In The Market For A New Glitter Sled.

[Jig Man]

I plan to buy a new boat next spring.  So far I am considering Ranger, Phoenix and Bass Cat.  I'm most interested is the layout, storage, and fishing platform front and back.  What else would you look at and why would you want it?

[WIGuide]

Everyone has their own preferences and needs when purchasing a boat and they can vary from person to person. One thing to look at is creature comforts and overall layout. Does it make sense to you to have _____ here? Can I see everything I need to at the cockpit? Can I make the things I use the most easily accessible? Not sure how long you plan on keeping the boat, but you also might want to look at what you can get out of the boat when you're ready to sell.

[Siebert Outdoors]

My buddies Phoenix is one of the best boats in layout and simplicity I have ever been in.  It rides smooth.  When its time for an upgrade I'm sure I'll be looking at Phoenix.

[Catt]

While you have given us your 3 choices in boats & the fact you are concerned with layout you failed to mention size...as in of boat & body of water!

I would highly suggest you look into Legend Bass Boats, I've fished out of, rode in, & driven several. I would put Legend equal to Ranger or Bass Cat & above Phoenix.

[Jig Man]

Sorry Catt I did overlook size.  I'm fishing out of a Champion 206 right now and have been for the last 13 years.  I won't buy anything shorter than that.  I have heard of Legends but know nothing about them. I fish lakes that are from 20,000 to 60,000 surface acres and 1,000 miles of shoreline.  Some are rough most of the time and some aren't.

[tomustang]

Look out for legends, there's a lot out there that have transom cracks

[Catt]

Look out for legends, there's a lot out there that have transom cracks

In order to have a crack there must be flex, to have flex you would have to hit something hard!

If you hit something hard they all crack!

Stress fractures are also common in all manufacturers.

I have several friends with Legends & no a single issue with cracks of any kind.

With that said all seven have had Gorilla Hulls added, you would be foolish not to have one around here.

[tomustang]

No, they were just poorly designed weak reinforced transoms..

[Catt]

No, they were just poorly designed weak reinforced transoms..

I can give you a list of people who will bad mouth Rangers, Bass Cat, Phoenix, Skeeter & every company out there.

I highly doubt the transom just fell apart

[Fishing Rhino]

A stress crack can be the result of a too thick gel coat.

 

Everything flexes.  Nothing is absolutely ridged. 

 

I make fiberglass race car bodies.  Racers want them as light as possible.  That means that I must use the minimum amount of gel coat that will provide a good "hide".  Some of my customers have a metalflake finish, which by necessity can be two to three times as thick as a solid color.  The laminate is about a sixteenth of an inch thick, comprised of one layer of 3/4 ounce mat, and one layer of 1603 stitched roving.  Some areas are reinforced to provide stiffness, such as the top of a roof. 

 

If you bend a panel with the gel coat on the inside of the bend, nothing happens.  But, bend it with the gel coat on the outside of the bend, and you'll end up with stress cracks.  The gel coat will withstand compression, but does not stand being stretched, so it results in hairline cracks in the gel coat.  Those stress cracks do not compromise the strength of the panel.

 

Fiberglass boats have a much thicker application of gel coat than I use.  They are exposed to the weather and sunlight much more than a local stock car.  Further, racers sometimes beat up their bodies and need replacement panels.  Race car bodies, at your local short tracks, do not have a long life expectancy.  Boats in some cases endure decades of exposure and can be subject to buffing to restore the finish.  That necessitates a thicker gel coat.

 

If those cracks in the transom do not go past the gel coat, they are only a cosmetic problem, not a compromise of the structural laminate.

[Jig Man]

Mike how does your buddy's Phoenix set in the water when you are fishing?  How is it for rocking when a boat comes by hitting you broadside with wakes.

[Fishes in trees]

If you are looking at buying new and you're going to fish tournaments, the different incentive programs offered by the different boat companies are something to consider.  I'm not in that situation right now, so I have no clue what those different programs are, but it is something to check out.

[Jig Man]

Thanks trees but I don't fish tournaments any longer.

[RyneB]

All good choices, I also suggest Skeeter. I was in the market for a new boat and shopped around. I was dead set on a new ranger, but then I decided to look at Skeeters. It was a done deal after that. I couldn't find a better bang for buck out there. Good luck.

[Jig Man]

What Skeeter are you running and how is it powered?  Does it porpoise?  Every one I have ridden did.

[RyneB]

2014 TZX195 with a 175 HPDI. It porpoised quite a bit before I learned how to drive it and got the jack plate in the right height. Now it doesn't do it. It rides like a dream compared to some boats iv ridden in, especially for a 19 1/2 foot boat. My only gripe is the livewells are a tad small. But brand new with TTL, out the door, I got it for under 36 grand, and that was before trade in of the Ranger. And the new ones have air flow through storage compartments and Lowrance HDs at bow and console, with a SHO and for under 40 grand with a 175 SHO.

[fishnkamp]

At this summers Bassmasters Elite event here on the Chesapeake Bay I got to ride on three demo boats.  All three were 21 footers, a Triton, a Skeeter, and a Nitro. These were my first rides in a new boat in 7 years.  My last big boat was a 20 foot ProCraft with the 200 EFI. Two had the Merc Pro XS's and of course the Skeeter had a SHO Yamaha.  I recommend you ride on every new boat you can and if you can arrange it try to run something with the SHO Yamaha, something with a E-TEC and something with the Merc.  I loved the Skeeter ride and the torque curve of the SHO but not the layout. To me, the Triton had my favorite layout and the ride was great.  I liked the Nitro the least. Now remember these boats were running very choppy water, after all there was a full field of competitors, camera boats and spectator boats. There was no doubt I liked the Yamaha SHO much more than the Merc ProXS!  I never got to ride in anything with an E-Tec but I have heard some at local tournaments. They have a very different sound to me  Knowing what I experienced, I would order a Triton with a Yamaha, which would required finding a Triton/Yamaha dealer.  I know there are lots of Merc ProXS fans out there, but that Yamaha really impressed me. I intend to order a new boat in two years, when my house is paid for. Thus my reason for the demo rides.  Go try different boat/engine combos choose your favorite engine, floor plan, and boat manufacturer before you lay down hard earned cash.  Just my 2 cents.

[Brent Christian]

Guess ill put in my two cents worth lol Growing up all my dad had was Rangers and they was always known for theyre good smooth ride, that was the case back then, now boat manufactures have caught up with them, i have to agree both Legend and Pheonix's are d**n good boats. They are just as smooth as a ride of a ranger and fun alot faster. But keep in mind a 20 footer fully rigged is around 50,000-60,000 

  

[jamey1e]

Another thing to consider is how far the dealer is away. 

[dcmclassic]

I grew up in Bass Cats if I planned on owning any other boat besides a cat it would be a Legend or Phoenix. I've been to the Ranger, Legend and BCB factories and for me personally I won't ever own a Ranger. I didn't care for the plant or the attitude of a very long term employee that was the tour guide.  But that's me......my uncle has ran Rangers since the 80's and won't run anything else.  

I would heavily consider dealer location and dealer atmosphere/attitude also.  I feel they are pretty much all good boats now. Bass Cat or Phoenix would get my vote out of your options.  Bass Cat will treat you like royalty, Rick Pierce hand wrote a letter to thank me for buying a Bass Cat. Showed us anything and everything we wanted to see at the factory.  They are first class. Cats run fast, smooth and dry. Some people don't like the trolling foot pedal placement but most people adjust rather quickly and end up loving it.  If you have any questions about the BCB models I'll help with anything that I can.

[stfreed]

I have Marshaled several BASS Elite events and got to ride in nearly every make on the Elite tour.  My choice was Ranger Hands down.  Bass Cat on Onieda about killed me, ran the Detroit River in a Triton, Skeeter and two Rangers.  Ranger was it for me!!  Hands down no comparison.  I recommend riding in them all before you lay down $50k and decide based on your experiences.  There were things about each I liked, like the partner side rod box on the Bass Cat, the rod strap positions of the triton, but the triton console was just to tight for my knees (I am 6-2)..... and since I fish Erie and other big water Ranger was my choice.  I love the "flying" console design of the newer Rangers and it allows me to slide my rods back and gives me a lot of foot room up front.