Lake George 2020

I feel like I have been dating my boat for the last 7 months. We met last July and got to know each other. We figured out some quirks and got to be comfortable together. We found some limits and got angry a few times. We had some great dates but now things are progressing and we are getting serious. The small talk and cosmetics are past - its time to go out for long few days and discover what we are about. Its time to go to Lake George for 5 days……

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The Adirondacks are a special place for me on a number of levels. There are so many things to do, such a beautiful part of the Northeast and can provide an outlet for anyone who heads there. I have been going up there with my buddy J.P. for 20 years and it has always provided some needed respite from whatever is going on in my life. This year would be the first time that I would be taking the Ranger out on the lake. For many years we had been using JP’s bass boat. it was perfect for the trip and we had explored the lake by towing our Kayaks out and camping and kayaking for a few days. Rainy days or colder weather meant we would spend more days ashore. Having the tug on this trip made such a difference. We were able to sleep at different sites each night since there was little setup and take down of a full tent set up. We would pull up to the dock at an island and go ashore to cook dinner and have a fire. One of us would sleep on the boat and the other in a quick set up tent ashore. In the morning break down was quick and we could be out on the lake quickly. Even if it was cold or raining we could be in the cabin for the trip. I have always wanted a boat where i could be out of the weather and the tug is perfect. We had great weather for the week but the option to be out of the sun and have some shade on the deck. We used the boat for a week and spent 4 nights and 5 days. We sipped fuel and fished and ran up the lake. It really is a terrific place to go especially with the ranger tug. If you hear that in the on-season your experience may be completely different. With over 300 campsites throughout the islands there is no increase in noise and boating activity. If you can get the chance to go in May or in fall you will have a much better experience although the summertime experience will also be special especially for families what's off the water there is plenty to do in the local area. the village of Lake George caters to Summer tourist with lots of shops on Main Street and plenty activities for children too.

Those wanting to go in the summer time should make sure that you have reservations for campsites as they fill up quickly. Also launching your boat will require some planning ahead of time. Submarine is will allow you to park your car and trailer and launched from there. The fees are usually about $40 to launch the boat and $40 to keep the boat at the marina each day so you should budget for this. There are no public boat ramps on Lake George that allow overnight parking but there are several public access points for both car top and regular phones where you can watch for the day. Make sure that you bring all the supplies that you need for the duration that you'll be on the campsites as there are no easy accessible stores once you were on the sites.

The fishing on the lake is amazing. People both go shallow shore fishing in deep water downrigging fishing. well we're out we caught Plenty of Fish from trolling on the boat and also from Shore. Be advised that you do need a New York state fishing license and there is a regular presence of law enforcement on the lake for a boater safety.

After the trip I realized how I had made the right decision in buying the boat. I cant wait to spend more time out on the water.

Back in the Water.....

Well finally what has been a wet and cold spring looks to maybe be turning the corner as we round into warmer weather. With the cover off the boat small maintinence tasks like wiping down the fore deck and cleaning out the cabin can begin. Today brought nice warming temperatures in the low 60’s and a chance to change the fuel filters as had been planned for a while. I had treated the fuel with a stabilizer and filled the tank in the fall as part of the fall closeup. I had planned on changing them earlier but I was unable to get into them while the canvas was on since the engine cover would not lift up all the way. J.P. came over and we got quickly to work completing the task without many issues. We got the boat cleaned up and rigged ready to go. The boat has done remarkably well over the winter and I am happy that my first ever winterization project was effective. No burst lines or broken seals so far.

 

I had stored the boat at a neighbors house all summer because it was easier to get the boat in and out. Come fall at the end of the season I brought the boat back to my house. I have a small hill that leads up into my yard and the boat cleared it without an issue on the way up but I worried all winter about hauling it out of my driveway. I couldn’t back it down since I live on a fairly busy road and so I pulled it out with J.P. watching the keel. The boat sits fairly low in the trailer, which is great for towing and launching, but I was worried that the skeg would rub on the pavement as I pulled out. According to J.P. there was a 2-3 inch clearance to spare when I drove away and so I will be extra careful but glad to know I can get it out.

After a morning of chores it was time to dunk the boat for the first time this year. We decided to drop the boat in at the Oxbow boat ramp on the Northampton/Holyoke line. At one time the Connecticut River wove a West to East loop which over the years has been diverted into a straight line. The resulting series of coves hold some great fishing, a large marina and many logs and stumps that are eager to bend your prop. Luckily J.P. had been here before and guided Toto up the oxbow while we made sure that out recent tuneups were working. With no obvious leaks and the motor purring we headed out into the main river.

One problem we did have was that the Garmin depth finder was working intermittently. It would work for while, freeze up and then flash the last depth. It would work again with a hard reset and then fail again. A little research shows that the issue may be in the transducer. This boat has an internal transducer that is mounted to the hull and sits in a fluid bath. The fluid occasionally spills out or evaporates and I will look to see if that is the case.

The stretch of the entire Connecticut River north of Hartford has no official navigation charts so boaters here will have to use commercial software to get maps and navigation routes. The river is constantly changing in depth, width and sedimentation so that uses must rely on prior knowledge and a healthy awareness of strainers and floating debris. Most of the data we noted on the Navionics app is sparse at best in some areas and relies on user reported data as there are few official surveys done on the river. We went slow and had one eye upriver watching for debris and the other on the depth finder.

On top of this, the area is a popular launch which becomes crowded with boats and jet skis in the summer. Police patrols keep a lid on big parties to some extent but this stretch is known for frequently busy days. Normally this would not be my first choice to boat but its close proximity to my house and it being later in the day it was a good spot.

Hi Neighbor - if you grew up in New England you know this beer!

Luckily for us the ramp was pretty empty today and we saw only 3 other boats as well as some kayakers fishing. We ran up past the route 9 Coolidge Bridge (Calvin Coolidge himself was a lawyer and one time Mayor of neighboring Northampton) and turned around as the sun began to settle. It had been a great day and a welcome beginning to the boating season. In New England, where we don’t have a year round on the water season, boat owners spend a good portion of the winter thinking about the upcoming season. I was relieved now it was here and welcomed the opportunity to be on the boat with it running. Winter and spring tasks completed it was time to enjoy the day. J.P. had brought a few nice IPA’s and we sat in the warm sun happy and content. It was a good day and we again remarked how karma had been kind to us again today.

The boat headed back up to J.P.’s house for some trailer maintenance in preparation for a week long trip we have coming up. See a little video we shot where we talk about changing the fuel filter and our trip on the river.

Lessons learned on staying in a Ranger 21 for 10 days on the Eire Canal

My Garmin - came with the boat and is functional but looking to get an updated one.

My Garmin - came with the boat and is functional but looking to get an updated one.

  1. Instead of using a fridge for this trip I decided to bring a large cooler. The fridge on the Ranger 21 will run on the engine power when it is running and reverts to the batteries when it is off. I used the fridge for storage only not wanting to run the batteries down. I have a Yeti type cooler that fits easily on a swim platform of the boat. I was able to stock it with enough ice and all my items that I needed for keeping cold easily. Since it was only me on the trip, I kept provisions light knowing that I would be mostly able to skip into towns along the way to get ice and other provisions. If you are planning a longer trip you may want to spend time sorting and organizing meals to maximize space.

  2. On this Erie Canal trip I kept my clothing to a minimum. It saved on space in the cabin which became slightly cramped during the trip. I had a few changes of basic clothing - t-shirts, shorts, a sweatshirt, and a raincoat which pretty much covered all weather conditions. The nice thing about the Erie Canal is that at most docks and towns along the way there are local laundromats. Since you're usually off the water by 6pm it gives you a chance to wander through the town, find a local laundromat, grab something to eat, and meet some locals which is exactly what I did.

  3. Beware that diesel fuel is not available at all marinas. For that reason it's important to map your trip ahead of time to plan where you can acquire diesel fuel. I carry a 2-gallon jug of extra diesel fuel storage compartment in a small jug. Based on the fuel economy of this boat I know that that will get me an extra 20-30 miles just in case I get in a bind where I'm unable to locate diesel fuel.

  4. I brought a backpack with all my clothing, a sleeping bag, pillow, towels and toiletries stored together in one bag. I think going forward in the future I'll be more diligent about finding two or three small totes which will accommodate these items and be easily storable both inside the boat and on the deck.There is shelving space available around both sides of the v-berth wear clothing, provisions, and other items can be stored, however for easy access I think the most important thing is to have two or three totes - on for each activity such as cooking, clothing, and bathing. I often found myself moving things throughout the cabin to get the other things that should be easily accessible. I was less organized than I should have been on this trip.

  5. I found myself using a lot of shop towels along the way throughout the day every time I headed out. Sometimes it was to wipe bugs off the windshield or wipe down a deck. Other times it was for general cleaning and maintenance such as checking the oil. Make sure that you bring enough Rags or towels along with the bucket and some cleaning materials to keep up on daily chores of keeping a boat clean and shiny.

  6. I was able to hook up to free shore power at most places. Be sure to have an adaptor that will go from 220/110v that you can get on Amazon for about $50. The one I bought was only 9 feet and wasn’t long enough to reach the outlet so I carried another 30 feet of extension cord on a reel since I was often a distance from the nearest power pole.

  7. Here are a few random things that I brought that were very helpful. Bug spray. a small hand brush and dustpan to clean up. Flip flops for the showers. A bottle of Windex and boat shine to keep up on the cleaning. Heavy duty work gloves for grabbing the lines in the locks. Small hotel toiletry size shampoo, soap, and toothpaste for trips to local restroom facilities.

  8. Most towns have free docks that are adjacent to the canal. I kept my food supply to a minimum knowing that every other day I would be able to go to a local store to get what I needed. I did not run my refrigerator the entire time but instead kept a cooler on the back deck filled with ice. Ranger 21 owners have the option of running the refrigerator on battery when you're not on your way but I chose to just fill it with some food items that were non-perishable and work out of the cooler. It's worked great for me as a single person trip it depends on how willing you are to run your refrigerator off a battery.

The last stretch.......

Seneca Falls bid me farewell in grand style. A morning stroll from the docks took me across a bridge where I found a hidden gem. The Ludvico Sculpture trail winds along a mile path next to the canal in a woodland setting. Along the way are several different sculptures that celebrate both the regions Womens’ Rights history as well as other local notables. I spent a tranquil hour with a coffee wandering around and enjoying the morning. I had a nice long walk up the opposite side of the canal and spoke to a few other boaters. There was a gentleman who had a sailboat and he was headed to the East coast from the Great Lakes. Sailboats traversing the canal need to have their masts unstepped in order to make the clearances on the bridges and I saw a few other boats like his in my travels. We enjoyed a nice chat and I enjoyed hearing his travels and wanderlust outlook as he traveled at his own pace without a destination.

Docking at Syracuse Inner Harbor

Time came to leave and I motored back down towards the main canal. At the second set of locks there was an explained delay as the inside of the locks were being painted by a worker on a small barge. The lock tender drained the locks and I shared my trip down with the man painting and his barge. The staff that work the canal do a great job of keeping up the locks and the grounds and buildings. It seems like they take a lot of pride in the locks and do what they can with the money allocated to them. I saw a number of small work boats in my travels doing dredging or other canal work and they always waved when I passed by. I have heard that some boaters make cookies and other treats for lock staff as treats!

A nice fall morning gave me a chance to cruise along and enjoy the scenery. My afternoon destination was Syracuse which was at the end of Onondoga Lake. By the time I reached the lake the wind had picked up and there was a fair amount of chop for the transit. It was a chance for me to see how my boat would hold up with some 2-3 foot waves. The boat handled well and it was a fun trip. I got to use my wipers for real and caught some spray on the trip. At the end of the lake there is a narrow canal into downtown Syracuse. Some boaters may find this part of the trip difficult as the depths are shallow. Once I transited the canal through some industrial urban areas I arrived in Syracuse inner harbor.

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It appears that there has been a big effort to re-imagine the downtown port area. There are several new pavillions for concerts, walking and running paths, areas for farmers markets and a brand new hotel. There is ample docking for boats free of charge and boaters are welcome to spend the night. The area still looks to be in a depressed neighborhood but an effort is being made to make it welcoming to boaters. I was the only boat there that day and I soon found out why.

The Erie Canal Museum

My plan was to head to the Erie Canal Museum which was a 30 minute walk. The area has a number of old factory buildings which have been converted in to apartments and the streets have been revamped including some great restored cobblestone streets. As I walked along I began to notice that there were a number of people wearing orange and it soon dawned on me that this being a Saturday in a big college town there was a football game on and every place would be packed. I had hoped to grab a bite at a highly recommended BBQ place called Dinosaur BBQ but as I rounded the corner I saw hundreds of fans jammed outside drinking beers and waiting for tables. I scrapped the lunch plans and headed right to the museum.

Housed in an old weigh station along the route of the Old Erie canal when it went through Syracuse, the Erie Canal Museum is a true gem. It has some great permanent exhibits including an old canal barge and a number of artifacts of historical note. I had only allocated a few hours for the stop and I felt rushed when going through the exhibits but what I had chance to see was great. In order to really understand the history of the canal I had read a few books on the history of the canal before the trip and seeing real artifacts and a canal boat brought the history into the present. I wish I had more time but I will be back again. Kudos to the staff at the museum for keeping local heritage alive.

Another Ranger 21 EC on the Canal

On the way back to the museum I wandered past the main square and found that the annual Italian Fest was in progress. Not having had lunch I jumped on the chance to scoff some great food from some of the local vendors. I walked off the meatball subs as I retraced my steps back to the boat and started on the last leg of my journey. The crossing back across the lake was just as windy but with a following wind it was a more enjoyable trip. I made it back to the canal and the last remaining few miles back to the Pirates Cove Marina around 5pm.

Passing just before the dock I saw a matching Ranger 21 (except in royal blue) and remembered that I had been in contact with a fellow Ranger owner on the Tugnuts forum. He had given me some advice on cruising the canal since he lives on it and we had emailed back and forth a few times. Now I gave him a call and when I got to the dock at the Marina he was there to meet me. Also there was the owner of another Ranger 25 who was doing the whole canal and had stopped for a few days. All being Ranger Tug owners we ended up chatting, touring each others boats, and having a few beers. It was a nice end to the trip and a reminder of the community that owners of these boats have.

Pirates Cove Marina

I checked in with the office staff and took a nice long shower. The marina has an great place - Dock’s Grill - to eat and I enjoyed a last night meal on my trip. I fell asleep this being the last night of my 10 day trip. Looking back I realized how lucky I was to have been able to spend some time on the canal, to meet so many people and to do something that I wanted to do for so long. I was happy, I was content and I was tired. It had been a great 10 days and I can’t wait to get back on the canal.

The next day I loaded my boat up and started back to the real world planning my next trip for my boat….

Erie Canal - By the Numbers...

Just a quick blog for my Erie Canal Trip for the fellow owners who keep their own stats. The Ranger 21 is super fuel efficient -at the cost of slow speed -but the numbers are neat to see. I know that some boat owners spend hundreds of dollars on fuel. The 30 HP Volvo Penta engine runs so smoothly and makes for a great motor for this boat. It uses diesel and has a capacity of 18 gallons and I carry a 2 gallon jerry can that fits easily in the aft storage area. I fuel the boat at regular gas stations while the boat is on the trailer. If I’m on the highway I try to stop at rest areas and use the truck pumps because it is much easier than navigating a traditional gas station. I did fill up once with 9 gallons along the way and when I got off the water at the end of the trip I still had over 1/2 a tanks. Here are the numbers I got from my trip - other Ranger 21 may have different numbers based on travel time, speed overall and idle time at docks and locks. I spent long periods of time at slow idle speed due to speed limits on the canal and being in no hurry. Owners who run at faster RPM’s and/or higher speeds may see different numbers.

10 Days on the Canal

  • 47 Hours Total Put on engine

  • Total Miles: 199.7

  • Fuel Used: 17.8

  • Gallons Per Hour: .34 gallons (includes idle time)

  • Miles Per Gallon: 11.2

  • Average MPH off Garmin: 4.6 (moving time) /3.9 Knots

Erie Canal - Towards the end....

Waking up refreshed after a good nights sleep I found an early morning Fairport as enchanting as I had seen it go to bed. Shops opened, people were up and about and the town slowly awoke. I had a morning breakfast of cereal and coffee and did a few things about the boat. Even being solo, I still put away my sleeping bag, folded clothes and wiped off the bugs that had attached themselves to my boat overnight. I made it a routine to have the boat clean and tidy every day and pack things away even though I would use them that night. Living in a small space encourages clean habits for me.

I travel pretty light with a few changes of clothes to make it through a few days and dress in layers so that I could adjust for the temperature through the day. It was to be another perfect fall day with the cooler morning rolling in to a warm fall afternoon. Spreading my maps and charts out I planned the day. I was now reversing course and headed back towards where I had started. My my first stop was going to be heading back towards Newark at mile marker 226 where I had passed through earlier in the trip.

The day's journey was uneventful and it was nice to see the canal from the other direction as I retraced my steps. I ended up spending the night in Newark which is a great little town. It had been a long day on the water so after traveling I tied up the boat, did some chores and wandered around the town. Newark is another town which welcomes boaters and has ample docking with electricity. There is a dockmaster's office with showers and bathrooms in the lower level as well as a number facilities nearby. The town is of a fairly good-size and there are plenty of other amenities for boaters should you need them. I spent a brief time walking through the town to stretch my legs. I ate a cold meal on the boat with some food that I brought, took a shower turned in for the night. I brought a few books and caught up on some reading. It is always nice to be snuggled in a sleeping bag with a good read as you drift off and I took full advantage of it.

A view from the bridge of Seneca Falls

The next day I got up early and continued to head East. I cruised back through Lyons as well as Clyde and came to the intersection of the Erie and Cayuga Seneca canal. This is a branch of the canal which goes down south and links to both Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake. It's amazing how vast and big the canal system is. I was so sad that I didn't have longer periods of time to explore all the length of the entire Canal so I picked the places that I knew were good. It had been a long day and I was getting short on time so I sort of sped up a little bit to make sure that I would clear the locks in the canal and be able to reach Seneca Falls in time. There's a long straight southbound stretch before you reach lock number CS1 and you pass underneath the New York State Thruway. It's funny to watch cars pass above you traveling in different directions as you travel slowly on your boat. As I passed underneath the road I stared up at the passing cars. Each of us were in motion going different ways with different destinations. I think I've passed over the canal several times on the Thruway and I've also looked out the window wishing I was on it. Now here I was being so lucky to be in a boat taking a trip that I had always dreamed of. I didn't spend much time lollygagging because there was one more lock after that at the entrance to Seneca Falls.

Downtown Seneca Falls

Downtown Seneca Falls

The stretch between lock one and the double locks directly outside of Seneca Falls is a really nice trip. You pass through the Montezuma National Wildlife Reserve which is absent of any signs of life and is a perfect afternoon boating trip. After clearing the first lock you have the option to either head south into Cayuga Lake or continue on the canal which will take you through Seneca Falls and into Seneca Lake. Heading straight out of the lock is Cayuga Lake with Ithica at its southern terminus - but that trip will have to wait for another time. The right out of the lock leads to the canal towards Seneca Lake and it is very pleasant. It is lined with a number of houses each of which seem to have their own personal dock with the number of great boats. The only problem with this stretch is that the speed limit is heavily regulated due to the number of houses along the canal. Between the two locks it is pretty much a no wake zone making speed an issue if you are rushing to make a 4:45 pm last locking.

I cleared the locks around 5 and ended up in Seneca Falls which was perhaps my favorite stop along the entire canal. With just 15 minutes before the locks closed I sneaked in and passed through without any issues. I had radioed ahead to the lock tender and he was kind enough to make sure that I locked through in time. I can’t say enough about the lock staff on the canal. My first day on the canal I had visited lock E2 in Waterford and spoke to the lock tender there who walked me through the procedure. When I did my first lock later in the week I felt well prepared. Perhaps it was because of the small size of my boat or the lack of other traffic but I had no issues in the locks. At the most there was usually a few minutes wait while the lock was prepared and I was able to go right through. In the summer I understand that it is much more busy and transits at locks may require boaters to tie up for a while while other traffic passes through.

The locks just outside of Seneca Falls are unique because they are double locked. This means that you pass through one lock and when the gate is opened you pass directly into a second lock. I have to say that the approach to Seneca Falls is probably one of the prettiest sections of the Erie Canal. You enter Van Cleef Lake on which is a giant granite Church overlooking the water. A quarter mile past that is the docking areas in the downtown.

Toto at Seneca Falls

Seneca Falls is said to be the model for the city in the movie It's a Wonderful Life and the town lives up to its reputation. It has a beautiful classic downtown with a main street and nice residential area. Several small restaurants line the Main Street as well as some local shops. Seneca Falls is also the birthplace of the suffrage movement and there is a National Park Service Museum in right in the center of town. Since I arrived late in the evening and planned on leaving early in the morning I didn't have a chance to visit the site but I strolled around the town and got a great feel for it. As with many of the other little towns along the way, small towns in upstate New York still face many challenges in terms of economics and employment. It seems like as much infrastructure as you can put into a town there still needs to be in investment in the people. I wonder how towns like Seneca Falls will continue into the next decade. It always seems like there are great people in these towns that are fighting hard to keep them alive. I wish them the best.

The public docks along Seneca Falls line both sides of the canal. On one side is a large grassy area with bollards along the canal, a taller stone wall, and plenty of room to tie up. That side has no amenities including no electricity. The other side is the city side and has free electricity as well as a clean and well-maintained restroom and shower area for boaters. I took a quick shower, cleaned up and headed out to explore the town. I stumbled along an excellent restaurant called 84 Fall where I had a few beers and picked a few items from their excellent menu. Well sated, and with a belly full of local beer, I wandered back to the canal where planned on tucking myself in for the night. I have to say than in terms of scenery my general experience here was one of the nicest ports along the canal. People told me to Seneca Falls was very welcoming to boaters as well as a excellent place to stop, and it definitely lives up to its reputation. It was a super perfect warm fall evening and I sat on the canal edge enjoying the warm autumn air. Several families walked up and down the canal and I had a chance to interact with a number of people. Everyone was welcoming and had so many questions about the boat as usual. I tucked myself in for the night as this was to be my second to last night on the canal. It couldn't have been a better spot. If you have a chance to visit Seneca Falls either by car or boat definitely do it. I have some friends who relocated to the area and I plan on next summer to head out there and explore both the Lakes. in the meanwhile those would have to wait as I had to head east again back to where I started.

Erie Canal - Part 3

It was raining when I awoke and I can’t say I was disappointed. I actually loved the different weather I encountered and it was still a warm day with intermittent sprinkles. Rainy days - on the canal, while hiking, at work - always remind me that there will be sunny days ahead and I appreciate the change in the weather - especially living in New England. I took one last wander around the town - grabbed a coffee at a local store and headed through the locks which are right in downtown. The Town of Lyons was once a major supplier of Peppermint and there is a museum right next to the locks. I was hoping that the whole town would smell like it but it was not to be.

6 miles west was the Town of Newark which I would stop at on the way back but for now I had planned a day ending at Fairport. It was a a 30 mile trip and I was averaging about 5 miles per hour so not an unreasonable day. The weather cleared and I spent the morning listening to music and driving along. Although the boat doesn’t have an auto pilot its easy enough to steer the boat in calm water by just standing in the cockpit and shifting my weight. This stretch of the canal has a number of long straight portions with some nice scenery.

Half way along is the “Port of Palmyra” which is a great little turning basin just before lock #29. It is a really cool little turn off with bathrooms and a picnic area. It was a perfect place to stop for lunch. There is a local small restaurant right at the top of the hill but it wasn’t open when I stopped by. I didn’t venture into town but the guide says that there is a great ice cream shop and some stores. I would definitely stay here if I wasn’t on a schedule - it looks like a great little peaceful place to dock up for the night and there are power outlets well spaced on the docks. (As a side note Palmyra was the home of Joseph Smith - founder of the Church of Latter Day Saints and there is a museum in town at his home).

I pressed on and made it to Fairport around 3 pm. Since this was my halfway point for the trip and I still had some daylight I carried on west trying to do a few more miles before turning around. I made it another 7 miles to Great Embankment Park at mile 251 where there is a nice dock and public park. I had done 96 miles in three days and was pleased at the pace I had been making. After stopping and talking to a couple who were from France on vacation in the area I reluctantly turned around and headed back to Fairport.

Cross Lake - a wide stretch on the canal

This stretch of the canal is really just perfect - there are some great houses along the way and some nice views. At one point the canal is actually higher than the surrounding countryside and there is a great view looking north. I saw a number of waterfowl along here and a few other boats. This being a weekday in September I didn’t seen many boats the entire time I was on the canal but here it seemed like there were a number of people out for the afternoon on their boats. I often saw people fishing and wondered what fish they were going for. I even passed a few rowing crew boats along the way too. I ended up at Fairport that evening and docked right in the center of town.

Fairport is noted to be one of the most welcoming towns for boaters along the canal and there are a number of amenities. Each year they host an annual Canal Fest in June where thousands of boaters and visitors come to participate in the activities. The other notable canal item is its famous lift bridge with none of its four corners on the same level. When I visited the bridge was in the up position for a year for renovations so I did not get to see it rise and lower but it is quite a sight anyway and I got to see it up close when I want for a walk.. There is even a specially built low cruise boat that takes visitors out on the canal for 2 hour tours - a great way for those without a boat to spend some time on the water.

Boaters arriving for the night will find ample docking space on both the north and south sides of the canal. It is a pretty little town with a number of great places to dine and local shops. After tying up I was met by the dock master who charged a minor fee for the night and provided the codes to the restrooms and showers. I sat on the deck of my boat with a cold beer and some snacks watching the activities around and imagined how busy it must get in the summer.

Port of Palmyra

An evening walk around the town made me even more enamored with Fairport. Quaint streets lined with nice homes, unique architecture, and even a local brewery were some of the great things I found while wandering around on this fall evening. Locals greeted me with a smile and a hello while pushing baby carriages around with kids in tow. I have a place in my heart for small towns in America and always wonder what it would be like to live in a town like this. Large leafy trees overhung the road and a sense of community was about. I’m sure that the residents don’t always see their own town in this light, but for me Fairport was great. I am a huge fan of Bill Bryson books and enjoy the way that he writes about a town as he walks around and explores . Each evening, having been on the boat seated all day, I made it a point to stretch my legs and walk a few miles. Whenever I travel I always think that it would be nice to live somewhere different. I see a town with nice houses, a nice community and unique attractions that would make an interesting place to live. Like everything else I'm sure that this is always speculation - the reality of living somewhere it's not always what it seems on the surface - but I think it's nice to imagine yourself living somewhere different. Small towns in upstate New York always seem like a place that I would like to live.

I stopped for dinner at Donneley’s Public house bar for a beer and dinner then headed back to my boat. If you were in Fairport I highly recommend dining here. Great service and great food along with great atmosphere made it a perfect ending to a perfect day. Sitting in the warm evening , couples and families walked along the docks with a number of people stopping by to chat and ask about the tug. I named my boat Toto but I often joke that I should have named it “I Know!”. I can’t tell you how many people, after looking at the boat and seeing it say “Your boat is SO CUTE!” to which I always answer “I Know!”. I did a few boat chores such as tidying up and wiping down the deck and tucked myself in for the night. I never worried sleeping at night about my safety or even privacy. My boat has curtains to keep people from peeking in and I keep modest when I am in the boat. It is a really small boat and I am limited to the space I have to live in. This being my first long trip on the boat I was a little less organized than I had hoped to be with storage. I brought a backpack And several other small bags to put items in. I think in the future I will be going to switch over to small totes for all my belongings. I really found that I didn't need too much for clothing or other accessories. People sometimes ask about the bathroom situation. There is a small head in the boat with a holding tank for use but I try to use bathrooms ashore when possible. I found every place that I stopped along the way for the night had amenities including showers and bathrooms that were perfect.

I tucked myself in for the night with the water lapping at the hull content on having another great day on the canal.

Erie Canal Exploring - Part 2

There's something special waking up on a boat early in the morning in a crisp fall day in a town you've never been to. I Woke Up in Baldwinsville ready for the adventure ahead. I love exploring small towns and Baldwinsville was a great little place to watch wake up. The docks are located close to the downtown area and so I got dressed and wandered into town in search of coffee and a shower. The town is built around the canal and in the middle of the village it has a small amphitheater in which they host concerts and events throughout the summer. Inside the amphitheater are located bathrooms which are left open for boaters from 8 a.m. to 8 pm. After a quick shower and clean up in an Immaculate bathroom, I headed out to find a cup of coffee in a local store. There are several great little tiny restaurants including one that overlooks the canal locks. It is amazing how many towns along the Erie have embraced the boater economy and welcome transient travelers to their town. Many of the towns along the Erie Canal have been gutted as industry has left the area. the State of New York is putting a significant effort into bringing visitors and economic support to the Canalway. I hope that it will pay off for the towns being supported.

This being September there were only three or four other boats on the free public docks but I can imagine in summer time that this place is very busy. Baldwinsville has a a great little amphitheater in the middle of town on Paper Mill Island which is sponsored by Budweiser who maintain a bottling plant in the town. It looks like a great little town in the summer and locals told me that it can get busy during the high season. I looked at the website for the amphitheater later on and found that they have lots of great little local concerts that are very popular. I think it would be neat to be on a boat while they had a concert and sit there watching the music and having a beer. The canal guide states that boats raft up 3 deep in the summer here when there are concerts. Today I had it almost all to myself.

Refreshed by good breakfast and a cup of coffee I headed out on my boat for the first full day on the canal. Over the last few weeks before my trip I had purchased Skipper Bob’s Erie canal guide. This is a great resource for anyone who is taking on a trip on the Erie and has great information on the different towns along the way. I am fascinated by maps and guides and this one is perfect. It has the mileages, information about each lock, and all the marinas listed with their associated amenities provided including Fuel and maintenance. Each day I would look at the guide and plan the day. I would try to plan a few hours for the morning with a lunch stop somewhere. Then an afternoon few hours with a planned stop for the night. Mileage planning is key to a canal trip as there are very few anchorages along the way. You can stop along the way and anchor in wider areas but its discouraged. There exist a number of marinas also should you wish to stay at one. Most locks do allow docking but they do not have services and are sometimes a distance from towns. I found it good to make a goal for the day and then plan around the distance. Since the Ranger 21 is not a fast boat and the canal has speed limits along the route this took a little bit of planning.. For this day my plan was to make it to Lyons. It was to be a 40 mile day which I though was ambitious but I got an early start.

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Canal cruising alone can be both lonely and enjoyable. The tug is easy enough to single hand through locks and docking. The views along the canal are interesting and ever changing. The solitude is nice but it always leaves me wanting to share the cool things I see with someone. Invariably when it starts getting boring it is time to pull up to a dock and have some interactions with others. The weather was good and I set out for the day. There is always something new to see along the canal and in some areas there are lots of nice houses too. At the 201 mile maker I passed the entrance to the Cayuga-Seneca Canal which I would head down on my return trip. The day was pleasant and warm and the boat ran well. This stretch of the canal has a number of fixed bridges but no locks so it was easy to keep a good pace. Depending on the amount of boat traffic and the time of day, I learned that each lock can slow your trip by 30 mins so I would plan the days accordingly. I ate lunch underway and kept a steady pace.

I arrived in Lyons late afternoon and found the docks empty except for one other hire canal boat that had arrived earlier. There is one section of low dock area with the remainder of the docking options being along a high wall. I chose the docks because they had power outlets - but the other areas on the North End of the canal looked a little more secluded.

Shortly after arriving I was met by a local greeter who gave me some menus from some local restaurants as well as answering any questions I might have. This was to be theme at each town I stopped out where a group of locals greet boaters. It was such a nice touch and it reminded me how small towns can be such a special places. Free (immaculate) showers were offered at the fire station just up the hill and now refreshed and clean I headed out to see the town. Its always nice to see a town early in the morning and in the evening. I walked a few miles up and down side streets with no destination in mind I ended up grabbing a bite to eat at a local bar EB Gators which was great. As the evening cooled off I sat on the boat and settled in for the night. I was happy with the progress that I've made I'm looking forward to another day tomorrow.

Western Erie Canal Part 1

After an excellent weekend at the Tugboat Round up, and with a limited 8 day schedule, I knew that I didn’t have time to remain in Waterford and head out to do the entire Erie Canal starting at lock one going east. I spent the night before talking with a number of people who were very familiar with the Erie Canal. They gave me some great tips and told me that the portion of the canal west of Lake Oneida is one of the prettiest stretches with a number of great towns along its course. John Callahan, who I had met during the event pointed me to the direction of a marina called Pirates Cove located in Clay New York. It was to be a several hour drive on the New York State Thruway and so I arose early Monday morning and prepared the boat for being taken out.

The city of Waterford has a boat ramp located at the Waterford Visitor Center. Unfortunately the ramp is not one of the best boat ramps for launching medium-sized boats. It has an unusual angle and to drop off on one side. Despite that, and with a little help from some bystanders, I was able to load Toto up onto the trailer and secure it for its journey Westward. As any owner of a ranger tug knows, especially the Ranger 21, you always have to allow an extra half-hour at every boat ramp questions and interactions with bystanders. People of all ages - young children and old guys alike - are attracted to the boat and love to come over and talk to you. This is one of my favorite parts about owning the boat. I get to tell everyone about Ranger tugs, hear their stories about the area and meet so many interesting people. After an hour or two I was able to head out and take my journey West

The Ranger 21 weighs about 4,250 pounds with the trailer and is easily towed with my 6 cylinder Toyota Tacoma. When towing I'm very cautious about my speed and always hyper-vigilant about traffic and other vehicles. Most of the time when I'm towing a boat I'm never in a hurry and I always adhere to the slow and steady paradigm. The trip on the turnpike was uneventful and I particularly found it easy to stop at rest areas on the turnpike where I could fuel the boat with diesel by just pulling the boat forward into a gas pump used by diesel trucks. While most big trucks were loading hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel on, I would pull up and just take on 10 gallons! The ranger tug 21 is an incredibly efficient boat and literally sips fuel. The joy of this boat is that it only uses about a half a gallon diesel fuel or less underway. This provides a great opportunity travel without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money onto like some larger boats. The tank holds 18 gallons and I keep a Jerry can diesel fuel with an extra 2 gallons on board just for emergencies. Over my whole 12-day trip I only used approximately 24 gallons of fuel.

I arrived at the Pirates Cove Marina mid afternoon and was greeted by the owners Paul and Patty. The marina is truly a Hidden Gem. It's a family-run generational Marina which caters to people who are both transient photos as well as owners who leave their boats there permanently. The marina is well kept and has an excellent store. There is a great launch site as well as an excellent restaurant on site. One of the owners Patty gave me plenty of tips for my upcoming Erie Canal trip and after allowing me to leave my truck and trailer securely on site I was on my way. It was great to be on the canal at last and headed out. Since I had gotten a late start I knew that I had a limited distance that I would be able to travel. I headed west and passed the entrance to the canal leaded to Onondaga Lake (I would head down that later in my trip) and made it to the Baldwinsville lock late afternoon.

This was to be my first lock that I would go through and I was pretty nervous. I would single hand my boat through and was worried about tying up and the lock currents. I radioed ahead to the lock and explained that I was a novice and was greeted with a quick reply and some kind words. As I was to find out over the next 10 days, all the lock tenders on the canal were great and helpful . After waiting for the green light to indicate that the lock was ready I motored in and proceed up the lock. This little boat is very easy to handle because you can tie a mid ship line and keep the boat alongside the lock with just one person and one line.

That was to be my one and only lock for the day. It was a terrific ending to a perfect day. Furthee on just past the lock on the west side is the town of Baldwinsville. I found some great public docks with free electricity and nearby bathrooms in downtown. Having had a really long day I made a quick meal and Tucked myself in for bed.

Tugboat Roundup - Day 3

Day 3 of the tugboat Roundup started with a beautiful fall Sunday. I got up early and made some coffee on the boat and then decided to take a walk around town. The town of Waterford New York has had its shares of ups and downs ,but it makes a huge welcome to all the people who are attending and participating in the tugboat Roundup. At one point Waterford was the Hub of Commerce for the Erie Canal. It was the starting point port where items were transferred from Hudson River boats to barges to be transported back and forth across the Erie Canal. In the ensuing days the town has had its booms and busts it appears - but was clean and pretty.

There are a number of similar towns I would find along the canal each trying to re invent themselves as the industry that was once such a powerhouse in the area has left. A number of towns embrace the canal and the tourism that goes along with it. I am always aware of these attempts and try to shop local whenever I was stopped in a canal town.

Currently Waterford seems to be holding its own with a quaint downtown and a couple of excellent restaurants. The Waterford Visitor Center is the gateway to the canal just before lock number one. It is staffed by volunteers from the community who welcome boaters for transient slips before they either start their canal journey or end it. The Visitor Center has showers and bathroom for boaters and the staff at the facility are excellent and recommending any services that might be needed.

I took a walk through town and had an excellent breakfast at a local Diner. That morning was the Tug Chug 5K race that started and ended at the locks. It was fun to see so many participants and community members in this excellent race. I stood by and cheered on as the runners came by. They were Runners of all ages and everyone was getting in the spirit of things. Activities continue throughout the day and they were just as many people out to walk along and visit all the boats and participate in the event. The upper flight of locks were open for traffic and kids were loving watching the boats pass through. I remembered long ago when I was a kid my father took us on a trip up along the St. Lawrence seaway. I still have a picture of me standing by the locks watching the ships pass by. It brought back good memories and some 40 years later I now find myself looking forward to being able to be on the boats that I once watched as a kid.

As the event wound down some of the tugs began to depart, as they had jobs starting the next week. I spent some time cleaning the boat and talking to people about the next step of my Erie Canal Adventure. At the end of the event there were the closing ceremonies where all the participants were given commemorative Tugboat Roundup banners to fly on their boat. As dusk settled in I was invited to board one of the tugboats to join the organizers of the event as they celebrated a successful weekend with a cooler full of beer. I was amazed at how committed each and every one of them was to making sure that this community-based event was such a success. I also had an opportunity to pick their brains to find out which portions of the canal I should go forward on on my adventure during the next 10 days. All of them said that the first stretch of the Erie Canal going from east to west was great, but most everyone said that I should try portions of the western section of Erie Canal if I was only going to have a limited time to do it. After number of thank yous, a few beers, and proficient thanks for allowing me to participate in the tugboat Roundup I headed back to my boat knowing that I would be headed out in the morning set a destination in mind. Thank you to all the organizers of the event I can't wait to participate again. After a busy weekend I slept soundly in my small tiny cabin.

The Tugboat Round up Day 2

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I awoke the Saturday morning early on the First full day of the Tugboat Roundup. The organizers of the event had really put a lot of effort into making sure that this was a community-based day. There were lots of vendors lined up on the docks selling different products as well as the number of nonprofit organizations with information about the canal and local activities.Starting at around 9 a.m. it seems like the whole event got really busy with lots of people coming down to look at all the boats and participate in all the activities. The local fire department had setup a special area for children to practice with Fire Equipment go through a special maze. There were food vendors selling a number of different types of food and there were lots of other activities throughout the day.

Never having been to the tugboat Roundup before I was amazed at how many people came. The event is held at the Waterford Visitors Center which is the entrance and beginning of the Erie Canal East End. The docks were full with all sorts of invited boats ranging from extra large tug boats to miniature Tiny Tugs. There was a terrific Festival air about the whole event and the organizers had shown that they need so much effort into making us a great day for everybody involved. All of the participant boaters got welcome bags with special gifts and the visitor center showers and bathrooms were made available for all attendees.

At the end of the parade the night before they had lined up all the boats that were going to be staying, and we had been individually docked according to a pre-planned docking outline. I was in the middle of the event on a dock between two large commercial tug boats. People attending the event walked up and down the docks looking at each boat and a number of the boats welcomed visitors aboard. There was a large fire boat from New York City which was the Showcase piece for the event. There were also antique tugboats including one from the South Street Seaport which was taking people out short trips down the Hudson for a small fee. The whole event was so well planned out and there were so many activities throughout the day for both children and adults alike. Mid morning there was even a large flotilla of kayaks which came through the locks and paddled by the event. This was a fundraiser for a local charity. It involved hundreds of kayaks meeting up and traveling through the locks down the Erie Canal into the Hudson. Being an avid kayaker myself I was a little bit jealous and thought that next year I would participate in the event by bringing my kayak too!

The event is also an opportunity for members of the professional commercial Tugboat industry to get together. There was a lot of people meeting up different companies and industries to share this Day celebrating commercial tug boats on the Hudson and Erie canals. Some of the larger tugs even held events that were catered throughout the day and for the evening fireworks. I was hoping to be invited on but apparently looked to rough for the fancy events.

All of the event organizers were incredibly welcoming to me and all the other attendees. Throughout the day they would come and check on us, invite us to different events and make sure to let us know that our participation in the event was welcome. I met some incredible folks who had clearly put a lot of effort into making sure that the event with such a success. It seems like the whole Community gears up to make this special weekend for local people and travelers alike. Some of the days activities included a line tossing contest, a tugboat push off, as well as lectures on the history of the Erie Canal and tug boats themselves. There are also a number of vendors selling different craft items as well as a farmers market that day.

Among the group of people that were organizing the event I met John Callahan -who I would find out later was a driving force in keeping the Erie canal running for both commercial and recreational vessels. I had an opportunity to sit with John and have a beer at the end of the event and he told me a number stories about the canal, its history, it's challenges and the work he put into keeping the canal going. He gave me his business card telling me to call him if I needed anything For my future trip in the ensuing weeks on the canal I would mention his name to several people in the canal business and they would all say such great things about him. It was nice to see somebody committed to keeping the Erie Canal operating and to keeping events like the tugboat Roundup such a success.

I spent a good portion of the day sitting on my boat since the weather was so nice.If you are the owner of a ranger 21 you will known that the boat attracts all sorts of attention.I spent the day talking to so many people about the boat and inviting people to come on board and see the interior. Children and adults alike were enamored with the boat and I had so many questions about the boat and where I was headed. It was great to meet so many different people and find out so many different stories. Before the event I had been in contact with Larry and his wife - fellow Ranger 21 tug owners who I had met through the tugnuts forum- who had traveled out without their boat to visit the Roundup. Larry is an incredible resource for anyone who owns a ranger 21. He has shared number of modifications that he's made to his boat and was a great resource for me to talk to. Larry and his wife spend some time on the boat with me and enjoyed the day visiting the other Tugs.

The highlight of the evening was an incredible fireworks display that lasted almost 30 minutes. The local fire department put on what was the best fireworks display I can ever say I have seen. It was launched from a beach across the canal less than a hundred yards away and the fireworks launched directly over the event. Thousands of Spectators lined the docks as well as a number of boats which rafted up in the Hudson River to watch the event. I was able to sit on the stern of my boat with a beer watching fireworks launched directly over the boat. It was an amazing and to a very special day on my Ranger tug. At the end of the evening, tired from a day full of excitement, I tucked myself in for a well-deserved night of rest. This was to be only the second time that I've ever slept on my boat.

Erie Canal 2019 Trip: Days 1 Tugboat roundup

After so much research and preparation the time has come for me to set out of my trip. I took two weeks off as my summer job started to wind down and loaded my boat up and headed out. For my first stop I decided to attend the annual tugboat Roundup - an annual event held in Waterford New York that includes many different kinds of tugboats and working vessels that ply the Hudson River and Erie Canal. The event is an annual three-day weekend Festival which includes a Friday night arrival Tugboat parade, Saturday fireworks,vendors, educational displays, and the availability of the public to visit all of the boats at the event. While the overall concentration is on Industrial and Commercial size vessels such as tugboats that work the Hudson Canal pushing barges and other cargo, the event organizers have encouraged smaller vessels that are in the tugboat class to attend. All together there almost 40 different vessels who participate in the weekend events. Over 20,000 people attend and there are all sorts of activities for people to participate in. I reached out to the event organizers before and they were more than gracious and accommodating a small 21-foot tugboat in addition to all the other vessels.

I am the little tiny tug way in the back of the line just before the two giant tugs!!

I am the little tiny tug way in the back of the line just before the two giant tugs!!

Friday came and after trailering 2 hours from my home, I arrived in Waterford New York. Having launched my tug at the Waterford boat ramp, organizers allowed me to park my truck and trailer at a nearby Municipal DPW garage for the weekend. This is when the fun started! That afternoon all the vessels that were participating in the weekend events rallied in Albany on the Hudson River and started a parade led by the fire boat John J. Harvey - a recently decommission New York Fire Department fire boat which is staffed and restored by volunteers. As the vessels headed up from Albany through the federal locks, boats of all sizes joined in and we operated up the Hudson River to Waterford New York where the Erie Canal Visitor Center is located. This was to be the headquarters for the event for the weekend.

Tug Boat Parade

Tug Boat Parade

Not having extensive hours on my boat and being alone made me nervous for the event. Directions were given over the VHF radio by the parade coordinator and all boats fell into line in a prescribed position. I was tucked between two large tugboats behind me and in front of two other giant tugboats -but the little Ranger tug kept up and the parade was awesome. People gathered along the shore and as we entered the Waterford Harbor local fire departments had jet streams of water from their ladder trucks going to welcome us to the parade end. It was one of the best times in my boat so far. All the other captains of even large vessels we're welcoming and accommodating to our small vessels and this friendliness would continue throughout the weekend.

Charity Kayak event passing by

Charity Kayak event passing by

After securing all the vessels in prescribed water at the dock, each of us got off our boats and started to introduce ourselves to follow participants.. It seemed like many of the captains of tugs, owners of small mini tugboats, and general Tugboat enthusiasts were old friends and had been attendingthe roundup for many years. As a newbie I was welcomed by them all. After a long day hauling my boat. launching, and the parade I settled in at the end of the evening for a well-deserved beer. This was to be my first night sleeping on the boat.

Erie Canal Trip - Introduction

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My first big trip on the Erie Canal. After purchasing my boat in June and spending several weeks getting used to the boat I decided to make a long trip. For many years I've been vacationing and kayaking throughout Upstate New York and had always been fascinated with the Erie Canal. For those of you who are not familiar with the Erie Canal it spans the length of New York State and was at once the transportation King - enabling products to travel easily from the west down to New York City through the Erie Canal and the Hudson River. While commercial traffic is very limited nowadays, the Erie Canal has a rich an interesting history. Today the Erie Canal is mostly used for recreational vessels and tourism and the state of New York encourages boaters of all types to use the canal and encourages tourism and commerce throughout the region. I have been fascinated with the Erie Canal and The Locks along it. When I had traveled out there I would often stop at locks and towns along the way. Looking down at the boaters as they traveled along through the canal I stood hopefully wishing that it would be me one day. Now that I have a Ranger tug I decided that it would be a perfect trip. I spent weeks researching online and preparing for the trip which would take me over 10 days from Waterford New York and across the central region of New York state by canal. It was the best trip that I ever took.

Locking through….

Locking through….

There are number of resources to look at before you decide to do a trip on the Erie Canal. Most are online but there are several books that you should purchase before going that will help you with your trip. The Erie Canal is mostly narrow flat and consists of multiple locks along with several waterways that are integrated into the canal including one large lake. Navigating these requires some knowledge of the area along with several charts. One particular book that I found excellent was called Skipper Bob's Erie Canal Waterway guide which was excellent and available online. This being my first trip I was extremely nervous but having returned home after spending 10 days on the Erie Canal I feel like it was an excellent adventure. Instead of one blog about the Erie Canal I've decided to blog several chapters about different aspects of the canal as I travel through. along the way I was able to meet so many kind friendly and generous people who helped me and made my trip such a success. If you're thinking of doing the Erie Canal you definitely should! The following blogs will narrate my trip as as well as provide some tips for making your adventure travel fun on this exceptionally historic Waterway.

Getting a survey done....

Before I bought the boat I decided to have a survey done. My experience with the Boatyard where I bought the ranger tug initially was pretty laid back. The staff were nice and a Salesman was decent, but did not seem to know a lot about the boat. When I went up to look at the boat I took it out on a sea trial with the dealer who didn't seem very familiar with the operations of the electrical and other systems on board. As a result of that I decided to contact a surveyor to have the boat looked at professionally. Although the boat seemed in good shape, my lack of experience with boats and this being my first purchase, I decided to get a professional to look at it. It was the best decision that I ever had made.

When I let the Boatyard dealer know that I was getting survey done they were quite surprised. Most boats in this price range did not get a survey the salesman told me - but I was welcome to do it. Contacting a surveyor is pretty straightforward. The Boatyard did provide a list of authorized surveyors that they had used in the past, but I decided to go with somebody independent. All reputable surveyors participate in a national accredited organization which attest to their independent evaluation of your purchase. When I was making a $40,000 purchase I felt it important to understand that the boat that I was getting was all the things that was promised. On my initial sea trial several pieces of equipment such as the air conditioning, batteries, and toilets were not in perfect working order. This prompted me to have a surveyor complete the task of looking at them to ensure that they were in working Condition.

Surveyors traditionally charge about $10 per foot to have a boat surveyed - although it may cost more or less depending on your area. I found a surveyor who is about 1 hour away from the dealer where I purchased the boat. For $400 the surveyor took the boat out on a sea trial with the dealer and additionally did hull inspection on shore. The following report that I got was very complete and was in-depth covering all aspects of the boat. While I had walked around the boat and did a fairly thorough visual inspection, and even took it out on a sea trial, I didn't feel comfortable validating all the equipment myself.

The survey process took about a week. Surveyors will contact the Boatyard of your choice where you are purchasing the boat to make the arrangements to go and have the boat inspected. Within a week I had a complete evaluation of my boat that was documented and certified. Thankfully for me there were no significant issues that were identified during evaluation and it was nice to know that the minor things that were not working were easily fixable. Additionally my insurance was reduced by 10% for having a survey done within the prior 12 months.The most important part is to find a surveyor who is familiar with Ranger Tugs. I spoken to some people who feel that a survey on a small Ranger 21 is a waste of money, but for me with my limited experience and this being my first boat I found it to be a very valuable investment and peace of mind.

The Tug....

Little red tug is a Ranger 21EC that I bought in June of 2019. For years I have always wanted a Ranger tug. Like may of you out there, I have been cruising the internet and looking at forums and blogs of other people. This year I finally found a boat at the right price at the right time. I had no boat experience before buying the boat- although I have been sea kayaking for many years including harbors and ports and had friends wth boats which I was on and off frequently. Like so many others, I had looked at boats, been to boat shows and spent hours on line reading forums and posts. Once I had narrowed my boat choice down it was just a matter of finding the right Ranger Tugs. For months I had been looking at all the brokerage sites and boats for sale until I finally came upon a Ranger 21EC at a shipyard in Maine. After months of looking I finally caved in and made the plunge to buy a boat. My reasoning was inclusive of several factors including buying a boat that would fit my lifestyle. Expensive cabin cruisers were just that, speedboats weren’t our thing, and I needed something that would be easy to trailer and launch alone. The Ranger 21 EC fit the bill and turned out to be a perfect boat.

If you aren’t familar with the Ranger tug line I encourage you to do a little surfing on the web and find out more about them. They come from a long line of quality shipbuilders out of Kent, Washington. The company also make a sister line Cutwater Boats. Ranger tugs are known for their quality and solid build - but even more so for their exceptional commitment to Ranger Tug owners - even second and third owners of used boats. A call to the factory puts you in direct touch with someone who knows the boats inside and out. They are active in support forums and interact with owners at annual company endorsed Rendezvous. From hearing from other owners I hear that the factory often goes above and beyond to help owners with any issues. The result is a avid following of very active Ranger Tug owners.

I spent so much time on line in the process of buying the boat that I was thinking that it would be neat to share my experiences with a Ranger 21 - good and bad. Before we continue on just a brief disclaimer:

  • I have no affiliation with Ranger Tugs other than being a very happy owner.

  • I have limited technical experience and training. Most of what I have learned about the boat is from general experience and online forums. There is a exceptional site Tugnuts.com - that is an incredible wealth of information on Ranger Tugs - mechanical, trip planning, modifications, tugs for sale, etc. I would be happy to answer any questions but best bet is to try the internet first.

  • Most of what I am doing is the first time for me doing it! Backing a larger trailer up, changiing a fuel filter, getting a boat surveyed were all new to me. Im sure that there are always better ways to do things in life and I appreciate any feedback with the empathy and understanding of a third party. So much of what we do is trial and error. I have been fortunate to have the guidance of many people who taught me about owning a boat. The takeway is this - dont be afraid to try things outside of your wheelhouse - and respect those who do. What follows is just that….

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