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C SE
Vessel Name
Sassy Girl
I have a Ranger EC 21 and was wondering if there is anything in the smoke stack?
Thanks
Eric Hughes
 
Thanks Kenny. Was wondering if there was anything in there.
Eric
 
We have 2006 Ranger Tug EC-21. Dave removed the smoke stack last week. There is absolutely nothing in there but air. He is about to install a brand new mast and an air whistle!
 
Many of the later Rangers have a radar reflector inside of the stack. I am not sure about the R21 but I had a small foil type reflector I intended to put inside my stack while installing the radar on my R25. I was surprised to find there was already one installed by Ranger.

I have also talked to other boat owners that I had passed on the Tennessee River and was told they were surprised how well my boat showed on their radar. They said it gave a larger return than expected from a 25 foot fiberglass boat. I assume the reflector must work well.
 
Radar reflectors work. We were traveling with a friend and I noticed that the channel markers appeared much larger on my radar than my friends boat. The markers have reflectors built into most of them. Graphically demonstrated to me the importance of radar reflectors.
 
I had not thought of bouys & had forgotten they have reflecters and do often showup better than much larger boats. I forgot to mention that the large cruiser I mentioned above was anchored in the channel. I was only going about 4 kts and sounding my horn as required. Visability was almost non existant. I could see the bouys on radar and felt OK proceeding. After hearing a return horn and adjusting radar display I finally I saw a small return. I did not see the cruiser until within 100 feet and was surprised to see how much larger it was than I had expected. He was just sitting there anchored in channel waiting for fog to lift.
 
When I purchased my boat, I knew I needed a chart plotter with GPS and depth finder. Several times I have found myself in heavy fog or rain and could not see the hand in front of my face and in the middle of a channel, and so I decided to also get a RADAR. I did not know what RADAR would get me because the only RADAR I have ever used was in an aircraft.

I like the way Garmin integrates RADAR with the charts, GPS, etc. I found out though a lot of small boats do not show up on RADAR because they have non-metallic hulls and no RADAR reflector. I always wondered how well my reflector showed up on RADAR. I am glad Ranger made a good selection of reflectors.
 
Some of the older R25s do not have a radar reflector either. My 2007 R25 does not.
 
So does anyone know what year Ranger started putting reflectors in the stack? I have a 2011 25.
 
My R21Ec was made April 2010 and it has the reflector. I recommend contacting Andrew if you are in doubt. Or, maybe Andrew could post the production start dates for all models. Andrew?
 
2008 is when we started putting radar reflectors in all the boats.

-Kenny
 
Kenny Marrs":3no57019 said:
2008 is when we started putting radar reflectors in all the boats.

-Kenny
Click to expand...


Do you use a proprietry reflector, or is it something you make yourselves?
 
Tuggin Aweigh a 2007 R25 that is used each winter in Florida coastal waters. As a safety consideration it is something that every Ranger should have. I checked the Sea Dog web site and two sizes are shown. As our boat isin winter storage, yearning to go south 🙂, what size reflector is used and does it require any special hardware to install in the stack?
Does Ranger have special pricing for the owners of 2007 Rangers that do not have radar reflectors that were factory installed?
Tuggin Aweigh
Frank and Pam
 
Just a heads up on this that one should be sure to check if there is a reflector in place before ordering something. Our R21-EC, built in April of 2007 as a 2007 model has one installed. That predates the factory comment about 2008. Perhaps they started a bit earlier or perhaps it was an option then and was ordered on the boat.

At least on a 21, checking is only a matter of removing 6 screws and tilting the stack molding for a peek in.
 
It appears to me that Ranger has usually made changes as soon as the opportunity presents itself without regard to waiting on a model year to change. My early 2008 R25 shares more with 2007 models I have seen than other 2008 models.

The ranger provided reflector in my stack looks "almost homemade" and is smaller than the foldable one I had intended to install. However, based on feedback from other boaters it works very well. I have been told that they had been looking for a larger boat and was surprised how small my tug turned out to be. The reflector I bought turned out to be too large for the stack anyhow but folds up for easy storage. It can easily be hoisted for extra safety if needed.
 
Kenny Marrs":1u5sd56t said:
Hello Eric,

The stack holds a radar reflector.

-Kenny
Click to expand...

Nudibranch and Willie's Tug have been traveling together in Canada and Alaska in all types of weather including fog. I use my radar in clear weather also to stay in practice, to check vessels in sight that may be crossing, etc. Traveling together as we were, I used radar to determine speed of my buddy boat, so I could adjust my speed as necessary to stay together. I could not help but notice that Nudibranch had a very pitiful radar target on my screen. I found out that I had an equally poor reflection on Nudibranch's radar screen. I thought we had a radar reflector installed under the stack. Wrong. I pulled mine off today and discovered that we do not have one. I picked one up today here in Prince Rupert and now it is on Willie's Tug. My firm suggestion to all of you is this: Check your boat and make sure you have a radar reflector. If you do not, run, do not walk to the nearest marine supply store and purchase one. You will not show up well and may be overlooked in a situation that could be critical. Our Ranger Tugs do such a poor job of reflecting radar, that I could not keep Nudibranch as a target consistently. I kept losing her as a target and she would be in plain sight. A small cost to be sure we are doing all we can do stay safe.
 
Just out of interest, Willie's Tug is a 2014 31' boat? And what year/size is the boat you are travelling with? Were both boats shown to have radar reflectors according to the Ranger Tug specs?
We will take a look to ensure we have the reflector in our 'stack.'
 
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