Ranger Tugs 29' starboard running

This category of cruising boats goes by several names these days:  pocket trawlers, trailerable tugs, SUVs.  Whatever you want to call them, they represent one of the hottest segments of the new boat market and one that has managed to keep selling, albeit at a much slower rate, during the current economic typhoon.  That may be due in part to their tremendous versatility, embodied perfectly by the Ranger Tugs 29.  The R-29 is the flagship of the family-owned and run Ranger Tugs, at least for now, and it offers a great deal of flexibility for a couple or family that wants to be able to move from cruising area to cruising area without breaking the bank (or the boat).  Both the R-25 and R-29 were designed by company President John Livingston and his father, the renowned designer Dave Livingston, based on more than 50 years of experience in the business.

Ranger Tugs 29' launching

Although the R-29 has a beam of 10 feet, some 18 inches over the limit for permit-less trailering, its moderate air draft and weight, combined with simple, internet-based wide-load trailer permitting, means it can be moved virtually anywhere you want to cruise.  “It can be as simple as logging onto www.wideloadpermits.com ” according to Ranger Tugs Director of Marketing and Sales Jeff Messmer.  The boat has an air draft (height) on a trailer of 13 feet 2 inches, which is safely less than the normal highway limit of 13′- 7″.  Messmer suggests customers considering a “trailerable” trawler carefully inspect air draft specs to ensure that major dismantling of superstructure isn’t necessary.  He says that the low height of the 29 allows them to ship all over the country using a simple tow-behind delivery company.  A typical delivery from the Seattle area to Florida will cost less than $5,000, says  Messmer.  The same advantage accrues to customers who want to take the boat themselves.  EZ Loader has a trailer for the R-29 already and Float-On is expected to have one shortly.  The EZ Loader model is a slightly modified TIEZ102B 29-31, rated at  15,500 lbs.

Ranger Tugs 29' Interior Layout

There are other unique qualities to the Ranger Tugs 29.  For example, the main deck, including the salon is on one level.  You step over the threshold and into the salon and it’s one level all the way forward to the helm.  Messmer says that many of his customers do not want to be stepping up and down all the time and so the main deck house was designed with a single level.  The R-29 features 6’5″ of head room in the salon, with 6’3″ in the forward berth. Messmer says that Ranger tugs customers don’t like crawling into a vee-berth so by widening the hull beam to 10 feet Ranger Tugs was able to install an angled island berth.  The quarter berth space aft can accommodate a couple, as well.

Ranger Tugs feels the R-29 will appeal to many boaters moving down in size.  They compare the interior of their boat to the Nordic Tugs 32 and point out that the R-29 has about six items on its option list, as opposed to several pages for the Nordic Tugs 32 – the Ranger company philosophy is to simply include as standard the items most people end up ordering anyway.  On the R-29, these include the mast, transom shower, propane stove and oven, microwave, windlass, bow and stern thrusters, wine cooler and inverter.  The only major options left to choose are those involving heat and air conditioning — typically different choices between east and west-coast boaters, and electronics.  Northwest boats typically order diesel heating and east coasters typically order the factory’s two-zone air conditioning with a 4 kW Mase generator.  The a/c option includes a 16K BTU unit for the salon and a 10K BTU unit for the fwd stateroom.  Factory installed optional electronics are from Garmin; the dash is large enough to handle the big new Garmin 5215 15″ display.  It’s about $15K for the full Garmin package with autopilot.  We wrote extensively about Garmin’s latest offerings in our series about outfitting the new Kadey-Krogen 55′ Expedition here.

Ranger Tugs has spent a great deal of time and money optimizing the design for construction and maintenance.  The industrial design accomplishments at the company’s Kent and Monroe, Washington, plants have helped keep the price of the Ranger Tugs well below some of the competition.  The R-29 is built in three major components, with work on each accomplished at technician’s eye level.  The solid fiberglass hull, the deck and house, and an all-fiberglass stringer system are assembled and bonded, with the stringers injected with foam around the engine room for sound-deadening purposes.

Ranger Tugs 29' interior looking forward

The 29 has a hard chine bottom with a single keel, and all of the major tanks are down the center of the boat to reduce the possibility of listing when fuel and water loads are uneven.  The engine is a Yanmar 6BY2-260, producing 260 HP.  This is a six cylinder, common rail diesel with a NMEA 2000 – compatible CANBus, wo all the information you want can be displayed on virtually any NMEA-2000 compatible unit.  Ranger Tugs outfits the helm with a single-lever control for the engine and transmission.

Overall length on the boat is 33′ with the 4′ swimstep included.  With a beam of 10′ and a weight of about 9,250 pounds, the boat only draws 28 inches of water.  The fuel tanks (main and aux) will hold 120 and 30 gallons, respectively, and there is a 70 gallon water tank and a 40 gallon holding tank.

As if all this isn’t compelling enough to take a hard look at the Ranger Tugs 29, consider the price for this extraordinarily well-equipped boat:  $199K.  That’s easily $50K – $100K less than you would expect, based on prices of roughly similar boats in the market.

We’ve got all the detailed information on the Ranger Tugs 29 here in a couple of brochures:

The basic Ranger Tugs 29 specifications brochure (pdf)

The detailed equipment list for the Ranger Tugs 29 (pdf)

The Yanmar 6BY2-260 brochure (pdf)

Check out the Image Gallery here.

Copyright © 2009 OceanLines LLC

Computer Rendering of the new North Pacific Yachts 38' Sedan

North Pacific Yachts confirmed to OceanLines today that, with the signing of a formal purchase order by the first customer, it has officially launched its NP 38′ Sedan yacht.  Trevor Brice, who heads up NPY, said he hopes to be able to deliver the first hull by the end of this year.  The 38′ Sedan marks the fourth model in the NP line; the others include the 28′, 39′, and 43′, all pilothouse models.

The first 38′ Sedan will be delivered with the standard single stateroom, although a second stateroom is an option.  The single-level deckhouse allows for good, 360 degree visibility.  The salon measures 16′ long and features teak joinery.  The sidewalks alongside the house are protected by overhangs and bulwarks.  The boat features a standard flybridge and like all North Pacific Yachts includes a long list of standard equipment that would typically be optional on other brands.

The LOA of the hull is 40′, with a 12′ – 7″ beam and 4′ – 5″ draft.  The 38′ Sedan will carry 350 gallons of fuel and 200 gallons of water.  The standard engine is a Cummins QSB-230 and the boat has a standard bow thruster, 3000 Watt inverter/charger, a hydronic heating system, oil changer, dual Racor fuel filters, raw and freshwater washdowns and windlass and anchor.

North Pacific Yachts Logo

The NP 38′ Sedan, with all the equipment described above, is priced at $269,000 (U.S.).  OceanLines will have more coverage of the new 38′ Sedan from North Pacific in upcoming articles.  If you’d like more information on the new yacht, you can download the brochure here or visit the North Pacific Yachts website.

Copyright © 2009 OceanLines LLC

North Pacific Yachts 28 Pilothouse Rendering

Here at OceanLines we get an enormous number of visitors looking for information about some of the smaller trawlers out there; boats like the Ranger Tugs 25 and 29, the Nordic Tugs 26 and some of the other “pocket tugs.”  The North Pacific Yachts 28′ Pilothouse is another example of these cozy cruisers, but one that won’t melt your wallet and might be just the thing if you need a truly trailerable vacation boat.   The hull of NP28-01 is in the mold now and is scheduled for delivery to Seattle in August.  It should make its first public appearance at the Seattle Boat Show.

The NP28 is the third boat in the North Pacific lineup and it carries on the company’s philosophy of providing maximum value for the dollar.  Built from a new hull design by Karl Stambaugh at an experienced yard in China and well equipped right off the delivery ship, a new 28′ will run you about $165,000.  The only thing you need to add to that base configuration is electronics.  The boat comes standard with a single 130 HP Cummins QSD diesel, bow thruster, windlass with anchor, chain and rope rode, raw water washdown, teak and holly floor and hand-rubbed teak paneling and cabinetry.  All the sliding windows have screens and curtains are even provided.

Interior Configuration of the North Pacific Yachts 28 Pilothouse

The boat has two bunks forward, a convertible in the pilothouse, and one in the salon.  According to North Pacific CEO Trevor Brice, “The NP28 seems to appeal to a much more broad customer range (than the larger trawlers).  We’ve had people who are looking at the NP28 as their only boat and others who own larger yachts but want the flexibility to enjoy cruising elsewhere when it is off-season where their larger boat is located.”

You can optionally upgrade the toilet to a Tecma unit from the standard manual flush and you can add a 3 kW genny.  The propane stove, however, and a 20 lb. tank and locker are standard so you don’t need electricity to cook with.  You can save $3K by deleting the Espar diesel furnace, but odds are you would do that to add $4K worth of reverse-cycle air conditioning and then you’ll want that genny.

Initial performance estimates indicate the boat should be capable of speeds up to 14 knots.  Fuel burn at 6 knots will be about 1 GPH, while at 12 knots it should be somewhere around 6 GPH.  With its 100 gallon fuel tanks, the NP28 has a theoretical range of 600 NM.  Even at top speed, it will have a range well above 200 NM.  Either way, that’s anywhere from a couple, to several days of comfortable cruising without worrying about refueling.  There is also 40 gallons of fresh water aboard and the 160 amp alternator on the engine will charge even a huge house battery bank in short order.

With its 8-foot, six-inch beam, the NP28 is truly trailerable.  While it’s not a show-stopper for some folks, boats like the Nordic Tugs 26, at 9-feet, six inches, do require a special trailering permit in nearly all U.S. states.  According to Brice North Pacific has identified a number of trailer manufacturers who can supply a suitable trailer, but has not specified a vendor because of the wide variation in personal preferences for trailer features.

In short, the NP28 looks like it’s going to provide some real competition to similar-sized boats in the Nordic Tugs, Ranger Tugs and other “pocket trawler” makers’ lines.

Copyright © 2009 OceanLines LLC

Second Nordhavn 75 Expedition YachtFisher Arrives in Florida

Nordhavn said this week that the second boat of its 75 Expedition Yachtfisher series (see photo above)  has arrived in Florida from the Chinese shipyard where it was built.  The new boat was offloaded at Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) and then motored up the coast to the Nordhavn Southeast service yard in Stuart, Florida.

As you can see in the pictures in the photo gallery below, the first boat is already undergoing its commissioning sea trials in California.  The second boat is now undergoing the commissioning process at Stuart, where electronics and a good deal of custom equipment will be installed.  Visitors to the Palm Beach International Boat Show, March 26-29, will be able to see the boat in-person.   Hull #1, with its yellow hull, will be on display for invited visitors to the PAE Open House in Newport Beach, California, scheduled for April 25.

The Nordhavn 75 Expedition Yachtfisher represents a melding of the typical Nordhavn long-range luxury yacht and a world-class sportfisherman.  It sports a huge open cockpit, dual 60-gallon baitwells, a 35 cubic-foot freezer, gear and fishing tackle storage and “all the rod holders and rigging a deep-sea angler could ever want,” according to the company.

Copyright © 2009 OceanLines LLC

Nordic Tugs 26 -- Photo: Paul Johnson, Nordic Tugs

Now that the new (old) Nordic Tugs 26 is in production and on its way to dealers, it’s time to have a look at how it turned out and what the price is.  We’ve got a nice photo gallery for you in this story that should give you a good idea of how the interior came together, as well as a current spec sheet and base price listing from one of the largest Nordic Tugs dealers, Wilde Yacht Sales, of Essex, Connecticut.

There is no question that buyers will be attracted to the NT-26.  It’s trailerable, diesel-powered and will comfortably host a couple for extended weekend and vacation cruising.  Nordic Tugs made the interior very light and easy on the eyes to enhance the feeling of spaciousness and the design speaks to functional simplicity.  There is a nice little galley to port in the deckhouse, with a wet head and v-berth forward and below.  There is room for 4 people to overnight with the settee topside converting to a double berth.

The boat has classic Nordic Tugs lines — as well it should, since it was the first model in the line.  See our original story on the re-launch of this model for more of the history.  Nordic Tugs debuted the boat at the recent Seatte Boat Show after it had been in for its initial sea trials. The standard engine is the Volvo Penta D-3, rated at 110 hp.  Nordic Tugs has kept up the standard of equipment and finish on this boat.  An example is the Diamond Sea Glaze windows and doors that are standard.  Initial tests suggest a cruising speed of between 8-12 knots, with a top end around 15 knots.  You can see the specs on the Wilde Yacht Sales boat HERE.

Oh yeah, the price.  the Wilde-configured boat has a base price of $187,500, which is for a nicely outfitted boat that needs only some basic electronics to start exploring.

Copyright © 2009 OceanLines LLC

First Nordhavn 75 EYF is Rolled Out of Factory Prior to Launch

Pacific Asian Enterprises said it is launching its new Nordhavn 75 Expedition Yacht Fisher (EYF) this week at the company’s new factory in Xiamen, China.  Nordhavn 7501 is shown in these photographs moving out of the South Coast Marine facility in preparation for launching.

First Nordhavn 75 EYF is Prepared for Launch

Initial launch will be followed by tank testing and sea trials and the company expects both 7501 and 7502 to be on a ship leaving China Dec. 20 for the States.  PAE is determined to get the first 75 EYF ready in time to debut at the Miami Boat Show next February.

You can read more about the 75 EYF here and here.

Copyright ©  2008 by OceanLines

Kadey-Krogen is Preparing to Launch New 64

OceanLines has learned that Kadey-Krogen is in discussions with potential launch customers for a new 64′ Expedition Trawler that would become the new queen of the Kadey-Krogen fleet.  Company Vice President Larry Polster showed OceanLines plans for the new long-range cruiser while we were onboard the company’s Krogen 58 at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show recently.  The design can accommodate from two to four staterooms with from three to four heads.  This flexibility should appeal to both the solo cruising couple and adventurous families, and while there is room for ample crew quarters, it has been expressly designed for a couple to handle by themselves.

The new 64 Expedition will cruise for 3,000 miles at a speed of 9 knots and when slowed to 8 knots, can comfortably extend that to 4,300 miles.  The boat will feature new common-rail 6.8L diesels from John Deere, although Kadey-Krogen hasn’t yet decided whether to go wtih the M1 or M2 duty ratings.  John Deere has not yet released details of the engines.  Providing electrical power will be dual generators, likely 25kW and 12kW.  The cooling requirements will be handled with at least 5 zones of chilled-water air conditioning.  The engine room will accommodate six-footers handily and the standard outfitting is premium.  Fuel polishing, oil exchange, fire suppresion, stabilizers, hydraulic bow thruster — all are standard. 

The layout will be traditional Kadey-Krogen with the wide saloon and galley co-located on the main deck.  The galley will feature premium appointments, including a four-burner Viking range, full-size Jennair refrigerator, a super-quiet Miele dishwasher, microwave/convection oven and trashcompactor.  One first for Kadey-Krogen will be the separate dining room to starboard, opposite the galley.

Outside, the starboard walkway provides access from the aft deck to the foredeck, which is roomy enough to store a 17-foot Boston Whaler, as depicted in the artist’s rendering above.  The hull of the 64 has three keels like the 55′ Expedition.  Each of the skegs to port and starboard is counter-faired to impart a rotation to the water flowing past it into the propeller but opposite to the prop rotation.  Krogen says this innovation will result in greater fuel efficiency compared to standard skeg designs.

The hull is designed to keep passagemakers safe in the toughest conditions.  Kadey-Krogen is using an aramid fiber knitted into a fabric called Twaron, similar to the familiar Kevlar brand, and the same type used to make body armor.  It will be incorporated in the areas where collision or grounding impact might be of concern.  There is a collision bulkhead forward and watertight bulkheads throughout the length of the hull, characteristic of much bigger, formally classed ocean-going vessels.

Although a firm price hasn’t been set, the first buyers of the new 64′ Expedition will undoubtedly be getting a good deal in return for partnering with Kadey-Krogen on the launch of the new boat.  To illustrate the effect, Polster noted that the first customers for the Krogen 44, launched just 4 years ago, have less invested in their fully outfitted boats than just the base price of the same boat today. 

Here are the preliminary specifications for the Krogen 64′ Expedition:

• Length on Deck:          64′ – 0″
• LOA                            67′ – 5″ (including swim platform)
• LOA                            70′ – 4″ (including swim platform and pulpit)
• LWL                            62′ – 2″
• Beam (molded)           20′ – 6″
• Draft at Keel                5′ – 6″ (half load)
• Displacement              167,000 lbs (approx.)
• Fuel                                3,000 gallons
• Water                                 550 gallons
• Black Water                        175 gallons
• Gray Water                         175 gallons
• Top Speed                           11 knots (est.)
• Range at 9 knots           3,000 miles (est.)
• Main Engines                 (2) John Deere
• Reduction Gears            Twin Disc
• Ballast                          12,000 lbs. (approx.)

Copyright ©  2008 by OceanLines

First Kadey-Krogen 55 Nears Completion. Photo: Courtesy of Kadey Krogen

Kadey-Krogen expects the first new 55′ Expedition trawler to ship from the shipyard, Asia Harbor Yacht Builders, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, sometime during the first week of December, according to company executives. OceanLines has obtained the first photos of the boat, shown nearing completion.  In the photo above, the deep forward section, with its fine entry and predicted waterline marking, can be seen clearly.

Kadey-Krogen’s Larry Polster says the 55′ Expedition should be at the Miami Boat Show in February, but might even make it to the Trawler Fest in Stuart, FL, in late January.  During a discussion aboard the company’s Krogen 58′ at the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Polster talked about the collaboration between Kadey-Krogen and the launch customers for its new models. The company recognizes that the first buyers are making something of a leap of faith, since there isn’t a boat yet to walk through before making the purchase decision, but also that sometimes customers have their own great ideas for innovation and improvements to the original design. Sometimes, says Polster, there is also just a matter of taste and preference involved and customers simply want a slightly unique configuration.

The 55′ Expedition is a true, ocean-going passagemaker and incorporates many of the most rigorous classification standards in its design, although the boat is not technically classed. Among these standards are the five collision bulkheads, making for six completely watertight compartments. The 55′ also features an aramid fiber (Kevlar-like) in the stem, keel and transom for the strongest possible structure.  OceanLines covered more of the details of the 55′ Expedition here.

Polster says the second hull in the series will be delivered to the U.S. Northwest, Seattle specifically, probably in May and may be there in time for the Trawler Fest in Anacortes, where it will undoubtedly draw a great deal of attention.

Copyright ©  2008 by OceanLines

New American Tugs 49 During Sea Trials

Visitors to the Lake Union (Seattle) Boats Afloat Show, which begins tomorrow and runs through this weekend, will be able to see the brand-new American Tugs 49, which was launched just last week in Anacortes.  OceanLines readers, however, can get a sneak peek at her in the photo gallery below, courtesy of our friends at American Tugs.  The shots you see here were taken during initial sea trials and during the transit from Anacortes, on Fidalgo Island in the San Juans, down to Seattle for the boat show.  The new AT-49 is docked at the northwest corner of Chandler’s Crabhouse for Seattleites attending the show.

If you go, send us some pictures and we’ll get them up here.  We also want to hear from those of you who visit both the new AT-49 and the new Nordic Tugs 49.  Let us know what you think; leave a comment here about those two boats or anything else you see this weekend.

Thanks to American Tugs for the photos.

Copyright ©  2008 by OceanLines