collinfiske_RFC Posted September 29, 2016 Posted September 29, 2016 How's it going? Looking to upgrade my boat this spring been doing a little research. If anyone owns one of these could you share your input about it that would be great! Thanks! Quote
noway Posted September 29, 2016 Posted September 29, 2016 I've owned R-72 Ranger and currently own 20i Skeeter. Ranger- Limited storage but the boat was easy to pilot, launch and recover. A bit of a wet ride at only 17 feet. Skeeter - Great storage. Small live wells. Difficult to drive (porpoising). A ***** to load on the trailer. (No power loading in Michigan). Dry ride at 20 feet. I have overcome the porpoising and trailer loading issues but it was quite a learning curve. 1 Quote
Super User tcbass Posted September 29, 2016 Super User Posted September 29, 2016 1 hour ago, noway said: I've owned R-72 Ranger and currently own 20i Skeeter. Ranger- Limited storage but the boat was easy to pilot, launch and recover. A bit of a wet ride at only 17 feet. Skeeter - Great storage. Small live wells. Difficult to drive (porpoising). A ***** to load on the trailer. (No power loading in Michigan). Dry ride at 20 feet. I have overcome the porpoising and trailer loading issues but it was quite a learning curve. How old was your Ranger? Have they fixed those issues? 1 Quote
Super User fishnkamp Posted September 30, 2016 Super User Posted September 30, 2016 what is your budget and are you looking new or used? 2 Quote
rangerjockey Posted September 30, 2016 Posted September 30, 2016 I've never owned a Skeeter or Triton,only Ranger and Champion. To me the Ranger is a easy boat to drive, doesn't need a bunch of trim and rides good. Storage is good and over all quality is good. Where they really shine is when the trolling motor comes down. Just a great fishing platform. How the quality will be under the new ownership remains to be seen With all that said, I kinda like Champion the best, its a quicker better riding boat..Glad to see them back in the market being made by Charger. 1 Quote
collinfiske_RFC Posted September 30, 2016 Author Posted September 30, 2016 @fishnkamp I'm looking for used somewhere around 15k Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted September 30, 2016 Super User Posted September 30, 2016 I've owned 2 Rangers, their fit and finish is excellent, everything is well thought out and put where it should be. I don't know that there's a better built boat out there. They hold their value better over time than other boats as well. In one of the previous posts comparing the storage of a 17 foot boat to a 20 footer obviously the bigger one is going to have more storage. I have a Sport R70 and it's pretty good on storage for a boat that age and size. The newer boats utilize more space for storage than older ones did but that's true of all brands. I've fished out of both a Triton and a Skeeter. Neither are bad boats by any means. The Skeeter I was in was a 19 footer and there were a few things I didn't like about. First off for being 19' it didn't ride much better than my 17' Ranger. I didn't care for the way they made the latches on their lids. It makes for a nice clean look, but having big hands made them kind of a pain to open. And lastly they have this small step for the front deck that's more of a hump and although I know you'd get used to it over time, EVERY SINGLE TIME I went to get up on the front deck to net a fish I tripped on that thing. The Triton I fished out of I didn't have any complaints about it. It seemed pretty well laid out with minimal wasted space. It didn't get rough when I was in it so I can't speak much for the rough water ride. 2 Quote
RHuff Posted September 30, 2016 Posted September 30, 2016 I have a 2008 Triton VT-17 Aluminum Tournament Sport with 50HP Mercury. Thing runs great, seems to be build like a tank and my father and I can fish out of it comfortably. It barely drinks any gas and the thing is easy to pull and lauch/load with my Tacoma 4x4. I'm VERY pleased with my boat and plan on keeping it for a long time. 1 Quote
Super User fishnkamp Posted September 30, 2016 Super User Posted September 30, 2016 Okay since that is your budget seriously look at the Rangers but do not overlook a Triton, their 186 was a very good running hull. There are lots of good hulls out there. I agree about the Skeeters, nice ride, hard for me to lift the hatches with my big hands. If you find any of the mid 2000s or older Stratos boats they were great hulls. The 285 Pros XLs specifically should be in that range. I have a friend that wrote what I consider the best article I have ever read about buying a used boat. He should know he has done it a bunch of times. Anyway Brian is a terrific angler, can drive any boat to its max and fishes about 3 times a week so I figure he has had plenty of time to gain personal knowledge. I suggest you go get a glass of your favorite beverage, climb into a comfy chair and take some time to read his article. Please understand he loves, loves, loves the mid 90s Rangers and that is his dream machine. Your budget allows you to go newer. but all of the elements that go into is decision making are spot on for you. http://www.baybass.com/node/200 I have shared this a bunch of times on here and everytime the individual has learned a lot and came back with some specific questions, so please feel free to do so, 2 Quote
Super User Redlinerobert Posted October 1, 2016 Super User Posted October 1, 2016 Buy the best Ranger you can afford. 3 Quote
noway Posted October 9, 2016 Posted October 9, 2016 Customer service is a huge plus. When I had my Ranger, you could call them direct. With Skeeter, it's all about the boat dealer interface. You cannot call Skeeter for parts. Some dealers are better then others. I found out the hard way. 1 Quote
Super User fishnkamp Posted October 10, 2016 Super User Posted October 10, 2016 Forget that type of service from Ranger anymore. It used to be you could give them a serial number and a part you were looking for and they either had it or made it. I tried to replace some console wood tone pieces on a 99 Ranger and was told too bad, we cannot help you. I guess the "Nitro" effect has taken over already. What a shame! 1 Quote
Fred Ingalls Posted October 10, 2016 Posted October 10, 2016 I had a ranger r80 sport great boat I had the deck extention which made all the difference with storage and deck space. the boat ha a great ride for a 17.6 boat. I now have a 21 foot triton so far I love the boat the livewells are huge and lots of storage. and boy is it fast. a little sketchy over 70 mph but boy is it fun. I picked mine up in your price range 2 Quote
Super User webertime Posted October 11, 2016 Super User Posted October 11, 2016 Colin I know of a beautiful Champion 191 with a 200 Mercury efi, HDS8's 4 gallons of oil, 82lb Motor guide tm with a spare tm. Local (very local, near the cape) to you for significantly less than $15k.... Significantly... PM me if you like. Champion (and Phoenix) are awesome up on these windy New England lakes. I own an old Ranger and it's a rock. Ridden in extensively: Phoenix (amazing) Skeeter FX and ZX (hate the latches, felt hollow in rough water) Ranger 522, 521, 520c... Great rides, ball slappers though. Champion 186 and 201, classic big water taming boats. Stratos 201 (ham sandwich... Not bad, not awesome, just sort of there). 1 Quote
Super User tcbass Posted October 11, 2016 Super User Posted October 11, 2016 13 minutes ago, webertime said: Colin I know of a beautiful Champion 191 with a 200 Mercury efi, HDS8's 4 gallons of oil, 82lb Motor guide tm with a spare tm. Local (very local, near the cape) to you for significantly less than $15k.... Significantly... PM me if you like. Champion (and Phoenix) are awesome up on these windy New England lakes. I own an old Ranger and it's a rock. Ridden in extensively: Phoenix (amazing) Skeeter FX and ZX (hate the latches, felt hollow in rough water) Ranger 522, 521, 520c... Great rides, ball slappers though. Champion 186 and 201, classic big water taming boats. Stratos 201 (ham sandwich... Not bad, not awesome, just sort of there). What is ball slappers? It rides bad in rough water? 2 Quote
Super User webertime Posted October 11, 2016 Super User Posted October 11, 2016 19 minutes ago, tcbass said: 20 minutes ago, tcbass said: What is ball slappers? It rides bad in rough water? the ride is mostly the driver, but yeah these can bang around in chop. 1 Quote
Super User tcbass Posted October 11, 2016 Super User Posted October 11, 2016 3 minutes ago, webertime said: the ride is mostly the driver, but yeah these can bang around in chop. Are the new Rangers better? Like the Ranger Z522D? 1 Quote
Super User webertime Posted October 11, 2016 Super User Posted October 11, 2016 That's the 522 top cap on one of the 600 series hull. Totally different beast. 1 Quote
Super User tcbass Posted October 11, 2016 Super User Posted October 11, 2016 1 hour ago, webertime said: That's the 522 top cap on one of the 600 series hull. Totally different beast. Ah. Will the newer 522 not be a 'ball slapped'? 1 Quote
Super User webertime Posted October 11, 2016 Super User Posted October 11, 2016 Doubt it, that deeper V Hull will cut through waves/chop much more efficiently than the flatter bass boat hull. 1 Quote
collinfiske_RFC Posted October 16, 2016 Author Posted October 16, 2016 Thank you guys for all the insight I really appreciate it! Quote
Airman4754 Posted October 16, 2016 Posted October 16, 2016 I've fished out of all three and own a Triton 21X and wouldn't trade it for anything. It has a front deck comparable to a Phoenix, is stable like a Ranger, and runs fast like a Triton. Quote
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