The Ranger 22
The new Ranger 22 is a brutally single-minded design: She's built for speed.
Pure and Simple. Everything on board contributes-or we wouldn't have it on the
boat.
We went
to Gary Mull for the basic design, because he's known for flat-out racing boats
without an extra ounce of fat. Light, but powerful machines that keep on winning,
in any weather, under any rule. Mull gave the Ranger 22 a lean, fine ended hull
for speed to windward-with a flat run aft that helps her surf down wind. And he
worked out a cleaver seven-eights rig that gives her a cloud of sail without a
sky-high rating.
Stiffened with Carbon Fiber
To give the Ranger 22 a stiff, but supper lightweight hull, we worked in stiffeners of carbon fibers; a material so new it's rarely even found on custom boats. For even more rigidity, we beefed-up the cabin sole, designed it to function as a structural part of the hull. So the Ranger 22 has a thinner, lighter leap, but is actually stronger than it would be with conventional construction.
And then there is the 22's extraordinary mast. We couldn't find an existing shape we liked. So we used a computer to help design a new one. It's a cam-shaped section-flat along the trailing edge for lower drag. Incorporating special "turbulence generators" along its leading edge to give the mainsail added lift.
Fitted out for Competition
The halyards run inside the mast to help reduce windage. The chain-plates are set inboard, so jibs can be sheeted close. The long cockpit is divided by the traveler-sail trimmers forward, helmsman aft- for maximum efficiency. Even the lowly cleats have been redesigned. They're recessed in the deck so they can not foul your running rigging-and where they double as pad-eyes for turning blocks and boom vangs.
Below deck the goal was saving weight. Simplicity is the rule. But the cabin is bright and surprisingly roomy with plenty of space for sails and racing gear. And by adding the optional stove and sink, you can turn he Ranger 22 into a snug and practical weekend cruiser.
The new Ranger 22 is designed to measure in as a Mini-Ton boat-for level racing under IOR. She should also be highly competitive under MORC and a winner under local club rules. One design fleets are being planned for a number of major racing areas.
A Specialized Machine
A lot of 22-foot boats are built to do too much. Daysailing, mini-cruisers, semi-racing boats-they wind up doing nothing really well. The Ranger 22, by contrast, is a highly specialized machine. She is, of course, a handsome, comfortable, and beautifully finished boat. But the most important thing about her is the way she sails.
