Ranger Aluminum Test Ride

[J-Doc]

But is that at idle? Most of your trolling will be very close to that. F&F trolls bit faster than idle with his two-stroke but uses the electric for slow speeds. Gas is easier for trolling.

I'm not experienced with Merc four strokes, but Yammies are very quiet. Hondas are quieter.

No, he's trolling 2.5mph average with it just at idle. If you raise the trim and lower your trolling motor in the front, you can troll down to 1.75mph. I think it's harder on the motor though if you do that for a long time span.

[J-Doc]

Here's an update for any potential new boat buyers. Particularly to elaborate more about my earlier ergonomics comments about the Merc controls being umcomfortable. I have a video below that I made sitting in a new Lowe Stinger 195 (not the Ranger but clearly the exact same issue). I sat in a new Ranger after this vid and it was the exact same thing. I even sat in one with an Evinrude E-Tec and same issue so it's not specific to a Mercury motor. It's the same feel and odd configuration with either motor Merch or Rude. I don't blame the boat manufacturer either. It's the flush mount controls vs. the old school box. The flush mount control arm is angled outwards toward the driver. Old school control box is straight up and down. Either control, it's mounted a bit lower than what I'm currently used too.

I think the video explains it and speaks for itself. NOTE: I was sitting comfortably in the vid. If I move my leg over to allow room for the control, it felt awkward like I was not sitting forward but more at an akward angle.

http://youtu.be/FypooJT_XIY

Now, here are some photos of the Lowe Stinger 195. This thread is about the Ranger test ride but for anyone considering a Lowe..........DON'T. Unless you're as big as the Jack Links Sasquatch and want a steering wheel that's at a strange 40-45 degree angle and a cheap plastic steering wheel with a soft composite plastic overlaid on a thing fiberglass console supported by an aluminum bracing support (or strut).

This is at my eye-level looking at the console. I can't even read the in-dash fish finder!

Same eye-level shot but looking forward. Not only is the console far away for me (being only 5'-7" tall) but the steering wheel feels like you're driving a Freightliner truck because of the odd angle.

The Lowe a GREAT storage layout. Two large rod lockers with enough room to hide a 5gal bucket and a full sized livewell in the front and a big open storage container that extends towards the front of the boat a ways. Awesome storage per cubic foot on the front of the deck. Rear storage is a bit smaller but typical for aluminum boat. The Ranger has the largest of rear storage from every manufacturer I have seen so far which includes Tracker, Lowe, Alumacraft, War Eagle, G3, and Crestliner.

Here is a shot of the storage on a Lowe below the seats. Not water tight for sure. These boats sit outside without a cover.

Here's a disappointing shot of the hull. It's a slightly modified flat bottom jon boat in my opinion. The angle is only about 7-8 degrees slope from being flat. The Ranger has far more slope and a deeper V shape which will allow a better ride in rough water.

[Feathers and Fins]

War Eagle is not exactly a fishing boat, they can be used for it but they are a Duck Hunting Machine and that is where they outshine any other boat. They are the Battleships of Bayou Meto, Big Lake, Seven Devils and such. I hope you were not looking at one and wanting it for fishing Beaver in the same comfort level of Ranger, Tracker or others.

[J-Doc]

No, War Eagle was never in the running. :-)

[J-Doc]

I thought I had posted photos of the Ranger console as a comparison. My apologies.

Here is a photo comparison of the Ranger vs. the Lowe. I'm 5'-7" tall so I held the phone at my face at eye-level so you can see what I see from my perspective.

I think the comparison is accurate. I know the Ranger seats feel much firmer and more confortable than the Lowe also. I'm sitting in a Ranger RT178c and a Lowe Stinger 195

Ranger

Lowe