I hope this is in the right spot. If not I apologize. Does anyone know anything about the ranger boats aluminum line. I am looking at purchasing one. Any advice would be much appreciated very nice boats IMO.
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I hope this is in the right spot. If not I apologize. Does anyone know anything about the ranger boats aluminum line. I am looking at purchasing one. Any advice would be much appreciated very nice boats IMO.
If I'm not mistaken ranger used to have an aluminum line a long time ago. These 2014's are just a reintroduction. From what I've seen on commercials and magazines, I likey. From what they advertise the price is supposed to be comparable to other aluminum lines. I like rangers. If I was to hit the powerball it would be between a ranger and a legend. A man can dream can't he. Lol
You are right priced right very well built boats. It is between that and the express hyperlift crappie series. Ranger it can't be bad. Thanks for your opinion. Also specs are comparable to the express it is actually a little wider. My only concern is it is a 17 foot boat only rated for 75. I guess it will do. Waiting on permission from the boss aka the wife lol.
Trader Bills in Hot Springs has had a couple of the aluminum Rangers in the showroom, very nice looking boats!
also saw a Hank Parker show recently that was about 50% advertisement for the tin Ranger. Looked very good there too.
My boat is the xpress x17 on the hyper lift hull with an 85" beam. Rated for a 135hp
Yea I have met you one morning at the marina at PP. You have a sweet rig. Believe it or not the Ranger is considerably cheaper than express. I am just concerned that the boat does not have enough engine. I am no speed demon but want it to get up and roll.
how can it be cheaper?
Uhh ohh I've been spotted. Please introduce yourself next time. I love putting faces with names. Xpress boats have gotten rather high since I bought mine in 2005. I blamed it petroleum prices and the price of metal. I'm fortunate to have a good dealer that takes care of me. He's been trying to get me to buy a new rig for a few years now but I love fishing out of the one that I have. The only thing I want to change is a little more horsepower. A wise man once told me to always buy a boat with a maxed out hp rating. That's only way you'll ever be satisfied speed wise.
Too bad thus hull isn't offered in a stick steer
I really like the ranger boat. I wanted the 175c, which is a crappie edition, but my local dealer did not have one. The dealer in bossier city has some as well as Alexandria. The crappie edition has 2 live wells as well as 3 holes on the front deck to accommodate 2 fishermen if spider rigging. I settled for a g3 crappie edition from cheeks marine in Alexandria. It's a 17-7 footer with a 70hp Yamaha, which is the max hp rating. You would have to go to a 19 footer for a larger hp motor.
Well decision is made up going with the Ranger RT178C crappie edition upgraded to the 75 e tec evinrude. Upgraded to 70lb minn Kota edge Lowrance HDS with structure scan at cock pit. Going to put HDS 5 in bow. I am ready to go next week Excited.
I just looked at that rig on line. Good choice at a great price. What color did you get?
The darker color I think it is the silver metallic
Everyone has their reasons for buying the boats they own but you owe it to yourself to check out the Lowe Stinger. I have owned one of 2 years and for crappie fishing there is nothing finer. Wood marine in Ruston has these boats and will be at the boat show. Just my 2 cents
No doubt I looked those up and down as well. Nice boats too it is a very hard decision my wife liked the ranger a little better Lowe stingers cockpit is actually nicer than the ranger. Haven't signed check over yet just feel like either boat is comparable in price.
Blue thunder I Finally got a look at Thunder and really like it !!! The Hiper lift hull design is Great. The Ranger in that picture is sleek but Without some type of stearing I would look at something else. After the trolling motor, Electronics, tackle boxes and a dozen jig poles things do get crowded quick and makes one wish it was 2 foot longer. The Rod racks G has in his boat would limit access into the built in storage boxes on the side. But his rods do not get broken in the bottom of the boat
Ranger builds very high quality boats, I do not know much about their aluminum line, but I would trust any product from them. I just bought a 1990 Ranger Fisherman and everything still works great on the boat. They still carry the parts for that model and it is 24 years old.
Yeah I like the stinger but does it have a
- nice strong fiberglass console or a cheap plastic one?
- extra heavy covered keel
- fiberglass reinforced transom
- no feed back steering
- 21 gallon fuel tank
- 2-23 gallon livewells
- fine as wine seat upholstry
- boat buckle tie downs
- aluminum trailer wheels
- room to lay down 14' poles
- lockable storage
- fit and finish like a dream
keep dreamin', Rangers are tits
The one thing that I love about the Express boats is the Styrofoam in the hull.....good for noise reduction, strength and floatation....I think they will not sink because of that.....may be wrong.....do any other aluminum boats have that....I am looking for a used 16 or 17 ft aluminum and that would sway me towards my pick....
Ive got the G3 eagle 176 and it is a good boat. I look at the other boats out there comparable to it and the only one that comes even close to it in storage is the lowe from what I can tell from pictures. I think a 70 on it with the right prop will push it 37 or 38 probably with 2 people and gear. The only downside I can find on this boat is you get wet running into the waves with a little bit of a cross wind. Its kind of cold for that in Illinois when the ice is on. Every boat out there today is a good boat or they wouldnt be in business. If I was buying a need boat I would have to look at the lowe stinger 195 it is sweet.