Celebrating More Than Six Decades of NMTA Membership
Ranger Tugs has been a member of the Northwest Marine Trade Association since 1962. We caught up with Sam Bisset, VP of Marketing for Fluid Motion, LLC, the parent company, to learn more about the company’s history, evolution, and long-standing connection to the Northwest boating community.
Ranger Tugs has a long history in Washington. How did the company begin?
The Ranger Fiberglass Boat Company was started by Howard “Smitty” Smith, originally building fiberglass sailboats on Highway 99 in Kent in a factory we still use today. The Livingston family purchased the company and facility in1998 and shortly afterward launched Ranger Tugs with the R-21 diesel launch.
How did the company evolve into the brands we know today?
Jeff Messmer joined the company in the early 2000s and worked with the Livingstons to develop the R-25, which really introduced the trailerable trawler or “pocket yacht” concept we’re known for today. Comfortable, economical cruising has remained central to our designs ever since.
In 2011, we launched Cutwater Boats, offering the same cruising versatility in a classic but contemporary Downeast style. In 2023, we introduced Solara Boats, focused on hybrid indoor/outdoor living, watersports, fishing, and family cruising. Across all three brands, it really comes down to matching a customer’s boating lifestyle and preferences.
What would you most like NMTA members to know about Fluid Motion and Ranger Tugs?
While our brands now have a national following, every boat is still built right here in Washington by skilled local craftspeople. We’re proud that our roots remain firmly in the Pacific Northwest, and many of our team members are active boaters themselves.
How has the boating industry changed over the years?
Materials, manufacturing processes, and automation have transformed boatbuilding, while technology has made boating more accessible and easier to enjoy. At the same time, affordability remains a challenge for many families. What hasn’t changed is why people boat in the first place — spending time with family and friends, exploring, fishing, and creating memories on the water.
What do you most appreciate about NMTA membership?
The Seattle Boat Show is our home show and one of the best in the country. We also greatly appreciate NMTA’s government affairs work, including last year’s efforts opposing the proposed luxury tax, as well as the NMTA Health Trust and the Association’s continued work to grow boating in our region.
We deeply appreciate the support NMTA provides to the industry. We’re stronger together as an Association and better positioned to support and protect boating in the Pacific Northwest.