ranger 32 sailboat review

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Ranger 32 restoration

• Thread starter j24kachina
• Start date Apr 8, 2009
• Brand-Specific Forums
• Ranger Yachts (CA/FL)

I have completed the work on a Ranger 32, hull number 59. There is almost nothing which I have not replaced. She sails like a dream and this spring will be our 5th trip up the inside passage. We plan on making Skagway this year. Her name is Shonto and like I mentioned, almost everything has been replaced, so if anyone wants a tip on re-doing something on the Ranger 32, ask.  

Attachments

Standing rigging. I am replacing my standing rigging. What size did you use. What type of turnbuckles, swaged or un. Thanks for your info.  

Re: Standing rigging. I used 5/16 with closed barrel turnbuckles, both ends roll-pressed on. When they came back, they were about 1/4" long, so I set a 1/2" plate under the mast at the mast step to compensate.  

Ranger 32 Have you replaced the mast step. If so did you use mild steel again? how did you cut and patch the inside fiberglass? Have you rebedded the keel and did you have a big hole in the bilge sump. We lived on our 32 in juneau for a couple years.  

j24kachina said: I have completed the work on a Ranger 32, hull number 59. There is almost nothing which I have not replaced. She sails like a dream and this spring will be our 5th trip up the inside passage. We plan on making Skagway this year. Her name is Shonto and like I mentioned, almost everything has been replaced, so if anyone wants a tip on re-doing something on the Ranger 32, ask. Click to expand

How about information on replacing the toe rail. I have developed a leak at the deck/hull seam so Im thinking this is a good time to replace the teak rail with an alum one and reseal the seam.  

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Desmond said: How about information on replacing the toe rail. I have developed a leak at the deck/hull seam so Im thinking this is a good time to replace the teak rail with an alum one and reseal the seam. Click to expand

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Ranger 32 fixes The 32 which we have is hull # 59. Someone told me only 60 were made, so in that thinking, ours was near the last to be made. This may be the reason the toe-rail is aluminum all the way, fore to aft. This is one part which I did nothing with. We do have a teak hand rail on each side of the cabin hatch cover. I have taken it off and replaced it with a new one and re-sealed with lifecaulk.  

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• Sailboat Guide

Ranger 32 is a 32 ′ 6 ″ / 9.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Gary Mull and built by Ranger Yachts starting in 1973.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

IOR 3/4 ton. Based on ‘Swampfire’, winner at first 3/4 ton cup (1974) at Miami, FL USA.

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The Ranger 32 is a 32.5ft masthead sloop designed by Gary Mull and built in fiberglass by Ranger Yachts (USA) since 1973.

147 units have been built..

The Ranger 32 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser.

Ranger 32 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Review of Ranger 32

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season. And outside the sailing season, just bottom cleaning and perhaps anti-fouling painting once a year - a few hours of work, that's all.

The Ranger 32 is equipped with a fin keel. The fin keel is the most common keel and provides splendid manoeuvrability. The downside is that it has less directional stability than a long keel.

The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.58 - 1.68 meter (5.18 - 5.48 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

The boat is typically equipped with an inboard Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine at 30 hp (22 kW).

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 6.8 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Ranger 32 is about 173 kg/cm, alternatively 970 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 173 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 970 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 29m 2 (312 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Ranger 32 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

RANGER 32 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of RANGER 32. Built by Ranger Yachts (USA) and designed by Gary Mull, the boat was first built in 1973. It has a hull type of Fin with rudder on skeg and LOA is 9.91. Its sail area/displacement ratio 16.07. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Universal, runs on Gas.

RANGER 32 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about RANGER 32 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, contributions, who designed the ranger 32.

RANGER 32 was designed by Gary Mull.

Who builds RANGER 32?

RANGER 32 is built by Ranger Yachts (USA).

When was RANGER 32 first built?

RANGER 32 was first built in 1973.

How long is RANGER 32?

RANGER 32 is 7.87 m in length.

What is mast height on RANGER 32?

RANGER 32 has a mast height of 11.13 m.

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• Sailboat Reviews

This late 60’s/early 70’s IOR and MORC racer/cruiser was a hot boat in its day, and it still acquits itself reasonably well. But lightweight construction limits the 26’s suitability for offshore.

Jack Jensen, founder of Jensen Marine in 1957 and builder of Cal boats, was in the late 60s enjoying success with boats like the Bill Lapworth-designed Cal 40. But his boats sold better on the West Coast than in other areas of the country. In order to appeal to Easterners, Jensen formed Ranger Yachts and commissioned Gary Mull to design the boats. Both Cal and Ranger were located in Costa Mesa, California, and both were sold to the conglomerate Bangor Punta in 1973. When Bangor Punta moved production of Cal to Florida in early 1981, it pulled the plug on Ranger. In 1983, Bangor Punta sold Cal and O’Day to Lear Siegler, which produced a few small Rangers, and built the three lines in Fall River, Massachusetts until shutting them all down by 1987.

Gary Mull, a well-known West Coast designer, designed the Ranger 26 in 1968 as a fast, roomy, multi-purpose sloop. Early literature touted it as “the first yacht of her size range designed and built to big yacht standards.” Construction ran from about 1969 to 1975.

Ranger Yachts also built a number of other models, including the 22, 23 (used in the movie version of “Dove”), 28, 29, 32, 33 and 37. The 37 was the last bonafide production boat to win the SORC—in 1972. Ranger also built a centerboard 26 in the late 70’s, but it is a different boat, and was less successful than the 26 reviewed here.

The Design Underwater, the Ranger 26 has a very clean, saucer-shaped canoe body (hull without appendages). The displacement/length ratio is 254, so she’s no super lightweight. The fin keel is swept aft a bit as is the balanced spade rudder. Interestingly, the rudderstock is nearly vertical, however. The bow has a pleasing rake to it while the transom is vertical. The waterline is unusually long for that era at 21′ 9″.

In profile, there is some spring to the sheer line. The profile of the cabin top is parallel with the waterline. There are two fairly large fixed windows in the main cabin and smaller ones forward for the head. The only light or ventilation source for the forward cabin is from an overhead hatch.

The rig is a high-aspect ratio sloop with upper shrouds and single lowers. The boom is quite high, diminishing the size of the mainsail for rating purposes. This feature also helps facilitate the use of a permanent boom vang and makes it less likely for crew to get bonked on the noggin.

One owner reported to us that his boat has a “San Francisco bay rig” that is 2′ shorter than the standard mast.

The sail/area displacement ratio is 15.9—in concert with its moderate displacement/length ratio.

The Ranger 26 was designed for outboard power. A 6-hp. motor pushes it reasonably well. A special well is molded into the transom that enables retraction of the outboard’s lower unit without bringing the motor head into the cockpit. The well is self-draining and there is a lip at the forward end to help keep following seas from sloshing into the cockpit. Offshore, however, the motor would best be stowed and the transom cutout fit with some sort of filler piece—epoxied plywood, King Starboard or the like.

The cockpit is fairly large and is protected forward by a fairly high molded coaming. The companionway sill, however, is quite low. In rough weather, it would be advisable to fit a sturdy lower companionway board.

Construction We don’t have a lot of information on the construction of the Ranger 26, but we’ll assume that the hull is solid fiberglass and the deck balsa-cored. The lapped hull-deck joint is caulked and fastened with self-tapping screws. A bonded and through-bolted joint is much preferred. Indeed, a number of owners complained about hull-deck joint leaks. The toe rail is perforated aluminum.

The main bulkhead is also a problem as it is designed to carry the compression loads of the mast. One owner wrote, “The wooden door frame to the forward cabin serves as support for the mast step on the cabin top. The bottom end of the door frame is glassed to the hull in the bilge. Bilge water caused the bottom end to rot.”

Other weaknesses include inadequate backing for stanchions, pulpits and deck hardware, which several owners said they had to fix. Leaks were also associated with the stanchions and hardware, as well as the extruded aluminum portlights.

On any older boat, bedding compound must be expected to have hardened and deteriorated. Removing deck hardware, rebedding and reinstalling is very important but admittedly an onerous task, requiring two people, one on deck with a screwdriver and the other below with a wrench on the nuts. If the fitting is near the hull, sometimes you can lock a pair of Vice-Grips on the nut and wedge it against the hull to resist turning from above. But for tightening, it’s always better to have the person on deck hold the bolt stationary and have the person below do the tightening with the wrench.

Another owner complained about leaking keel bolts, which again require periodic caulking.

A last comment on construction came from several owners who noted that the rudder has a fair amount of play in it. Rudder bearings are another item that must be replaced on older boats. Like rebedding deck fittings and portlights, dropping a rudder for maintenance work is neither easy nor fun, but important nevertheless. If you don’t have to dig a hole under the boat, count yourself lucky!

Performance The PHRF rating for the Ranger 26 averages about 198 in fleets around the country. This is faster than a Columbia 26, whose rating ranges from 210 to 220, but slower than a J/24’s average rating of 165-175.

Nevertheless, the Ranger 26 is a relatively quick boat for its length. The hull is quite flat aft, enabling her to nearly plane off the wind.

In his book, Choice Yacht Designs, author Richard Henderson (writing in 1979), wrote that according to a February 1969 issue of Yachting magazine, Gary Mull was the first designer “to have one of his model yachts surf in the Stevens Institute testing tank.” He went on to say that the Ranger 26 “has this unusual ability to surf or at least surge, and yet she is an all-around performer.”

Others who have raced this boat feel she does adequately in light and moderate winds, but really comes into her element in stronger winds. This would be born out by her comparatively high displacement/length ratio of 254 (a J/24’s D/L is just 190) and comparatively low SA/D of 15.9 (the J/24’s SA/D is 19.8). So it is true that in heavier weather the heavier boat gains its advantage over lighter, flatter bottom boats.

This still doesn’t mean the Ranger 26 will be comfortable offshore. First, she’s not a big boat. Second, she’s not really built for it. Richard Henderson tells the story of Bill Homewood’s participation in a Bermuda One Two race. The boat survived Force 7 conditions with a double-reefed main and 50% jib, even reeling off a 183-mile day. He finished the race in five days, seven hours, which is quite remarkable. But she leaked at lot at the hull-deck joint and he worried about the main bulkhead/door frame, which serves as support for the mast. He recommended beefing this up with a stainless steel girder.

The stability index, computed by US Sailing and based on the length of positive stability, is 114, which is below the 120 number we consider a minimum for offshore sailing.

Under power, the 6-hp. recommended outboard is OK, but not great, say owners. A few have gone to larger 8-hp. and 9.9-hp. motors. The boat is, however, quite maneuverable under power. But in larger seas, the prop may cavitate or come completely out of the water. This is a problem for most boats with outboards. A long-shaft model is essential, but because the motor is located at the extreme aft end of the boat, any extreme pitching motion is going to cause problems.

Interior The accommodations are basic: V-berth forward, rather small head with locker, a dinette to port and settee to starboard in the main cabin, and aft, straddling the companionway, a divided galley.

The 8′ 8″ beam is generous compared to older 26-footers, but does not make it the most voluminous 26-footer ever made. In fact, two boats of the same era—the Northstar 600 and Paceship PY 26—have beams of 9′ 0″ and 9′ 6″ respectively. Still, there’s adequate room in the Ranger, and besides, we’re not big fans of excessive beams as they can make the boat quirky to handle upwind in rough weather.

Dinettes vs. fold-down bulkhead tables have their pros and cons. Dinettes are generally sturdier than fold-down tables, but they occupy more space and when you want to get rid of them the only place they can go is down…to make a berth.

The port-side dinette in the Ranger 26 has seating only fore and aft, which makes it difficult to hold your place when the boat is heeled, especially on port tack.

The galley is quite small, but then this is just a 26-footer and unless we were cruising for a lengthy period we’d probably rather have its small divided galley than a larger one occupying the entire starboard side of the main cabin where the Ranger’s settee is located.

One owner said, “It has no real galley, but has a sink and space for a stove.”

The space for the stove aligns it athwartships where it cannot gimbal, so one would have to add a single-burner, gimbaled stove like the old Sea Swing for cooking at any angle of heel.

While basic, the accommodation plan does provide berths for four (theoretically five, but for two to fit comfortably in the dinette they would have to be either very small or more likely, children). It certainly will suffice for overnights and week-long cruises. It would be nice if the head was enclosed from both main and forward cabins, but as configured, the only door is at the main bulkhead. This presents problems when non-family members are aboard and someone wants to use the head in the middle of the night. What are you supposed to do? Roll over so they don’t think you’re looking, keep your eyes and nose closed, and think about something else, like waterfalls or throwing rocks into the lake.

Such is life on small boats!

Conclusion It’s hard to believe that the Ranger 26 now is 31 years old! It doesn’t look that aged. The boat sails well, though like any boat with a fin keel and spade rudder, she will require more attention at the helm.

Construction is fairly standard for mass production, but that’s not good enough for offshore. The list of complaints concerning the Ranger 26’s assembly is longer than for many other boats. Leaks in portlights and deck fittings can be fixed. Not so easy to remedy are the hull-deck joint and keel bolt leaks. And the weak main bulkhead will require some ingenuity to strengthen.

When one buys an old boat, adopt the maxim: “Anything can be fixed.”

Asking prices for Ranger 26s range between about $7,500 and $9,500, depending on condition and equipment. The difference between a 1971 and a 1975 model, as reported by the BUC Research Used Boat Price Guide, is not that much—about $900.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

I have a ranger 26 ’73 Have you have heard of shaving down the “thickness of the fin keel” with a sawzaw to give less drag.. I would like break 9 knots

That’s a project that I would actually never consider. To start with, the keel is iron and “ shaving “ it would make shaving the backside of a grizzly seem easy. A sawsall would NEVER do the job , and there is actually no power tool for the job. Better off pouring a new lead keel or better yet, finding another boat that would suit your need for speed. A good motor might be Abandon hope, all ye who contemplate it.

That’s a project that I would actually never consider. To start with, the keel is iron and “ shaving “ it would make shaving the backside of a grizzly seem easy. A sawsall would NEVER do the job , and there is actually no power tool for the job. Better off pouring a new lead keel or better yet, finding another boat that would suit your need for speed. A good motto might be Abandon hope, all ye who contemplate it.

I agree with the keel maintenance, i.e. bolts being a B. yet Could a person ask about the replacing of window glass, dimensions, suggestions, many thanks.

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• By Richard Smith
• Updated: January 24, 2014

One of many designs that Gary Mull made for Ranger Yachts, the Ranger 26, conceived to be the ideal compromise between a safe and comfortable on-soundings family cruiser and a competitive racer, reflects much of the art and technology that Mull blended so well in the many boats he designed during his all-too-short career. The Ranger 26 is undeniably fast: One won the 1970 IOR North American Half-Ton Cup.

The 26 is a good-looking boat with a distinctive sheer and a nice balance between freeboard and cabin height—a handsome profile wasn’t sacrificed to standing headroom—and exemplifies the construction techniques of the 1970s.

The hull is laid up by hand, and the balsa-cored deck mates to it on an inward-facing flange along the sheer line. A black-anodized aluminum toerail, fastened with bolts on 6-inch centers, completes the joint. The 1-ton iron fin keel is bolted to the hull and should be inspected periodically because the half-inch galvanized keel bolts have been known to corrode badly.

The Ranger 26 is a masthead sloop. Its deck-stepped mast is supported by upper shrouds, double lowers, a headstay, and a backstay rigged with a tensioning bridle.

At about 12 inches wide, the side decks are on the narrow side. Sailors going forward must take care when negotiating the chainplates and genoa tracks and blocks. An anchor roller wasn’t fitted as standard equipment, so anyone planning on cruising a Ranger 26 would want to consider fitting one that could perhaps also hold an anchor.

The cockpit is a little over 7 feet long and is ample for racing, cruising or socializing. The width between the seats is about right for leg bracing when heeled. Since the boat has no quarter berths, an abundance of stowage space is available under both cockpit seats.

An outboard motor provides propulsion. The transom has a cutout to accept it, but a low bulkhead just forward of the transom keeps water out of the cockpit proper and provides a convenient mounting location for the mainsheet traveler. Steering is by tiller.

The accommodation plan is conventional for this type of boat. A molded-fiberglass pan that forms the base for interior furniture includes berth fronts and platforms, and a padded vinyl headliner extends down the cabin sides. A compartment for a portable toilet and a storage closet separate the V-berth from the saloon. In the saloon, a dinette (that converts to a small double berth) is fitted on the port side, and a settee is fitted to starboard. The small galley consists of a sink to port of the companionway and a two-burner propane stove to starboard. Standing headroom is about 5 feet throughout, and sitting headroom above the seat cushions is more than 3 feet. The cabin trim is teak, and the bulkheads are teak-veneered.

Bandit , the boat I sailed for this review, races with a 130 percent genoa fitted on a Harken furler. In the 8 to 10 knots of wind that day, the boat handled well under the main alone. Once the genoa was unfurled, the boat heeled slightly before quickly accelerating to about 5 knots.

Bandit carries her 40 years lightly because she’s been well maintained. She’s a fine example of a 1970s-era racer/cruiser and is still able to show her transom to many competitors.

The Ranger 26 was built from 1969 to 1976. Depending on condition and equipment, list prices range from $3,000 to $5,800—quite a bargain for the inshore cruising opportunities that the boat offers.

Richard Smith and his wife, Beth, sail their Ericson Cruising 31, Kuma , in the Pacific Northwest. This article first appeared in the December 2013 issue of Cruising World.

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Beam:  10'    Draft:  3'     Beam:  8'    Draft:  1.7'     Draft:  4'     Beam:  12.5'    Draft:  7'     Beam:  5'    Draft:  1'     Beam:  8'    Draft:  3'     Beam:  7'    Draft:  3.3'     Beam:  7.1'    Draft:  4.11'     Beam:  8'    Draft:  2'     Beam:  7'    Draft:  3.25'     Beam:  5'6'    Draft:  4'2'     Beam:  8'    Draft:  3.9'     Beam:  7.42'    Draft:  2.83'     Beam:  5'    Draft:  4'     Beam:  7'    Draft:  3'2'     Beam:  11.5'    Draft:  5'     Beam:  10'    Draft:  6'     Beam:  10'    Draft:  6.5'     Beam:  12'    Draft:  4'7'     Beam:  9'    Draft:  5'     Beam:  5'    Draft:  5'     Beam:  9.67'    Draft:  5.67'     Beam:  19.0'     Beam:  8'    Draft:  2'     Beam:  5.7'    Draft:  2.9' © 2001-2024 ./)   . . ./)   . . The Boat House of Racine Ranger Yachts 32 Description: "KATHRYN" IS READY FOR YOU!! This sailboat is a nice, well equipped cruiser/racer.  Ranger 32, was an IOR 3/4 ton racing yacht winner at Miami, Florida in 1974. 147 of these yachts were produced before the design went out of production.Built of fiberglass with a wood trim, the fractional sloop featured a fixed fin keel and had alternate power supplied by a 30 hp gasoline motor.  With her tall rig and long waterline, this SLOOP sailboat is reminiscent of classic keel boats of yesteryear.  Accommodations are fairly conventional and include a double quarter berth and chart table to starboard, galley, and upper and lower berths, head and hanging locker, and easily removable double bunks to allow for sail storage. Her dimensions include overall length of 32' 6", waterline length of 25' 10", beam 10' 0', draft 5' 3*, 433 sq ft of sail and displacement of 9500 pounds. PRICE LOWERED - come see her at Boathouse of Racine!! Call Ferd!! Listing Type: Central/ExclusiveCo-op Type: Not Available for Co-Brokerage Units: Imperial - US Condition: Used  Make: Ranger Yachts Length: 32 ft Model: 32 Year: 1974 Listing Title: Priced for Quick Sale! Price: $17990 Category: Sail  Class: Cruisers/Racer Fuel Type: Gas/Petrol Hull Material: Fiberglass Keel Type: Fin HIN: Tsp44588E989 Boat Name: Kathryn Country: United States      State: Wisconsin City: Racine                          Zip Code: 53402 Sales Contact Info: Office: Racine Yacht Brokers Name: Ferdinand Nimphius Number: 847-420-2806                     Forum Listing Marketplace Advanced Search About The Boat Boat Review Forum SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more! Thoughts on Ranger 22 Add to quote Something my wife and I can handle ourselves (22-25 ft) Something with a somewhat comfortable cabin (to placate the wife) Something with a little bit of speed and finally PRICE (we need to stay in the 2K - 5K range) I promise not to derail the discussion! I have sailed on a Ranger 22 and think they are a lot fun. I have no experience on a 23. What kind of conditions do you expect to encounter in Nashville and where will you be sailing?   Nashville winds are very fluky. I do not think I will go out initially in anything over about 15. I think. I have heard that the most annoying sailors are the ones that don't know what they don't know. I am not one of those. I know my inexperienced limitations. I am just looking for something that will help me while I learn, but will also take me further as we go along.   Clay: Check out this link. Its a great site that describes your boat in great detail. http://www.strictlysailing.com/ranger22/   The Ranger series of boats is generally well regarded. I just helped launch a Ranger 26 earlier this year. Quite a nice boat, but a bit small in my book. I think you'd do well with either the Ranger 22, 23 or 26. Used, they're all in that price range generally, unless in immaculate condition. A couple of things to be wary of on them. Many Rangers are raced, and as such, can have seriously more wear and tear on them than boats that were not raced. A survey is generally an excellent, almost mandatory, step to take on any that you find interesting. Another boat that might be of interest to you is the Santana 22, which was also designed by Gary Mull, designer of the Ranger sailboats. One other thing, you should set aside about 20% of your boat buying budget for equipment re-fitting, upgrades, and modifications. Not to discourage you, but every boat I've ever owned needed to have something done to make it workable for me. It doesn't matter whether the boat is new or used....it just seems to be a fact of life when it comes to boats.   The owner of this particular boat is the original owner. He bought the boat in 78. He has recently (last 3 years) replaced all of the winches, cleats, and teak. The sails (main and 155) are 1 year old mylar racing sails from a small loft in New York I believe. The spinnaker is the original and likely will need to be replaced when I am comfortable enough to fly one. He has told me that the boat will need some bottom work, ie small blisters to be taken care of and a new bottom. This should not be much trouble, as I will trailer the boat for the first couple of years. Thanks for the input, keep it coming!   Great post, great questions/answers...thanks for the posting!   I have sailed on a Ranger 26 and would buy one if I were looking for a nice handling, fast daysailer that could be easily trailered. I enjoyed more interior room in the R26 than I see on a Ranger 22. The larger R26 is easily handled by two adults and othe members. It is large enough to allow the entire family to grow with it. Otherwise, in a couple short years you could find the smaller R22 was outgrown due to your children's growth. But, I would advise you to seek a R26 instead of a Ranger 22 or 23 ft. Just my opinion.   My thought would be it would be a fun boat to have and learn on and give you the sense of sailing hard. My first keel boat experiance was on a Ranger 22 and it is a fairly fast boat, big deck to get around on, I suspect due to a race design. Kind of small down below so dont expect a week trip out on it. In good wind it heels way over but I was never afraid of it broaching.   In researching R23's, it seems fairly common for the keel-to-hull joint to have some issues - e.g., a crack at the joint that can get as bad as the keel loose enough to be moved from side to side. Does the R22 have any sort of reputation for such keel attachement issues?   Ranger 22 I sail a Ranger 23 as volunteer able-bodied skipper for a disabled sailing organization, The Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors in San Francisco Bay. I'll tell you that the 23 is stiff and handles well on SF Bay, where conditions can be severe and changing, particularly important with disabled passengers aboard. The best setup in my view would be for the skipper to have full control of tiller and mainsheet as the helmsman needs to feel the balance in the groove and is able to feel the boat adjusting to puffs. Would think that the 22 is simliar to the 23 in these respects, and if so it's a great boat. BAADS would not ever, every, use a boat for disabled sailors that was not a darned good boat, so the 23 is a good choice in my view. A   I owned a Ranger 22 for a couple of years and loved it. I used it mainly for racing and did very well with it. I also delivered a Ranger 23 for a local broker (4 day trip solo). I liked the Ranger 23 better. It has a bigger cockpit and cabin. It sails the same as the 22 in light air but is faster and handles better in wind over 10kts. I would reccomend the 23 over the 22.   I have sailed both boats. The Ranger 22 was designed as an IOR mini-tonner and while it is a pretty nice one design boat, it is a pretty compromised design relative to the Ranger 23 which was designed to be a good all around design and a MORC boat second. As has been said above, the Ranger 23 is a good boat on all points of sail, and across a wide wind range. The Ranger 23 is one of my favorite boats of this size and type and would probably be near the very top of my list of boats to learn to sail on and for a first boat. I would never recommend the Ranger 22 so highly. The keel issue is possibly true of any small, bolt on fin keeled boat of that era. It is repairable much more easily than repairing a delaminated keel cavity which would be the expected condition on an encapsulated keel boat of that era. Jeff   I've owned and sailed the same Ranger 22 for 33 years so far. The plus: Super easy to sail Goes like a rocket in light air Points higher than anything in our mixed PHRF fleet Great deck layout with sensible hardware All round fun boat to sail The minus: Pinched in old IOR rule transom makes it a handful on a spinnaker reach in a breeze Not even sitting headroom below Very tender so must be the first to reef on breezy days Not really a choice for a comfortable weekender. Take a look at the old Ranger 23 or even better a Tanzer 22   Alcan said: I've owned and sailed the same Ranger 22 for 33 years so far. The plus: Super easy to sail Goes like a rocket in light air Points higher than anything in our mixed PHRF fleet Great deck layout with sensible hardware All round fun boat to sail The minus: Pinched in old IOR rule transom makes it a handful on a spinnaker reach in a breeze Not even sitting headroom below Very tender so must be the first to reef on breezy days Not really a choice for a comfortable weekender. Take a look at the old Ranger 23 or even better a Tanzer 22 Click to expand... ?             176.4K members Top Contributors this Month 335 IMAGES RANGER 32 Ranger 32 on trial run, San Francisco Bay 1974 Ranger Yachts 32 Sloop Cruiser/Racer for sale CANCELED: Ranger Yachts 32 Masthead Sloop boat in Vermilion, OH Ranger 32 CANCELED: Ranger Yachts 32 Masthead Sloop boat in Vermilion, OH VIDEO 😱 rc boat / Remote Control Boats review / #rcb #speed #boat #shorts Ranger 33 sailboat I bought a sailboat Ranger 32 1960s Ranger Minto Sailboat Sailing in Quartermaster Harbor The lady hawkeye (ranger 26 sailboat) COMMENTS Cruising Offshore with a Ranger 32 Senior Cruiser. Join Date: Mar 2003. Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W. Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 50,403. Images: 241. Gary Mull in retrospect - See Good Old Boat magazine, November 2002: Gary Mull in retrospect And: RANGER 32. Attached Thumbnails. Ranger 32 Boat Review Forum. SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, ... Boats like the Ranger 32 sail at their best in a narrow range of conditions. In the case of the Ranger 32, they sail best in 8 to 12 knots of ... RANGER 32 It takes into consideration "reported" sail area, displacement and length at waterline. The higher the number the faster speed prediction for the boat. A cat with a number 0.6 is likely to sail 6kts in 10kts wind, a cat with a number of 0.7 is likely to sail at 7kts in 10kts wind. KSP = (Lwl*SA÷D)^0.5*0.5 Ranger 32 Question Ranger 32 Question. I'm looking at a 1974 Ranger 32 for purchase. She's not in great shape, but is certainly worth considering. Most of what needs to be done seems pretty basic, but I'm not sure about one thing, best illustrated in a picture or two I'm going to ATTEMPT to attach below. Described: the white panel layer (for lack of a better ... Ranger 32 restoration Apr 8, 2009. 4. 2 J24 Elephant Butte NM. Apr 8, 2009. #1. I have completed the work on a Ranger 32, hull number 59. There is almost nothing which I have not replaced. She sails like a dream and this spring will be our 5th trip up the inside passage. We plan on making Skagway this year. Ranger 30 Kind of a go anyplace anytime boat. We had a real close look at a Ranger 30 during our last boat hunt... I would not put it in the same category as the earlier Mull 26/29/33 series. Usually pricier than a R29 but not necessarily a better boat (but, of course, somewhat newer) The rig was oversized in section and seemed heavy for the boat (good ... Ranger 32 Ranger 32 is a 32′ 6″ / 9.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Gary Mull and built by Ranger Yachts starting in 1973. ... The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more. Formula. D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³ D: Displacement of the boat in pounds. LWL: Waterline ... Ranger 32 The Ranger 32 is a 32.5ft masthead sloop designed by Gary Mull and built in fiberglass by Ranger Yachts (USA) since 1973. 147 units have been built. The Ranger 32 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser. Ranger 33 The Ranger 33 had a poor IOR (International Offshore Rule) rating, particularly compared to more modern fully-developed IOR-based production boats. Owners report that the boat has one negative sailing characteristic: a tendency to rapidly develop weather helm as she heels. The normal, rational remedy is to reduce sail. Ranger 33 1977 The Ranger 33 was a Gary Mull design and was part of a series that included the smaller Ranger 23, 26, 29 line of performance cruisers. As much as I am a big fan of Gary Mull''s work, and really like the smaller Rangers in this series, and think that the Ranger 23 is the near perfect first boat for a new sailor and my favorite 23 footer of its ... Review of Ranger 32 The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Ranger 32 is about 173 kg/cm, alternatively 970 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 173 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 970 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch. 1974 Ranger Yachts 32, Racine Wisconsin Ranger 32, was an IOR 3/4 ton racing yacht winner at Miami, Florida in 1974. 147 of these yachts were produced before the design went out of production. . ... Boat Reviews. Perry Design Review: Feeling 326. Bob Perry. August 25, 2000. Boat Reviews. Perry Design Review: Morris 32. Bob Perry. August 25, 2000. Ranger 23 The R-23 had an excellent production run, with 739 hulls built between 1971 and 1978. The boat is a sporty looker whose design is as appealing 30 years after her launch as when introduced. She carries a high-aspect sailplan and presents a fine bow entry and racy lines, especially compared to her contemporaries. RANGER 32: Reviews, Specifications, Built, Engine If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of RANGER 32. Built by Ranger Yachts (USA) and designed by Gary Mull, the boat was first built in 1973. It has a hull type of Fin with rudder on skeg and LOA is 9.91. Its sail area/displacement ratio 16.07. Ranger 26 Ranger Yachts also built a number of other models, including the 22, 23 (used in the movie version of "Dove"), 28, 29, 32, 33 and 37. The 37 was the last bonafide production boat to win the SORC—in 1972. Ranger also built a centerboard 26 in the late 70's, but it is a different boat, and was less successful than the 26 reviewed here. Ranger 26 Boat Review The Ranger 26 was built from 1969 to 1976. Depending on condition and equipment, list prices range from $3,000 to $5,800—quite a bargain for the inshore cruising opportunities that the boat offers. Richard Smith and his wife, Beth, sail their Ericson Cruising 31, Kuma, in the Pacific Northwest. This article first appeared in the December 2013 ... 1974 Ranger Yachts 32 Racer/Cruiser for sale This sailboat is a nice, well equipped cruiser/racer. Ranger 32, was an IOR 3/4 ton racing yacht winner at Miami, Florida in 1974. 147 of these yachts were produced before the design went out of production. . Built of fiberglass with a wood trim, the fractional sloop featured a fixed fin keel and had alternate power supplied by a 30 hp gasoline ... Ranger 37 The Ranger 28/32/37 series are, IMO, some of the nicest looking executions of the 70s IOR tumblehome hull era, Gary Mull had a nice touch with the lines. The 37 will be at its' best upwind, and as the Maestro says if you choose your sails and apparent angles wisely these types can offer a lot of boat for the money. Ron. Rhodes sailboats for sale by owner. Rhodes preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Rhodes used sailboats for sale by owner. Home. Register & Post. View All Sailboats. ... Philip rhodes sailboat ranger 28'6: Length: 29' Beam: 5.7' Draft: 2.9' Year: 1971: Type: cruiser: Hull: ... 32' Command Yachts Douglas 32 FishingBay Harbor Marina Deltaville, Virginia Asking $15,000. 33' Ericson ... Ranger Yachts 32 This sailboat is a nice, well equipped cruiser/racer. Ranger 32, was an IOR 3/4 ton racing yacht winner at Miami, Florida in 1974. 147 of these yachts were produced before the design went out of production.Built of fiberglass with a wood trim, the fractional sloop featured a fixed fin keel and had alternate power supplied by a 30 hp gasoline motor. Tartan 30 or Ranger 29 for cruising? Boat Review Forum. SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. ... RANGER 29 (MULL) sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com ... (28/32/27) are more extreme IOR influenced hulls with a lot of tumblehome, bolt-on keels and more extreme rig dimensions (short E) and tend to be the typical death roll machines ... Ranger Yachts 32 boats for sale Ranger Yachts 32 By Condition. Used Ranger Yachts 32 1 listing. Find Ranger Yachts 32 boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld. Offering the best selection of Ranger Yachts to choose from. Thoughts on Ranger 22 I have sailed both boats. The Ranger 22 was designed as an IOR mini-tonner and while it is a pretty nice one design boat, it is a pretty compromised design relative to the Ranger 23 which was designed to be a good all around design and a MORC boat second. As has been said above, the Ranger 23 is a good boat on all points of sail, and across a ... catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht