New from Ranger Tug
- Thread starter Walldog
- Start date
Jeff is the person who sold us on a C-Dory some time before we ever bought one and even when we turned up at a Ranger rendezvous in a Rosborough we were given food, hats, margaritas etc and invited to join the fun.
That plus great support is how you not only sell but keep your customers and make them your wider salesforce.
M
That plus great support is how you not only sell but keep your customers and make them your wider salesforce.
M
starcrafttom
Active member
after going back to the tug booth yesterday and talking to Jeff and company I have a few farther commits on the 28 cut water.
First off I can't describe how much I like the two way bench seat in the transom. For those of you who have not seen it take a look at the pictures else where in this thread. the two person seat can face into the cockpit or pivots and faces out over the swim deck. I just think its a great idea. great way to enjoy a beer and watch boats, nature, fireworks, whales etc.. go by.
Next is the second galley.. its still a dumb idea but half of the people seem to like it. Great part is if you don't like it you can have ranger build a closet instead or a seat like in the 26. They stated they would build that out any way you wanted. I also confirmed that the berth is the same size as the tug. It just looked smaller to me. other then that its a mirror image of the tug. they just switched the table to be behind the driver and the galley to the other side. One advantage of that is now the admiral can sit next to the captain in a two place seat while under away and better direct him!? :roll:
Now I did not know what every one was talking about the disco light? I now assume they mean the blue light on the side of the cabin. Well guess what? it turns off. So I single handedly solved that. I was also told that the gold stripe can be removed and they will later offer it in a silver stripe. I don't like gold on anything. more of a silver aluminum guy.
The one overlooked thing about the boat that I did not see anyone commit on was the anchor and boarding ladder. That's right the bow mounted boarding ladder. If you look at the bow you will see that the anchor does not come off the bow but out of the bow below the deck level. The rail on the bow is opened and there is a built in over the bow boarding ladder for beaching. How many of use have asked for that exact thing for our c-dory's? how many of us have complained about not being able to beach the boat with out getting wet? great idea.
I talked to someone about fuel and speed numbers. That hull is a marvel. The more I look at it the more I appreciate it. The long skeg will allow the 28 to track well and avoid the sliding at slow speeds that our c-Dory's suffer from. the stepped hull is not a new concept but it does allow for the greater speed and fuel numbers. we are talking about a 28 ft boat cruising at 25 to28 mph ( yes I still cannot think in knots) burning 9 to 11 gph. That's the same as my boat.
For the fisherman amount us, this boat is equipped with a trolling valve at the rear station. This allows troll speeds of .5 mph. Along with a auto pilot you have a great troll platform.
All in all I think this boat is going to be a big seller even with the second galley :lol: add a tilt up dinghy on the swim deck and a bike rack to the top, a water maker like mac has in his tug and you may have the best trailerable fast cruiser in its class, oh that's right there is nothing in its class. which bring up a funny story. I had noticed that the tugs are getting a lot of press. I assumed that jeff had pictures of major magizine editor with hookers. but I was told that there are so few new model boats being offered that the mag's are begging to write about the tug and the cut water because they have very little else new to write about. I bet we see this boat in a lot of mags after the Miami show or is it fort lauderdale?
First off I can't describe how much I like the two way bench seat in the transom. For those of you who have not seen it take a look at the pictures else where in this thread. the two person seat can face into the cockpit or pivots and faces out over the swim deck. I just think its a great idea. great way to enjoy a beer and watch boats, nature, fireworks, whales etc.. go by.
Next is the second galley.. its still a dumb idea but half of the people seem to like it. Great part is if you don't like it you can have ranger build a closet instead or a seat like in the 26. They stated they would build that out any way you wanted. I also confirmed that the berth is the same size as the tug. It just looked smaller to me. other then that its a mirror image of the tug. they just switched the table to be behind the driver and the galley to the other side. One advantage of that is now the admiral can sit next to the captain in a two place seat while under away and better direct him!? :roll:
Now I did not know what every one was talking about the disco light? I now assume they mean the blue light on the side of the cabin. Well guess what? it turns off. So I single handedly solved that. I was also told that the gold stripe can be removed and they will later offer it in a silver stripe. I don't like gold on anything. more of a silver aluminum guy.
The one overlooked thing about the boat that I did not see anyone commit on was the anchor and boarding ladder. That's right the bow mounted boarding ladder. If you look at the bow you will see that the anchor does not come off the bow but out of the bow below the deck level. The rail on the bow is opened and there is a built in over the bow boarding ladder for beaching. How many of use have asked for that exact thing for our c-dory's? how many of us have complained about not being able to beach the boat with out getting wet? great idea.
I talked to someone about fuel and speed numbers. That hull is a marvel. The more I look at it the more I appreciate it. The long skeg will allow the 28 to track well and avoid the sliding at slow speeds that our c-Dory's suffer from. the stepped hull is not a new concept but it does allow for the greater speed and fuel numbers. we are talking about a 28 ft boat cruising at 25 to28 mph ( yes I still cannot think in knots) burning 9 to 11 gph. That's the same as my boat.
For the fisherman amount us, this boat is equipped with a trolling valve at the rear station. This allows troll speeds of .5 mph. Along with a auto pilot you have a great troll platform.
All in all I think this boat is going to be a big seller even with the second galley :lol: add a tilt up dinghy on the swim deck and a bike rack to the top, a water maker like mac has in his tug and you may have the best trailerable fast cruiser in its class, oh that's right there is nothing in its class. which bring up a funny story. I had noticed that the tugs are getting a lot of press. I assumed that jeff had pictures of major magizine editor with hookers. but I was told that there are so few new model boats being offered that the mag's are begging to write about the tug and the cut water because they have very little else new to write about. I bet we see this boat in a lot of mags after the Miami show or is it fort lauderdale?
rogerbum":280qelob said:
First, thanks to Tom for that re-visit to the Cutwater display. Sounds like it is worth a look if you are in that market (we are happy with our Tom Cat and short of selling the house we will stay with it.)
Now for Roger's comment -- very, very true. However, I noticed that the Livingstons have installed a completely new management and sales team for the Cutwaters. Short of getting Roger to clone Jeff in his lab, I think it will be interesting to see if the Cutwater team can clear the bar that Jeff has set.
Warren
I thought the Cutwater looked a lot better in fiberglass than it did in the pictures. The pictures made it look over designed, which I still think it is, but it does look better in person. It's not my kind of boat, but I do think they have a better idea of what their buyers want than I do. Both the Tugs and the Cutwater have many incredible features that tell you they are listening to the customer and making clever modifications to satisfy them.
Here's another Jeff Messmer story. I had a couple of short conversations with him, Snoqualmie beer in hand, at C-Brat gatherings. A couple of years later, we were staying in the hotel overlooking the Miami boat show. I looked out and on a dock way in the distance was the first 25 Ranger Tug. I hiked down and there was Jeff all by himself. He recognized me and treated me like a long lost friend. I've been in sales close to 40 years and that's sales genius. I wish I had his memory for names and faces.
Lyle
Here's another Jeff Messmer story. I had a couple of short conversations with him, Snoqualmie beer in hand, at C-Brat gatherings. A couple of years later, we were staying in the hotel overlooking the Miami boat show. I looked out and on a dock way in the distance was the first 25 Ranger Tug. I hiked down and there was Jeff all by himself. He recognized me and treated me like a long lost friend. I've been in sales close to 40 years and that's sales genius. I wish I had his memory for names and faces.
Lyle
starcrafttom
Active member
yeah they are listening. the really neat thing is that the cut water does not compete with the tug at all. The speed of the hull appeals to a different boater then the tug. Now if I can just get them to build a fishing boat next year..
jimandlaurie
New member
Forrest,forrest":lz4btygx said:
Good eyes..
My Admiral, Laurie,(who should be hired as quality control at a huge salary for Ranger) pointed out that gunnel seam you mentioned to John Livingston. He said that they had only got the cockpit end piece put on the day before the move-in at the boat show, so it was not the finished product. So I looked at the CW28 and sure enough it was finshed off on the 28.
centerisland
New member
FWIW, here's a photo I snapped of the caulking on the "basket handle" - is that a different caulk seam? Also, I noticed that the aft edge of that mini cockpit hardtop was raw fiberglass ground flat, so I acknowledge that they rushed the boat to the show with things that would be fixed before or during commissioning. One thing I am curious to hear are comments about the midships cleat (also shown in the picture below).jimandlaurie":1fw6vavr said:
centerisland
New member
starcrafttom":5t1s3n8b said:
Here's a picture. I also liked the stainless "staples" on the step, though I'm not sure the slight forward angle of the outer leg adds enough bracing in the fore/aft direction.
billtwymank
New member
Has anyone posted pictures of the hull shape/design.
In 2006 we looked at a similar package in Surrey, BC.
The computer hull design analysis was great..........
with lots of marketing hype,
but the prototype hull was a failure when put to a test
in the water
The on the water tests made the manufacturer go to back and rework the hull to a true and proven west coast hull design.
In 2006 we looked at a similar package in Surrey, BC.
The computer hull design analysis was great..........
with lots of marketing hype,
but the prototype hull was a failure when put to a test
in the water
The on the water tests made the manufacturer go to back and rework the hull to a true and proven west coast hull design.
In the past Ranger built the lower half of the boat's hull, powered it, loaded it to match a complete boat, and then ran on-the-water testing.
I heard that this was the procedure they followed with the Cutwater.
It does make sense to test the hull design in the water prior to committing to a complete boat.
I heard that this was the procedure they followed with the Cutwater.
It does make sense to test the hull design in the water prior to committing to a complete boat.
The Cutwater 26 and 28 were both in the water at the Orange Beach Boat show (The Wharf at Orange Beach). Jeff Messmer was also there, and I spent a little time with Jeff on both the Ranger 27 and the Cutwater 28. Roger Rockwell lured me off to lunch, and I came back to look at the Cutwater 26. My feeling was that I liked the Ranger tugs far better than the Cutwaters. I did not like the second microwave, sink and coffee maker in the Cutwater 28. Jeff pointed out that the "coffin bunk, was athwartships in both of the cutwaters, and it seemed very awkward to get in and out of in both boats. I also felt that there was a lack of storage, both in the galley and forward cabin. However Jeff, said that they have many orders for both boats.
I did not ride on one, but Jeff said that they have had the 28 over 30 (I think he said knots)--and the boats handle well.
I am really impressed with the Ranger 27--this is a wonderful evolution of the 25, and of course was well presented by Marc Grove of Wefings!
If you are in the area this weekend, this Orange beach show is far better than any we have seen in the area--at least for boats!
I did not ride on one, but Jeff said that they have had the 28 over 30 (I think he said knots)--and the boats handle well.
I am really impressed with the Ranger 27--this is a wonderful evolution of the 25, and of course was well presented by Marc Grove of Wefings!
If you are in the area this weekend, this Orange beach show is far better than any we have seen in the area--at least for boats!
We have 4 c brats folks represented so far , Roger Rockytop [who I am eternally grateful for being always there to help] , Dan and Denice [Fishhawk] Dr Bob [Thataway],and Alan and Jeannie [C Tide] . Got a few Tugnut friends coming in as well . Lotsa fun when you have friends there .
Thanks to all that came to see us ! Next stop is Sarasota next weekend .
Marc
Thanks to all that came to see us ! Next stop is Sarasota next weekend .
Marc
Walldog, I have to have the admiral's permission to buy a Ranger Tug...and so far it is not forthcoming! A tug would be a second boat--in that there is much of the year that I could not get in and out of our bayou because of a sand bar. So the Tug would be for the West Coast--and I fear that we are getting too old/decrepit for more trips out that way....