A ranger tug 21 manifesto.

I’m gonna throw out a crazy idea that will never be adopted, but I thought it should be out there. I’ve had a Ranger tug 21 for over four years now and found it to be a versatile, fun and exciting boat to have. Sure it has its downsides. It doesn’t go fast. It doesn’t have all the deck space that other boats have. You can’t tow a water skier with it Nor can you take it far off offshore.

What you can do with the Ranger 21 is having an incredible day. Actually, you could have an incredible overnight or an incredible trip. It’s a little tiny house on the water. You can cook a meal. You can rest in air-conditioned comfort. You can sleep two people out of the rain. You can cruise the lake for an overnight. You can do shore waters and take a trip up the coast. You could do the intercoastal waterway. For all the drawbacks that has it certainly is an incredible boat for the right person. That person happens to be me.

Several years ago, Ranger Tug discontinued the manufacturer of the R 21 EC. I understand at the time why this decision was made. They chose to focus on their core group of boats which included the Ranger 23 all the way up to the Ranger 41. The Ranger 21, the initial boat that helped make Ranger famous is no longer part of the Ranger tug lineup. Economics dictate how a company works but certainly this is a boat that I believe is worth considering to be remanufactured.

last week I went to the Boston boat show. Along with visiting the Ranger tug display. I wandered around for several hours and here’s what I found. There’s a huge niche market for people who are spending money but can’t afford boats that are over $150,000. along with that there’s a niche market for boats that are called adventure, sport boats. Certainly people may be looking ideally for a certain boat such as a bow rider or center consul boat and there’s markets and manufacturers for those boats. There’s a whole line of boats that I found out there that are being developed now for people who want to go on adventures, but don’t necessarily want to water ski or go fishing. this whole van life paradigm that is developed over the last couple years on YouTube is now translating into the water. People are looking for boats that they can go on to spend a few days on and have an adventure. Whether it’s on a lake or in shore water. people are using your boats in different ways more like a camper. Some manufacturers have designed boats that are filling this market hole. We looked at a boat called jeanneau 695 Which pretty much has all the amenities, the Ranger Tug Marblehead it is more well built and has an outboard so it goes faster. After wound for a period of time at the boat show, I return to the Ranger tug area and listen to what people had to say who were visiting.

Here’s the thing about Ranger tugs. Not only the people that have them intensely become loyal to the brand, but there’s also an incredible buzz about the boats both within the boning community, and those who would like to have one. They Philly important role in the fact that they are reasonably priced, quality built, and have excellent service support. These are all things that voters are looking for. The problem is that the entry-level Ranger Tug 23 is a steep price point for the new boat owner to enter in. It also can be overwhelming with the number of systems for a new boat. Ranger Tug Has an exceptional lineup except it has no entry-level boat without considering the 23. There are a lot of boat owners who would love to have a Ranger tug, but are either overwhelmed by the complex system and size of a 23 or don’t have the financial access to gain to one. This is why I believe Ranger Tug Should bring back to manufacture the 21 EC.

Consider the following:

This is one of the few boats whose value has stayed stable, and in fact is improving throughout ownership. The Ranger 21 2014 that I have retailed new for approximately $90,000. I bought my boat in 2019 for $41,000 and could easily sell it today for $50,000. There are a few boats on the market whose value is improving. In fact, in general voters will admit that a boat loses significant amount of value the day that you purchase it. The fact that the Ranger 21 continues to hold significant value means that there’s a significant market for it. This brings me to point number two.
I cannot take this boat anywhere without somebody commenting on it. I always allow extra time at the boat ramp because at least one person if not a whole crowd gathers around the boat to discuss the manufacturer in the details of this little tug. I’ve taken it to different events and just traveling around and cannot believe the overwhelming positive response to people in this boat. I honestly believe that I could get 10 people to order this boat if it was for sale still. Every time I go somewhere and run into a couple who are interested in votes they are often telling me that this is exactly the boat they’re looking for. It has a sharp design and as well laid out. It has all the features that people would like on a boat And is also part of the Ranger tug which is important.
Maintenance, Upkeep and trailering of this boat makes it easy for everyone. Certainly younger people may purchase this boat, but the ideal market lies in the 50+ age group. At that point people are looking for a boat, which is easy to maneuver and trailer, as well as easy to maintain. Stepping up to arrange 23 involves a number of larger operational systems, such as air-conditioning and engine maintenance, which the ranger 21 simplifies. the ideal market for this boat would be a couple in their 50s who live on a lake or near inland waterways, who are looking for a fun boat that they can take their grandchildren on, spend an overnight on, trailer to somewhere, as well as maintain with ease. The R 21 fills all these Requirements and more.
The economy is bound to have a downturn in the next 10 years. After visiting the boat show and finding most entry-level boats to be extremely expensive in the 150,000 range it would behoove Ranger tug and fluid motion to have a tug that will cushion this downfall. Certainly people are buying a ranger 31 foot and 41 foot boat when the economy is good. When things settle down and the economy is not quite as good people will still be looking for boats with more value and a smaller size. The economy of this boat, including its incredible low fuel consumption as well as easy and efficient upkeep make this a reasonable choice for somebody who is entering the boat market. The fact that there is a huge demand already for used boats in the Ranger Tug Family shows that there’s an incredible demand for this boat.
Finally, it’s just so much fun. It’s an incredible boat. That’s very versatile. Sure it doesn’t go really fast. But on the other hand, it draws heads wherever it goes and is a great overnight boat for a couple. Who want to get into Boating but don’t want the challenges and expenses that come with a larger boat. Fuel, trailer, Ring, and marina fees are all expenses that come with a larger boat. Wealthy couples who had a house on a lake such as New Hampshire lake Winnipesaukee are the ideal market for this boat. There must be thousands of other lakes across the country, where this boat would fit in perfectly.

That’s it. I’m sure this will fall on deaf years and nothing will come of this but it’s a reality. I wish I had money to start my own company and build Ranger 21 tugs because I know that I could sell 1 million of them. With a couple of tweaks learned from prior owners, this boat is an ideal boat. That will just be perfect for such a niche group, but there’s enough people out there who would purchase one. I understand that this manufactured boat would still probably sit in the $125,000 range but I strongly believe that there is a demand out there for it. If you’re out there and you want to talk to me Ranger Tug folks as soon as this boat comes on the market - I want to be your first sales person for this boat. Bring back the Ranger 21.