Ranger (XXI)

George Schneider (Email to Nauticapedia 07/12/2021) stated "this vessel was clearly a former Navy 40-foot personnel boat. This type was normally an admiral's barge, although sometimes the officer's gig on an aircraft carrier. This boat didn't show up on AIS and isn't documented, but had the name RANGER and the homeport of San Diego on her stern. There's a small sign hanging from her handrail forward, which is probably where her state license number shows. I did see a similar (but not identical) vessel as a yacht in San Diego a couple years ago, with a license number showing on the same kind of sign, the number being something like CF8894TT, but when properly pixilated, every shot makes the number look different. There was no name on the stern of that one, and even if there had been, you still have to be very close and very lucky to read the old Navy number on the stern to find out where and when this vessel was built, and thereby locate her history of Navy service. I was hoping to see her again as a spectator boat during Fleet Week, and also went into the yacht harbor and boat yard in Richmond that evening, but never caught up with her again."