Austinsailor
Veteran Member
I’ve been asking and learning a lot about pros and cons of Sea Pipers in another thread. Several have suggested I look at Ranger Tugs instead. They are not so hard to find to look at, and I have hopes of looking at 3 today. I’ve located an R-25, an R-29 and an R31. The 25 is pretty clearly trailerable, no permits. The 29 trailerable, permits required. The 31, probably but in the upper end with permits.
I guess what I’d like to know is just how capable these guys are off shore. Would you take any of them to the Bahamas? I’m a weather chicken, but try as you might, you can still get caught in a nasty blow. Would you feel safe in any or all of these if you were offshore and something popped up? I don’t mean comfortable, but not in danger?
What kind of fuel economy can I expect? The R-25 has a 140 hp Cummins. At 7 knots or so, could I expect 1 gph?
A used R-25 can be had for about 1/3 the cost if a Sea Piper and it occurred to me, if I’m tempted I could get into it and back out for not that much money if I, or my girlfriend, decide we want to go a different way. If I wait and go with the Sea Piper like I think I’d like, it’s likely to be painful financially if I decide to back up.
I know someone is going to say “just figure out what you want and quit bothering us!”, but, hey, I could use some feedback!
I guess what I’d like to know is just how capable these guys are off shore. Would you take any of them to the Bahamas? I’m a weather chicken, but try as you might, you can still get caught in a nasty blow. Would you feel safe in any or all of these if you were offshore and something popped up? I don’t mean comfortable, but not in danger?
What kind of fuel economy can I expect? The R-25 has a 140 hp Cummins. At 7 knots or so, could I expect 1 gph?
A used R-25 can be had for about 1/3 the cost if a Sea Piper and it occurred to me, if I’m tempted I could get into it and back out for not that much money if I, or my girlfriend, decide we want to go a different way. If I wait and go with the Sea Piper like I think I’d like, it’s likely to be painful financially if I decide to back up.
I know someone is going to say “just figure out what you want and quit bothering us!”, but, hey, I could use some feedback!