Cutwater Boats, the Faster Sister to Ranger Tugs

The Livingstons' second brand

Cutwater is a division of Fluid Motion LLC, the Washington state company that also builds Ranger Tugs and Solara. When the brand launched at the 2011 Miami International Boat Show, Soundings described Fluid Motion as owned by Dave Livingston, a former Bayliner president who had designed boats and stepped hulls for Reinell, Wellcraft and Regal, while his son John owned Ranger Tugs. John Livingston later led Fluid Motion as president, and the company's hull work across all three brands draws on that stepped-hull background.

The idea was a faster, sportier sister to the tugs for couples who wanted a capable cruiser without a huge budget. PassageMaker compared the buying process to buying a car: every option is priced online, and new owners can take factory delivery with a representative teaching them the systems before they cruise the Pacific Northwest or ship the boat home.

From the diesel Cutwater 28 to the C-248 Coupe

We cover two models. The Cutwater 28 debuted in 2011 alongside the Cutwater 26: an 8-foot 6-inch-beam, trailerable pilothouse cruiser with a single Yanmar or Volvo Penta diesel of 260 to 270 hp on a keel-stepped hull, cruising around 22 knots. It was sold fully equipped in Northwest and Luxury editions and built until 2021, when the outboard C-288 Coupe replaced it.

The Cutwater C-248 Coupe, launched in 2022, is now the entry model: 30 feet 10 inches overall, 8 feet 6 inches wide, a single Yamaha F250 on a double-stepped hull, a private forward stateroom, an opening aft bulkhead and 116 gallons of fuel. For 2026 it gained a fully enclosed head and lists at $169,937 ready to cruise. Above it sit the C-308 and C-32, each offered as a coupe or a CB version.

Resale, support and the used Cutwater survey

Cutwater and Ranger Tugs share an active owner community and an annual rendezvous at Roche Harbor, and both brands hold value well. Our model pages estimate used Cutwater 28s at about $110,000 to $230,000 and C-248s at about $135,000 to $190,000, close to new on young boats. Dealers sell and service the boats across the US, and engines are mainstream Volvo, Yanmar and Yamaha products.

On a diesel 28, choose the package that fits your climate, since converting a Northwest Edition to Luxury spec later is expensive.

• Review diesel or outboard service records and hours.
• Inspect the hull steps, keel and prop pocket for grounding damage.
• Test bow and stern thrusters and electric steering.
• Check windows, roof hatches and the aft bulkhead for leaks.
• Inspect the trailer's brakes, axles and lights.