ranger 29 sailboat review

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• Sailboat Guide

Ranger 29 (Mull)

Ranger 29 (Mull) is a 28 ′ 6 ″ / 8.7 m monohull sailboat designed by Gary Mull and built by Ranger Yachts between 1970 and 1975.

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)

Replaced with the RANGER 28 (1976), also by Mull.

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Review of Ranger 29

Basic specs..

The boat is typically equipped with a Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine at 30.0 hp (22 kW), which gives a max speed about 7.5 knots.

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 Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Ranger 29 is 1.97, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 6.4 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 29 is about 132 kg/cm, alternatively 744 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 132 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 744 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 Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

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 shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

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

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Ranger 29 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.

RHODES RANGER 29 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 RHODES RANGER 29. Built by Seafarer Yachts and designed by Philip Rhodes, the boat was first built in 1960. It has a hull type of Fin Keel and LOA is 8.69. Its sail area/displacement ratio 13.20. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

RHODES RANGER 29 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 RHODES RANGER 29 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, contributions, who designed the rhodes ranger 29.

RHODES RANGER 29 was designed by Philip Rhodes.

Who builds RHODES RANGER 29?

RHODES RANGER 29 is built by Seafarer Yachts.

When was RHODES RANGER 29 first built?

RHODES RANGER 29 was first built in 1960.

How long is RHODES RANGER 29?

RHODES RANGER 29 is 6.1 m in length.

What is mast height on RHODES RANGER 29?

RHODES RANGER 29 has a mast height of 8.32 m.

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Ranger 29 owners guide

• Thread starter flycavalry
• Start date Oct 27, 2010
• Brand-Specific Forums
• Ranger Yachts (CA/FL)

Hello all, I have just purchased my first sail boat, a 1973 Ranger 29. Is their anyone out there with a copy of an owners guide that I could make a copy of? I am also interested in finding other Ranger owners in the San Francisco Bay Area that would like to form a group to share information.  

flycavalry said: Hello all, I have just purchased my first sail boat, a 1973 Ranger 29. Is their anyone out there with a copy of an owners guide that I could make a copy of? I am also interested in finding other Ranger owners in the San Francisco Bay Area that would like to form a group to share information. Click to expand

Hi, Thanks for posting and sharing... As the world turns, I was at kadena 84-87 working in the 44th on F15s. I remember the f4s .. my JROTC commander Col Jaquish was an F4 Jock. Check Six, ken  

lemuscounseling

flycalvary: I purchased a 73 Ranger 29 last year, and it's also a journey of discovery. Getting her ready to put her in the water at Lake Tahoe, CA it going to be a challenge because I don't have a lot of documentation and schematics as to how the it was originally set up. Did you ever find a copy of an owners manual for the 73 Ranger 29? I would be interested in a copy of it if you got one. I sail at Lake Tahoe, CA and live in Reno, NV. Frank  

Check www.ranger-yachts.org under "Documents"  

rangerranger

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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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