Dave and Sonia Embark Upon the Great Loop

We recently caught up with Ranger Tugs owners Dave and Sonia aboard their R-43 “Crew Lounge” on their final leg of the Great Loop. Having just returned from the Bahamas, they were situated North of Daytona Beach, Florida, preparing for a trek up the Eastern Seaboard. Their destination? The Rappahannock River in Virginia, where they will conclude their Great Loop journey.

In June 2022 they departed from Virginia, as they navigated the waters of Chesapeake Bay, passing through the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, and reaching the Delaware Bay. The voyage continued along the Atlantic coast, taking them past Manhattan's iconic skyline, New York Harbor's bustling waters, and up the Hudson River. They entered the Erie Canal, where they navigated 30 locks, each marking one step further along their adventure. Eventually, they found themselves cruising the calm waters of Lake Ontario at Oswego.

The following leg of their journey took them through the Trent Severn Waterway, including 37 conventional locks, two sets of flight locks, a marine railway, and two of the world's highest hydraulic lift locks. Their final stop was Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, a tranquil Canadian cruising area. Dave recalled that while they were there waiting out some bad weather, they wound up rafted to five other boats, which turned out to be a really good time.

Dave and Sonia carefully monitored the weather during their journey, and were lucky enough to avoid anything too bad. Even during a challenging passage through the straits of Mackinaw to Charlevoix, Dave said the R-43 handled things well. Steep short waves on the nose funneling up Lake Michigan made that leg a challenge, but Dave says you can tell when the Quick gyro stabilizer is running since it helps mitigate rolling.

Their R-43 CB, affectionately named "Crew Lounge," is often referred to by other boaters simply as "The Lounge" Dave says because of its unique cockpit seating layout. The transom seating can pivot, creating twin lounges that face the centerline, and they said it makes a great spot for docktail gatherings and social events. He said their boat is often the center of activity, and the layout works so well, he said they have had literally a dozen or more people on board at a time.

So, what's next for Dave, Sonia, and the Crew Lounge? After completing their Great Loop Adventure, they are looking forward to reconnecting with neighbors, friends, and family. After traveling approximately 6,300 miles on the R-43 (most of which was covered on their journey), they plan to take it easy for a while. While they don't have any grand boating plans in the immediate future, they'll continue to enjoy summer outings and create more memories aboard their cherished R-43.

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