Any comments on a comparison of the C-Dory 22 vs the Ranger 21EC? My first venture into power boating (sailor for 25 years) is with the intention of doing the Intercoastal from Lake Erie to FL where we spend the winter. The C-Dory is definitely roomier and has a better galley but is less fuel efficient. The used Rangers I've been looking at are VERY well equipped but also more expensive and cramped. Would the Ranger take the open water part of the trip? etc. etc.
C-Dory vs Ranger 21EC
- Thread starter pflash
- Start date
Hi Pat,
Welcome aboard. That seems like an apples and oranges comparison to me. Besides the extra space in the 22, you have the ability to travel comfortably at speeds over 20 knots with the C-Dory vs displacement speeds with the R-21. They are both very capable boats, but especially with the consideration of long distance travel along the ICW, the CD-22 would give you more of everything: galley space, dinette, storage.
I have no doubt that folks who own an R-21 will chime in here and tell you how they use pints per hour vs the fuel burn of the C-Dory. Trying to get the comparisons similar, if you slow the CD-22 down to displacement speed, you should be somewhere on the high side of 6 mpg, and a fuel burn of less than 1 gallon per hour.
Don't get me wrong, I think the R-21 is a nifty little boat. My buddy Herb recently brought home a pre-EC version. It is stout, well-built, functional, and extremely cute. BUT, it just doesn't have the accommodations of a CD-22 for extended traveling. The lower coaming and the bigger cockpit are great for carrying people back there, but I personally prefer a smaller cockpit and taller topsides for traveling outside of protected water. Just a personal preference.
There are lots of us here who came from a sailing background. The best sailboats for open water sailing have the smaller cockpits to minimize a problem with getting pooped. And decent accommodations in the cabin to support the stores and comfort necessary for the trip.
The above is one guy's non-paid opinion and not the opinion of the C-Brats staff or management. Go to the TugNuts forum for a completely different opinion... and you will be directed to the story of the 3 guys who took their R-21s up the Inside Passage. Then come back here and read about how many C-Dory folks have made the same trip. You can make either boat work... it comes down to the big questions of space and performance that lead me to favor the 22 for the use you're suggesting.
Good luck with your decisions and keep us posted on your search.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Welcome aboard. That seems like an apples and oranges comparison to me. Besides the extra space in the 22, you have the ability to travel comfortably at speeds over 20 knots with the C-Dory vs displacement speeds with the R-21. They are both very capable boats, but especially with the consideration of long distance travel along the ICW, the CD-22 would give you more of everything: galley space, dinette, storage.
I have no doubt that folks who own an R-21 will chime in here and tell you how they use pints per hour vs the fuel burn of the C-Dory. Trying to get the comparisons similar, if you slow the CD-22 down to displacement speed, you should be somewhere on the high side of 6 mpg, and a fuel burn of less than 1 gallon per hour.
Don't get me wrong, I think the R-21 is a nifty little boat. My buddy Herb recently brought home a pre-EC version. It is stout, well-built, functional, and extremely cute. BUT, it just doesn't have the accommodations of a CD-22 for extended traveling. The lower coaming and the bigger cockpit are great for carrying people back there, but I personally prefer a smaller cockpit and taller topsides for traveling outside of protected water. Just a personal preference.
There are lots of us here who came from a sailing background. The best sailboats for open water sailing have the smaller cockpits to minimize a problem with getting pooped. And decent accommodations in the cabin to support the stores and comfort necessary for the trip.
The above is one guy's non-paid opinion and not the opinion of the C-Brats staff or management. Go to the TugNuts forum for a completely different opinion... and you will be directed to the story of the 3 guys who took their R-21s up the Inside Passage. Then come back here and read about how many C-Dory folks have made the same trip. You can make either boat work... it comes down to the big questions of space and performance that lead me to favor the 22 for the use you're suggesting.
Good luck with your decisions and keep us posted on your search.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Don and Brenda
New member
As Jim stated 2 very different boats, one would have to really look at the intended purpose. 21 has a small diesel inboard vs an outboard. The cabin is indeed much smaller and would be a bit more challenging for a cruise. It does have a larger cockpit. It is a very cute boat per my wife, however for cruising I chose the C-Dory as will fit my goals much better. Now the 25 Tug, that is a whole different story and would love to have that boat.
Pat, Having owned a 2006 Ranger 21'tug and now owning a 1985 C-Dory 22' classic, I can tell you that both are great boats and you can not go wrong with either. It is very important to be truthful with yourself about your intended use for the majority of the time. Jim hit the nail on the head that they are really different boats though both are neat and appealing to sight and use.
The tug was the most fun for a day cruise if you can be content to stay at displacement speed all the time.(6 to 7 knots). if you push much faster it gets loud and the fuel burn really jumps up. At 6 MPH I was burning about 1/3 GPH but it took a long time to get there. The wife loved the purr of the diesel if I could keep her awake, but it was a chore to find a place to store items. The EC has more cabin room than mine but it is still small for two and staying out over a night.
Most of my cruising is at displacement speed and the C-Dory with a four stroke 90 Honda burns very little there. It seems to have much more space and we are comfortable for more days out. When desired you have the speed and you can make a choice of speed or low fuel burn. The C-Dory just seems to fill more of the general boating needs if your intended use covers more than day cruising.
I loved both and if I had all the money required I would have a 21' tug to day cruise and a C-Dory 22' to go out for a trip or more than a day or two. I have albums on both C-Brats Elk-Tenn andLil' Toot and have posted many messages on both. Some messages relate to the two boats.
If you want more info. feel free to call my cell phone (256) 318-4608. It is slow typing with being a one-fingered typist.
Ron Cowan
The tug was the most fun for a day cruise if you can be content to stay at displacement speed all the time.(6 to 7 knots). if you push much faster it gets loud and the fuel burn really jumps up. At 6 MPH I was burning about 1/3 GPH but it took a long time to get there. The wife loved the purr of the diesel if I could keep her awake, but it was a chore to find a place to store items. The EC has more cabin room than mine but it is still small for two and staying out over a night.
Most of my cruising is at displacement speed and the C-Dory with a four stroke 90 Honda burns very little there. It seems to have much more space and we are comfortable for more days out. When desired you have the speed and you can make a choice of speed or low fuel burn. The C-Dory just seems to fill more of the general boating needs if your intended use covers more than day cruising.
I loved both and if I had all the money required I would have a 21' tug to day cruise and a C-Dory 22' to go out for a trip or more than a day or two. I have albums on both C-Brats Elk-Tenn andLil' Toot and have posted many messages on both. Some messages relate to the two boats.
If you want more info. feel free to call my cell phone (256) 318-4608. It is slow typing with being a one-fingered typist.
Ron Cowan
Pat,
A couple of thoughts overlooked on the first post. 1) The Tugnuts site has a number of owners that can be of great help on the open water question. I feel sure the answer is yes. 2) If you are still in Fla. you should drive up to see Wefings in East Point, Fl. Marc is both a Ranger and C-Dory dealer and is great to work with. Check his web site, he probably has both is stock for a sea trial.
Ron Cowan
A couple of thoughts overlooked on the first post. 1) The Tugnuts site has a number of owners that can be of great help on the open water question. I feel sure the answer is yes. 2) If you are still in Fla. you should drive up to see Wefings in East Point, Fl. Marc is both a Ranger and C-Dory dealer and is great to work with. Check his web site, he probably has both is stock for a sea trial.
Ron Cowan
As much as I love the look and economy of the Ranger 21; the C Dory 22 is a far better boat for the ICW and any open bodies of water along the way. There will be some days when you want to step the boat up to 20 knots and get there--believe me. I spent most of my life at 5 ot 7 knots!
I view all those tugs as cocktail boats. Something you can have a cocktail on and look good doing it. Other than that they don't have much appeal to me. They're not very practical and have only two uses that I can see. Posing and cruising really slow. I couldn't imagine a much worse fishing platform. This is just a personal opinion based on the type of boating that I do. For others that want to pose and go slow, I think that they would be a wonderful boat. They are cute though.
Forrest
Forrest
I was on demos for Sat and Sun on the R 21 and we had easy 20 Kts both days . Its a very comfortable vessel in seas and better the snottier it gets , but as all have pointed out , no option to go fast when you want to . I enjoy both boats alot but since I am the polar opposite of retired , I never really have a chance to do any extended cruising .
Marc
Marc
Wandering Sagebrush
Free Range Human
forrest":vbv6b18w said:
Hmmmm, guess I am a poser wanna be!
Jim is correct (as usual..)... about the apples and oranges... but, what if you want a pair
Just a thought...and it may be the hydrocodone kick-n in after oral surgery, but... shoot for a mix-n-match.
Check out the CD16 Angler for sale for less than $11K in San Fran on the very front page..
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=13099
Put a good canvas on this boat and go, and you could more than likely get most of your money back once the great trips are over. And... in this boat ...if you missed a turn on the rivers, you could turn around and go back up river which could and would be hard on the R-21... but, they are soooooo cool. I still love the readings of the 3 guys who traveled the Alaskain waters together with each of them in their own boat...
Just a thought...and it may be the hydrocodone kick-n in after oral surgery, but... shoot for a mix-n-match.
Check out the CD16 Angler for sale for less than $11K in San Fran on the very front page..
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=13099
Put a good canvas on this boat and go, and you could more than likely get most of your money back once the great trips are over. And... in this boat ...if you missed a turn on the rivers, you could turn around and go back up river which could and would be hard on the R-21... but, they are soooooo cool. I still love the readings of the 3 guys who traveled the Alaskain waters together with each of them in their own boat...