Ranger 33 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Mull had come into the limelight as chief designer of newly formed Ranger Yachts, an affiliate of Jensen Marine, and the 33 was the pride and joy of everyone in the plant according to inventor Roger Jones. George Bristol headed the production team and recalled spirited debates with Mull over the boat's beam during planning; Mull initially wanted it very narrow and racy, but was gradually won over to the marketability of a combo boat. The result is a fiberglass sloop with a subtle yet graceful sheer line, reverse transom, and relatively low cabin trunk that had a classy, modern look when introduced in 1969. Her moderate fin keel carries 4,500 lbs of lead encased in fiberglass, and a spade rudder made her responsive. Early boats used teak toerails and trim with modular fiberglass interior moldings; by the mid-1970s, slotted aluminum toerails were standard and much of that modular interior was replaced by teak trim and paneling.

Rig and Handling

The masthead rig allowed for a powerful chute, and short spreaders with inboard chainplates gave narrower sheeting angles for better upwind performance. Buyers could choose a tall or short rig: on the R-33 the masts were 45 feet or 42 feet above the water respectively, a difference that translated to about 80 square feet of working sail area. The earliest boats were tiller-driven; by the mid-1970s wheel steering was standard. Despite a 40 percent ballast/displacement ratio, the narrow beam gives somewhat lower initial stability than many dual-purpose boats built today, and owners report a tendency to rapidly develop weather helm as she heels. Writing in Latitude 38, the designer's own assessment was that she is good looking, well-balanced, and sails well on all points of sail. These 10,500-lb displacement hulls never actually surf, yet they sail well to a PHRF rating of 150 to 159 depending on mast height and venue, and the 33 would still be a pretty good choice for an entry-level club racer.

Accommodations

Below, the Ranger 33 came equipped with a cruisy interior that was reasonably comfy, with over 6 feet of headroom throughout and the ability to sleep six in a pinch. Phil Lambert, who lived aboard one while starting his company, copied the general feel of the salon when designing the Outbound 44, noting its big ports let in lots of light. Most boats have pressure water and a shower in enclosed, teak-paneled heads, plus a workable chart table and a small galley. The interior is quite livable for two and even for four on short cruises, making them ideal bargain boats for a couple or a small family. Phil Lambert summed up the design philosophy neatly: built before the IOR and before companies sold from the inside out, she sails great and will lock the helm and go.

Racing and Voyaging Record

The combination boat brief was no idle claim. Ted Morgan's Seattle-based Diminished Capacity won Division A in the 2000 Pacific Cup, and Bob Gray's Oakland-based Coquelicot took second in Division A and sixth in fleet in 2002. Michael Yovino-Young's tricked-out Boogie Woogie has probably won more Friday Night Races at Berkeley YC than any other boat over the series' history, and he claims she is at her best in nasty, choppy conditions, keeping up with J/105s and Tartan 10s. Beyond the buoys, untold numbers have proved successful as coastal cruisers, at least a few have crossed oceans, and owners have taken them to the South Pacific, across the Caribbean, up the Eastern Seaboard to the Great Lakes, and to Mexico. Bob Gray once found himself in 50 knots en route to Drake's Bay and the boat did fine; Peter Weiss survived two hurricanes aboard his on a trip up from Mexico.

Known Issues

A few structural notes deserve a buyer's or owner's attention. Some owners have had to beef up the support for the mast's compression post below the cabin sole, and others have had to replace and enhance their rudder bushings. Some hull-to-deck joints have leaked, necessitating removal of toe rails before recaulking. Owners also report small leaks along that joint and around the chainplates, and several note the support system for the deck-stepped mast is not strong enough. On early boats there are no bearings supporting the rudder stock, which can eventually result in slop as the tube wears; one owner installed Teflon shims between stock and tube to eliminate play. Several owners voice the criticism that the boom lacks stiffness for high vang loads, and some wiring is inaccessible.

Refits and Ownership

Production ran at roughly one boat a week, and the line ended when Bangor Punta destroyed the molds rather than let it continue under new ownership. Early R-33s carried gas-powered Atomic 4 engines; by mid-decade 16-horse Universal diesels were a popular option, and from 1975 a 16 hp Universal diesel was optional. Boats built after 1974 are generally more desirable with restyled interiors and that diesel option. Alan Andrews, whose parents owned a 1971 hull #5, called the design still a great family boat at 33 years old, and the venerable Ranger 33 often makes the top 10 of worthwhile plastic classics.

The Verdict

The Ranger 33 is a genuinely dual-purpose Mull design that rewards the sailor who wants club-racing sparkle without sacrificing cruising livability. She is well mannered upwind, tough in a blow, and blessed with a bright interior and a usable if compact layout. The caveats are typical of her era: modest tankage, some mast-step and joint leaks, and a helm that demands respect when heeled.

Pros