I was in the US Navy and spent about a year of my life at sea (was an officer for four years). I drove warships from the bridge and even taught others "The Rules of the Road" as I was the only one to get a perfect score on the test given to my ship's crew. I've had countless hours of maritime safety training and drills and spent countless hours on watch on the bridge. I also have been on about a dozen cruise ship cruises and been on sailboats on the Great Lakes many times. I understand how sailboats work but I am kind of a clutz working them (I like power boats). I like many features of the Ranger Tugs as they check off many of the boxes I learned about for seaworthiness when I was in the navy. I would never think of taking many private boats out on the Great Lakes or the ocean as safety is a primary concern. I've seen waves go over the bows of destroyers and ever carriers in bad seas. Having a strong enclosed bow and enclosed bridge with excellent visibility is a must. I will eventually get a boat like this when I retire or close to when I retire in 25 to 30 years. However, having both the time and money for a boat like this is a challenge before retirement. With my work, I could afford one but then I'd have no time to use it. I also live in North Dakota near family so quite far from the ocean or the Great Lakes. I like going on international vacations to Europe and other continents and that's hard to do with a boat when I only have two weeks of vacation per year. I would have a blast taking this boat on cruises on the Great Lakes, down the intracoastal waterways from Texas to New Jersey, island hopping in the Caribbean, and even going up some rivers. I like the R-23 to R-27 as they have outboard motors with easy access. I'd probably lean most towards the R-27. I think I'd really enjoy the freedom. I'd much rather have a nice car (just a nice Mustang and nothing too fancy), boat, and airplane (just a small bush plane) than a big house. I like to travel, and I like practical and not fancy.

@expeditionseanest

2 күн бұрын

Rjen it sounds like you have had a lot of experience on the water. We wish you all the best in your retirement and finding the perfect vessel for yourself.

Thank you for showing us your home, I think people forget that when you liveaboard your boat becomes your home.

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

Yes Michael you are so right.

The air conditioner doesn't "extract the cold from the water". It extracts the heat energy from the air and releases it into the water. it also pulls heat from the water in reverse cycle. seems silly but there really is no such thing as "cold". cold things just carry less heat energy. great videos and fun boat!

Man! You both are awesome humans! Thank you...

@expeditionseanest

4 ай бұрын

Julia is, but I'm just an average Joe.😁 But thanks for the kind words.

Great presentation folks.

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. And thank you for taking the time to leave such a kind comment . We appreciate it.

Enjoyed both of these segments; thank you! As a future Ranger or Cutwater owner, I appreciated your thorough walk and talk about how yours is, and what you've done with it. Happy New Year!

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

Winkmeister, thank you for taking the time to leave such a nice comment. We are glad the walkthroughs were helpful and that you enjoyed them. HNY to you as well

Great walk through of your beautiful boat. Thanks very much for all your time. I've really enjoyed it and am very interested in seeing one first hand.

@expeditionseanest

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the video . Thank you for taking the time to leave such a nice comment. We appreciate it.

We have a Ranger Tug R21ec that we absolutely love. Someday we plan to upgrade to the R25, it’s a beautiful boat. Thank you so much for the tour!

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

You are most welcome!

❤Great Boat for two people that work well as a team. 😊 Enjoy your travels.

@expeditionseanest

4 ай бұрын

It sure is! Teamwork is essential ....and so is a sense of humour! All the best to you as well .

Beautiful boat! Love it! Thanks for the tour.

@expeditionseanest

4 ай бұрын

Kenneth , you are most welcome. Glad you enjoyed it .

Great video. Thank you.

@expeditionseanest

4 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a nice comment.

The most thorough walk thru (both episodes 1 and 2) of any I've seen anywhere. Always loved Ranger Tugs, thanks so much for taking the time to do the videos.

@expeditionseanest

3 ай бұрын

Rick, glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for the positive feedback we appreciate it.

thanks for the walk through it was great and lots of us are watching!! Keep the videos coming!

@expeditionseanest

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and for the support Scott! We appreciate it.

Love it guys, “Talk of the Dock” great tour. We are loving our R25 and your tour gave us new ideas. I did build a shelf above the coat rack that uses the bolts from the back of the TV along with some brackets that drop from the studs above from the grab bar. No holes drilled. Ranger provided wood material along with the same inlayed trim used in the galley. It solid, looks and function very well. Keep the content coming and thanks again.

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

You are very welcome. The boat is good as is but we have seen other owners tweak some things depending on needs and amount of travel . We continue to modify as we go . Always love to hear and see what others have come up with . Thanks for your comment

Enjoyed the walk through. You seem to be a charming couple living your best life. Wishing you well.

@expeditionseanest

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words. We wish you the best.

I got a small tension curtain rod and used it in the frig to keep the floppy freezer door secure. It helped to cut down on frost and my lettuce didn’t freeze anymore.

@expeditionseanest

6 ай бұрын

What a great idea! Thanks

I'm liking your tour of both the inside and outside of your Ranger. They great little boats. Spendy but well built. I have a 30' sailboat in Alaska and am 65 and retired so I spend a lot of time on it and have been sailing since I was 15 y.o. so I know boating and navigating. Good choice on using the iPad for backup navigation. I have one that has the GPS chipset built in but it draws a good amount of juice, so my Standard Horizon Matrix DCS/GPS/AIS VHF radio supplies the GPS and AIS data to a wireless hub on the boat, which then broadcasts it via wifi to my iPad and the Navionics Boating app. Since the VHF uses power from the house batteries, it's a more efficient way to get the GPS data than via the plug on the iPad. Since you have a stand alone GPS puck, which you probably have to recharge, you might look into a wireless hub and connect it to your Standard Horizon radio. Those hubs can be expensive, but I bought a good unit from a guy in Australia from his company called 'Mad Man Marine'. Installation was easy and so was the config. Also, your backup outboard is excellent. We call them 'kickers' here in Alaska and most powerboats the size of yours have them, due to the distances here and the dangerous nature of our waters (both in temp and in storms). I don't have one on my sailboat because I have sails but even then, the wind doesn't always blow! Enjoying your channel. My wife is close to retirement and we're thinking of moving back to North Carolina where my family live, buying a 34' catamaran, heading to Florida and then the Bahamas, or perhaps doing the Great Loop on the ICW. Keep up the good videos and be safe out there!

@expeditionseanest

3 ай бұрын

thanks for watching.

Good stuff!!!

@expeditionseanest

2 ай бұрын

Thanks

Nice tour guys. It is indeed a great big little boat. We’ve overnighted only on our R25 The Maggie May exploring the Gulf Islands out of Vancouver. And been super comfortable too. Keep up the good work. James

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

Thanks James . We are heading out your way in 2025!

@jamesfinley7008

7 ай бұрын

@@expeditionseanestLet me know and perhaps we can meet up somewhere for a glass of vino on BC’s beautiful coast. Two identical grey hulled R25OB’s.

Great Review

@expeditionseanest

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Todd, we appreciate that !

So jealous !!!!

@expeditionseanest

Ай бұрын

Thanks Chris, we are grateful for all of this , and for people like you who take the time to leave us nice messages. We appreciate the encouragement .

Y'all gave the best boat walk-through tour that I've seen. Showed and explained everything about your Ranger Tug. I was really surprised that y'all went to the Bahamas in it. That shows how good the Ranger Tug is. It's a rugged but elegant little boat! I like how Michael speeds his way through the waves. Seems it takes it to the limits. 😄 Are y'all going to do the great loop in the future?

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

Thanks Mac. No plans for the loop as of yet . We still have jobs to work our travels around. Perhaps some day though

Definitely get a radar and auto pilot. Haul color is great . Nice video and nice boat .

@expeditionseanest

Ай бұрын

@@Woychowski you’ll be happy for us … since that episode aired we did have auto pilot installed and Michael added the radar for us. So happy we did!

I love these boats...so tough and cute...but I have 1 fun suggestion. In your cabin just add a mirror at end of v berth to reflect some light..it will open up the space...even of it was attached with a bit of velcro..makes it very cozy..

@expeditionseanest

6 ай бұрын

Sounds like a great idea, but we actually find with the two overhead hatches there is more than enough light. It definitely would make the space feel bigger though!

Nice boat. Thanks for the tour. Take care. We can offer one tip. If your paper towels unroll constantly, buy the Viva signature cloth towels. They do not unroll till you grab them. Take care.

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

You are most welcome CP. surprisingly the paper towel roller was a Walmart special and we didn’t have much hope it would last but it has been great! Good to have other options though, so thanks for the tip . Didn’t know about the viva brand!

@davidmilledge221

5 ай бұрын

Or put a rubber band around when travelling it won't unroll then

Just watched the exterior and interior tour of your boat. Gosh, it has so many nooks and crannies for storage. And you have added some useful extra storage bins and done some thoughtful custom stuff. One question is, how hard is it to live with someone in such close quarters for a month or two? It must require lots of tolerance and humor. Congratulations on finding a boat that fits your needs and budget so well.

@expeditionseanest

4 ай бұрын

John, life on the boat is great. It is rare that we fight on the boat. We definitely make each other laugh a lot and that helps immensely. It also helps to be rested and sleep well. That increases tolerence . Nobody is perfect. Choose your words wisely and communicate clearly . Hope that helps

@GloryDaze73

4 ай бұрын

Also, Congratulations on finding each other as partners so you can enjoy this wonderful adventure together.

You guys exemplify the old saying that smaller is better and that is right up our alley. For the last year or so we have been reading and researching trailerable trawler style boats and this is how I came across your channel. I keep coming back to the Ranger boats, particularly the 27ft. I have a couple of questions. What size gen set do you have? How much water do you carry. How well does starlink function on a boat? what kind of range can you get, if you are not in a hurry, running in the lower RPM's range? And, has range ever been an issue or shortcoming? I am sure I will think of a few other questions once I send this. Keep the videos coming.

@expeditionseanest

4 ай бұрын

Hello John, thanks for your support of the channel ....We have a Honda EU2200i generator. We carry roughly 40 gallons ( including the hot water tank) then another 15 gallons in portable . Starlink is excellent. We only use it at anchor , close to shore - not in transit - you would need a marine subscription for that - very expensive. Range for the boat varies according to sea state. At 6 knots we get 2.4 mpg . This range has never been an issue for us. Hope that helps to answer some of your questions. Best of luck in your pursuit of the perfect boat!

Someone needs to do a breakdown of this vs the C-Dory 25' Cruiser

@expeditionseanest

Ай бұрын

Yes, that would be good information . We had some good friends with a CDory and it wasn't right for what we wanted . Nice boats though.

Great video! Im interested in how exactly you attached the bed shelving and also, your best latest idea to keep the switches from getting turned on by accident but still usable. I have looked for covers but have had no luck. thank you!

@expeditionseanest

3 ай бұрын

I did a video but haven't put it to an episode yet. Julia is in charge of content so I have to asking. Thanks for watching.

Very helpful as we're considering a Cutwater 24 - different in style and with a stepped hull but almost identical interior (except the head) due to its 'Fluid Motion DNA'. Did you consider the Cutwater models? Perhaps the 'tug' character was a significant preference for you. We liveaboards always wring the last cubic inch out of a boat. ;)

@user-ds8dt7nn5f

7 ай бұрын

We looked at the Cutwater 24 and not having a fully enclosed head was a big turn-off for us. We ordered an R-25 and will be taking delivery next month

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

Hi Jack, The benefits of the plum bow on the tug is more space in the forward cabin. Unfortunately at slow speeds you do get more spray. Once on plane there is no difference. The classic cutaway bow of the cutwater is dryer ride at slow speeds but you loose some forward cabin space. It's a personal choice. Both are great boats.

Great tour and mods - thanks for the post. Is the diesel onboard an option for this model or do you have to go up to 27+ ?

@expeditionseanest

3 ай бұрын

Hello Motorv8N yes, the diesel onboard was an option but we opted out for added storage and convenience of repair work when needed. There is never enough storage on a little boat!

God, a lot in it 😳

@expeditionseanest

3 ай бұрын

Yes we sure did. It is a bit like a garage- if you have the space , you fill it up with "stuff" .

Very well done! How did ya'll handle the hurricane season there?

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

Good question! We weren't there for hurricane season . So , no problems at all.

Thank you! Is the quality as well as the fit and finish the same on both the Ranger tug and the cutwater? Do they both ride equally in rough water?

@expeditionseanest

2 ай бұрын

We have never driven a Cutwater so cannot speak to that honestly . Just looked at them and talked to folks who have prior to purchasing the Ranger Tug.

Being that style boat has become increasingly popular how comfortable is the boat in tropical waters? Seams that it would quite warm in the cabin.

@expeditionseanest

4 ай бұрын

The Ranger Tug R25 is extremely comfortable in tropical waters. There are two hatches in the front that provide excellent air circulation that moves through the boat . With the back door open you have good air flow. Four hatches in the ceiling - all have removable screens . Two windows that open on the side - one by the helm and the other in the passenger seat, as well as the rear window which can flip up ( shown in the video ) . If the windows need to be shut for rain or stormy seas during passage the back door can be open a crack and provide some fresh air. The only place we seem to find it warm is in the marinas in Florida where there is a lot of concrete and little air circulation. In those areas we have used the A/C but in the Bahamas it isn't necessary. We also have reflective material in the bow windows and v-berth that drastically cuts down on the heat in the cabin . Closing the curtains helps as well . Thanks for watching . We love hearing from our viewers

When you purchased your Ranger Tug, what did you like about the Ranger Tug over the Cutwater?

@expeditionseanest

2 ай бұрын

We liked that the Ranger Tug had more living space in a smaller boat with the plumb bow . Hope that helps

Nice boat. Love your use of space. What starlink package do you have and how has the service been in the Bahamas? TIA Charlie

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

Starlink was great last year. Had the RV package before everything was changed . Hope to do the roam package this year but may purchase a SIM card as back up just in case . Have you any experience?

@charliemanders1417

7 ай бұрын

@@expeditionseanest thank you for your reply. We are in Port Lambton, On and just outfitting our boat for the Loop starting in September 2024. I am trying to use experienced people like yourselves to educate myself. It looks like the roam is the best option as of now. Thanks and Happy New Year

We have a 2015 R25. We said the Loop in 2017-18. Where is your garbage can? We tried a few and ended up with a Kitty Litter tub because the lid would close securely.

@expeditionseanest

6 ай бұрын

The rectangular garbage can usually lives under the kitchen table . It has a hinged lid . During passage it is moved to the quarter berth so it does not fall over.

One question, I see that it only has one outlet for the air conditioning. What does air conditioning feel like in the sleeping cabin?

@jacktyler7599

7 ай бұрын

There are two other outlets, I believe. One up forward and one at the forward end of the dinette. I think the supply ducting is under the dinette and outboard the microwave.

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

I do believe Jack right, 3 outlets in our boat. dosen't take long to cool that little boat down.

Fully loaded, what speed/fuel usage do you have?

@expeditionseanest

7 ай бұрын

At 29 knots we get 1.6 miles per gallon.

@shawndelap4953

4 ай бұрын

Great video! Recently upgraded from the R21 to the R23 so I guess that means the R25 is next. Love some of your upgrades and even though we are in the PNW will add the reflective screen to the windshield.