Connection between C-Dorys and Ranger Tugs

[maryvmcclain]

I know there is some connection or "geneology" between C-Dorys and Ranger Tugs; but what is it exactly? We're attending a Tug Nuts Gathering in the Chesapeake this weekend and I'm sure I'll be asked. I know that Andrew from Ranger Tugs used to work at the C-Dory plant; not sure if that's the only connection or if there is a designer also in common?

Thanks...
Mary

 

[Ron Cowan]

There was a short period of time in the 3005-2006 time frame that they tried a joint marketing venture. In fact a few tugs were sold as C-Ranger. This was in the Classic 21' era prior to the 25' I believe. A number of individuals have worked both places. Both were great companies and good customer relations and needless to say great boats. I tried both and you can not go wrong with either.

 

[JamesTXSD]

The Ranger 25 was first marketed as a "C-Ranger." Built by Ranger, to be sold and marketed by C-Dory. There was a mock-up floorplan of the Ranger 25 at the 2006 Seattle Boat Show... but not a boat. With the actual-size floorplan, you could get a feel for what went where. When Jeff Messmer was at C-Dory, the company knew how to market. That Ranger/C-Dory association didn't last long.

We ordered our boat at that boat show and did the "walk through" on that Ranger floorplan. Seems to me that they sold some based on the boat show... showing that a good presence at the SBS, even without an actual boat, translates into sales.

No doubt, there was more going on behind the scenes, but it wasn't long before Jeff went to Ranger and C-Dory marketing/customer relations slowly fizzled out. (my opinion) As C-Dory sales lessened, Ranger sales increased... easy to see why people who used to work for C-Dory went to Ranger.

So, two completely different companies that shared some marketing. You can see the layout similarities between the CD-25 and the original R-25. Different execution in the build and amenities. Both nice boats with some overlapping on their niche.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[thataway]

Jeff Messmer is also one of the people who was at C Dory and then left to go to Ranger Tugs as Vice President of Sales. It did seem that there was a close relationship between Ranger and C Dory in the 2005 to 2006 era...

 

[Sunbeam]

To pick up on another part of the question: There is no designer in common, correct? I (believe I) know the Toland family has been behind all of the C-Dory/Cape Cruiser/Marinaut designs, but they have nothing to do with the Ranger ones... right?

And is there a Bayliner connection at Ranger? Design or maybe ownership?

 

[thataway]

No Designer in common. David Livingston does the design for Ranger Tugs , and he was a designer for Bayliner. He has also done some design work for Reinell, Bayliner, Wellcraft, Regal and others.

Tom Latham was briefly affiliated with C Dory, and did some of the design for the 29….Latham was also employed by Bayliner at one time..

 

[rogerbum]

No Designer in common. David Livingston does the design for Ranger Tugs , and he was a designer for Bayliner. He has also done some design work for Reinell, Bayliner, Wellcraft, Regal and others.

Tom Latham was briefly affiliated with C Dory, and did some of the design for the 29….Latham was also employed by Bayliner at one time..

I think Latham may have created the specs for the 29 but there was another individual who did the design. I believe that guy came on the C-Brats briefly a year or two ago. Seemed like a nice fellow who explained his design around the specs he was given.

On edit - here's a link to the tread about the CD 29 design.

 

[Da Nag]

There is of course, the nerd connection...both sites are managed by the same dork, and both sites reside on the same server.

 

[Pat Anderson]

OK, as you know, I am not shy with my views on this topic!

The connection between C-Dory and Ranger actually was based on the longstanding friendship between Jeff Messmer, who was at C-Dory, and John Livingston of Ranger. It was to be Ranger building the boat and C-Dory (meaning Jeff Messmer) doing the marketing. As Dr. Bob notes, John's dad Dave Livingston was a very experienced designer, being responsible for a lot of great boats for a number of companies. As Jim notes, the "C-Ranger" was present at the 2006 Seattle Boat Show as a bare hull, a brochure and a few more drawings. Based on that, they sold boats! We actually put money down on one. I frequently visited the Ranger factory while we thought we still were going to get one. The Livingstons are all great people and I like and admire them a lot.

The initial "C-Rangers" were underpowered and did not perform as advertised. Les probably knows more about that than anyone else. Thanks to Dusty, we decided not to go ahead with that purchase. Jeff was soon gone from C-Dory, and he is not talking about that, but I am guessing there is some connection to Latham coming IN. Jeff of course went immediately to Ranger Tugs, and that was C-Dory's loss and Ranger's gain. The great joint marketing venture was ended and we all know how the Livingstons' boat building skills and Jeff's marketing genius (with kudos to Andrew's customer service genius) has propelled Ranger to the top of the heap while C-Dory struggles to hang on as a company without anyone who has a clue about marketing or customer service.

There is a lesson in here but nobody at C-Dory has seemed to get it.

 

[thataway]

Thanks to my son's eagle eye, and love of C Dorys also, he noted this "C Ranger 21 Tug" a few docks down from his classic C Dory 25 Cruiser at Dana Point Marina.


As I understand the history, Ranger was formed in about 1958, and built a number of various styles of boats from skiffs, sail boats and the first 18 and 21 foot Ranger Tugs in about 1979. About 1999, the Ranger Company was purchased by David Livingston, and eventually the-coabulation between C Dory and Ranger produced a few boats, before they split off..

 

[hardee]

There's a blast from the past.

That is one of the nicest C-Ranger Tugs I have seen. But they just never look very sea worthy to me. I have seen them up in the San Juans, around in the islands just wouldn't be for my taste.

By the way, the Ranger boat manufacture were the makers of the Ranger sailboat. this one is in Sequim Bay.



Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[ken35216]

Thanks to my son's eagle eye, and love of C Dorys also, he noted this "C Ranger 21 Tug" a few docks down from his classic C Dory 25 Cruiser at Dana Point Marina.


As I understand the history, Ranger was formed in about 1958, and built a number of various styles of boats from skiffs, sail boats and the first 18 and 21 foot Ranger Tugs in about 1979. About 1999, the Ranger Company was purchased by David Livingston, and eventually the-coabulation between C Dory and Ranger produced a few boats, before they split off..

Okay. Dana Point Marina is insane.