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Bottom line: 2016 RT188, White, Merc 115, HELIX 9 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G2N at bow, HELIX 7 CHIRP SI GPS G2N at console, south of $22,000 plus tax, title and registration. Seems too good to pass The rest of the story: Pull into the driveway after fishing, straightening up the days clutter on the boat and my next door neighbor brother-in-law comes over and says... hi, you want to sell your boat? I said - huh? Hear you want a bigger boat and this one is just the size I am looking for. (My neighbor and I both have boats and talk fishing regularly, I did mention to him that I...) Really want more storage and a bigger casting deck. This one runs good and only 3 years old. How much for this one? What ever I owe, payoff. How much is that. Let me do some checking and I will get back with you. Okay Park the boat, fire up the computer, I start looking for a replacement boat cause I ain't doing without a boat this time of year. Find the RT188 online, fill out the "I want more information" form, hit send. Turn on the TV to watch the playoffs, pop a top and get supper started. 30 minutes after hitting send the phone rings, it's a salesman. We talk about the RT188 and I let him know that I gotta sell my boat first then I will buy. We talk about what he has in inventory, several boats to choose from, all looking like a doable plan. Get back on the computer, check payoff and text the info to the neighbors brother-in-law. Crickets. I can understand cause upside down on my boat. No problem. Two days later I get a "friendly reminder" email from the salesman asking how things are. I let him know that I am no longer in the market for a new boat. Next day another email asking how much is payoff on mine. I respond. He took a picture of the sticker price, $24,998, +Prep and Freight, + tax, says he will take $1,000 off the sticker price, lets me know the trade in value and that his service dept will need to do a trade eval. My email back to him was thanks but no thanks. He responds with "I talked to my sales manager and we will payoff your boat". Instant new boat fever. I let him know what electronics I want added and ask about the bottom line and terms. He gives the bottom line above. Seems too good to pass.

I've been considering picking up an RT188 and getting back into fishing after about a 10 year hiatus. I'm planning to wait for a 2016 model as I'd like to keep saving and pay cash if possible and I heard the Ranger boat show or something is next month, so we'll see. My question is about the outboard motor choices since you can equip with several. Maybe I haven't done enough research but the Evinrude 115DGL was seemingly a good choice and I came across some favorable reviews. I know every brand has their problems here and there but when I reached out to a dealer they told me they wouldn't order with an Evinrude. I kept pushing and they relented and said they could one-off order it but that they would never stock one that way. Said they are a Yamaha/Mercury/Suzuki dealer and Evinrude "isn't what it used to be". So, what are your thoughts here? I'm sure they have their reasons whatever it may be (troubles with product or better incentives to sell others, who knows), but I can't tell, so I'd like a second opinion so to speak. Ranger seems fond of the Evinrude outboards. Should I be concerned? Thanks in advance!