How Does Each Brand Ride?

[Megastink]

I'm shopping for a used bass boat, my first! I've fished in just about all brands and I know what I like, but what I can afford might vary slightly.

I'm trying to get a feel for if certain brands run notoriously better or worse thank other brands. I'd love for each responder, in their personal opinion, rank the following brands in order from smoothest ride to roughest ride, keeping in mind that I fish the Chesapeake Bay a lot and it can get a little hairy:

Ranger, nitro, skeeter, stratos, pro craft, triton.

[BobP]

There aren't many guys who have ridden all 5 brands.  Between Ranger and Triton, I think Ranger probably gets the nod in rough water.  I have a 19' Triton and love it for the medium size southern lakes I fish, which seldom occasion rough conditions. Rangers have a reputation as 'lead sleds', which is both good and bad - but good in rough water.  I've fished a 19' Ranger on Lake Erie in spring and felt secure because the driver was experienced in that environment.  But if the waves are over 5 ft, I think it's folly to be out in any bass boat. 

[tnriverluver]

Depends on how big the waves are and how fast you plan to hit those waves.  Of the ones listed except for the ProCraft which I have no experience with there is really not that much difference.  The Ranger will get the nod but I think it's mainly because the Ranger is also slower.

[BG RTR]

I have a 96 stratos 285. Handles rough water fairly well. I fish tn river reservoirs

[J Francho]

I've ridden just about every makers boat, and many different models. Fish as a co angler, and you get a taste of the whole gamut of boats.

You can't go by brand. Model, what outboard is on it, whether there's a setback/jack plate, prop and setup all play a part. Lastly, and the biggest effect on ride is the driver.

My 22' Bullet rides better with me driving than many other, so called smooth riding hulls. That said, one the best rides was in an older Ranger 520. Might have been an early 2000s model. Those Stratos 285 are a decent ride as well. Two of the worst rides was a Triton and brand new Ranger. In the case of the Ranger, I think driver and setup were to blame, not really the hull.

[tcbass]

I've ridden just about every makers boat, and many different models. Fish as a co angler, and you get a taste of the whole gamut of boats.

You can't go by brand. Model, what outboard is on it, whether there's a setback/jack plate, prop and setup all play a part. Lastly, and the biggest effect on ride is the driver.

My 22' Bullet rides better with me driving than many other, so called smooth riding hulls. That said, one the best rides was in an older Ranger 520. Might have been an early 2000s model. Those Stratos 285 are a decent ride as well. Two of the worst rides was a Triton and brand new Ranger. In the case of the Ranger, I think driver and setup were to blame, not really the hull.

 

 

 

What was set up wrong?

[J Francho]

Setup involves prop height and set back in relation to the hull. I think he had it too low. I also think he had too much pitch in the prop. It didn't like to get on plane without cavitating and spinning out. Set up isn't a standard thing, and how the boat loaded, passengers, weight distribution, etc. has an effect. It's usually a bigger deal in a lighter, high performance hull, but still applies to all boats.

[Logan S]

You've received some good advice here so far, I will try to add to it.  

 

Length, storage, livewells, overall condition, motor, trailer, etc...All need to be balanced against what you can spend.

 

In general, I'd say you want to lean heavy on length since you plan to fish the upper Bay.  You don't want end up wishing you went bigger.  When it comes to glass boats, generally a 20' boat can do everything an 18' boat can...But an 18' can't do everything a 20' can.   

 

For used boats, motor and trailer condition need to be considered as extremely important too.  If either turns out to suck you will regret everything.  Get both checked by a professional.  For motors, some have bad reputations (the FICHT is probably one of the more notorious ones) so avoid those...Even if you get a 'good one' the resale value will be hurt significantly.

 

Remember, the boat is just a tool to take you to the fish...So make sure you get one that matches your fishing goals!

 

Get your budget figured out, get your goals figured out, and then start looking.  Narrow it down by brand once you start finding some that fit your goals.  Look at as many as you can and keep an open mind...Whatever you do, don't fall in love with the first boat you look at!  I've seen a few people do this and they ended up with something completely different that what they set out for, obviously regretting it.  

 

Don't get too caught up in what electronics/extras are on the boat, but don't pass up a great deal either.  If a boat is a little out of your price range but comes with $3,000 worth of electronics, a brand new quality trolling motor, or with all of the previous guys fishing gear, it could end up being a better deal in the long run.  

 

After all that, if I were to rank the brands you listed...I'd put Stratos at the top  (For obvious reasons haha)

[Logan S]

And just in case you have all your goals figured out already, when it comes to how a boat rides it's probably 80% driver, 20% boat.

 

Allow yourself time to become experienced in operating your boat and I doubt you will have issues in any rig.  A bass boat is probably one of the more complicated boats to drive well...There's more to it than flooring the throttle and steering where you want

[BrianinMD]

As a co-angler in tourney's I have gone out of a few different brands, to me the champion hulls ride the best especially in rougher water. Next would be the Rangers. But you can tell a lot of difference between boaters too. The bigger the boat the better it should be, the upper bay can get rough pretty quick. Would stick with at least 20 feet.

[tcbass]

 

You've received some good advice here so far, I will try to add to it.  

 

Length, storage, livewells, overall condition, motor, trailer, etc...All need to be balanced against what you can spend.

 

In general, I'd say you want to lean heavy on length since you plan to fish the upper Bay.  You don't want end up wishing you went bigger.  When it comes to glass boats, generally a 20' boat can do everything an 18' boat can...But an 18' can't do everything a 20' can.   

 

For used boats, motor and trailer condition need to be considered as extremely important too.  If either turns out to suck you will regret everything.  Get both checked by a professional.  For motors, some have bad reputations (the FICHT is probably one of the more notorious ones) so avoid those...Even if you get a 'good one' the resale value will be hurt significantly.

 

Remember, the boat is just a tool to take you to the fish...So make sure you get one that matches your fishing goals!

 

Get your budget figured out, get your goals figured out, and then start looking.  Narrow it down by brand once you start finding some that fit your goals.  Look at as many as you can and keep an open mind...Whatever you do, don't fall in love with the first boat you look at!  I've seen a few people do this and they ended up with something completely different that what they set out for, obviously regretting it.  

 

Don't get too caught up in what electronics/extras are on the boat, but don't pass up a great deal either.  If a boat is a little out of your price range but comes with $3,000 worth of electronics, a brand new quality trolling motor, or with all of the previous guys fishing gear, it could end up being a better deal in the long run.  

 

After all that, if I were to rank the brands you listed...I'd put Stratos at the top  (For obvious reasons haha)

 

 

 

 

Good post!

 

 

 

 

So, why would you put a Stratos above a Ranger, Triton, Skeeter, or any of the bigger names?

[slonezp]

Take a USCG safe boating course and get some time behind the helm. No fish is worth dying over.

 

 A larger boat will be a smoother ride than a smaller boat. Every manufacturer claims they have the best rough water ride yet every manufacturers demo videos is done in calm water.

[Jig Man]

I think you left the best ride out of your list.  Champion is the best ride I have been in and that is why I bought one.

[Trek]

  The best big water boat I've ever had was Champion. Hands down took the waves on better. It was a great open water bass boat. But it was also the worse fishing boat I ever owned. A Champion sits in the water nose high and if your like me and like to flip that's not the ideal set up. Plus when in no wake areas I was always fighting the steering. The Ranger I now have sits flat in the water and has a track true haul. That boat is so much easyer to drive I couldn't even put them in the same class. Even when I'm on the trolling motor the Ranger's design keeps the boat straight and easy to handle. So for your best fishing boat I would say Ranger. A very close second would be Skeeter. They make a nice boat too but as a general rule the resale isn't as good.

  Another note here too. Ranger doesn't only make a nice boat their trailers are second to none. Nothing worse then having a nice boat and pulling it with a piece of crap trailer. Ask any Champion, Triton, Nitro, and Stratos owner how he likes his trailer. Mine is five years old and looks and sounds brand new. JMO

[Megastink]

Thank you all for your advice! I have to dig a little deeper into my research.

[gulfcaptain]

Setup involves prop height and set back in relation to the hull. I think he had it too low. I also think he had too much pitch in the prop. It didn't like to get on plane without cavitating and spinning out. Set up isn't a standard thing, and how the boat loaded, passengers, weight distribution, etc. has an effect. It's usually a bigger deal in a lighter, high performance hull, but still applies to all boats.

If it cavitated and spun out, it was under pitched.  He didn't have enough prop.  Running a Crewboat in the Gulf, wheel size to HP make a big difference and if it's under prop'd well you just spin and cavitate as there isn't enough wheel to grab the water with the rpm's you're trying to turn.

[gulfcaptain]

Why don't you look into a MOD V.  Looking to do the same here on the West Coast, but years of working offshore I have lots of respect for the water.  I've seen people offshore in boats I know you would never find me in and if the weather came up well they wouldn't far very well.  I have been looking at something in the line of the Tracker 17'5" MOD V so I can do both and it have enough free board to keep me dry and safe if the weather did come up with the ability to fish comfortably as well.  But then that's just my opinion.  If it was only freshwater I would be fishing, I'd probably opt for a Nitro or Champion.

[gulfcaptain]

Correction not a Tracker 17'5" MOD V, was a Tracker Pro Guide V-175 SC. Sorry, been looking at a bunch of different boats lately.

[Logan S]

Good post!

 

 

 

 

So, why would you put a Stratos above a Ranger, Triton, Skeeter, or any of the bigger names?

 

Because I own one

 

Any of the big names will serve well, especially in normal conditions.  In rough water, size helps before brand... No matter the boat, being in rough water in a bass boat sucks.  Bass boats are not made to handle rough water, they are fishing platforms, some are little better than others...But that's where operator experience comes in to play too.

 

If you want a fishing boat purpose built for handling rough water you need to look at walleye style boats or something similar...But then you sacrifice many other things when it comes to bass fishing.  

[tcbass]

Because I own one

 

Any of the big names will serve well, especially in normal conditions.  In rough water, size helps before brand... No matter the boat, being in rough water in a bass boat sucks.  Bass boats are not made to handle rough water, they are fishing platforms, some are little better than others...But that's where operator experience comes in to play too.

 

If you want a fishing boat purpose built for handling rough water you need to look at walleye style boats or something similar...But then you sacrifice many other things when it comes to bass fishing.

Well what are your reasons for choosing the one you did over the others?

What features do you like?

[Logan S]

Well what are your reasons for choosing the one you did over the others?

What features do you like?

 

It was really more of a joke when I put Stratos at the top, as I thought people would tell from my username I owned one .

 

 I would absolutely recommend one, but was really putting more emphasis on getting a boat to match your needs rather than picking out a popular brand.  Still, I'll take you through my decision process in case it helps someone.  

 

I went down my checklist for what I wanted.

 

-at least 20' (my previous boat was 17' and I'd had enough of the size limitations)

-lots of front deck storage

-large, independent livewells

-good trolling motor (came with a new Motorguide Tour Edition 82lb)

-single console

-good overall condition

-good price

-reasonably fast (I fish the Potomac and some larger lakes and want the option of running 20 miles without chewing up tons of time)

 

The things I failed (I speak form experience in my previous posts ).

 

-reliable motor (It had a 200ph FICHT...)

-good trailer (not really a failure on my part, I couldn't have know it had internal rust)

 

 

I eventually narrowed down my choice to the Stratos and a Ranger of similar layout.  The Ranger was 1 year newer but had significantly more hours, older accessories, less desirable livewells (large divided, not 2 separate), and was $3,000 more.  I went with the mine despite the motor... 

 

The boat itself I couldn't be happier with.  I took a gamble on the motor and it was actually a great motor for 3 years...Very efficient and powerful.  Until it wasn't .  I ended up blowing the powerhead in a tournament.  Since I liked the the boat so much I decided to repower with a new ETEC and once again, couldn't be happier.

 

The trailer ended up rusting behind the axle and developing a crack, this is where it good to have a friend with an auto shop...Welded a few plates on and it's back on the road.  The lesson here is to go for a C-channel trailer over a tube-framed trailer if you can... 

 

I knew the risk I was taking and I ended up getting 3 years out of the motor before it bit me.  The ETEC cost me, but now I have brand new motor with warranty on a boat I still love.   Now, if I had to do it all over again?  Knowing what I know now, I'd probably go with a C-channel trailer and probably steer away from motor with a bad rep...Although on a used rig any brand has potential to screw you, as you never know what the previous owner did.  But I'm still happy with my decision and honestly think I made the best call at the time.

 

 

 

If you're going to take anything away from this, learn from both my mistakes and my success.  Also remember that no matter what, a boat will always cost you money.  For me, it's part of the game and I understand it...I love bass fishing enough to keep spending and not have second thoughts.  

 

[tcbass]

What is a C-channel trailer and what is a tube framed trailer?

I have a Shorelander tailer on my Crestliner. I wonder what kind of trailer that is?

Will a C-channel trailer not rust?

[Logan S]

A C-channel means the frame is shaped like the letter 'C'.  Doesn't mean it won't rust, just means water/other stuff won't get stuck inside like a tube framed trailer.  Less likely to rust.  

 

Also easier on maintenance stuff like re-wiring lights or anything that needs run down the frame.  

 

May or may not be a deal breaker for you.  I fish the Potomac and other tidal rivers which do have some salt so I wish I had a trailer that didn't trap water.  

[WIGuide]

Ranger is the way to go for a smooth dry ride!

[gardnerjigman]

Just curious, don't pretty much all bass boats sit nose high? Seems every flw or bassmaster tourney you watch they are always nose high and go to either cockpit or back of the boat to land fish...