To go big or not to go big, that is the question

[harry ames]

My little Classic R21 looks better and better to me after a year of ownership. Yes, indeed, I've dreamed many a boaters dream of having an extra 200 or 300 grand lying about, buying a nice 30 foot or so Tug, and living the cruiser life. BUT, as I read the forum, I'm thinking, "My goodness, so many problems and failures and glitches and oddities about these larger boats and systems. I think I'll stay small."

I'm guessing that the problem topics are more dominant than the "Hey, had her for 5 years and not a single problem," threads for a reason; folks don't answer the phone at the factory for customer support? Not enough good marine mechanics around? I don't think this is just the Tugs, but having owned a fully loaded C-Dory, the forum over there is very much the same.

I'm not making any point here, but I am learning to love putting the R21 Classic in the water, hitting start and going.

I have wondered about a more utility version of the 25 or 27 or 30 foot version of the tugs set up like the old Classic. Lots of room, fewer systems, more boating, less fixing? A 23 or 25 with much open cockpit area with twin small diesels perhaps. I'd love to have my 21 foot in a 25 foot version with the twin D's, no thrusters. Imagine how inexpensive that might make a tug for new buyers. The cabin on the "utility 25 tug" would be adequately larger than on the classic. Yes, it would be less like traveling the land in a motor home, and more like traveling the land in a box truck, but for some of us, boating is much more about what is outside the hull than what is on the inside.

 

[baz]

Sure, the R-21EC is simple in design, in operation and with minimal maintenance. I've loved mine for some 18 months. However, circumstances can change as well as requirements changing. The R-21EC can be outfitted with a lot of goodies (options) that can push its price into the $70K+ range.

The step up from the R-21EC is IMO the R-23 (in outboard or in stern drive). The significant difference between the R-21EC and the R-23 is beam, speed and larger and more comfortable cabin. This comes for an added $40K plus options you want.

The RT models start at a price point that kind of double as you go up in size; R-21EC $50K, R-23 $100K, R-25 $150K, R-27 $200K, and so on.

The most important aspect in choosing the right RT model is to determine what your requirements and budgets are. Both of these can change over time which leads some of us to re-examine our boating needs.

The R-21EC is the minimal cost, simplest to operate & maintain. As you go 'bigger' these things change and get more costly and operations more complex.

Then of course you must consider the type of water you're likely to be navigating the boat in and what kind of comforts you need.

It does take a lot of soul searching to come up with the right combo and the right boat for yourself.

 

[Captain Nice]

I'm with you, Harry. Sounds like you need an EC! 😉

CN

 

[Scuffy]

R 23's now

$109,937.00 Base Price

 

[LAKERtoo]

.. I'm with Harry, altho I'd go for a R23 with a single diesel that would do an honest 9-10 knots all day, with the wider beam, semi-displacement hull and an auxiliary outboard ... put a wiring harness in them like they do with cars, so that you can plug-in / install options with no major trouble and avoid the cost of options that you don't need or want.. order a boat that you pick only the options that you will use / and/or afford .. ( and no sun roofs !) .. if a loaded R21EC is $70,000 , I'd prefer a bare-bones R23 with the bare necessities ...

 

[Newshoes]

Not sure I understand the "box truck" scenario?

 

[JamesTXSD]

Not sure I understand the "box truck" scenario?

I totally get it: what Harry is musing about is a less fancy, less optioned boat. Some reasonable seating, without a fridge, microwave... all the comforts that make the Ranger Tugs "home on the water." Just like a motorhome has all the comforts vs a box truck, that is a relatively empty shell... toss in a futon, a couple camp chairs, a cooler, a camp stove, and a porta-potty, and hit the road.

We did just that back in the 70s when I converted a Dodge van and we no longer had to sleep in a tent when traveling. The boat version of that: room to put stuff, but not so much fancy stuff built in.

Years ago, we had a sailboat like that: a propane fired portable shower, a camp stove, a cooler, and a porta-potty. A solar panel took care of our electrical needs. A portable radio. A hand pump water system. It was great for our needs back then; would I be content with that now? Not so much. I like my satellite TV and a real shower. 😉

Sometimes, it is nice to look back and fondly remember "the simple times."

Times where there weren't so many systems that added to our convenience and luxury, but mean more chance for things that might quit working. Things that need to be repaired and maintained.

Is there a market for such a boat? Probably, but I don't think it is Ranger Tugs' demographic.

 

[baz]

JamesTXSD:

Yes... the "box truck" equates to the "simpler life"'.

What helps and what makes sense to me with the current crop of Ranger Tugs (RT) with their numerous 'gadgets' and more complex systems is that the RT customer service is always there to help diagnose issues and lend a very helpful hand. This aspect IMO should minimize peoples nervousness about owning and operating the Tugs.

During my RT ownership years I've never encountered an issue with the boat's system that could not be resolved after contacting RT customer service. For example, I found a rather nasty blemish on my R-25's hull that was a result of the factory having to patch the hull as A/C was not going to be installed after they made the hull ports for exhausting the A/C condensate. Without hesitation, RT Customer service came out and trailered my R-25 back to the factory to resolve the issue. Yes, it was helpful I was close to the RT Kent factory, but would assume RT Customer service would have arranged the same process with the boat in a remote location.

There was a funny BBC TV series quite some years ago that was all about "The simple life". It was hard work taken to the extreme with lots of laughing along the way.

 

[harry ames]

I must admit I've gone from a truck camper to a 32 foot motor home and have really enjoyed it. However, it seems that motor home dealers only sell...they don't fix...unless you can leave it with them for a month. But I'm very good with tools and electrical systems, so, though my motor home has more problems crop up than the truck camper, I can fix 99% of them from my own tool boxes. I think I'm hearing that the RT factory doesn't put you in a line a month long to get things fixed. That is good. Much better than the motor home operations. I flew a Piper Cub J3 and flew a lot. When I partnered with a fellow on a Cessna turbo twin, my flying nearly stopped so I could keep paying my half of the shop fees to keep the Cessna going. I sold out my share quickly.

The EC21 doesn't do the job I'm after. Cramped cockpit, fridge, stove top, etc. Not for me. I'll keep trucking along in my little 21 Classic utility tug, cooking and living in the cockpit, here on the mountain lakes where I belong. Sleep and cook in the motor home. I've lost my chances to hit the vast waters of the inland passages, the great loop, etc. Problem is that being retired you have time, but no money for the dreams.

A fellow just launched a 120 foot long houseboat on Lake Powell. I hope he is good with tools and has lots of them.

 

[Scuffy]

Selling a stripped down Ranger Tug would be like selling a Cadillac with out air conditioning and with wind up window cranks. If you want simple check out C-Dory solid boat but bare bones. If you look at Ranger Tugs sales success compared to C-Dory I think Ranger as tapped into a far larger market of baby boomers seeking a solid boat with a full compliment of factory installed accessories like solar panel, dinghies with davits, AC with reverse cycle heat, microwaves, generators inverters, full Garmin nav suites with radar etc. I think the factory installed accessories are a big help in selling the whole boat thing to the captains wive's and girl friends.
For me anyway I'd past on a 21. Cute enough; but not fast enough. Plus if mama isn't happy no one is happy. Just my opinion here.

 

[baz]

Scuffy makes good points for todays market for the 'boating lifestyle'. Somehow RT has hit the right theme/strategy IMO.

Back in 2009 I first came across the R-21 when at my local gas station that was also Jeff Messmer's local. He had the R-21 on a trailer ready for delivery to a customer. I walked over to the R-21 on the trailer and admired it. Jeff was around so asked him about it. With a short while I was down at the Kent factory along with my wife to take a look at the R-21. We both admired the R-21 (probably more so for me than my wife). An R-25 was alongside the R-21 so we both got onboard it and immediately my wife said... 'if you want a boat this has to be it...". Well, I was flabbergast and actually quite pleased as the R-25 was much more of a 'boat' with improved creature comforts beyond what I had in mind but obviously met with my wife's requirements for boating. Yes, the R-25 was about 2x the cost of the R-21 but somehow I made the budget work for purchasing the R-25.

We never looked back until health conditions surfaced after some 6 years or so. At this time it was really just me wanting to go out on the boat. So I upgraded and sold the R-25 and bought the R-21EC. The R-21EC is a fine boat as best suited for calm waters and traveling small distances. Yes, it can take on heavy weather without to much ado, and personally I really like/enjoy the rocking/rolling that is quite evident in the R-21EC. After some 2 years my boating requirements have again changed with now having my grown children nearby along with 5 grandchildren who all want to take spins on the boat. Thus the R-21EC is now too small and lacks some of the larger RT amenities.... so what to do.

The R-23 is now a good choice, larger beam, more amenities, larger cabin, more stable in open water in our PNW Puget Sound, faster for getting from A to B (distances on the Puget Sound are far greater than where we had the R-21EC on Lake Washington). Fuel efficient IMO compared to the R-25 and it appeals to my grown children more so than the R-21EC. I can go solo which is fine for me personally, but the kids worry about that. Kids are now willing to kick in financial support and pay some portion of moorage and fuel costs, want to captain the boat at times by themselves, etc.

My grownup children like all the RT models and Scuffy makes good points that my kids would agree with.

 

[harry ames]

My post was really all about the significant number of problems with the larger boat systems and why, but it sounds like for the folks who have them that the positives of all of the systems outweighs the problems.

Hope to meet the more of the big boats on the water. There was at least a 27 foot Tug on the water at Lake Havasu a couple weeks ago. Great looking boat.