Alto is now owned by Cyndy!
Alto is a 2009 Ranger Tug R-25 trailerable mini-trawler with an 8 1/2 foot beam, 26-inch draft and a large bronze prop protected by a full keel. She’s been out of the water for three years so its time to find her a new home. She is likely the best outfitted R-25 in the U.S. – and you can go anywhere with the 10,000 lb. GVWR trailer and a nice dinghy available if desired.
She’s now listed on YachtWorld at $114,900 with the Ranger Tug dealer in Palmetto, Florida which is very close to where she is now berthed at Marina Jack in Sarasota, FL. Contact Rob Strott at ModernTugs at 443-370-3338 to see her or just to learn about Ranger Tugs in general. She’s being sold only so we can obtain a Ranger Tug R-31 as after retiring it’s time to upgrade. I’m based in Cape Cod, Mass so working with Rob in Florida is advised.
Alto is a 2009 Ranger Tug R-25 trailerable mini-trawler with an 8 1/2 foot beam, 26-inch draft and a large bronze prop protected by a full keel. She’s been out of the water for three years so its time to find her a new home. She is likely the best outfitted R-25 in the U.S. – and you can go anywhere with the 10,000 lb. GVWR trailer and a nice dinghy available if desired.
She’s now listed on YachtWorld at $114,900 with the Ranger Tug dealer in Palmetto, Florida which is very close to where she is now berthed at Marina Jack in Sarasota, FL. Contact Rob Strott at ModernTugs at 443-370-3338 to see her or just to learn about Ranger Tugs in general. She’s being sold only so we can obtain a Ranger Tug R-31 as after retiring it’s time to upgrade. I’m based in Cape Cod, Mass so working with Rob in Florida is advised.
In preparation, she recently (in 11/19) the diesel was checked out and got all new filters and oil changes in the genset and main engine, a new engine impeller, new AGM batteries, zinc replacements, bottom paint, full buff and wax. The King Marine (factory) Sunbrella bimini was just routinely serviced, completely restitched and then sealed with formula 303 Fabric Guard, as recommended by Sunbrella. In fact, all the cushions have been resealed. Nothing has been overlooked. She’s ready to go.
Her semi-displacement hull lets her plane at 10–12 knots with her diesel engine sipping about 3–4 gallons per hour. I go back and forth from Cape Cod to Martha’s Vineyard at 8 knots for about $5 each way. Max. speed is around 17 knots, which is a little slower than standard due to the weight of her extra gear. Alto carries 75 gallons of fuel and can go 300 to 700 miles depending on speed, so folks take these boats to the Bahamas and she’s great for those extended distances on the Great Loop between fuel stations.
As you’ll see below, Alto is fully self-contained with double factory solar panels, carries an extra 30 gallons of fresh water, and has a composting head for extended gunk-holing and anchoring in secluded spots. You can stay out for a month without pumpouts! More about her AirHead head later. She has a generator, but we rarely used it (has around 12 hours on it) given her doubled (the factory system) 280 watts of solar capacity.
Alto has every option available except for two, which we purposely avoided: 1. An autopilot, and 2.) A TV. Both can be easily added if desired. Yes, she does have a stereo. Outfitted with the optional 2.5 kW diesel Yanmar generator she can self-power the 16,000 BTU air conditioner or her kitchen electric range when on the hook or underway. At the dock, the AC and range run off shore power. She has heat underway by the engine powered in-cabin heater, or reverse cycle heat off the AC system. Hot water is also generated either by the engine, shore power or the generator. Check out the list of standard features + her options here.
Alto has two 140 watt solar panels (double the factory option of one) which run her refrigerator and internal electrical services off solar and batteries exclusively–in fact, as previously mentioned Alto has only about 12 hours on her diesel generator as it is rarely needed. One solar panel generates 8 amps, so two put out 16 amps. As the refrigerator only draws 3 amps, even on a cloudy day Alto can run all internal 12 volt systems while charging the batteries at the same time.
Amazingly, with two panels they absorb enough light even through shrink wrap to charge the batteries when she’s stored “on the hard” and covered so you don’t have to plug her in over the winter. That gives you more options to store her away from power or boat yards.
She has a remote controlled windlass for anchoring (i.e., a switch at the helm) and 200 feet of (upgraded) braided line, to chain, to her upgraded Rocna anchor. The windlass can also be controlled on the deck; see the two foot buttons below, used for up and down.
Many of the folks who buy Ranger Tugs are sailboaters and large trawler captains looking to downsize to something comfortable that is easy to maintain, inexpensive to store in or out of the water and trailerable. Ranger concentrates on creature comfort, and you can see the room packed into this small vessel as show in the pictures, below, of a sister ship. Innovations like a fold-up helmsman seat doubles the kitchen area countertop. There is a full 4 cubic foot refrigerator with freezer compartment.
Here’s another shot (sister ship to Alto) of the kitchen counter with helmsman’s seat up. In the newer “sports cockpit” model called the R-25SC you lose all the space between the sink and range, see the section in this website comparing the Classic model (Alto) to the newer Sports Cockpit model that replaced her.
Notice the full view out the rear from the helm for backing up. You can even add a rear view camera
No pilot house also means it’s a straight-shot out the rear to grab lines and again you have a good view astern which is important when backing into a slip. The bathroom is “up” and aft making it easy to access it when underway or when you are in the cockpit or cabin. You can see it, above, to the left behind the fire extinguisher. Usually, the bathroom is down below in the V-berth area making it a chore to use during the day.
Alto has a custom designed shelf, shown below, that holds a ton of gear in the peak of the V-Berth.
The V-berth is seven feet long on the sides and six feet down the middle with the insert cushion, shown below on top of the mattress cushions. Two separate 3” custom-made memory foam toppers covered in Sunbrella fabric (show below left) alleviate hip and shoulder discomfort as the factory cushions are very firm. There is a plastic chest of drawers for clothing under the V-berth insert cushion, out of the way offering tons more storage.
Six operable over head hatches with screens allow total ventilation, and all have removable custom insulated foil inserts to reflect the sun in warm climates. They work terrifically in Florida. All hatches have screens and there are also three large screened brass portholes. All windows and the door are Diamond glass to tolerate tough conditions.
Alto even has a separate, private berth for guests located under the dinette. It’s big enough for one, but if two people join you her main cabin table drops down to form a large double berth with the factory cushions provided.
Specifications
Dry she weighs 5,750 pounds and wet with gear, water and diesel around 7,000 pounds. She mounts easily in a rack for dry storage. LOA is 25’7”, draft is just 26” and beam is 8’6”–no permits are needed for trailering. With her radar mast folded down she is ready to trailer on the included ($8000) heavy duty trailer. Note the three spare tires mounted on the EZ Loader trailer, which has been stored on blocks and is getting new disk brake calipers and rotors.
