The Command Bridge King
2022 Ranger Tugs R-31 CB - $379,000
Imagine waking up to a sunrise in a secluded cove in the Florida Keys, the smell of fresh coffee brewing in your galley as the light hits the teak-style decks. By mid-afternoon, you’re carving through the turquoise water at 20 knots, commanding the vessel from a flybridge that offers a 360-degree view of the horizon. Fast forward to next month: you’ve hauled the boat onto its trailer, bypassed 1,000 miles of open ocean, and you’re launching into the glass-calm waters of the Maine coast for an autumn cruise.
This is the promise of the Ranger Tugs R-31 CB. It’s the boat for the explorer who refuses to be pinned down by geography or restricted by slow-speed displacement hulls. The R-31 CB is a “Pocket Explorer” in name only—in reality, it’s a high-performance maritime estate that fits on a trailer. The “CB” stands for Command Bridge, a feat of engineering that provides a full-sized flybridge on a trailerable 31-foot hull. When it’s time to hit the road or clear a low-slung bridge on the Great Loop, the entire bridge retracts, lowering your profile and expanding your possibilities.
Whether you’re hosting six friends for sunset cocktails on the bridge or navigating a solo passage through the Intra-Coastal Waterway, this boat makes it look effortless. It is the ultimate “Smart Money” choice for the couple who wants the luxury of a 45-footer with the logistical agility of a center console.
The Specs
Model: 2022 Ranger Tugs R-31 CB (Luxury Edition)
Price: $379,000
Location: Alabama (The Gulf Coast)
LOA: 34’ 10”
Draft: 2’ 4”
Bridge Clearance: 10’ 3” (Folded)
Engine: Volvo D4 320HP Diesel (67 Hours)
Why We Love It (The “Green Flags”)
The “As-New” Advantage: With only 67 hours on the clock, this boat is effectively a time capsule from the factory. You’re getting a 2022 model for a used price without the “new boat” gremlins or the 2026 MSRP price hike.
The Retractable Bridge: This is the party trick that wins the Great Loop. Navigate from the flybridge in the sun, then fold it down in minutes to clear the 19’1” Chicago bridge or to legally trailer the boat across state lines.
Full Luxury Edition (LE) Spec: Built for all-season cruising on the East Coast. It features Air Conditioning/Reverse Cycle Heat and a diesel generator with a sound shield. You can stay cool in a Florida humidity spike or warm in a New England fog.
Master of Maneuverability: Equipped with both Bow and Stern thrusters plus a wireless remote. You can stand on the deck—or even on the dock—and nudge this boat into a tight slip with a flick of your thumb.
The Reality Check (The “Red Flags”)
The “Wide Load” Factor: While trailerable, the 10-foot beam requires a “Wide Load” permit to tow in most states. It’s a simple paperwork step, but it’s not as “unrestricted” as a standard 8’6” beam boat.
Compact Living for Families: It’s a 31-foot boat that dreams of being 40. While it sleeps six in a pinch (thanks to a clever mid-berth and convertible dinette), it is truly optimized for a couple who wants space to breathe on long-distance voyages.
The Volvo “Learning Curve”: The D4 is a high-tech common-rail diesel. It’s efficient and quiet, but it requires a technician with the right software to diagnose any issues. This isn’t a boat you fix with a hammer and a prayer.
The Verdict
The Ranger Tugs R-31 CB is the “Endgame” of pocket explorers. It is for the cruiser who wants the best-in-class view, the best-in-class tech, and the ability to skip the boring parts of the coast by taking the highway. In this “Midnight Blue” hull, it’s not just a boat; it’s a statement that you’ve figured out how to travel the East Coast on your own terms.