You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Ranger Tug 21ec - My Observation!
- Thread starter IdleUp
- Start date
IdleUp, I too looked at the 21EC and thought it offered a lot of features for the size but in the end it wasn't the right boat for my current lifestyle (Wife 3 kids 2 dogs & limited time on the water due to long hours at work). There are a lot of boats out there and I think you need to find one that suits your needs instead of picking apart the Ranger 21EC and upsetting all these fine folks. They are proud owners who knew what they were purchasing and decided it worked for them. They are here to discuss ways to maintain, improve and enjoy these boats and I think bashing a boat they own is not in the spirit of this forum. Like I said there are a lot of boats to choose from and they all have different compromises due to size, power, hull design etc. I decided the CD 22 will be better for me at this time. Maybe you would be interested in the Pompano 21 by Atlas Boat Works. Another inboard diesel powered boat with a higher cruise & top speed. Not a better boat just different but it might work for you looking at what you say you want in a boat. (More speed simpler cabin better seating in cabin etc).
Good luck in finding a boat that is right for you.
John
Good luck in finding a boat that is right for you.
John
My apologies to the board and its members - I was only trying to express my feelings and the reason I personally decided to pass on the R21. Some members started slinging mud and I just threw it back. I should have just backed off and let the thread move down.
Like I said, I think the R21 is one of the cutest picnic/work boats out there in its size. Criticism and conversation like this that makes boats better and better each year - I'm sure the improvements they made to the ec model was a direct result of customer requests and a few complaints. Regardless, of the fact I stepped on some toes which I regret - the points I mentioned really are valid - and would drastically improve the R21.
Best Regards!
Like I said, I think the R21 is one of the cutest picnic/work boats out there in its size. Criticism and conversation like this that makes boats better and better each year - I'm sure the improvements they made to the ec model was a direct result of customer requests and a few complaints. Regardless, of the fact I stepped on some toes which I regret - the points I mentioned really are valid - and would drastically improve the R21.
Best Regards!
Brent":3ftw739e said:Did you consider a 21' Parker 2120 or 220 Defiance pilothouse or longer versions. There are many 25' Parker on the market.
Brent,
I drove up by Mechanicsville,Va a few weeks ago and looked over the Parkers - they seem to be very well built boat with plenty of room. I'm not sure I want to go back to an outboard though.
My problem now is the little R21 with it's fit / finish in a picnic style boat has me spoiled - does anyone make a R21 look alike that's larger. I need the large open aft deck for what I'm doing with it, but I'm not to happy with the looks of the fishing / lobster type boats.
Thanks
What is your opinion of these boats?
http://acadia25.com/
http://acadia25.com/
Brent---Idleup
I was about to suggest the Acadia also since it does not look quite as fishing-lobster as the pompano. Having been aboard an Acadia, if money was not an issue for an old retired guy, I would sell my Ranger 21 and buy an Acadia. It has most of the same look with the right additions added to the increased size. Several engine options are available to address the speed and or fuel burn issues. Ron
I was about to suggest the Acadia also since it does not look quite as fishing-lobster as the pompano. Having been aboard an Acadia, if money was not an issue for an old retired guy, I would sell my Ranger 21 and buy an Acadia. It has most of the same look with the right additions added to the increased size. Several engine options are available to address the speed and or fuel burn issues. Ron
Brent":3tqsqadt said:What is your opinion of these boats?
http://acadia25.com/
Brent,
Thanks for the tip on the ACADIA 25 - I just spoke to the factory for around 30 minutes. They seem to have a special boat and have been building them for some time now. The base price is around 100K with a Yanmar 180. At first site it looks like it might be a good pleasure/ work boat for us.
I appreciate the help!
Ron Cowan":1lfynwlz said:Brent---Idleup
I was about to suggest the Acadia also since it does not look quite as fishing-lobster as the pompano. Having been aboard an Acadia, if money was not an issue for an old retired guy, I would sell my Ranger 21 and buy an Acadia. It has most of the same look with the right additions added to the increased size. Several engine options are available to address the speed and or fuel burn issues. Ron
Hi Ron
I have not been on one yet. What is your opinion?
Brent":1ia8omx6 said:great
add a penny to the tip jar
Will do . . .
While the factory told me they only build boats as they are ordered - I googled it and found quite a few for sale on the Internet.
Thanks again!
I have been on a couple of Acadia 25's, since they are built right down the road a bit in Cape Coral. Nice boats! More plain than a Ranger, not as fancy in terms of trim and outfitting, which probably makes it a bit more appropriate for IdleUp's needs. I also like how Atlas Boatworks keeps everything pretty simple to work on, nothing hidden. I know one guy here who has owned one for several years. He's not using it much due to health and family issues, but has been well pleased with the boat.
Brent,
Have only been aboard the Acadia sitting on a trailer so can not comment on ride or handling. Was very impressed with the straight forward approach to everything and appearance of ease of maintaince. The plain approach as mentioned in the other post is more like a C-Dory and Ranger 21. Sounds crazy but with the money I would take one in a minute. Ron
Have only been aboard the Acadia sitting on a trailer so can not comment on ride or handling. Was very impressed with the straight forward approach to everything and appearance of ease of maintaince. The plain approach as mentioned in the other post is more like a C-Dory and Ranger 21. Sounds crazy but with the money I would take one in a minute. Ron
IdleUp":1yim94wz said:Brent":1yim94wz said:great
add a penny to the tip jar
Will do . . .
While the factory told me they only build boats as they are ordered - I googled it and found quite a few for sale on the Internet.
Thanks again!
good luck!
That Acadia 21 can top out at 17 knots with a 75 horse , thats impressive.
I would sell my ranger in a heart beat and buy a new one if they offered engine upgrades.
still luv ny 21 even though she can't get out of her own way , thats my biggest drawback about the boat.
Last year we had to loose 4 days waiting in Kingston Canada because we didn't want to chance beating bad weather .
Two other boats we were with made the 50 mile crossing in about 2 hrs. across the lake . It would have taken us 7 or 8 to get to Oswego ... so we waited it out.
There are times when some extra speed would be nice, thats for sure . AND THATS A FACT, like it or not.
We have logged about 300 miles in our tug so far, and made adjustments and changes to the boat to better suite us . But
you just can't easily get around the slow speed when you need more.
Yanmar is not the only compact diesel out there, and Ranger could easily fit a higher horse power in the boat, it would handle it just fine.( trust me I do not need to read the nature of boats, or a phd to make that claim )
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH IDLEUP on that note, stirring the pot is a good thing sometimes if change is made for the better.
I would sell my ranger in a heart beat and buy a new one if they offered engine upgrades.
still luv ny 21 even though she can't get out of her own way , thats my biggest drawback about the boat.
Last year we had to loose 4 days waiting in Kingston Canada because we didn't want to chance beating bad weather .
Two other boats we were with made the 50 mile crossing in about 2 hrs. across the lake . It would have taken us 7 or 8 to get to Oswego ... so we waited it out.
There are times when some extra speed would be nice, thats for sure . AND THATS A FACT, like it or not.
We have logged about 300 miles in our tug so far, and made adjustments and changes to the boat to better suite us . But
you just can't easily get around the slow speed when you need more.
Yanmar is not the only compact diesel out there, and Ranger could easily fit a higher horse power in the boat, it would handle it just fine.( trust me I do not need to read the nature of boats, or a phd to make that claim )
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH IDLEUP on that note, stirring the pot is a good thing sometimes if change is made for the better.
I am very hesitant to agree with the larger motor Idea even though yes a little more speed would nice sometimes. In a 4 to 6 foot following sea I have had my 21 over ten knots and I can tell you that a full keel semi-displacement boat, even with the hard reverse chin across the back, does not handle well at all. Those types of speeds are a welcome sight for a few seconds but would become a major task to control for long periods of time. The keel has a tendency to make the boat broach. The only way around this is the total redesign of the hull. I can't see the ranger 21ec tracking well at all in hard turn. The larger "trawler" type boats that can obtain these plaining speeds will not have a keel that runs from tip to tail.
Shaun,
If you were broaching ,more speed would help in following seas, you could stay ahead of the waves trying to spin you around.
Or more power to stay on the wave backs better .
I have not been in anything as big as 6 foot seas , can you describe how she handled in that type of big water , head on I have hit some huge wakes from big boats to see how well she can take it .
And I am quite impressed how well she takes big wakes
If you were broaching ,more speed would help in following seas, you could stay ahead of the waves trying to spin you around.
Or more power to stay on the wave backs better .
I have not been in anything as big as 6 foot seas , can you describe how she handled in that type of big water , head on I have hit some huge wakes from big boats to see how well she can take it .
And I am quite impressed how well she takes big wakes
Frob,
The seas that I am referring to where not wind chop, but a ground swell and I was running directly with it. The boat wants to broach because the hard chine pushes the bow down allowing the keel to dig in. I discovered this because when the boat gets over 9 knots or so there is a little jet of water that shoots up from the bow under the anchor. If you took the keel out of the equation the added power would help ride the back of a wave or stray in the trough in a following sea condition. The bottom line is that this boat has a belly not a flat surface to plain on. The ranger handles surprisingly well in the open ocean during less than optimal conditions. just close your windows, batten down the hatches and turn just slightly off from head on and she will kind of walk through heavy wind chop. She will pound, however, if you get to close to the swell direction and the prop will cavitate for just an instant but then she calms right down. The trick to a following sea is to slow down. You will find a sweet spot that is just slow enough for the waves to pass under the boat with out allowing her to catch the wave itself. I like the following sea because with less power (and fuel) you go faster.
The seas that I am referring to where not wind chop, but a ground swell and I was running directly with it. The boat wants to broach because the hard chine pushes the bow down allowing the keel to dig in. I discovered this because when the boat gets over 9 knots or so there is a little jet of water that shoots up from the bow under the anchor. If you took the keel out of the equation the added power would help ride the back of a wave or stray in the trough in a following sea condition. The bottom line is that this boat has a belly not a flat surface to plain on. The ranger handles surprisingly well in the open ocean during less than optimal conditions. just close your windows, batten down the hatches and turn just slightly off from head on and she will kind of walk through heavy wind chop. She will pound, however, if you get to close to the swell direction and the prop will cavitate for just an instant but then she calms right down. The trick to a following sea is to slow down. You will find a sweet spot that is just slow enough for the waves to pass under the boat with out allowing her to catch the wave itself. I like the following sea because with less power (and fuel) you go faster.