An opportunity?

C

chimoii

New member
Once a c-brat always a c-brat so I hope I am not forgotten. Last year we traded our beloved Venture 23 from 2008 and bought the dream, a 25 SC Ranger tug. Let me say emphatically that I don’t regret the move one bit but every boat is a compromise and there are pluses and minuses about both boats. (I miss my Wallas stove! But love the famous Ranger factory support and sleeping with my head more than a foot from “the head”.

The Ranger has been a dream even before we bought the C-Dory so I’m glad we made the move last year. The R25SC is now discontinued, possibly temporarily but right now not available. The choice is between an R23 at $110k base and an R27 at $185k base. Both are outboard only. The R23 is back to the forward head and I wouldn’t have made the trade in its favour. The R27 is too big for me and too expensive. Could this be an opening for a really well equipped 23 Venture at a reasonable price? To compete with the R23 it would have to be at least as well fitted out and have the same level of support for less than the same price. Is this possible?
 
I dont think a Venture 23 can be outfitted to compete with the Ranger R 23. IMO the biggest differences are the head and the Armstrong bracket.

CD 23 lacks a head. R23 has a full head/ pull out shower. The Armstrong bracket is very important too in terms of comparing because it adds a lot of cockpit space. Nice feature.

If one was choosing between an R23 and a 27 then I would add the Venture 26 into the mix. The V26 can stack up nicely in a comparison.
 
Could this be an opening for a really well equipped 23 Venture at a reasonable price? To compete with the R23 it would have to be at least as well fitted out and have the same level of support for less than the same price. Is this possible?
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Nope, the Ranger 23 is a much bigger boat. It is 27'8" Length over all (LOA) and the Venture 23 is only 22'8" That is 5 feet more in length!. Much of this is due to swim step/engine bracket--which gets rid of splash well, and gives a full transom. The beam is 6" more in the Ranger. The draft is 7" more (mostly due to higher deadrise). The freeboard seems to be more--but that is only comparison of profiles.

As for cost--Ranger has a slick production system, with higher production and a woodshop cranking out the interiors...vs almost manual layup and work on the C dory line. There is a cost savings per boat, since Ranger uses similar wood work interiors in all of the line--diesel or outboard.

Apparently the 23 is available with a diesel I/O--not sure about the 27. These might take up some of the cockpit room with a box. Not sure if they can fit the diesels under the cockpit floor...looks tight.
 
South of Heaven":1ef8f3e8 said:
I dont think a Venture 23 can be outfitted to compete with the Ranger R 23. IMO the biggest differences are the head and the Armstrong bracket.

CD 23 lacks a head. R23 has a full head/ pull out shower. The Armstrong bracket is very important too in terms of comparing because it adds a lot of cockpit space. Nice feature.

If one was choosing between an R23 and a 27 then I would add the Venture 26 into the mix. The V26 can stack up nicely in a comparison.
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That's an excellent point! The 26 would be a great mid-point. Thanks
 
I love the Rosborough 246. Its one of my all time favorites. All these boats are not comparable in my mind.

They all can go on a trailer and be pulled down the highway, but the weight difference is pretty substantial. Some owners have claimed the R246 fully loaded is over 10,000 lbs on the trailer.

I almost bought a used Rosborough last year, but I'm too cheap to buy another tow vehicle along with it. And my old dodge is on its 4th transmission at 300k miles, so I'm trying to make this one last. A ranger 23 or 23' venture though would be no problem for towing. Its really a sweet spot for a lot of people who just don't want to buy the heaviest duty tow vehicle. That's why the 22' cruiser is as popular as it has been. Can tow mine with our Honda ridgeline no problem if my old truck bites the dust.
 
I follow the Rosborough forum, and there are several who tow their 246's with half ton vehicles. (Probably should be weight distribution hitch and E/H brakes. It might be a good idea to drop the rear end ratio and put in extra transmission cooling)

They are also semi displacement va planing for the C Dory line. They have different handling characteristics especially in heavy weather.

I had looked at several, and friends own therm. The deal killer for me was the length of the forward bunk--the new layout looks as if it is longer (with the small settee leveled out, and the hanging locker would not have to be removed.
I like the new layout better than the traditional.

I compare the Venture 26 to the Rosborough 246-because of the bracket, full transom and beam--the volume is similar.
 
This Rosborough is certainly a contender to fill what seems to me to be an opportunity in the Ranger line. I'm not too worried about hull thickness. Early FGRP boats were also thick and heavy but one hears of very few hull failures when a pleasure boat is operated in conditions for which it was intended. The comparison with the Venture 26 is excellent. We really loved our Venture 23 fit and finish and the hull design was great. What's the current price of a V26 fully loaded?

Still glad to have grabbed the R25. It is short enough to fit in our 30ft boathouse and I don't believe either the V26 or the Rosborough would do that with the outboards tilted out of the water. Also am still enjoying that middle of the night trip to the head without disturbing the admiral.
 
I'd be curious to know the price of a new, well equipped V26 as well.

I'd imagine that with a dual axle alloy trailer and twin outboards it's probably close to $150k. If you're buying new ya gotta get twins!
 
I fully agree on the twins. Even without the trailer, $150k is just about smack in the middle of the gap in the Ranger line. Now I guess we have to think Cutwater as well.
 
Ahhh, my favorite line.

"I love my twins"

:thup :love :thup

Many good reasons. (Much discussion other places so I am not going to list all of them here.)

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_055.highlight.jpg
 
The Vee Berth is 7' on Port side now Bob.
Marc

thataway":w0kggh29 said:
I follow the Rosborough forum, and there are several who tow their 246's with half ton vehicles. (Probably should be weight distribution hitch and E/H brakes. It might be a good idea to drop the rear end ratio and put in extra transmission cooling)

They are also semi displacement va planing for the C Dory line. They have different handling characteristics especially in heavy weather.

I had looked at several, and friends own therm. The deal killer for me was the length of the forward bunk--the new layout looks as if it is longer (with the small settee leveled out, and the hanging locker would not have to be removed.
I like the new layout better than the traditional.

I compare the Venture 26 to the Rosborough 246-because of the bracket, full transom and beam--the volume is similar.
Click to expand...
 
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