other testament to the thoughtfulness and usefulness of the boat’s
social spaces.
I like to think that the Power & Motoryacht team is a tight-knit
one; friendships have formed over many waterborne adventures, fit
for print or otherwise. But give it enough days in a row and you find
yourself craving some space to yourself. This was truly where the 41
showed off. From the helm to the large C-shaped salon seating to the
cockpit and flybridge, there was always the option to hang out with
the group or steal away for a little time alone.
Sleeping arrangements: That’s where even the closest of colleagues
rightfully draw the line. It was with a sigh of relief and a wipe of cold
sweat that the 41 was more than up for the challenge. Between the mas-
ter stateroom forward, a VIP with en suite aft and an oversized convert-
ible berth in the salon, it could easily accommodate three couples and
even a pair of children in a pinch. Of course, deep sleep that night may
or may not have been aided by the time-honored seafaring tradition of
sharing stories—and libations—well into the night.
The next day—not nearly as early as we had planned—our crew
struck out for Friday Harbor, a place that this Pacific Northwest
newbie had only read about. With time pressing and our leisurely
cruise beginning to feel more like a delivery, it was decided the best
way to experience the island in the short time remaining was via mo-
peds—oh, and one three-wheeled buggy. [The name of said buggy
driver has been redacted to protect the embarrassed.]
I’ve long scoffed at moped gangs scooting around tourist desti-
nations, but I’ve since learned the error of my ways; yes, the over-
sized helmets are goofy and the throttle governor can kill the buzz
a bit, but they were the ideal vehicles to feel the wind in our faces
while taking in the vast variety of landscapes this island retains. One
minute the scenery and barnyard smell made us think we were in
the Midwest, the next it was as if we were looking off to the snow-
covered peaks of Alaska or rolling through the hills of Ireland. It’s
the kind of wide-ranging beauty we experienced here that, try as we
might, photos could never do justice.
With our inner children and outer adventurers fulfilled, we were
left with one last bit of business: A photo shoot of the 41 from the
Cutwater 24, a speedster of a sistership.
I was on the flybridge helm when we blasted past a wall of gran-
ite and the postcard-worthy Turn Point Lighthouse off to starboard.
With the sun bowing to the mountains to port and Canada beckon-
ing just above our bow it became clear why Ranger Tugs have been
so successful. The brand, and especially the new 41, enables ventures
a long way from home yet never without the comforts of home. Its
outdoor social spaces and 360-degree views encourage disconnec-
tion from the digital world and reconnection with the analog one
that beckons from every degree of the compass. Its copious interior
spaces offer protection from the harsh environs when cruising dur-
ing the day, and places to carry on long conversations with new-
found friends well into the night.
It’s the kind of boat in the kind of setting that reminds me why I fell
in love with boating in the first place. Good friends, new adventures
and reconnecting with nature: Isn’t that what it’s all about? U50