A few questons about ordering my boat.

[tipptruck1]

Well next year at this rime I will be getting my first boat. But I have a few questions about ordering my boat.

1. I want to get it in a custom packege. Will it cost extra?

2. How soon should I order it? How munch depsoit dose the dealer need to order it in my colors I chose?

So plese guys that have had custom boats built to your likeing or you know please help me. I have also emailed the dealer on monday and I still havn't heard back form them.

[Cajun1977]

what boat are we talkin about   and customizing a boat will cost more  and on top of that your gonna want this  and  your gonna have to have that  so if your ordering a new boat be prepared to spend more than you thought    as far as down payments  put what you can afford each dealership is different          

[tipptruck1]

Well iam sure 100% its going to be a stratos 295 xl. Heres the few things I want other then custom colors. I want color fish finders on the boat. A gps, fish finder, and maping card readble at the dash.  Then iam just getting a sonor for the front. Iam not sure if I want a radio yet. But iam not going to be getting a loan. First off theres no bank dumb enough to give a loan to a 21 year old with out credit. Even if there was there is nobody dumb enough to co sign the loan. So iam just going to go in and write a 30,000 doller check.  

[Cajun1977]

if the  checks going for 30000  sign me up      i think you can expect to pay closer to 37  depending on the motor         hope everything goes fine make sure you get what you want if you have the money  also get a keelsheild installed   gotta have that     get a custom cover   upgrade trolling motor and onboard charger      make sure you get a matching spare tire for your trailer  

[cart7t]

There are base model trim packages for color and then everything else is extra.  How much depends on the manufacturer.  Same with any electronics and or any other options you choose to put on your boat.  It's all extra plus the cost of rigging.  You can often work with the dealer on the overall price. As for when to buy?  Now's a good time, once the boat shows start till around May-June is a really bad time as that's the time of the year most new boats are ordered.  The manufacturers are swamped with orders plus marine dealers are extremely busy in spring and summer and may take longer than normal to get to your boat if there's extra rigging involved.

[tipptruck1]

Well iam no longer getting the startos. I will be geting a ranger 188 vs i belive. I compared a ranger next to the stratos. The ranger has more leg room. The seats fell better on the ranger. The rear deck is stronger then the stratos. the stratos almost bent in half over the live well. Then I felt the differnce between the front deck of the ranger and it was solid. Then the sales guy hit the stratos deck and it wasn't as solid. And by the way the ranger with a 175 will do 70mph. Its also only 5,000 more. So iam looking at about 32,000 doller boat.

[Cajun1977]

70 mph with a 175       i dont think that is accurate unless its gutted out with no weight in the boat

[tipptruck1]

This was tested with just two guys in it.

[cravenfish]

You won't be disapointed with the quality of the Ranger, BUT!!!! you wont be running 70 MPH. I have owned rangers for the last 20 years and love em' , I now have a 521 w/ a Yamaha 250HPDI.

Good Luck, but the longer you wait the higher the price will be

[tipptruck1]

well the only reason i need to wait is becasue the moneys in a cd and its locked.

[bassdocktor]

When ordering the fish finders you may want to see if the dealer will put them in instead of Ranger. Our dealer did that and it saved around $200 because of the extra cost that the boat company adds to the sales price of the units. Also I'm sure you have realized this already but make sure you account for any sales tax. On a $32,000 boat it can be a decent amount of money.

bassdocktor

[cart7t]

Not knocking the Ranger per se but I doubt you'll be doing 70 with a 175.  Rangers are known as one of the slower boats out there. Well made yes, but nowhere near the quickest.  A comparable Stratos will easily outrun it.

[northgabassfisher]

you also cant catch fish a 70mph LoL JK

I would get a longer boat 18.9, I have a 18.5 and it kind of a tight fit and Im only 16  

[Cajun1977]

This was tested with just two guys in it.

were you one of the 2    i doubt it  maybe 70 on the speedo  but gps no way i say youll get around 63 64 maybe

[tipptruck1]

Well I wasn't in it for the test drive. I had sat in the boat and so didnmy friend that was with me. We both fit in the ranger with room to spare. iam aobut 6'1" or 6'2". I tried other 18 foot boats and there was not enough room.

[cart7t]

Take a look at the new 183 Champion.  Their new modular consoles have gobs of legroom on them. They'll outride that Ranger in rough water by a mile, probably keep up with it with less engine and you'll save a few thousand.  Todd over at C&O marine just test ran a new one on a 150 opti, 61mph and the motor isn't even broke in yet nor had he attempted any jackplate, prop or engine height tweaks. I'm guessing a 2 or 4 mph gain once the engine loosens and it's setup right.  The front deck on that thing is huge for a 18 1/2 footer and plenty of under console legroom.

Ride and decide. Don't just look at a boat, take it out for a test run.

[Grey Wolf]

Are you fishing pro tournaments ? Is that why you need such an expensive boat? Just curious.

[cart7t]

Are you fishing pro tournaments ? Is that why you need such an expensive boat? Just curious.

What difference does it make whether he's fishing pro tournaments or not?  

Perhaps he just wants a nice bassboat. Sheesh.  :

[tipptruck1]

Are you fishing pro tournaments ? Is that why you need such an expensive boat? Just curious.

Well I plan on fishing the weekend series or the bfl. Cart7 I also tried to find the champion you told me about its not on there site. the nearst champion dearler is like two hours away. So it might be hard to compare the boats.

[bassdocktor]

I'm not sure if you have a dealer near you but for the same amount of money you could check out the Triton TR 186. I've had mine for almost 2 years and it has been great. Took it out on Lake Michigan the other day and it handled really well. With the Merc 150XR6 it will top out at 58.?? on the gps. It still needs a little bit of tuning because it could still run a few hundred more RPM's. It should top out just over 60 with 150. If you should change your mind and look at a Triton make sure you get the jackplate. We didn't and really wish we would have.

bassdocktor

[cart7t]

Are you fishing pro tournaments ? Is that why you need such an expensive boat? Just curious.

Well I plan on fishing the weekend series or the bfl. Cart7 I also tried to find the champion you told me about its not on there site. the nearst champion dearler is like two hours away. So it might be hard to compare the boats.

That model is brand spanking new and has just now hit the dealers floors along with the 210 which came out around boat show time and a couple other models.  

[Grey Wolf]

I want to apologize to CART7 for the question I asked . I didn't realize the question was out of line.