Do You Want to Buy a Ranger Tug? We did. Cruising onboard a tiny live aboard boat - Episode 1

In this video Michael and Julia explore coastal British Columbia with friends onboard their R29 Ranger Tug , before receiving their own new R25 Ranger Boat. Join us onboard as we hike through the rainforest and visit beautiful locations on BC's wild west coast.
Music Credits
Epidemic Sound : In a Little While - Lofive
ES: Slo-Mo- Aiyo
ES: Abuela Canela
ES: One Kind Gesture - Alice Spence
ES: Anything You Want- Luella Gren
ES: The Crossroads- Lindsey Abraham
ES: Broke My Heart in Two- Sture Zetterberg
Visit us on Instagram: / expeditionseanest

[@marlow769]

A tour of the boat would have been a nice touch.

[@expeditionseanest]

Will do in the future MX

[@RangerTugsFactory]

Michael & Julia, what a great video! Thank you for sharing your adventures aboard, we look forward to seeing more!

[@expeditionseanest]

Glad you enjoyed it! More to come soon. We appreciate all of your comments and support.

[@tracimurphy7337]

Beautiful scenery. Looking forward to catching up on the rest of your videos.

[@expeditionseanest]

Thank you Traci! And thank you for taking to time to post a kind comment like that. We appreciate it

[@srhawk454]

Great quality video, great boat!

[@expeditionseanest]

Thanks , we appreciate the feedback!

[@edwardmacintosh9476]

Hey guys , nice video . came by its by chance & glad I did. The boat R25. Is neat rig for a small craft. So versatile. Y u nade good choice. Have fun .

[@expeditionseanest]

Thank you Edward we appreciate your kind words

[@bucurilie-lo4jf]

I own a 26ft boat and love the weel house door.

[@BigDersFishingLife]

great video, sweet cinematography!

[@expeditionseanest]

Thanks! Appreciate the feedback.

[@Heidi.M]

Your videography is exceptional! Great job. I’m a follower for sure now.

[@expeditionseanest]

Thank you very much! You made our day Heidi. Thanks for taking the time to make such a nice comment. We appreciate it.

[@Heidi.M]

@@expeditionseanest You’re so welcome! ☺️We bought a used RT 29S last year after a lot of research and planning. Being on the west coast, the wider berth is nice. We love these boats and seeing how others utilize them is so helpful. We watch a lot of boating videos but none beat your talent. Julia, maybe we can we see your artwork soon?!

[@stephenedwards3397]

The YT algorithm threw up something rather wonderful this time, and I am so very glad it did. I like the fact that here is a video actually showing something of the places that you visit and not just the movement part in between. I am an obsessive motorcyclist and see far too many people making trips, and videoing themselves on the move with very little of what the places are that they go. It is almost as if the purpose is to make a video and not actually travel. Anyway I also love boats, hence why the algorithm gave me this, I guess. Living now in a land locked country, Czech Republic, the majority of my boating connection is restricted to lakes and rivers apart from when I can get a rare trip back to my native Scotland. It was thus extra nice to see you on some wider open water. I am most envious of your lovely new boat, which I shall no doubt soon be Googling, knowing full well that being able to afford such athing shall never be any more than a pipe dream but I look forward to seeing what you shall be doing with yours. Sending you the best of wishes for the adventures ahead and thanks for such a great video. Kindesr regards from the Czech Republic.

[@expeditionseanest]

Stephen, thank you very much for your kind words. We are happy that our video popped up for you and hope that you find yourself on the water soon.

[@henryrodriguezdeleon7643]

Awesome! I am new boater and I have a 02 Sea Ray 280, and I love it, but I love the look of the Ranger and the enclosure. I have been looking at used Rangers. Great video, stay safe out there.

[@expeditionseanest]

Thanks Henry. the SeaRay is a beautiful cruising boat .We really like the enclosed space for extended travel . Especially the A/C to use while in marinas down south.

[@calemason151]

Great video Mike and Julia. I stumbled upon this video and I was astonished that it was you guys! lol! keep up the good work and safe travels!

[@expeditionseanest]

Hey Cale, thanks for the support. If you watch a few other episodes you will also see the boys.

[@mauky]

I heard your comment about being from Michigan. I'm a retired Michigander, motored from Cheboygan to Georgian Bay in my '84 26' Searay a few times. I know that water can get rough. Looking forward to how the C-Dory handles. God bless you😊❤

[@expeditionseanest]

Hey Mark , we are actually Canadian. We have a place near Georgian Bay and spend time there in the summer when we can get away. A little slice of heaven!

[@stevekohuts5156]

Love the commentary at the end. I have been looking at a Rosborough because it is trailerable.

[@larsalambey6596]

it's all beautiful

[@expeditionseanest]

Thank you !

[@aeyrul1]

love your content. i woild love to see a drone perspective of that small rocky island.

[@expeditionseanest]

Well that's a great idea. If and when we return to BC we will try to add more drone footage for you. It really helps to show perspective doesn't it?

[@tmac709]

Oh my! That was an excellent video. Enjoyed watching the seals and the little hike on the trail. Give us a tour of your boat. How does it handle in heavier seas?

[@expeditionseanest]

We will definitely make a video walk through soon . We have had the boat in four foot waves on Georgian Bay and it did fine .We will keep you posted as we do some salt water trips this season!

[@CrispyOkra]

Very nice. Your adventures look like they're going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait to follow along. I'm not a huge fan of them, but you might think about posting a few "shorts" to bring some traffic to your new channel. Happy to be one of your first 19 subs 😁.

[@expeditionseanest]

Thank you very much for the helpful tip. Next video is coming out today. We hope you enjoy it.

[@rangertruth4776]

Very nice video !

[@expeditionseanest]

many thanks !

[@edmundbrennan5334]

Nice video. This comment is purely to get you some traction. Good luck.

[@expeditionseanest]

Thank you Edmund we appreciate all the traction we can get!

[@Kkloojhfe-xe1ow]

Nice life live it on

[@expeditionseanest]

Yes, thanks

[@user-zp7jp1vk2i]

Was up at a buddies cabin near the Back Eddy Pub and Sechelt Narrows when , for the first time ever recorded, an orca pod came through the Narrows and into Porpoise Bay, a dead end. You thumbail is the Falls up the Inlet??

[@expeditionseanest]

To be honest with you we forgot the name of these falls as it was our first visit and our friend was the captain showing us around . If we remember, we will let you know. Your experience with orcas sounds amazing!

[@toliveforthenow]

Love all of your videos. If the price had been equivalent, would you have gone for an r27? Is the layout exponentially superior in the r25?

[@expeditionseanest]

If the R27 was the same price , yes, we would have purchased it as it is still trailerable . The layout is not exponentially superior but just a bit bigger . Julia prefers the galley in the R27 as it has an oven.

[@Colinpark]

How do you find the helm station for longer journeys? I am really impressed with the thoughts that go into these designs. Which is your favourite unique feature and which would you change?

[@expeditionseanest]

Colin we plan to do an entire video on things we like and things we would like to change in the future. We have more hours on the boat now and feel like we can better comment on this as we live aboard for an extended period of time. Thanks for the input and ideas. This helps us to understand what additional content our viewers would like to see.

[@expeditionseanest]

Hi Colin, I really like the wraparound windows on the ranger tug. There is so much light and so much visibility that it makes it a pure pleasure. What I would change would be. I wish I had ordered the auto pilot.. when there is three of us driving it’s great but with one or two it’s a long time at the helm.

[@GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff496]

Fun and informative video … thanks! What vehicle do you tow the boat with?

[@expeditionseanest]

Many thanks . We started with a Dodge 1/2 ton and we found it did not have the power or suspension for the weight of the Ranger Tug fully loaded. We got smart and ordered a 3/4 ton Chevy Express Van with a 6.6 L gasoline engine. From there we sent it to Quigley's 4 wheel drive centre where they installed the 4 wheel drive system put in . We now have a van that has a truck suspension and frame with the 4 wheel drive system that is fully under GM's warranty. It pulls like a dream !

[@GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff496]

@@expeditionseanest OK … that’s great info. I really fancy those Ranger tugs! Now that I’m retired, I might have to consider a powerboat after years of sailing! Towing a big tug would be a big leap for me as I’m currently dry sailing a little Melonseed skiff … really easy to tow a boat that weighs 100 kg!

[@diyoregonnowtexas9202]

I was planning the sail boat route. Then I discovered the power boat idea and came across the Ranger Tug. This is the way to go and I'll be looking for a Ranger Tug for sure. Do you feel the 25 is big enough?

[@expeditionseanest]

For two it seems to work quite well, not a lot of extra space, but the biggest point was that it had to be easy to trailer . How many days would you be out ?

[@danreed4920]

I was interested in seeing the Ranger but all I saw was a scenic travelogue of coastal British Columbia.

[@expeditionseanest]

Dan the detailed walk through of our R25 will be released in two parts . Dec 1 and December 15 if that interests you check back in after that.

[@bfarm44]

Have a hankering for the 29 with four of us just need money

[@expeditionseanest]

Yup , we totally understand! The 25 is just not big enough for 4

[@smallnuts2]

Can you do a maintenance video? I'm new to boats and wondering what you have to do since it's in saltwater.

[@expeditionseanest]

hey small nuts, I can’t believe I just called you small nuts. I will definitely put a video together for you. That is a great idea. Salt water so incredibly corrosive.

[@smallnuts2]

@Expedition Sea Nest lol. Thanks. I want to get into live aboard lifestyle in the future.

[@st-dm5mr]

I love the older R25 with the Yanmar diesel. I'm not a fan of their move to a planing hull with outboards. This video is more about shore leave with a 10 foot zodiac than the Ranger. No problem. I was sold on the boat years ago and will likely buy the diesel chugger version in the next year or so. A tug does not plane/plain(?). A tug goes for days on a few gallons of diesel, the heater blowing into the cabin in November and coffee always available in the galley or good scotch in the cabinet after dark. Nights are spent without idle gossip with rich retirees anchored in tourist guide harbours but in isolated bays in Observatory Inlet with no one around except the occasional local crab boat. The R25 is the biggest "tiny" boat you will ever find. Towable with a late model half ton, sleeps 5 friendly people and storage for a week of cruising. As a tug design...at least the pre-outboard versions...it can handle 4 foot seas at 6 knots without spilling your coffee and keeps the bunk dry. Bow thrusters on a 25 is a welcome bonus. Solid Alaskan bulkhead leave no worries of a following sea. Nice boat. I just wish the prices hadn't gotten so stupid in the last 3 years.

[@expeditionseanest]

If you spent a day on one of the new designed outboard models that Ranger Tug has built he will quickly understand why they are so popular. Imagine removing that big diesel engine from underneath the rear compartment and having all that space to store stuff. Now imagine being able to run that boat at any speed I just a fraction of the sound. Julia I just ran from Bimini to The Berry Islands in the Bahamas. That was almost an 80 mile run in open ocean. If you buy any 25 foot boat it is going to rock like crazy unless you have a sail on it. We were running out of time and we were going to end up getting into the Berries in the dark. Fortunately the wind died and the waves subsided and I jumped up on plane and we ran at 27 miles an hour and got in before dark. I absolutely love this boat and would buy another one tomorrow.

[@kevinlunney5608]

Hello - great video. what kind of miles per gallon are you getting?

[@expeditionseanest]

Kevin, at what speed?

[@kevinlunney5608]

@@expeditionseanest thanks for getting back to me - I am currently bidding non a ranger tug. What is knots per gallon at say 9 and then 20 or so knots per hour- thanks

[@kevinlunney5608]

@@expeditionseanest Also - do you have any idea how these hold up in salt water?

[@sdziuk]

This is filmed aboard a Ranger Tugs R29, though, is that correct?

[@expeditionseanest]

The first video was onboard our friend's R29 . We purchased an R25 and all other videos will take place onboard that boat.

[@rothgartheviking858]

How do you feel about the outboard?

[@expeditionseanest]

Absolutely love it. It frees up so much space in the stern and makes things easier if there’s ever a repair necessary.

[@WoodandBricks]

I kept saying Cutwater!

[@expeditionseanest]

they are similar the cutwater and the ranger tug.

[@cheapme1850]

I checked out the Cutwater and the Ranger earlier this year at the local boat show and the Ranger was nicer and had a more quality feel.

[@bec5gtr]

Are we done😅

[@expeditionseanest]

I know , right? At least the camera landed in the boat and not in the water...whew!