My Dream Boat

[Greg Harris]

2006 Ranger 520VX Commanche Single Console w/ 225HP Mercury Opti-Max Pro XS

101# 52" Minn-Kota Maxxum Pro Trolling Motor

Humminbird 987c SI by console using GPS only

No seat in front, regular seat in back

Loc-R-Bar

[Matt Jungblut]

yes that is a sweet boat but i must ask why no seat up front

i see it has foot control trolling motor

i have used them many times and i hate them

its hard to fish standing on 1 leg because u need the other to control the trolling motor

seat up front helps alot even if its just big enought to rest ur butt against makes fishing standing on 1 leg a heck of a lot easier

[Greg Harris]

yes that is a sweet boat but i must ask why no seat up front

i see it has foot control trolling motor

i have used them many times and i hate them

its hard to fish standing on 1 leg because u need the other to control the trolling motor

seat up front helps alot even if its just big enought to rest ur butt against makes fishing standing on 1 leg a heck of a lot easier

I like fishing stamding up, and your not on 1 leg most of the time. You're only on 1 leg when you need to adjust the position of the boat.

[Will]

Not trying to put you down or anything, but have you ever ran a trolling motor on a big lake? That can get crazy when it blows, or even the party boats from say Lake of the Ozarks can push the boat. I think a front butt seat is the best option. I don't sit down to fish, although there are sometimes I have to use that seat to rest my leg for a moment or keep my balance. At my last tournament the darn boater used some seat cleaner, and made them super slick I couldn't even lean on them without sliding off ;D

[Greg Harris]

Not trying to put you down or anything, but have you ever ran a trolling motor on a big lake? That can get crazy when it blows, or even the party boats from say Lake of the Ozarks can push the boat. I think a front butt seat is the best option. I don't sit down to fish, although there are sometimes I have to use that seat to rest my leg for a moment or keep my balance. At my last tournament the darn boater used some seat cleaner, and made them super slick I couldn't even lean on them without sliding off ;D

Yes, I fish a lot of tournaments ( At LOZ on holidays too). I've gotten used to using a trolling motor without a seat. I'm more comfortable like that. I can't stand to sit down or lean on something when I'm fishing.

[Will]

Not trying to put you down or anything, but have you ever ran a trolling motor on a big lake? That can get crazy when it blows, or even the party boats from say Lake of the Ozarks can push the boat. I think a front butt seat is the best option. I don't sit down to fish, although there are sometimes I have to use that seat to rest my leg for a moment or keep my balance. At my last tournament the darn boater used some seat cleaner, and made them super slick I couldn't even lean on them without sliding off ;D

Yes, I fish a lot of tournaments ( At LOZ on holidays too). I've gotten used to using a trolling motor without a seat. I'm more comfortable like that. I can't stand to sit down or lean on something when I'm fishing.

Maybe it's my height that throws me off  :-?

[Greg Harris]

Not trying to put you down or anything, but have you ever ran a trolling motor on a big lake? That can get crazy when it blows, or even the party boats from say Lake of the Ozarks can push the boat. I think a front butt seat is the best option. I don't sit down to fish, although there are sometimes I have to use that seat to rest my leg for a moment or keep my balance. At my last tournament the darn boater used some seat cleaner, and made them super slick I couldn't even lean on them without sliding off ;D

Yes, I fish a lot of tournaments ( At LOZ on holidays too). I've gotten used to using a trolling motor without a seat. I'm more comfortable like that. I can't stand to sit down or lean on something when I'm fishing.

LOL!

Maybe it's my height that throws me off :-?

[Cajun1977]

if you had a lot of experience youd want a butt seat you wouldnt have to put it up but youd want it for yourself also you might wanna add a travel cover to your want listand a keelsheild and it never stops   also some electronics at the bow

[Greg Harris]

if you had a lot of experience youd want a butt seat you wouldnt have to put it up but youd want it for yourself also you might wanna add a travel cover to your want listand a keelsheild and it never stops also some electronics at the bow

Yeah, I know. I'm in the process of buying a 1987 Stratos w/ a 175 HP Mariner. I have a HUGE list of things including those. That's what I was planning on doing to the seat, just storing it in the storage locker just in case I might want to use it. It has a Lowrance X-135 at the console and bow. I would get the Humminbird for the GPS.

[Glenn]

Yup, those are nice boats!  Here's mine:  

[ggrrrt]

Nothing personal... but

Don't you think that is a little too flashy?

I think you might scare the fish with that ugly thing.  

[Fish Chris]

Well ya' know what..... I think "all" of these new, high-per bass boats are just absolutely beautiful pieces of machinery, merged with true art. I look at them the same way as I do the bikes on OCC..... That is, with total interest and amazement.

But would I ever own one ? .....even if I hit the lotto ? No. Just not for me. Way too big, heavy, and flashy. Now don't get me wrong, I could dump 100K into a pick up truck (if I had tons of cash in the first place) without ever thinking twice. In other words, I'm all for going way overboard on stuff that "I want" even if I "don't need it".

But with my fishing boat, I want it to be light. I want it to be camo'd. I don't want it to have a big ol' steering console in my way. I don't want to ever spend any time cleaning it. In other words, I want it to be "pure function"... and no glitter ;-)

So hey now, if this is going to turn into a dream boat thread, here's mine :-) It's my G3 V143T

.... and its paid for..... and it uses an average of about 2 gallons of gas for an 8 hour fishing trip :-) I just cant tell you guys how much I'm loving this thing.... Oh.... and yes, I do talk to it regularly :-) LOL

Peace,

Fish

[Triton_Mike]

Chris,  I certainly understand your thoughts.  I had a 1248 all welded jon boat with a 30 HP for many many years.  I caught more big bass out of that boat than I will ever catch out of my Tr 20/ 225 EFI.  Something about small boats and big bass???  

T Mike

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

small boats,...big fish. This theory made me alot of money tuna fishing. Most of the vessels on the bank are 36-52 ft sportfishing vessels. We use the 21' cc and it has proven through the yrs to be the way to go.

Sept. '01- 6 fish in 7 days (permit allows 1 per day) All week, we were the only boat under 32 ft. 9 fish came to market that week, 5 from us. (100+ boats in fleet)

The theory is that each boat has an anchor line scoped out a minimum of 300 ft, and 4 fishing lines. Tuna are pro's at using these to break off.   We fish along a bank that comes up to 180 ft. It's like a sandbar in the middle of Cape Cod Bay. When you hook up,...the most important thing to do is get the fish away from the fleet (and all it's obstacles). With a small boat, we are capable of "rounding him up" and the big boats don't have this kind of maneuverability.

The minute a rod goes off, we both have a job. I man the helm and start the boat while my mate gets us off the ball. (anchor is unhooked and left on a bouy) the other 3 rods come in (team effort) then he switches to free spool while I punch it and head away from the fleet making a 1/2 circle away from the fleet. Engage the reel again and start fighting. Now you are pulling the fish AWAY from the fleet. Lots of smaller boats out there do this now.

Little boats=big fish!!

[Greg Harris]

Well ya' know what..... I think "all" of these new, high-per bass boats are just absolutely beautiful pieces of machinery, merged with true art. I look at them the same way as I do the bikes on OCC..... That is, with total interest and amazement.

But would I ever own one ? .....even if I hit the lotto ? No. Just not for me. Way too big, heavy, and flashy. Now don't get me wrong, I could dump 100K into a pick up truck (if I had tons of cash in the first place) without ever thinking twice. In other words, I'm all for going way overboard on stuff that "I want" even if I "don't need it".

But with my fishing boat, I want it to be light. I want it to be camo'd. I don't want it to have a big ol' steering console in my way. I don't want to ever spend any time cleaning it. In other words, I want it to be "pure function"... and no glitter ;-)

So hey now, if this is going to turn into a dream boat thread, here's mine :-) It's my G3 V143T

.... and its paid for..... and it uses an average of about 2 gallons of gas for an 8 hour fishing trip :-) I just cant tell you guys how much I'm loving this thing.... Oh.... and yes, I do talk to it regularly :-) LOL

Peace,

Fish

That's a really nice boat Chris! Did you build those decks?, Because those look really good. I can certainly understand your feelings, the maitnence would be a pain.

[Greg Harris]

Yup, those are nice boats! Here's mine:

SWEET! :( Is that a 200 or a 225 Yamaha? What's the top speed you've gotten it to go?

[Madhouse27]

Greg I think I'd follow Glenn's lead and put a big Yamaha on the back of that dream boat.

[Glenn]

225.  I've hit 70mph so far, but it's under-propped.  I know I can get it to 75mph, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost of a new SS prop for an extra 5mph.  

[5bass]

Here's my current boat

This is what I want next......just different color scheme.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I can't believe noone noticed the colors on Glenn's boat!! I guarentee those weren't in the color schemes to choose from!

one of a kind?

That's what makes a boat special to me is the fact that noone else has the same thing. I also have a whaler jet boat that came with handlebars! We re-modified the entire dash with teak, gauges and a stainless wheel with a trigger throttle on the wheel. Now it's a 15 ft , inboard center console.

INBOARD (jet)

15ft

center console

Anyone else see a boat with these 3 things in common????

original dash

enhanced dash

The boat came with a 50hp Yamaha that, along with some guidance from the guys at RIVA Motorsports in Pompano Beach, we switched it out for a 201hp wet jet,hehehe

Boat comes right out of the water but gives the swim platform a beating as you can see in this pic. I came down to the docks in the morning and noticed this from the day before. (platform sagging)

Ain't she purdy though, this boat gets a ton of comments at the dock. I even had one guy argue with me that it wasn't a Whaler,lol. I am very proud of this little bluefish hunting rocket.

When I bought the boat, it was totalled. It had a hole in the side, and the entire gunnel was smashed on the left side. Had a hole on the "V" of the bow where somehow, the front hook eye got pushed through. No railing, no rub rail,etc. She was a mess but look at her now!!

[Papa_Tom]

Like some others, I have my dream boat.  2001 518 DVX Ranger Comanche, 200 Yammie OX66, Lowrance LCX-19C w/GPS on console, Lowrance X-85 up front, stand-up seat for the bow (wouldn't be without it), two standard seats so I have options if I choose.  At 19 feet it is a great all around boat.  Perfect for Kinkaid, etc.  

[FlyRod]

Gimme this and a map of the Middle East!

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3044/orig6qf.jpg

Then, we can dream of bass boats, free of fear.

FR

[northgabassfisher]

my dream boat/ next boat will be a 2003 ranger 521VX with a yamaha vmax 250 on the back with x-25 w/gps on the back and a x-135 on front. my boss had the same boat but he sold it :'(.

[RobDar]

get a butt seat...

the other problem I see with the Ranger...

I did not like the digital touch pad controls, the proprietary breakers, nor the goofy sliding deck latches...

all three of these things are exclusive to the Comanche and you can only get them from Ranger...which makes them horrifyingly expensive to repair!

boats cost enough as it is!

I prefer the boats like the Stratos and Legend ( and the standard non comanche Ranger) who still use the standard breakers, deck latches, and rocker switches...all of which can be by-passed is a pinch, replaced with stock switches from a electrical supply house, and or fixed with parts from nearly any marina.

EXAMPLE....my father in laws Javelin had a breaker fail while fishing...the marina wanted $18 for the part...I bouth the SAME EXACT part at my local electrical supply house for under $6 and swapped it out in about 4 minutes.

Guy in our circut with a new Triton whose digital touch pad that failed in the rain...had to order the part, took 10 days to get and cost $700 dollars.

I suggest looking for a comparible boat without the widgets and gidgets that is easier to repair and uses parts that have third party suppliers and a competitive market that keeps the price manageable.

Other than that...I have riden a boat like this...it is a sweet boat!