The new Ranger from Mocean will be the first light touring model in their line-up. At 14’6″ and 23.5″ wide, the Ranger will offer performance seating and fit for a wide variety of paddlers. I’m most excited about how playful and inspiring this hull is to paddle. I had no problem tracking straight and true but the second I put it up on edge, the Ranger just wanted to dance! Many kayaks in this category lack this performance. A balanced position is something that I really enjoyed as compared to kayaks I have spent the majority of my time in the past paddling. Paddling the Ranger backward was easy which demonstrates the centered position. This will allow for more dynamic bow and stern strokes. I did not need the skeg to keep straight on the skagit river but it will be a helpful tool in wind. Mocean will also offer to install rudders by custom order.

2026 MSRP will be $2699.00

Here’s a slide show from the CanoeCopia show in Madison WI:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s clear that Mocean is bringing new innovation and designs to the thermoformed world.

The foredeck of the Ranger offered plenty of room for my legs (6’0″ 165 lbs, size 9.5 shoes) but also had one of the more comfortable paddling positions I’ve experienced with the way that they beveled down the region just forward of the cockpit where your lower paddle had often passes by when paddling. 

The tighbraces are well positioned and offered plenty of thigh grip but also gave ample room to pull my leg to the center for ease of entrance and exit. If one really wanted, they could even remove these for a more open fit. Mocean’s long seat pan is a game changer for back support. I’ve found that many paddlers think that back comfort just comes from the backrest but the more you paddle, you realize that properly supported legs have even more to do with all day back comfort. This pan does the trick. Mocean even carves out a “sit bone hammock” in the seat pan so that your seat bones are actually one touching padded neoprene that bridges over the oval carve outs in the seat pan. Super well thought out! 

Thighbrace to seat base measurement

Length: 14’6″

Width 23.5″

Weight: 49 lbs

Capacity: 350 lbs

Here is my first look on and off the water of the Ranger before they had even finished the complete production ready version.

Here is Dan from Headwater Kayak’s first impression/review and test paddle at Alder Creek in Portland OR:

Here is a video where you can join me and my new friend, John, on a river day trip in the Ranger on the Deschutes River near Bend OR. The Ranger is clearly at home with maneuvering and accelerating around river bends with debris piled up. I think Mocean has a winning design that will build a following as more and more paddle it.