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ranger 32 sailboat review

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Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums.
22-11-2008, 22:39  
32 (not the more common 33) to sail from L.A. to . They appear to be well built but definitely a with limitations. Unfortunately,this one is also equipted with an atomic 4. Any opinions out there? There doesn't seem to be much information out there on this particular Ranger.
thanks
23-11-2008, 04:20  
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
magazine, November 2002:



 
23-11-2008, 06:04  
Boat: Beneteau First 42
that's an issue; its the getting back.

FWIW...

s/v HyLyte
23-11-2008, 11:16  
24-11-2008, 20:09  
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
.
The problem with any fin spade (or skeg) rudders is that there is a lot of downwind sailing from mainland to Hawaii. The works hard from start to finish so it is a consideration. It must be in good condition and tight in its . It is always good to have an backup idea for . I had a friend who broke his tiller on the trip around South Pt. on his Ranger 33. Each year there are many cruisers from the mainland who have troubles within 200 to 400 miles of the Big Island.
I do like Rangers and I think that length of is ideal.
Kind regards,
JohnL
06-02-2009, 09:18  
Boat: Morgan Nelson / Marek 36
14-08-2009, 22:47  
Boat: Ranger 32 "Done Deal"
 
 
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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.

Drawing of Ranger 32

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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  • About Sailboat Guide

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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 sailboat under sail

Ranger 32 for sale elsewhere on the web:

ranger 32 sailboat review

Main features

Model Ranger 32
Length 32.50 ft
Beam 10.83 ft
Draft 5.25 ft
Country United states (North America)
Estimated price $ 0 ??

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ranger 32 sailboat review

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Sail area / displ. 16.02
Ballast / displ. 47.16 %
Displ. / length 246.09
Comfort ratio 22.09
Capsize 2.05
Hull type Monohull fin keel with rudder on skeg
Construction Fiberglass
Waterline length 25.83 ft
Maximum draft 5.25 ft
Displacement 9500 lbs
Ballast 4480 lbs
Hull speed 6.81 knots

ranger 32 sailboat review

We help you build your own hydraulic steering system - Lecomble & Schmitt

Rigging Masthead Sloop
Sail area (100%) 449 sq.ft
Air draft 45 ft
Sail area fore 270.96 sq.ft
Sail area main 176.48 sq.ft
I 40.90 ft
J 13.25 ft
P 36.50 ft
E 9.67 ft
Nb engines 1
Total power 30 HP
Fuel capacity 0 gals

Accommodations

Water capacity 0 gals
Headroom 0 ft
Nb of cabins 0
Nb of berths 0
Nb heads 0

Builder data

Builder Ranger Yachts (USA)
Designer Gary Mull
First built 1973
Last built 0 ??
Number built 147

Other photos

ranger 32 sailboat review

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RANGER 32 Detailed Review

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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.

Member Boats at HarborMoor

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 a Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine at 30.0 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.

UsageLengthDiameter
Mainsail halyard 28.7 m(94.2 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard28.7 m(94.2 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Spinnaker halyard28.7 m(94.2 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Jib sheet 9.9 m(32.5 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Genoa sheet9.9 m(32.5 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Mainsheet 24.8 m(81.3 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Spinnaker sheet21.8 m(71.5 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Cunningham2.9 m(9.6 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Kickingstrap5.9 m(19.2 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Clew-outhaul5.9 m(19.2 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)

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.

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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

DSC02360.jpg

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.  

[email protected]

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

[email protected]

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 Reviews

Surely one of the most popular and versatile midget racers of the modern era, this Mull design has devotees all over the land. You can get them cheap, and cruise 'em, too.

ranger 32 sailboat review

Designed by Californian Gary Mull in 1971, the Ranger 23 was influenced by the Junior Offshore Group (JOG), a forerunner of the Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC, which evolved to MORA, which is now nearly extinct as an association). MORA rules provided designers, builders, and performance-oriented sailors with a venue in which many of the most mannerly, small-sized performance cruisers of the time could compete on a near-level playing field.

At the time, Jack Jensen, founder of Jensen Marine, was enjoying great success building Cal boats and making race history with the Cal 40 and Cal 27. However, to appeal to East Coast buyers, he formed Ranger Yachts (which actually were built in Costa Mesa, California), and commissioned Mull to design the new lines. Mull’s star was on the rise at the time, partially because of the success of the Santana 22, which he considered one of his most successful, and favorite, creations.

Ranger 23

Cal and Ranger were eventually sold to Bangor Punta in 1973, and production of Cal boats was moved to Florida. A victim of a downturn in the industry, the Ranger line folded in 1978. In 1983, Bangor Punta sold both companies to Lear Siegler, shortly before their complete demise.

The company built six Rangers in sizes ranging from 22 to 37 feet.

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. Viewed from abeam, she appears proportionately shapely with a smoothly rising sheer, visually appealing cabintop, and long, narrow ports that hint at performance. Though not designed to meet a measurement rule, her lines were influenced by the CCA and, eventually, IOR racing rules.

In a lengthy epistle evaluating the boat, penned for the R-23 owners association shortly prior to death in 1993, Mull described the design as being “a little ship capable of sailing anywhere in the world safely, and swiftly.”

Her sailplan was the subject of many changes. Of the mast, Mull wrote, “In those days I was able to design each of the masts for Rangers for specific designs rather than having to pick from stock extrusions.” The same held true for chainplates, spreader roots, and mastheads.

Though offered with a rig designed to sail in the prevailing 15-20 knot Pacific northwesterlies, a tall rig was offered for sailors in light-air regions. In its standard configuration, the mast stood 27.7 feet above the deck. The tall rig added two feet to its height, with a corresponding increase in sail area.

Eventually, “when the IOR was introduced, we produced a revised plan with a shorter mainsail foot to qualify for the Quarter Ton class.” The boat sailed with some success in this class.

The single set of spreaders on the beefy, deck-stepped masthead rig are supported by 3/16″, 1×19 stainless steel headstay and upper shroud, and 5/32″, 1×19 backstay and lower shroud. A typical comment among long-time owners is that the rig is overbuilt; no failures have been reported by owners responding to a PS survey.

The deck-stepped mast “was a consequence of wanting a clear access through the interior.” While accomplishing that objective, the design compromises the amount of compression an owner can develop on stays while attempting to improve sail shape.

Underwater appendages are “standard trapezoidal profiles with standard NACA sections.” The keel carries 1,500 pounds of lead ballast. The spade rudder is mounted on a stainless steel rudder post. Owners describe the boat as providing excellent windward performance, and typically carry a 150% genoa with a full mainsail until breezes exceed 15-18 knots.

“On deck our concept is most noticeable because it has a proper cockpit with coamings, seats, and all. We were designing a boat for the occasional day or weekend sail, and a boat that could be taken to sea for extended periods.” She’ll seat four in relative comfort, even with a tiller occupying the center of the footwell.

“We didn’t feel compelled to offer standing headroom as we were fairly certain that the owners were smart enough to sleep lying down and would probably have the good sense to sit down when they went below for a meal. We also assumed that people making long passages in a boat of this size would probably be pretty good friends, and sited the head where it would be convenient and stable, though not so private as might be appropriate for a larger boat.”

There’s 5’6″ of headroom in the cabin, and 6’6″ settees that convert to berths. Creature comforts include a tilt-away dinette table, and a 25-pound icebox that doubles as a companionway step.

The galley, located at the junction of the saloon and V-berth, is, of course, pretty minimal. It consists of a sink located to port, optional two-burner alcohol stove to starboard, two drawers, and a storage cubby. (Note that in the accommodations drawing below, from the original sales brochure, the stove and sink appear on sides opposite where they ended up.)

Again in Mull’s words, “We didn’t even have, let alone feel compelled to offer, three- and four-burner gas stoves with oven and lighting system. We figured that one-dish meals and a pot of coffee made much more sense for a boat of this size.”

That’s certainly true—the set-up will allow good sleeping and just enough civilized eating during a long coastal passage to keep the crew content (as long as they’re within a day or two of a sheltered anchorage, a shower, and a meal ashore).

Ranger 23

Space in the bow is occupied by a V-berth that provides a 6’2″ sleeping area and two dressers. The toilet was originally a self-contained “Handihead” with four-gallon capacity and waste discharge. One owner who replaced the original told us that the space is large enough for a more modern appliance.

Mull’s concept of light camping accommodations stands in contrast to Bill Crealock’s vision for the Dana 24 (PS December 2001), a beamier, significantly heavier, more crewfriendly yacht with an enclosed head that Crealock envisioned as carrying a crew of two around the world in “safety and comfort.”

The idea of extended cruising in a boat less than about 30 feet isn’t appealing to some sailors, but it can be great fun, as long as everyone gets along and there are good routines in place for how to move around the boat and do things in harmony.

This Ranger is spacious enough for sailing and sleeping with, say, a couple and two kids on short cruises, notwithstanding the lack of privacy.

Construction The hull and deck were designed using what were then considered state-of-the-art methods. Mull said that his initial agreement with Jensen included wide latitude in stipulating construction materials and methods, and that Ranger Yachts would provide quality production. In this case, the West Coast designer-builder combination works to the advantage of owners, since boats were expected to withstand higher stresses encountered on the Pacific near San Francisco than those in Southern California or the Chesapeake, for instance.

Interestingly, the most common shortcomings in the construction of the boats are caused by adhesives used to bond major components. Though the best available at the time, they pale by today’s standards.

Built during the adolescence of the fiberglass era, the hull and deck were constructed using Lloyd’s Provisional Rules for GRP vessels. Lloyd’s formula specified use of an all chopped mat structure; Ranger laid up alternating layers of mat and woven roving in the hull.

The deck was a sandwiched balsa core laminate employing a honeycomb method developed by Hexcel Corporation. At the time, Hexcel was cutting a wide swath in the Alpine skiing community with a similar laminate that produced lighter, stronger skis. Today’s boats are constructed with lighter, unidirectional fabrics; nonetheless, Ranger’s methods produced sturdy sections. Bulkheads were bonded to the hull, and the interior is a fiberglass pan.

An annual inspection by owners or thorough survey by potential buyers should be made of the mast step, hull-deck joint, keel bolts, and chainplates, as Mull noted.

A by-product of the attempt to produce creature comforts is that the mast step “is probably the biggest source of grief,” Mull wrote. That’s not a desirable trait in a boat advertised as being fit for offshore work, though not a fatal flaw.

The mast step is a 6061-T6 aluminum fabrication with fasteners connected to the deck structure intended to be bedded in flexible waterproof bedding compound. “Unfortunately,” said Mull, “the bedding compound on many boats has become dry and brittle and water can find its way through the bolt hole in the deck core.” A by-product might be soggy balsa or, in the worst case, rot.

Ranger 23

In extreme cases, the fix involves removing the mast step columns and affected areas and replacing deck core with a new beam and laminate. Though more than a minor inconvenience, the problem would not prevent us from considering the purchase of a boat with this ailment.

Failures of adhesives and the large number of bolts installed through the toerail at the hull-deck joint also may produce leaks. In a worst-case scenario it would be necessary to remove the toerail and stanchions, elevate the deck from the hull, remove the old adhesive, and replace it with today’s materials. No small chore.

Similar problems may occur with chainplates that have been neglected for extended periods of time. Many owners report the need to rebed chainplates every couple of years. Not surprisingly, that predicament is still encountered by the owners of many newer, production boats.

Finally, leaks through ballast bolts have been reported by some owners. Mull’s recommended fix was a re-bed of keel and bolts with an elastic bedding compound to alleviate stress created by movement at the hull-keel joint.

Performance Since her deck layout is as simple as the boat is small, she’s easy to sail single- or doublehanded, and race with a crew of three.

Standard gear included external mainsail and jib halyards, Barient winches on the mast and in the cockpit, and Schaefer sail track, blocks, and cleats. Retrofitting additional halyards is as simple as adding external blocks at the masthead or, for the more sophisticated, adding sheaves and running halyards inside the mast. Safety gear includes bow and stern pulpits and 24″ tall stanchions fitted with a single lifeline.

A split backstay and racing package with spinnaker gear were the only options offered initially.

Computer-generated polar predictions indicate that the 23 stacks up well against similar-sized boats through a range of wind angles and wind speeds. As for top-end jets, as Mull said, “There’s no such thing as maximum hull speed,” except a theoretical rule of thumb that may apply to powering on flat water. In that environment, he predicted a boatspeed of 5.5 knots. In 10 knots of breeze under the same conditions, speed would fall in a range of 4 to 6 knots. Once the boat gets out in more wind or bigger waves, the hull begins to plane and surf; at that point the boat can cover a lot of distance between breakfast and suppertime—and it makes the racing exciting.

Conclusions It would be nice to see Ranger 23s organized again into one-design fleets all over the land, but in any case it’s good to know they’re out there racing PHRF, and that, like greyhounds retired from the rabbit-chase at the racetrack, they do well as family friends.

The R-23 can be considered a legitimate cruising boat, within the obvious physical limits of a short waterline and small quarters. To expand a bit on what was said earlier, small, simple boats like this can be ideal “express campers” for young families and couples. They can be bought for little money, fixed up as much or as little as wallet and skills allow, and don’t cost much to keep around.

Despite the Ranger’s age, it benefits from being designed on the cusp of an era when traditional, full-keeled cruisers were being replaced by sloops with more modern underbodies and appendages that produced significant improvements in performance. The hull and major structures are sound, aside from the aforementioned problems associated with adhesives that have deteriorated.

These Rangers were built before the day when vinylester resin was used in hull laminates, and some owners report the presence of dime-sized blisters that require inspection or repair. The boat does not have a reputation of suffering from chronic deficiencies that demand total bottom replacements.

Given a thorough survey, we think the R-23 would be a great candidate for a couple or family who might be new to the sport, or who are stepping up from a dinghy or daysailor. The boat was offered for $5,450 in 1971. Expect to pay $3,500 up to as much as $10,000 for a used boat, depending upon condition—if you can find one.

Arvel Gentry, the Boeing engineer who rocked the world of sailing decades ago with the facts about foils, lift, fluid circulation, and what makes sailboats go, maintains the Ranger 23 Owners and Class Association at www.ranger23.com.

Also With This Article Click here to view “Used Boat Price HistoryRanger 23 (1972 model).” Click here to view “Owner’s Comments.”

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ranger 32 sailboat review

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  • By Richard Smith
  • Updated: January 24, 2014

ranger 32 sailboat review

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.

ranger 32 sailboat review

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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Ranger 33 1977 - any opinions?

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Hi, dear All, still looking fot that perfect first boat, with your kind help. This weekend me and my wife want to look at a few boats, one of them is Ranger 33. Can anybody kindly share "insider information" on what to look (any known weak spots, prone to blistering, etc)? Also, any general opinions on the Ranger 33 will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ref  

Hello, My wife and I just bought a CR Hunt / Ranger30 this past Sept. We had a pre-buy survey done, as we fell in love with her. The survey came back very positive.. strong solid boat. She is clean, well cared for. 30hp westebake deisle. No issues on blistering or other problems. From what I have been given to understand, the Ranger boats generally have a good reputation. Spend the money on a survey. Good luck and happy sailing. Rick  

ranger 32 sailboat review

The boat in question is a very different boat in almost all ways than the Ray Hunt designed near clone of the Oday 30 that was marketed as the Ranger 30. 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 era, I have never really liked the Ranger 33. In stretching the design brief, the design of 33 somehow seems to lack the sophistication of the smaller boats in this series. It was almost as if Ranger was trying to stuff more volume into this boat that was easily doable within its length. What came out was a boat whose bow and stern sections seem a lot fuller than the smaller boats and whose cabin structure seems too large for the hull. In general Rangers of there era were not all that well built but the issues were pretty minor in the smaller boats. Talking to a long term owner of the Ranger 33 several years back, he described having to add more remedial structure than should be required on what was then a pretty new boat. In the Ranger 33''s defense he was racing his 33 hard in San Francisco Bay which is a pretty harsh environment. But these boats are now substantially older and his desciption of flexing problems, mast support problems and structural issues in the keel area while not extreme for a coastal cruiser of this era, were certainly less than ideal. I have not experienced this first hand so I am relying on what may be too small a sampling here to say if this was the case of all 33''s. These were pretty fast boats for their day fairing comparably well with other performance boats like the Cal 34 or Ericson 32 of that era. They fair especially well on reaches and dead runs and less so when beating. Jeff  

ranger 32 sailboat review

Practical Sailor''s Used Boat Buyer''s handbook has a very detailed section on the Ranger 33. They seem to be nice enough boats, (There have been two in our area that I''ve seen.) with most of the features one would look for in a cruising boat/PHRF racer. They might not have as much room below or on deck as more modern designs because of the relatively narrow beam. As I recall, Practical Sailor called for paying particular attention to the main bulkhead/mast step area because of the deck-stepped mast. (I loaned out my copy of the book and haven''t gotten it back yet.) PS also raised most of the issues suggested by JeffH.  

I have owned a 73 tall rig for the past 18 years which we''ve raced and cruised extensively. My first Ranger was the last 23 tall rig built -hull number 739. Our 33 has been extensively upgraded through the years, including adjustable jib leads, self tailing winches, backstay adjuster, inboard blade track,coarse and fine mainsheet system on modern traveler track, and a complete inventory of purpose built sails as I hate roller furlers. We also have a modified rudder. All thru hulls were replaced and the bottom is burnished VC ofshore The boat is a pleasure to sail, and will usually be in the hunt, if not the ''Alpha'' boat in the local PHRF fleet. I am not allowed to bring home any more trophies as there is no more room in the den. We have enjoyed alot of success on the race course -not because I''m a good sailor, but because the boat sails well under the rating in a variety of conditions. It is very important when racing this boat to keep her under control, and change jibs as required. We rarely need the extra sail area of the 150 and typically race with our 140% headsail. Unlike Jeff, I find the boat goes upwind faster and higher than any other similarly rated boat. We doextremly well upwind and reaching in all condiions. Again, the right jib is critical, as the mast is stiff and not really suited to depowering as with a fractional rig. Our main is cut a little flat and it pays off as the wind builds. We have not had any structural problems, refered to, but did lose the boom in an offshore race in 60kts of wind. The original boom section was undersized. I have great confidence in our boat (one competed and won its division in the trans pac) and love the sailing qualities. .. Not the greatest for cruising due to the 9.7 beam. I would highly recommend the R33.  

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ranger 32 sailboat review

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COMMENTS

  1. Cruising Offshore with a Ranger 32

    Join Date: Aug 2008. Posts: 4. Cruising Offshore with a Ranger 32. Hi, I am considering a Gary Mull designed Ranger 32 (not the more common Ranger 33) to sail from L.A. to Hawaii. They appear to be well built but definitely a racing hull with storage limitations. Unfortunately,this one is also equipted with an atomic 4.

  2. 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 ...

  3. 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

  4. 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 ...

  5. 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.

  6. Ranger 32

    The Ranger 32 is a small recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a fractional sloop masthead sloop rig, a rudder mounted on a skeg and a fixed fin keel. It displaces 9,500 lb (4,309 kg) and carries 4,480 lb (2,032 kg) of lead ballast. The boat has a draft of 5.25 ft (1.60 m) with the standard keel.

  7. 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 ...

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. Ranger 33

    Sailboat Reviews; Sailboats 31-35ft; Ranger 33 This boat would be a pretty good choice for either an entry-level club racer or a coastal cruiser. By. ... Are you interested in a 32-36 foot sailboat that's small enough to sail as a couple, big enough to sleep on comfortably, fast enough...

  13. Ranger 23

    Sailboat Reviews; Sailboats 21-30ft; ... deck-stepped masthead rig are supported by 3/16″, 1×19 stainless steel headstay and upper shroud, and 5/32″, 1×19 backstay and lower shroud. ... and what makes sailboats go, maintains the Ranger 23 Owners and Class Association at www.ranger23.com. Also With This Article Click here to view "Used ...

  14. 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: fiberglass monohull: ... 32.5' Pearson Vanguard Bishops Marina Clubfoot Creek off Neuse River, North Carolina

  15. Ranger 29 sailboat review

    The Ranger 29 is a sweet little sailboat that is seaworthy and solidly constructed. It is comfortable to cruise, holds a surprising amount of gear, and is really fun to sail. ... Ranger 29 Sailboat Review. Courtney Edwards. March 26, 2020. ... Yachts also built a number of other models, including the 22, 23 (used in the movie version of "Dove ...

  16. Ranger 23 experiences?

    I really love these boats. I had use of a Ranger 23 back in the late 1970's/early 1980's and thought these were one of the nicest sailing boats of that era and size, sailing well on all points of sail and in a wide range of windspeeds. I have sailed on both tall and standard rigged versions and recommend the tall rig.

  17. 1974 Ranger Yachts 32 Racer/Cruiser for sale

    1974 Ranger Yachts 32. "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 ...

  18. Ranger 37

    The boat would have been out of date for IOR. So because I am not sure if this is a stock Ranger 37 this is the advice I have. The main issues for buying an IOR boat for cruising as I see it are this. Runners - Does the boat have them and is your crew willing and able to deal with this. Spin - If you rarely intend to use the spin that is fine.

  19. 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 ...

  20. 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 ...

  21. 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 ...

  22. 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 ...