Ranger Aluminum?

[J-Doc]

I would be very interested to hear how the new Rangers ride. I try to keep an "open mind" but after seeing other manufacturer's hull designs, I just don't see how they could cut through wakes like some can.

I used to want an Xpress boat years ago. BAD! In recent years, I've seen the quality go down on fit and finish. I looked at one this weekend and I don't think they could have given me that boat. They are supposedly the fastest tin boats but at what cost? Everything else? LOL

I think you're spot on and for what you are needing, a good stable alum. boat fits the bill. Due to the retirement thing, a deep V is probably not best (harder to get in and out of) and for hunting.....well they are not a good match either.

I do like Fin's rig. It completely shocked me the first trip as I had never been in one. Stable, doesn't rock like some folks told me, plenty of room, SUPER quiet motor, pretty good ride, and it does as he says.......fits him to like a glove. So much that I started looking at getting one myself vs. a $40k bass boat.

[Feathers and Fins]

Every boat I owned I customed it to my needs, I searched a long time for a new boat when I moved up here and settled on the tracker for price, ride, towing, gas, and setting it up for what I wanted. Never been big on spending tens of thousands on a boat when I can buy a new one for cheaper than I would have a Big Name boat the money I saved I can put in to the ( I WANTS ) and still come in way under what most others do.

[Bill B.]

F&F's Tracker-- Which Tracker is that?

[Feathers and Fins]

190tx

[Bill B.]

Ah. I'm looking at it now in the spring catalog. About $20K plus prep with a Merc 115.

[J-Doc]

I would test drive the 115. I'm curious to see if it would be worth the extra over the 90. I doubt it. I wish it could have a 150!! Lol

[kjackson]

Surprisingly, the Ranger T188 with 90 ETEC is $600 less...of course, that doesn't include a comparison of the packages more than boat, motor and trailer.

There are some great comments in this thread, and some great ideas. I'm still searching for a used boat and will do so until I sign the check for whatever I buy. I did find a 2013 17TXW for $10-$11K and a Cherokee for under $4K recently. I may end up looking at both of those. The Cherokee could use a new motor...

The only problem I have with aluminum is that I can't do significant modifications to a boat myself as I don't weld. Fiberglass modification is a snap in comparison. However, aluminum is still my choice of hull.

I'm off to southern Alabama on Sunday, but when I get back, I'm going to try to arrange test rides in both the Ranger and Tracker, and that will help. I might add a Lowe in there as well, but the Lowe deep vees are out of the frame. I did find out that Cabela's in Rogers is getting in some Alumacraft console vees in mid February, so I've got to check those out as well. I do like the brand, and if its standards haven't changed too much, that is a possibility as well.

J-Doc-- was the Ranger you looked at one of the RT series? If not the hunting series Rangers have a significantly different hull, more of the old-style jon-boat (not flat bottom, but mod-vee like my Starcraft). The marine dealer on Walnut by Hobby Lobby has both the RT 178 and RT 188 in stock if you're interested. There also is one of the hunting style boats that had been on display in front of the place.

[J-Doc]

The one I looked at was not the hunting version, it was the bass version. The RT188 with a 115 Yamaha 4-stroke.

http://www.rangeraluminum.com/model.cfm?sid=7040

Look in the photo gallery and you can see how the front of the hull is a minor mod-v vs. the pronounced mod v like the Trackers utilize. I'm no marine architect but it seems to be pretty obvious to me that the Tracker will cut a wake better than the Ranger.

I would LOVE to own a Ranger boat.........alum or glass. Awesome company and great product.

As for the Lowe.......I looked at those. I wasn't that impressed. The lids leak like crazy because there is no drain rake on the boxes or seal to prevent water intrusion. Not only does that get your stuff wet, it will also harbor mildew in your stuff and it's not good for the mildew resistant marine carpet (notice I said "resistant"). If I were to get a deep V console, I would take a serious look at used Crestliner or Lunds. Even a nice used Tracker.

Like it's been said many times before.......get what fits you're needs.

Just be sure to look at the details on how things are put together, keeping water out of storage compartments, storage capacity, is the deck spongy? on a used boat (means it needs new deck flooring and could be worse). Also, you shouldn't need to weld on an alum. boat. Even so, paying someone to run a quick weld is cheaper than glass repair.

[J-Doc]

Oh and if you're going to troll EVER...........do not get the E-Tec. They don't like low rpms over a long time period. That's how the E-tec functions, its setup for higher RPM fuel economy.

I think I have that right........Fishinwrench knows a lot about them and loves Evinrudes! One might say......."he's a RUDE guy". LOL!

[WHARFRAT]

I'd like to hear more about etec and trolling speeds, if anyone would care to share.