Ranger fans chime in 2024
Bigs reply :
So I didnt think I could afford a ranger but found a nice one that suits my budget. Im curious tho , with so many models , how do I know which one is right? I found a 1999 519 DVS that I really like and the price is just right. Has a 225 optimax on it and a 36 volt trolling motor which is exactly what I want, also been garage kept.
So are these boats worth all the hype and the money ? Is a 19 foot 6 inch ranger like this gonna ride as good as a 20 foot from another brand such as basscat, triton, stratos, champion? And why is it called a 20 foot by ranger when its really only 19 and a half feet ? Is judging a boat by its length not always the best way to judge ? I know everyone has said I need a 20 footer for tidal water but some 20 footers ride like crap. Plus thats kinda like saying you need 600 horsepower to run a 10 second quarter mile at the drag strip, when in fact some cars are heavier then other, more aerodynamic, awd vs rwd and so on and so forth.
Back to the ranger- Is this hull one of rangers better ones ? I heard they still make this hull with a different name now. And if not then what model rangers from the late 90's are the best to have ? Im right on the verge of buying this boat on wednesay when the owner gets back in town but I wanna do my homework before then. Every other boat I looked at didnt pan out or didnt suit my needs and I thought I was back at square one till this fell on my lap.I had been researching other brands till now cuz I couldnt find a ranger that didnt seem "over priced" to me.
How would the ride compare to a tr20 or a champion 203 ? I have been on a local pro's 21 foot ranger and it rode and fished like a dream. I cant remember which model tho. Besides build quality , what else are they known for ? Fishability, style, customer service, storage, obviously not speed, resale value of course...
soccplayer07 reply :
I love my ranger! I do not know too much about that model though. Good luck!
cart7t reply :
QuoteSo I didnt think I could afford a ranger but found a nice one that suits my budget. Im curious tho , with so many models , how do I know which one is right? I found a 1999 519 DVS that I really like and the price is just right. Has a 225 optimax on it and a 36 volt trolling motor which is exactly what I want, also been garage kept.So are these boats worth all the hype and the money ? Is a 19 foot 6 inch ranger like this gonna ride as good as a 20 foot from another brand such as basscat, triton, stratos, champion? And why is it called a 20 foot by ranger when its really only 19 and a half feet ? Is judging a boat by its length not always the best way to judge ? I know everyone has said I need a 20 footer for tidal water but some 20 footers ride like crap. Plus thats kinda like saying you need 600 horsepower to run a 10 second quarter mile at the drag strip, when in fact some cars are heavier then other, more aerodynamic, awd vs rwd and so on and so forth.
Back to the ranger- Is this hull one of rangers better ones ? I heard they still make this hull with a different name now. And if not then what model rangers from the late 90's are the best to have ? Im right on the verge of buying this boat on wednesay when the owner gets back in town but I wanna do my homework before then. Every other boat I looked at didnt pan out or didnt suit my needs and I thought I was back at square one till this fell on my lap.I had been researching other brands till now cuz I couldnt find a ranger that didnt seem "over priced" to me.
How would the ride compare to a tr20 or a champion 203 ? I have been on a local pro's 21 foot ranger and it rode and fished like a dream. I cant remember which model tho. Besides build quality , what else are they known for ? Fishability, style, customer service, storage, obviously not speed, resale value of course...
If you want some kind of idea on the rough water ride merely look under the hull at the amount of dead rise in the V. Rangers are very flat boats, there isn't much there to soften the impact when hitting waves. Skeeters are similar. Champions and Basscats are the opposite. Tritons are somewhere inbetween.
The only way to know if a boat is suited for you is to ride and drive it. The owners of each brand will come on here and tell you theirs is the best. Ride and decide for yourself.
BTW, Ranger, like other manufacturers delegates previous top end models to the value part of their lineup when a new hull is introduced. They usually come with limited options but the hull is identical when it was their top end model.
Bigs reply :
Thats a good idea. I do look on there from time to time but have yet to make an account, think I'll do that right now.
Bigs reply :
QuoteQuoteSo I didnt think I could afford a ranger but found a nice one that suits my budget. Im curious tho , with so many models , how do I know which one is right? I found a 1999 519 DVS that I really like and the price is just right. Has a 225 optimax on it and a 36 volt trolling motor which is exactly what I want, also been garage kept.So are these boats worth all the hype and the money ? Is a 19 foot 6 inch ranger like this gonna ride as good as a 20 foot from another brand such as basscat, triton, stratos, champion? And why is it called a 20 foot by ranger when its really only 19 and a half feet ? Is judging a boat by its length not always the best way to judge ? I know everyone has said I need a 20 footer for tidal water but some 20 footers ride like crap. Plus thats kinda like saying you need 600 horsepower to run a 10 second quarter mile at the drag strip, when in fact some cars are heavier then other, more aerodynamic, awd vs rwd and so on and so forth.
Back to the ranger- Is this hull one of rangers better ones ? I heard they still make this hull with a different name now. And if not then what model rangers from the late 90's are the best to have ? Im right on the verge of buying this boat on wednesay when the owner gets back in town but I wanna do my homework before then. Every other boat I looked at didnt pan out or didnt suit my needs and I thought I was back at square one till this fell on my lap.I had been researching other brands till now cuz I couldnt find a ranger that didnt seem "over priced" to me.
How would the ride compare to a tr20 or a champion 203 ? I have been on a local pro's 21 foot ranger and it rode and fished like a dream. I cant remember which model tho. Besides build quality , what else are they known for ? Fishability, style, customer service, storage, obviously not speed, resale value of course...
If you want some kind of idea on the rough water ride merely look under the hull at the amount of dead rise in the V. Rangers are very flat boats, there isn't much there to soften the impact when hitting waves. Skeeters are similar. Champions and Basscats are the opposite. Tritons are somewhere inbetween.
The only way to know if a boat is suited for you is to ride and drive it. The owners of each brand will come on here and tell you theirs is the best. Ride and decide for yourself.
BTW, Ranger, like other manufacturers delegates previous top end models to the value part of their lineup when a new hull is introduced. They usually come with limited options but the hull is identical when it was their top end model.
Your posts are always informative and helpful so I dont doubt what youre saying at all. I was gonna just PM you before I made this thread and I should have known youd chime in with good information, thank you kindly.
Lund Explorer reply :
Good Points Cart....
If I remember correctly, the DVS model was the second generation of the Comanche series that featured what had been their new three step hull. Ranger built those boats because many of the older molds were still in good shape when they came up with the third generation hull.
Absolutely nothing wrong or cheaper about the workmanship in the DVS, they just came in stock colors and were normally built during times when factory orders were slow.
And regardless of whether its a Ranger, Cat, a Champion or Triton, they're all very well built. I've owned two Rangers and one Cat, and I've been to both factories for their tours. It's well worth the couple of hours to take a tour if anybody makes it down into the fiberglass triangle.
Bigs reply :
Good information once again but I wanna know how that hull in particular rides in the rough stuff. The potomac river gets choppy and Im tryin to save my back the best I can. Im really ready to buy a boat right now and I dont wanna make a 13 thousand dollar mistake. I already bought 2 aluminum boats this year , one of which I just sold and I wanna settle down and find me a keeper.
Glenn reply :
Rangers are known for their rough water handling. If it's rough water you're concerned about, Ranger is the way to go. I've been in a lot of different boats during the 90's, most in rough water. And it was the Rangers that always fared best, with Champion coming in second.
Rangers typically have deeper rod lockers and storage compartments too. At some point, storage is critical, so it's worth checking out.
Bigs reply :
Just got back from fishing a few hours on the potomac river on a 20 foot javelin renegade. It fished like a dream but rode very rough in 2 foot chop. Was NOT better then the ranger I fished out of but not night and day difference imo. My back took a beating and so did my gear. So Im gonna scratch javelin off my list. Nice boat but not for me. I dont think I have any other choice but to go to a few dealerships and do some test rides. I have no intention of paying inflated dealer prices but its my best bet to find the kinda ride I like. So next Im gonna test a triton, basscat and champion. Stratos is out of the question cuz they dont ride any better then a javelin from everything I hear and everything else falls short of a ranger, basscat or champion. I wont even bother tryin a skeeter since they arent gonna measure up to a ranger, basscat or champ. So I have a feeling Im gonna end up with one of those 3 boats. Now I just have to find someone willing to part with their 20 foot bass cat which is almost impossible so far. Plenty of champions for sale tho.
R520dvx reply :
I've been in a ton of boats .... Ranger or Champion are your best bet for rough water. Here on Kentucky :ake, we see our fair share of rough water. I own a Ranger and would have nothing else. The fishability is awesome.
A lot of the way a boat feels in rough water is the guy driving it. In addition to hull design, other factors change the ride .... like seat position and balance.
bmadd reply :
QuoteI've been in a ton of boats .... Ranger or Champion are your best bet for rough water. Here on Kentucky :ake, we see our fair share of rough water. I own a Ranger and would have nothing else. The fishability is awesome.A lot of the way a boat feels in rough water is the guy driving it. In addition to hull design, other factors change the ride .... like seat position and balance.
I agree. I didn't think it was possible to enjoy a ride on Kentucky Lake until I rode in a Ranger. NICE boats.
Bigs reply :
Im moving in the right direction here. Narrowed down to 3 boats, ranger, bass cat, champion. I'll be test driving a 2006 Bass cat puma in a few days. Then a 203 champion. I'll compare those to the Ranger I rode in recently and see what I can come up with. So many helpful posts but at the same time I think some are a lil biased. Anyone out there rode in all 3 of these boats and driven or owned all 3?
I Love BassResource reply :
I've ridden in all 3 this past summer. In my opinion, the Basscat and Champions were hands down the best rides. This was on Lake Erie, from 2 to 4 ft swells.
R520dvx reply :
Again .... I have been in dozens of boats ..... you CAN NOT compare the ride and handling unless you drive each one or the SAME driver demos each one for you. On any given day, any of those boats can be the best or the worst based on who is at the helm.
Bigs reply :
This is exactly what I been thinkin but findin a place that has a bass cat, champion and ranger all in the same day, same body of water and same driver is wishful thinkin. I know when I drive it with my lack of experience , its gonna mean nothing. I need someone who knows how to drive take me out in all 3 or at least 2 of the three so I can make up my mind. My buddy Justin Thompson fished with Ike A few years on the potomac at the stren tourney and got to ride in his boat all day obviosuly. Im pretty sure Ike was in a puma last year right ? Im gonna call him in a bit and see what he says. Im gonna go out on a limb here and assume Ike knows how to drive in rough water which is all the potomac basically is.
Right now Im mainly interested in a Puma, Cougar or maybe a Champ 203/206. Finding a 21 foot champion is almost impossible so far unless its over 30 grand. Theres a 1997 21 foot champ on ebay for 13,900 but d**n that boat looks dated. The 99 champs look so much more up to date, what a difference 2 years makes.
Also after talkin to Pops Marine yesterday, I was told that the Puma rides better then the cougar for two reasons- obviously the extra foot of length but also the location of the gas tank which is further up the boat on the puma, makin it more balanced and makin the bow less prone to buck up and down in rough stuff. I'm just in love with the Pumas and for some reason I feel like once I ride in one its gonna be a done deal. Mostly speculation at this point but my gut instinct is usually right.
http://richmond.craigslist.org/boa/1350619444.html
This is the one Im gonna go see, hes flexible on price too but not much. That 06 puma is at least 27 grand everywhere else and the color scheme is hard to beat. Plus with bass cats u can bolt in a second console and take it out when u want.
I Love BassResource reply :
I'm buying a boat, so in doing my research I did drive each boat on the same body of water.
The puma and cougar are the same length, based on the year your looking at there are differences in the hull design and deck layout (FTD). The puma is noted to handle rough water a bit better, while the cougar is a tad faster. Both boats are reputed as stable rides in rough water. You can get the PUMA in the FTD layout, which gives you the handling of the classic puma hull, but the deck layout of the cougar FTD, which many prefer.
Regardless of what you choose, BassCat, Champion, Ranger, etc... all rigs are fantastic boats.
Bigs reply :
wait a second, puma isnt 21 feet long on the older models? So its just the placement of the fuel tank that affects the ride ? The guy at pops marina didnt mention that. I assumed the cougar was shorter, pantera(19)cougar(20) and puma(21) ? Or not ? I was under the impression that the cougar and puma were different lengths back then.I also wasnt sure what the ftd meant, thanks for clearing that up for me.
Lund Explorer reply :
So, just in case your head isn't spinning too bad..... Maybe its time to suggest that you look into the line of walleye boats that Ranger, Champion, or Triton makes 
That Ranger 620VS is built for big water!
http://www.rangerboats.com/flash/gallery.cfm?mid=5747&gid=35
Bigs reply :
The thought has crossed my mind more then once. They are so hard to find used tho and I dont wanna buy a new boat. I did find a lund alaska model for 4 grand tho locally, cheapest I ever seen one for. considered gettin it for now till the winter deals on bassboats start gettin hot. But I dont wanna go thru another boat that I wont like in the long run, plus aluminum is so hard to fish from in the wind. The new fiberglass lunds are sexy tho, wish I could afford one.
boneil reply :
hey 420, just curious as to why you are not giving nitro any thought?
noway reply :
Ranger Customer Service is +1. I've got a '96 and when you need a thingy, they got it.
Lund Explorer reply :
Here's a little site that got some for sale. Not sure what your "pain thresh-hold" is.... Couple of nice rigs though.
http://www.walleyesinc.com/Jigginman/rangerboat.html
Bigs reply :
not giving nitro a thought becuz their boats dont hold up well. I dont wanna boat thats gonna fall apart on me which they typically do. Im sure kevin vandam gets a new one every year or two so he could care less but once I settle on a boat , thats it. Im gonna be married to it. Plus they ride like crap. I found a 1998 champion 203 with a 225 merc on it and the guy is willing to take 12,200 bux for it. So I am headed his way saturday mornin to test drive it and hopefully buy it.
I still wanna basscat but the best deal I can find on a 20 footer is 19 grand unless its a thousand miles away. Im tired of not being out on the water, these last few weeks have been tough for me. I have been very ill for over 2 weeks now, have only fished once and cant stand it. Now that my tracker is gone I realize I have to rely on other people who have rough riding boats and Im at their mercy. I cant afford to mess my back up anymore then it already is. So Id rather just get a good riding boat now even if a better deal does pop up in a month, such is life.
As far as the rangers go, I looked at 2 that were parked yesterday and just by lookin at the hull I can understand why I wasnt impressed by the z21 comanche I rode in. What cart was sayin is true, the hull is very flat , almost like its 2 stages I see with a flat spot inbetween them, champion and basscat are nothing like that. Its a much nicer steeper v which common sense would tell me cuts thru the water much better. Seeing as I have ridden in the best ranger has to offer, I can make an educated decision once I ride in the champ. Their will be no ranger for me now or in the future. No matter how good their service is, ppl keep sayin it so great which is nice but that doesnt help my back or my wallet one bit.
RobbyZ5001 reply :
QuoteQuoteSo I didnt think I could afford a ranger but found a nice one that suits my budget. Im curious tho , with so many models , how do I know which one is right? I found a 1999 519 DVS that I really like and the price is just right. Has a 225 optimax on it and a 36 volt trolling motor which is exactly what I want, also been garage kept.So are these boats worth all the hype and the money ? Is a 19 foot 6 inch ranger like this gonna ride as good as a 20 foot from another brand such as basscat, triton, stratos, champion? And why is it called a 20 foot by ranger when its really only 19 and a half feet ? Is judging a boat by its length not always the best way to judge ? I know everyone has said I need a 20 footer for tidal water but some 20 footers ride like crap. Plus thats kinda like saying you need 600 horsepower to run a 10 second quarter mile at the drag strip, when in fact some cars are heavier then other, more aerodynamic, awd vs rwd and so on and so forth.
Back to the ranger- Is this hull one of rangers better ones ? I heard they still make this hull with a different name now. And if not then what model rangers from the late 90's are the best to have ? Im right on the verge of buying this boat on wednesay when the owner gets back in town but I wanna do my homework before then. Every other boat I looked at didnt pan out or didnt suit my needs and I thought I was back at square one till this fell on my lap.I had been researching other brands till now cuz I couldnt find a ranger that didnt seem "over priced" to me.
How would the ride compare to a tr20 or a champion 203 ? I have been on a local pro's 21 foot ranger and it rode and fished like a dream. I cant remember which model tho. Besides build quality , what else are they known for ? Fishability, style, customer service, storage, obviously not speed, resale value of course...
If you want some kind of idea on the rough water ride merely look under the hull at the amount of dead rise in the V. Rangers are very flat boats, there isn't much there to soften the impact when hitting waves. Skeeters are similar. Champions and Basscats are the opposite. Tritons are somewhere inbetween.
The only way to know if a boat is suited for you is to ride and drive it. The owners of each brand will come on here and tell you theirs is the best. Ride and decide for yourself.
BTW, Ranger, like other manufacturers delegates previous top end models to the value part of their lineup when a new hull is introduced. They usually come with limited options but the hull is identical when it was their top end model.
Cart you may be right about the shape or form of the bottom of the boats. Ranger is a VERY good boat in rough water. The nice thing about fishing bigger tournaments as a co angler is being able to fish out of many differn't boats. I fished out of Skeeters, Bass Cat, Ranger, Triton, Stratus, and Nitro. Out of those I fished Rangers and Bass Cats were the best rough water rides. Triton was the worst. Just my opinion from my own experience. One big factor is how the boat is driven as well.
Willzx225 reply :
420Angler - You may be making a mistake by not considering Skeeter. They have changed a ton since the 90's models and are one of the best riding/ handling boats on the market (skeeter and Champion are the two best imho). I rode in a Cat in the Elite series this year and was extremely disappointed in them ride wise. I never felt safe at anytime while on plane and I have riden/driven a ton of boats. I also fished as a co-angler in the BFL's for 3 years and rode in every boat out there and when I went to buy my first boat I only wanted a Skeeter.
Another one of my friends, who is a huge Ranger fan and had a Z21 at the time, fished the Elite last year on Eerie and said that he rode in 2 Skeeters, a Ranger, and a Triton and the only boat that didn't get him wet was both of the Skeeters. The other two boats speared atleast 1-2 waves per day. I completely agree that it is majority of the boat handler but on the Elite level, they all have faced rough water before.
On QC levels, I think that Ranger is a very well put together boat as well as the Skeeters but I have heard numerous stories of brand new Cats not being able to get up on plane in a reasonable amount of time. If you want an example just watch the Elite Series on Kentucky Lake where Russ Lane tries to get up on plane. He had it to the floor for atleast 5 or 6 seconds and it wasn't anywhere close to planing off. But this is all just my opinion and as you could guess I have run a Skeeter for 5 years now and wouldn't consider any others.
Bigs reply :
to be honest, I think skeeters are ugly boats in general, probably the ugliest bass boats made imo. My taste is different then yours tho.I just cant stand the way they look. I will be takin a ride in a 20 foot skeeter soon tho just to use as a reference point. Maybe I would like the ride of the skeeter but honestly couldnt stand to look at it every day, sorry. The newer skeeters might ride real nice but for the money I wouldnt even think of buying one when I can get a 20 foot champ or bass cat for under 20 grand with less then 70 hours on it.
Everyone is gonna say their boat is the best right, well the guy I spoke with today owns a newer ranger and said honestly it couldnt even compete with a champion 203 on tidal waters. I first talked to him last week about a blazer I was interested in and he said it was the wrong boat for me like everyone else said too. He works on boats for a living and sometimes has to test drive them when the work is done or to diagnose issues so I trust what he says to an extent. He has nothing to gain by telling me what he told me. He spent over a decade fishing the potomac river tournaments which is where I fish usually.
The flip side is alot of ppl tell me champs are a lil tipsy compared to a ranger or basscat. But my number one objective is to get the best possible rough water ride, fishabilty is second on my list actually, then looks and then speed. Im coming from a 16 foot tracker where all I did was tip back and forth every time my friend even sneezed on that thing. So I can live with a second or third best platform if Im gettin a great ride.
The way I look at it is like this, what good is it to have the fastest boat when u have to lay off the throttle half the time, I rather have a slower boat that can actually pass the tritons and nitros when the rough water hits. I will still end up in my spot before they do . Its like wanting a car thats faster but with all the additional power u lose traction, so the "slower" less powerful car actually passes u cuz ur too busy goin sideways. Same principle applies imo. So thats where I am right now, Im gettin closer and closer to makin the right choice. If these antibiotics would work then I could feel good enough to go and actually test a few boats out ont he same body of water. Sick as a dog here
Bigs reply :
Oh and robby, I love my nittany lions....This is our year
boneil reply :
sounds like you just about made up your. Good luck on getting your boat and keep us updated
cart7t reply :
The 203 Champion was the last of the 92" beam 20 footers Champion made that started with the first 20 foot boat in the bass boat business, the 201. The 203 is a rear gas tank model. The 206, which replaced it, gained 3" in the beam and the tank was moved midship as the 4 strokes came onto the scene.
If you want to see the 203 hull in action and what it's capable of, take a look at this redone video of old Champion sales tapes they used to show at boat shows in the late 80's.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5689956774383453452&hl=en#
The boats featured are the 184 and the 201. The 201 is shown primarily in the 2nd half of this video. The hull on the 203 had only some tweaking done to it along with the addition of 2 extra inches of beam width. It's very capable of handling every bit as well, or better than the boat in the video.
BTW, those breech stops are no joke nor staged. I did a couple of those twice in my old 168 Super V. A very violent maneuver and not one I'd suggest doing on purpose.
Bigbub reply :
Ranger all the way!!!
SkeeterZX225 reply :
You say Skeeters are ugly boats, but you're looking for a Bass Cat : :
;D
It doesn't matter what kind of boat you get, if you can't drive it properly in rough water its going to be a rough, wet ride.
Bigs reply :
Thats what I said. I think Skeeters are ugly, simple as that. I also think Angelina Jolie is average lookin at best but opinions vary. I think Bass Cats are the most beautiful boat next to a legend with champion right behind. They all look so timeless and classic to me, love it. At this point Im lookin for the closest champion 203/206 or basscat cougar or puma that I can test drive and walk around some to see how tipsy or stable they are. The closest one is in richmond which is an hour and a half away, thats the 06 puma . Soon as I feel better Im gonna go check it out, Im still extremely sick right now tho. I have been told by more then one person that champions are tipsy when sitting still and bass cats arent at all. The ride is neck and neck between them, 6 one way, half dozen the other. But champions are easier for me to find for good deals right now then bass cats. No one wants to let go of their basscat for a good price unless its a pantera or sabre. Ranger and everything else is out of the picture now, I should probably change the name of this thread ;D
done reply :
And keep in mind a large oil drum with a 12# TM, and a lawn chair glued to it still beat fishing from shore.
It was not so long ago I was at the shore only so if it floats...it is good!! Ride smooth, runs fast, that's just gravy.
I get constantly reminded of that by the dude I see everyday just about at the launch I go to. He pulls up in a beat up old explorer, pulls an inflatable raft with 900 patches on it out, inflated it and attaches an OB that looks older than my father to it. Thing sounds horrible , barely moves, and take 9,000 pulls to start but the dude enjoy every freaking moment of it and catches the crap out of the fish.
Helps to keep perspective...good luck man!!
cart7t reply :
Considering you're wanting to switch from an aluminum boat to fiberglass, I think the term "tipsy" is a pretty subjective term.
Bigs reply :
exactly why I sold my tracker. And why upgrade if Im not gonna get exactly what I want. Have a few test rides setup on basscats already as well as a champ. What scares me is that champ is gone after this year where as basscat aint goin nowhere. Bass cats service is top notch from every cat owner I speak with and I have talked to over a dozen in the last few days. Bass cat owners are also by far the nicest I have spoken to, very tight knit. I think its 6 one way and half dozen the other. Both have top notch rides and are built well. Something bout the basscat tho, its sexy . Might be slow and guzzle gas but I can deal with that as long as my back isnt gettin broken every time I go out. If I dont like how this cougar rides then Im gonna try a puma. If I could find a 203/206 or 210 somewhere closer then that would help me out. They are few and far between around here. Gonna have to travel a lil to try one. Wont be an issue tho if I fall in love with the bass cat. I know of a few pumas local that look tempting.
cart7t reply :
Quote.......What scares me is that champ is gone after this year where as basscat aint goin nowhere. .....
Come again? :-?
Glenn reply :
Champion boats aren't going anywhere. Their parent company, Genmar, filed for Bankruptcy, but doesn't mean they're closing - just re-orging. A smart move in this economy.
As for Bass Cat - I've been in both of Iaconelli's Bass Cat boats and I have to tell you, his current one is head and shoulders above his old one. I don't recall what the models were, but the difference was night and day.
I don't know if that's good or bad, really. I mean, if you buy a Champion or Ranger, you'll get the same quality ride and craftmanship regardless of model. Not sure if I'd want to purchase from a company that can't carry its quality and engineering across all models.
Just a thought.
Bigs reply :
What I meant is that champion is at best gonna be on hold for a while. Doesnt look like they are gonna put out any new boats as far as I know. Their future is questionable right now. And I just cant get over wood in the transom, it worries me. I have read countless stories bout new or newer champs having water in the transom. I know that's not always their fault but that doesnt change the fact that it happens regardless of whos fault it is. So when I buy a used champ I have to make 100 percent sure that there is no rot or moisture in the transom. Just one more thing to worry bout.
As far as Ike's boat goes he is still in a puma as far as I know unless he;s in a new Jaguar. His 2007 Puma is for sale in jersey at a dealership for 34 grand. probably has a thousand hours on it too Im not aware of any changes between an 07 puma and a new one, I think there were differences prior to 07 tho. Could be alot of things, different motor and setup or maybe his driving skills improved ;D
cart7t reply :
Champion isn't going anywhere. New financing is in place for the company and they are up and running, business as usual.
There aren't a whole lot of manufacturers right now selling many new bass boats in todays economy.
I think if you're this worried about problems with a used boat you ought to think about taking the plunge and buying new. They come with warranties and the repair of hull problems is the factories responsibility and not yours. As for buying used, you've just about found negatives about every brand out there. This coming from a person who's previous experience is with an aluminum boat.
Good luck. I'm out of here.
Tin reply :
Ok I have been very fortunate in the past few years to really see and test all the big boats in big water. I'm talking each companies gem in tough 3-6 foot stuff on Champlain. It is a great thing about having to be a non-boater as a poor college student...
Bass Cat Puma/Cougar: Great boats but you pay for it. They are fast, handle the brutal stuff well but every time you come down off a big wave you feel your spine compress and the sound of the boat wanting to crack in half. Their seats are almost as bad as Tritons and are not comfy at all. But they are very fast and up until about the 4 footers they give a great ride. My favorite feature is the net compartment in the front deck. But it seems all of them have livewell issues after a couple years.
Champion: A lot like the Cat's but the seats are comfortable. I feel like there isn't much space in the between the seats and console and that was my only real issue. The reason I will never own one is because of the crappy Champion dealers around here. My favorite thing about them is their look. They look stealthy and mean.
Nitro 929CDC: My least favorite boat. Good in the real stuff from 4-6 foot waves but in the slick water it is a sled compared to a Cat or Skeeter. Love the storage and the room, but just not enough coconuts for me. In the flat calm stuff, with 2 guys, a tank of gas, and a 250 Pro XS we hit 64 mph on the gps WOT. He had a Tempest on the dam thing for a prop as well.
Ranger 21z: Are the second best boats I have been in in rough stuff but they really seem to lack in that 0-30mph excelleration area. I love compartment hatches and storage. They are laid out better than any boat around.
Skeeter ZX250: The best boat I have been in in rough water and the fastest. These things are 78-80mph air craft carriers. Not the best with storage but they make up for it with all cool little things like the handle that pops up from the middle seat to hang on to.
Stratos 201 pro or whatever the big 21' one is: Very fast out of the hole until it peaks in the mid 70's and good in the big water. But....it seems like as soon as these things see big aves they fall apart. The shocks and springs that hold the copartments open love to break and their idea of storage organization is just awful. Plus....I have seen a lot of twisted hulls on these things.
Triton 21x2/3: An aircraft carrier like the ZX250 but as slow as the Nitro. With a full tank and two guys with a 225 Pro XS it is a low 60's boat. With the 250 you are looking at 66-68 tops. Super stable but you are paying for the Triton name and it is like sitting on a milk crate.
So their is my 2 cents on all the "great ones" in rough water....
5bass reply :
QuoteOk I have been very fortunate in the past few years to really see and test all the big boats in big water. I'm talking each companies gem in tough 3-6 foot stuff on Champlain. It is a great thing about having to be a non-boater as a poor college student...Bass Cat Puma/Cougar: Great boats but you pay for it. They are fast, handle the brutal stuff well but every time you come down off a big wave you feel your spine compress and the sound of the boat wanting to crack in half. Their seats are almost as bad as Tritons and are not comfy at all. But they are very fast and up until about the 4 footers they give a great ride. My favorite feature is the net compartment in the front deck. But it seems all of them have livewell issues after a couple years.
Champion: A lot like the Cat's but the seats are comfortable. I feel like there isn't much space in the between the seats and console and that was my only real issue. The reason I will never own one is because of the crappy Champion dealers around here. My favorite thing about them is their look. They look stealthy and mean.
Nitro 929CDC: My least favorite boat. Good in the real stuff from 4-6 foot waves but in the slick water it is a sled compared to a Cat or Skeeter. Love the storage and the room, but just not enough coconuts for me. In the flat calm stuff, with 2 guys, a tank of gas, and a 250 Pro XS we hit 64 mph on the gps WOT. He had a Tempest on the dam thing for a prop as well.
Ranger 21z: Are the second best boats I have been in in rough stuff but they really seem to lack in that 0-30mph excelleration area. I love compartment hatches and storage. They are laid out better than any boat around.
Skeeter ZX250: The best boat I have been in in rough water and the fastest. These things are 78-80mph air craft carriers. Not the best with storage but they make up for it with all cool little things like the handle that pops up from the middle seat to hang on to.
Stratos 201 pro or whatever the big 21' one is: Very fast out of the hole until it peaks in the mid 70's and good in the big water. But....it seems like as soon as these things see big aves they fall apart. The shocks and springs that hold the copartments open love to break and their idea of storage organization is just awful. Plus....I have seen a lot of twisted hulls on these things.
Triton 21x2/3: An aircraft carrier like the ZX250 but as slow as the Nitro. With a full tank and two guys with a 225 Pro XS it is a low 60's boat. With the 250 you are looking at 66-68 tops. Super stable but you are paying for the Triton name and it is like sitting on a milk crate.
So their is my 2 cents on all the "great ones" in rough water....
Excellent report Mike
Bigs reply :
very good report indeed but u left out the big daddy of them all , the basscat Jaguar . Im test driving this one tommorow.
http://basscatowners.yuku.com/topic/9566
He's bringin it to me since he's only 25 minutes away plus he fishes out of leesylvania which is 3 miles from me. So I have nothing to lose. If I love it then Im gonna make an offer, he said he will accept a reasonable offer so we shall see. If I dont like it then I'll move on with nothing lost. I am apprehensive about a 2000 optimax tho as that was a bad year for them but he said the original owner had the recall work done. Keepin my fingers crossed on this one. Im still a little sick so I havent been able to go out and shop at all.
I'm curious tho what u mean when u say u feel ur spine compress ? Please elaborate for me. Keep in mind the jaguar is alot heavier then a cougar or puma, similar hull tho. I know its slow , he said high 60's on GPS with one person and a light load. I'm fine with that, I just dont like the part about my spine :-?
I Love BassResource reply :
"Bass Cat Puma/Cougar: Great boats but you pay for it. They are fast, handle the brutal stuff well but every time you come down off a big wave you feel your spine compress and the sound of the boat wanting to crack in half. Their seats are almost as bad as Tritons and are not comfy at all. But they are very fast and up until about the 4 footers they give a great ride. My favorite feature is the net compartment in the front deck. But it seems all of them have livewell issues after a couple years."
Only the Puma's have net storage up front, the cougars do not.
Tin reply :
QuoteI'm curious tho what u mean when u say u feel ur spine compress ? Please elaborate for me. Keep in mind the jaguar is alot heavier then a cougar or puma, similar hull tho. I know its slow , he said high 60's on GPS with one person and a light load. I'm fine with that, I just dont like the part about my spine :-?
They just have zero support. When you go up on a big wave and come down the seat doesn't absorb anything. And your lower back and butt take it all. Their seats are like milk crates, just nothing to them. Like I said, they give a great ride up until 4 footers. I was in one in 6's and it was just awful. Just doing 5-10mph you would come down off one and feel like you went to sit down and someone pulled the chair out from under you.
I have been in the real big water and I don't think most guys realize how big a even a 4 foot wave is. If you are talking about whitecaps and 1-2 foot waves any boat will really do. :
I Love BassResource reply :
That sells it for me, anything over 4ft and I'm off the lake any how. 6ft rollers are enough to surf on....
Tin reply :
QuoteThat sells it for me, anything over 4ft and I'm off the lake any how. 6ft rollers are enough to surf on....
The best is when you practice all week on a slick lake and then a nice 15-20mph wind from the straight south or north kicks up and you are fishing in 4-5 footers. Sometimes they need to cancel tournies but won't because everyone already paid and put in their practice time. Their are too many guys who don't know how to drive and it is only a matter of time before someone gets killed in a BFL event or something.
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