Will I be happy with R21 cruising speed?

M

master-disaster

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Joined
Jan 28, 2017
Messages
6
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
We are very interested in the R 21 with 30 HP
Top/cruising speed of 10 knots?
Are you content with that speed?
Is there any way to goose it if desired?
We are brand new to boating and will be in the Wildwood NJ area in the summer and hopefully some FLA time in the winter.
 
Hello,
10 knots is about top speed in our R21EC. That's goosed.
Cruise is more like 6-6.5 knots. That is the sweet spot for noise and vibration (with our Yanmar engine). That speed suits us well in our circumstance - inland on a smaller lake. Part of the joy with the boat is travelling at a slower pace, IMHO.
With higher speeds, the stern will start to squat and engine levels rise noticeably.
Regards,
Gregg
 
buy a cutwater 23 😎
 
master-disaster":3juf4i1h said:
We are very interested in the R 21 with 30 HP
Top/cruising speed of 10 knots?
Are you content with that speed?
Is there any way to goose it if desired?
We are brand new to boating and will be in the Wildwood NJ area in the summer and hopefully some FLA time in the winter.
Click to expand...

Hello Master D,

I agree with Gregg. 21EC top speed is 10 and that's usually going "downhill." Running at WOT is only done periodically to "exercise " the engine; it's not a 'regular ' mode of operation...too noisy and the hull squats when overdriven. Inefficient.

My 2013 with Yanmar 3YM30 is most comfortable in the 1600-2400 rpm range which yields a SOG of 5-7.5mph depending upon current, winds, waves, etc. Speed wise it's like a sail boat without sails. Very comfortable and pleasant experience. But never fast.

Highly recommend an auto pilot.

dave


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
master-disaster":221xhzeh said:
We are very interested in the R 21 with 30 HP
Top/cruising speed of 10 knots?
Are you content with that speed?
Is there any way to goose it if desired?
We are brand new to boating and will be in the Wildwood NJ area in the summer and hopefully some FLA time in the winter.
Click to expand...

We had a test ride in an R-21. Bought an R-23 outboard. R-21 just to painfully slow.
 
There's a world of difference between Ranger tugs and Cutwater vessels, primarily in hull design. But, in either case more speed means higher fuel consumption, more noise and a different attitude toward boat piloting.

SGIDAVE is correct. My 2014 R21EC with the Volvo 30 hp engine has the same operating characteristics.
 
I cruise my 21ec with the Volvo d1-30 at 2200 and tow an 8 foot porta-bote. I do 6 knots and use just over a liter an hour. It seems slow when compared to the big guys up on plan burning tens of gallons an hour, but I came from a sail boat and doing six knots was fine. I still hang with other sailors so we all do six knots. I took freedom 55 retirement so I am in no hurry to get anywhere, and when I get there I stay a few days pondering where to go next. I can understand that those boaters with two weeks vacation don't want to spend time getting somewhere so for them a fast boat makes sense. I still find that the smaller the boat the more it is used and I use the principle that one should buy the smallest boat that can do the job required at the time. For cruising the north channel of Lake Huron or the waterways of the Trent Severn or Erie Canal systems a properly outfitted 21ec can meet all your needs. But I still canoe trip so my needs are rather simple. Everything I need can fit in a 50 pound backpack. Your needs may vary and for that reason Ranger makes so many different models!
 
Pretty fascinating to me that my R21 Classic with an 18 hp motor cruises nicely at 6 MPH at around 2500. Wide open I can get to 8 MPH at 3500 rpm. Close to the same speed that many have said is a sweet spot for the 21 EC. I also come from the sailing world where 5 mph was a treat. I've only done that once and that was at sea level and I could tell it was hard on the motor as I was pushing up the very steep side of the hull speed curve. I'm retired and simply love running at 6 MPH Keeps the noise down and provides a comfortable ride to go where I want to go. I'm on inland lakes and rivers and simply have never wished I had more speed to beat at a storm because of the seaworthiness of the little R21. It might happen some day that I want the speed and won't have it. I did get into a stiff 30 to 40 mph head wind on Lake Powell, so i fired up the 7 hp Honda kicker for extra push and I could still make my 6 MPH. I've had go faster boats, but always found I was happiest at about 6 or 7 mph off-plane. My boat to me is a destination, not a destination making machine.
 
Knots or miles. At 2200 I am doing 6.2 knots which is just over 7 miles an hour
 
Sweet spot is between 6 and 7 MPH, depending on wind and waves. Slow cruise is at 4 MPH, just above idle. Once go 10.5 MPH going down a big wake....scary!!

TK

 
Besides they can't see how good looking the 21ec is if it went fast.
 
My recommendation would be to consider how you plan to use the boat: (1) do you want to spend hours cruising around, or (2) do you want to get to a destination quickly and enjoy the destination?

If you enjoy the cruising aspect, then 6 to 7 knots may be fine. If you want to travel a distance to a favorite fishing or swimming hole, then 6 to 7 knots might be agonizingly slow.

Also, get on boat (doesn't have to be a R21) and see what cruising at 7 knots is like. You may find it relaxing and a perfect speed or you may find yourself anxiously waiting to get from point A to point B.

The R21 is a sweet little boat for the money. The R23/C24 are nice boats as well (both with top speeds of about 40 mph) but for double the money.

As I get closer to retirement, I start dreaming about extended cruising. Especially the ICW and possibly the Great Loop. In this case, the journey is more important than the destination. That's why many folks opt to cruise in 35 - 45 foot trawlers or tugs. These boat, incidentally, often have a cruising sweat spot of about 8 - 10 knots, and many folks run them about 8 knot because of the fuel economy.

Jim
 
I am coming from a lifetime of speed boats,when I first saw the 21ec I was smitten,I could not resist the the little tugs allure.at first I found 8 knots to be torture but have come to like it,definitly gives us time to smell the roses and the slower pace keeps me out of trouble.and I'm only coming up on my 2 season with the tug but we think we like it.
 
master-disaster":3lgpawyb said:
Thanx to all
Hoping to find the best deal soon!
If you know of one please advise......
Click to expand...

Hello MD,

As with most things, a used model is your best value.

Fellow Tugnut Gene S. has a nice, well-equipped, low hours 21EC available at a good price.

Click here (viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7996).

GL with the hunt,

dave
 
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