Ranger Aluminum?

[Feathers and Fins]

From an aspect of someone who works with custom metal work all the time it always surprises me when people I see metal working that cant be within mm of exact. With so many machines available today that have such high precision there is no excuse for it for a major manufacture not to be almost exact on anything metal related. With metal breaks up to 24feet and plasma cutters stomp shears all computer controlled I don't get it. The Hammer days should have been gone a long time ago.

Also not impressed to see ice in any show boat anyplace, they should have had covers available and covered them and then cleaned them out. That right there would make me find a different boat at minimum and certainly a different dealer.

[Mitch f]

One of the biggest problems I see is the process itself, not the high tech machinery. Welding obviously warps metal, tooling is inadequate, etc.

as far as fiberglass, yes the molds are machined on an accurate machine tool with a precision base. As soon as they take the mold off the machine to make room for the next mold, it takes the shape of the concrete floor it's mounted to. There are too many issues to count. It's all about the process and statistical process control.

[rps]

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

As you probably know, I do troll quite a bit. I run an Etec 75 on my tiller rig. This coming summer will be its fourth. Since it only requires service every 300 hours, I have had it serviced only once. (It is also quite a bit less expensive to service than a 4 stroke) As of last week, I have seen no change in speed or rpms to reach that speed since the day I bought it. It jumps up on plane the same now as its first day. I guess that makes my report "so far. so good."

[kjackson]

As you probably know, I do troll quite a bit. I run an Etec 75 on my tiller rig. This coming summer will be its fourth. Since it only requires service every 300 hours, I have had it serviced only once. (It is also quite a bit less expensive to service than a 4 stroke) As of last week, I have seen no change in speed or rpms to reach that speed since the day I bought it. It jumps up on plane the same now as its first day. I guess that makes my report "so far. so good."

How slow can you troll with the 75? While I've had good luck with Yamahas and Suzukis, I'm not adverse to buying a motor made in the US if it can do what I want. Having used (and currently owning) two-strokes, I said I'd never own another, given the four-stroke low-speed, low-noise and no-smoke features. But I could change.

[kjackson]

Just viewed the Ranger video, and it would make even the tightest open the checkbook. I really like the idea of a quiet boat, and I love the aluminum decking. Marine plywood is only as good as the installation, and having had a boat where the floor turned soft, I appreciate aluminum.

I'm leaving now for Steelwood Lodge in southern Alabama to see if I can top the 13-6 largemouth caught there last week. Wish me luck!

[J-Doc]

I'm leaving now for Steelwood Lodge in southern Alabama to see if I can top the 13-6 largemouth caught there last week. Wish me luck!

Lucky dog!

[Mitch f]

Just viewed the Ranger video, and it would make even the tightest open the checkbook. I really like the idea of a quiet boat, and I love the aluminum decking. Marine plywood is only as good as the installation, and having had a boat where the floor turned soft, I appreciate aluminum.

I'm leaving now for Steelwood Lodge in southern Alabama to see if I can top the 13-6 largemouth caught there last week. Wish me luck!

I would buy the Ranger as well, great boat, like I said in my original post, the technology will sky rocket in the next 10 years, but now is still largely the same.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I've been in many boat factories in the last 20 years. Almost every one still builds boat the old fashioned way, which is basically hammer to fit. They have been notoriously reluctant to upgrade the manufacturing processes until recently. I think in 10 years the boats will be vastly superior than the boats produced today.

I don't know Mitch, we were using CAD CAM plasma cutters at Lowe in the 80's? The new vacuum hulls should be a big improvement on hull design allowing AL to adopt some of the features in glass.

I always thought we were chasing new technology when I was involved. At that time OMC was the mother ship.

[Walleyedmike]

http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/videos/01.16.2014/6654/Rangers.NEW.VS.Deep.V.Aluminum/

Here's a video I found today of the Ranger aluminum deep V which was shot at a boat show in Minnesota, I believe. Sounds like they'll be around $25K with few oprions added.

WM

[Mitch f]

I don't know Mitch, we were using CAD CAM plasma cutters at Lowe in the 80's? The new vacuum hulls should be a big improvement on hull design allowing AL to adopt some of the features in glass.

I always thought we were chasing new technology when I was involved. At that time OMC was the mother ship.

Sorry Wayne accidentally deleted my post trying to edit it.

The vacuum hulls are a big improvement no doubt.

I'm not calling out any specific manufacturer when I'm saying this but the typical problem comes in with the regular hull (non vacuum) aluminum boats. The typically have laser cut or plasma cut pieces then put into a robotic welding machine that puts the pretty Tig weld that is on the outside. After this process, the hull is usually out of shape. Yet they send it to the next process where they beat the gunnels on with a rubber mallet and work their way up to the bow. The gunnels are obviously extrusions. If you've ever worked with extrusions, I don't need to remind you of the linear shape problems. A guy usually marks off the end piece by hand and saws it on an angle to fit the extrusion on the other side. Then it's welded.

Then the out of shape hull has to have all the interior beat to fit. They are simply pushing product out the door as quickly as possible. No two boats are alike.