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Ranger Tug R-27

The published record on this model and what owners report, with the questions worth asking while a boat is still a listing. This page covers the model. Every boat still needs its own homework.

A trailerable 27-ft pocket cruiser well-suited to the Loop on air draft, but the engine story splits sharply between the diesel Classic and the outboard redesign.

The Ranger Tug R-27 is a compact, trailerable semi-displacement cruiser popular for the Great Loop thanks to a low folding-mast air draft and shallow draft. It comes in two materially different forms: the "Classic" R-27 (roughly 2010–2017) with an inboard diesel (Yanmar early, later Volvo Penta D3), and the redesigned R-27 (2018-on) with outboard power (single Yamaha F300, later twin F150s). Which one you are looking at changes almost every engine, range, and serviceability consideration, so confirm the drive type and engine before anything else.

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On video

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How to read the tags on this page. CLAIMstated by one source, not yet confirmed QUESTIONopen, and settled by looking at the boat itself CONTEXTbackground on how this model is built or used Sources are linked where published.

Drive type & identity

QUESTION
Is this an inboard-diesel Classic or an outboard redesign? The R-27 exists as two fundamentally different boats: the ~2010–2017 Classic with an inboard diesel and the 2018-on redesign with outboard power. Nearly every engine, range, and serviceability consideration below depends on which one this hull is. src: Tugnuts "New R-27"; Ranger Tugs R-27 model history
Your move: Confirm with the broker/listing the model year, drive type, and exact engine (Yanmar, Volvo D3-200/220, Yamaha F300, or twin F150s) before making an offer.

Air draft

CLAIM
Folding mast/radar keeps air draft low Ranger's current sheet gives the outboard R-27 8'6" of bridge clearance with the mast down. The mast and radar fold for trailering and low bridges, so air draft is rarely the problem on this model. Antennas, canvas, dinghy storage and solar change the real number, and used boats are often modified. src: Ranger Tugs R-27 spec sheet (current); TheCenterOf Great Loop Bridge Clearance Guide
Your move: Measure the actual air draft in realistic cruising trim and identify exactly what folds or comes off to clear low bridges.

Range & fuel

CONTEXT
Two efficient speeds: slow displacement or up on plane Across versions, the R-27 is most efficient either at slow displacement speed (~6–9 kn) or up on plane, with a thirsty hump between. On the Classic diesel, owners cite roughly 1–1.2 GPH at ~6 kn rising to ~3–4 GPH at ~9–10 kn, with displacement-speed range in the hundreds-of-miles range. On the outboard F300, a boat test showed an efficient cruise around 23–27 kn at ~15–16.5 GPH (~1.4–2.0 mpg), and ~3 GPH slow-cruising near 10 mph. src: Tugnuts "Tug Efficiency - I/B Diesel vs Outboard", "R27 fuel usage"; Soundings "Coastal Adventurer" R-27 test
QUESTION
What is the fuel-tank capacity and realistic range on this hull? Fuel capacity and consumption differ between the diesel Classic and the outboard redesign, and load, current, and speed choice swing real-world range widely. Diesel boats stretch much further at displacement speed than the gasoline outboard versions. src: Tugnuts fuel threads
Your move: Confirm the fuel-tank capacity for this specific hull and calculate realistic displacement-speed range with a reserve for the longer no-fuel stretches of the Loop.

Engines

The engines research is part of the full profile inside the product. It covers factory options, tested performance and the engine-specific questions in our members' dossiers, and it travels with every dossier and survey brief built on this model.

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