Choosing between deals...experience appreciated

[mheichelbech]

Looking at what I think are 2 pretty good deals on boat:  

 

1) 1999 Ranger 519 DVS with Evinrude 225 for $7,500 - has new lower unit.  The bad is guy says will need a wiring harness and I’m concerned about the Ficht injection although I’ve heard if you get past 100 hours with no problem your okay???

 

2) 2005 BassCat Pantera with Merc 200 for $9,500.  Supposedly very low hours, less than 200.  My main issues so far with this boat is I don’t like the color and I wanted a dual console but seems like a really good deal.

 

Any recommendations, experience appreciated.  One is 3 hours away and the other is 4 hours away.  From individuals.

[Fishes in trees]

As far as "fishability" goes, I much prefer a single console boat to a dual console - even when I'm a do-angler.  Riding on plane, I can wear goggles or something.  When you're fishing, the absence of the second console makes fishing seem easier to me.

[looking45]

How tall are you? My friend has a dual console 519.I'm 6'3" and i can't sit straight forward in either seat. I would try to get compression reading for both outboards if you could. You could ask the seller to text/email it to you. No sense in looking at th boat if he motor needs major work

[mheichelbech]

Just now, looking45 said:

How tall are you? My friend has a dual console 519.I'm 6'3" and i can't sit straight forward in either seat. I would try to get compression reading for both outboards if you could. You could ask the seller to text/email it to you. No sense in looking at th boat if he motor needs major work

Haha I am only 5’7” so that shouldn’t be an issue.  The Ranger/Evinrude deal the owner did say it would need a new wiring harness, not sure why yet and also a new lower unit.  Haven’t talked yet but just trying to get all the input I can beforehand.

[looking45]

This may or may not affect your decision.I would be concerned about availability of parts further down the road

 

https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2020/05/28/evinrude-discontinued-brb-says-will-no-longer-make-evinrude-outboard-boat-engines/

[Shimano_1]

Id definitely go the basscat route if everything checks out. Those evinrudes would worry me especially now and if it needs work I'd steer clear. Basscat is newer, likely as good or better built boat and id want the mercury.  Good luck

[mheichelbech]

Yea I’ve read about the whole Evinrude ordeal and is a concern.  My biggest concern is decline in market value.  I just feel like, at $7500 it’s hard to pass up but of course $9509 for a 2005 and a 200 Merc is a good deal too.  

[A-Jay]

45 minutes ago, Shimano_1 said:

Id definitely go the basscat route if everything checks out. Those evinrudes would worry me especially now and if it needs work I'd steer clear. Basscat is newer, likely as good or better built boat and id want the mercury.  Good luck

What He Said ~ 

A-Jay

[mheichelbech]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

What He Said ~ 

A-Jay

So a BassCat is a better built than a Ranger?  I’ve always been under the impression that Rangers were the most well built boats.

[A-Jay]

7 hours ago, mheichelbech said:

Looking at what I think are 2 pretty good deals on boat:  

 

1) 1999 Ranger 519 DVS with Evinrude 225 for $7,500 - has new lower unit.  The bad is guy says will need a wiring harness and I’m concerned about the Ficht injection although I’ve heard if you get past 100 hours with no problem your okay???

 

2) 2005 BassCat Pantera with Merc 200 for $9,500.  Supposedly very low hours, less than 200.  My main issues so far with this boat is I don’t like the color and I wanted a dual console but seems like a really good deal.

 

Any recommendations, experience appreciated.  One is 3 hours away and the other is 4 hours away.  From individuals.

Between these two specific rigs & motors ~

IMO YES. 

A-Jay

[mheichelbech]

20 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Between these two specific rigs & motors ~

IMO YES. 

A-Jay

Thanks.  Are there any other model year Rangers I should be leery of? Or is all the Evinrude with Ficht?

[813basstard]

“Babe I’m getting a Basscat...I’ll see you next week or so...”

 

Did it for you.

[Dirtyeggroll]

I’m a Ranger fanboy and I’d say pass on that 519. 1) That price is a “too good to be true deal.” 2) When it comes to a bass boat you plan to use as a fishing rig, don’t buy someone else’s problem/project. If it needs a wiring harness and a new lower unit then it likely missed out on some other key maintenance. For me, “needs a new _______” is generally a big red flag.

[mheichelbech]

3 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

I’m a Ranger fanboy and I’d say pass on that 519. 1) That price is a “too good to be true deal.” 2) When it comes to a bass boat you plan to use as a fishing rig, don’t buy someone else’s problem/project. If it needs a wiring harness and a new lower unit then it likely missed out on some other key maintenance. For me, “needs a new _______” is generally a big red flag.

Although it already has the new lower unit.  You certainly raise a good point.  He also mentioned later yday that he needed to do some work with the electronics which I think he meant removing the units that didn’t go with the boat but you never know.  $7,500 certainly falls in the “too good to be true” category.  

tTue good thing is at this point I’m starting to get more into deer hunting mode so my patience for buying a boat is increasing.
 

[Logan S]

1) Avoid the FICHT, speaking from personal experience.  I had one and it was great motor right up until the point it wasn't and I had to decide whether to spend a lot money rebuilding it OR a lot more money on re-powering (I re-powered)...And that experience has been duplicated by countless people that you can find online or otherwise.  In addition, even if it performs flawlessly you may one day want to sell or trade in the boat and it's very hard to sell a boat with a FICHT on it....And this specific one apparently already has some issues.  

 

2) I'd never consider a dual console personally, the space you lose is not worth it unless you have a family member or other co-angler that will ride with you the majority of the time AND the wind bothers them to the point of them being uncomfortable.  Plenty of people have that situation obviously and it's good they have that option...But I've seen several guys get a dual console and end up hating it because most of the time they fish alone or with a co-angler that could care less about it (or hates it also, I know several Co's that hate dual-consoles).

 

So obviously my recommendation would be the Basscat.  Both Ranger and Basscat are well-made boats - But between these 2 specific ones, the Basscat wins.  

 

 

[mheichelbech]

1 hour ago, Logan S said:

1) Avoid the FICHT, speaking from personal experience.  I had one and it was great motor right up until the point it wasn't and I had to decide whether to spend a lot money rebuilding it OR a lot more money on re-powering (I re-powered)...And that experience has been duplicated by countless people that you can find online or otherwise.  In addition, even if it performs flawlessly you may one day want to sell or trade in the boat and it's very hard to sell a boat with a FICHT on it....And this specific one apparently already has some issues.  

 

2) I'd never consider a dual console personally, the space you lose is not worth it unless you have a family member or other co-angler that will ride with you the majority of the time AND the wind bothers them to the point of them being uncomfortable.  Plenty of people have that situation obviously and it's good they have that option...But I've seen several guys get a dual console and end up hating it because most of the time they fish alone or with a co-angler that could care less about it (or hates it also, I know several Co's that hate dual-consoles).

 

So obviously my recommendation would be the Basscat.  Both Ranger and Basscat are well-made boats - But between these 2 specific ones, the Basscat wins.  

 

 

Thanks for the input.  Unfortunately the BassCat sold quickly (not surprisingly).  It’s a bummer that most of the used boats selling for the amount I want to spend all have one thing in common Evinrude Ficht injection...surprise surprise surprise!