Ranger 620 vs. Targa 2000

[Brad]

Looking at buying a new boat and wondered which boat is handles best on big water? I'm leaning towards the ranger. Anyone experienced any problem with the rangers? Any optional items I need to purchase for ranger? Thanks

[Jim Carroll]

The Tracker Targa 2000 is the rough water king! The layout of the boat suits my fishing style very well. The bow area is massive with excellent storage- I carry over 20 rods w/socks in the rod locker. The back end of the boat has plenty of room for trolling presentations. I especially like the ease of netting fish off the transom- no problems with balance on high decks in rough water like some other layouts because you are standing inside the boat and on the floor. The boat tracks at slow speeds superbly. I have never been in a boat that trolls as well and you can hold your trolling line in extreme conditions.

There is a new 2001 Targa for sale in the WC Classifieds for a great price. Its listed under Boats/ND.

Please send me an e-mail if you have any questions. I'd be happy to answer them. I love my Targa!

[Shaggy]

I looked at the Ranger and the Tracker and ended up buying a Javelin MSX. The fit and finish might not be as nice as a Ranger but I was extremely impressed. I can't tell you first hand about the ride quality but everyone I talked to said it's impressive. Good luck in your decision.

http://www.javelinboats.com

Shaggy

[Heiz]

If like your question asks, which is the better riding boat, the answer is simple....Tracker Targa. If you are gonna buy one, take both for a test ride in rough water and you,like me, will be sold on the Targa's rough water capabilities.

[JAWS]

Brad I have had 2 Rangers and know a guy that fishes out of a Targa. Rangers by far are a good choice, I have fished in a lot of glass boats,and they all have pros and cons. Last summer I was in your shoes trying to find the ultimate boat. I ended up buying a Skeeter ZX2050, AN outstanding boat that did not break the bank account.I would have bought a Ranger but not for the $$$$ they wanted.Have fun looking,and do not jump at the first one. Look around.....

[ETT]

I'm sponsored by Ranger, so maybe I don't count, but if I were you I'd spend a little time researching the value of 3, 4 or 5 year old boats of the makes you're interested in. Rough water ride is a big deal for me, I fish Erie almost exclusively, but there are many considerations. J D Powers named Ranger the best from it's owner survey.

Good luck and enjoy your fine and pleasent misery.

[Al]

I'll second the notion on Javelin MSX. They are heavily built, ride great and drive like a performance boat, not a tub. Steering one is like being on tracks. The layout is awesome. Before you jump at either of the ones you mentioned...take a ride in the Javelin.

[targa2]

I own a targa2000 and am not sponsored.The weak point of the Targa is that THEY LEEK!!!(Anyone in Missouri listening?????) This may seem like a big deal but a $3 tube of marine silicone will solve the problem. The leeks are caused because the setback transom is under water a lot and is not factory sealed well enough.( To all who say the livewells overflow into the boat" this is the primary source of your water problem".I removed all the joint caps on my transom and resealed it and it is bone-dry now.All that aside,the Tracker is unmatched in choppy water.(That is because it has a longer waterline length than any 20 footer and a unique front end design)It drifts perfectly straight while at rest. It has unmatched rod storage.It has a massive casting deck.It is also less money mainly due to the fact that Tracker doesn't spend any advertising dollars on it.Someone has to pay for all those $10,000 full page ads and I,ll give you 1 guess who ends up paying.All tournament boats are great, and each is unique. Choose the one that suits your needs, style and price range.

[BobEaton1]

HI Targa 2,
I have a Targa 2000 and love everything about it. Only problem I have is that it leeks like you just mentioned, and I've tried to re-seal the live wells but it still leeks. Can you please e-mail me and help me with my problem. It sounds like your the only Targa 2000 owner on the planet that has solved this problem. Please e-mail at Bobeaton1@msn.com.
Thanks in advance
Bob Eaton #292

[kirby]

I have fished in both the Targa and the Ranger on Lake Oahe and Lake Sakawea under rough conditions as an amateur in PWT. The Targa had bilge pump running all the time. I feel the Ranger is a better boat. That being covered, my first choice is the ride and dryness of the 193 Warrior. Of course I own one!

[Al]

I'm a little confused by that statement. They don't advertise it? You think it's free to put that bass pro shops show on cable? How about the catalogs my buddies and I get every week from bass pro which always has boats in it? No advertising? And all the team boats...those aren't free to the company. It's either a heavily discounted deal, or like some of their bass pros I know....deeply discounted. They spend the advertising dollars if you look for them.

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

I have run a Targa 2000 for the last 4 years now,they are definately the rough water boat for Lake Erie.I've been caught many times in very rough conditions,including a couple times in 10 footers breaking in short intrevals,that wasn't fun but the boat handled it.I can think of more the once that I have ran from the Niagara River up into 3 to 4 footers out into Lake Erie,my friend in his Ranger Fishermen would take water over the bow and turn back.Yes the Ranger is more cosmedic looking in the fine detail,but is it worth $10,000 more dollars,I don't think it is.I run Charters with my Targa 2000 and do over 150 trips a year,most people who go for the ride are impressed,5 of those Clients are now in Targa 2000's as well.I believe Jonnie Candle has a great Targa 2000 Bargin Priced in the Pros-Boats For Sale section of this Website!
Capt. Larry D. Jones
http://www.mostlymuskies.com

[North Dakota]

I to own the Targa. Both boats are great. My buddy has a 620 Ranger and loves it, but he claims my targa is faster. I wouldn't mind owning either or. The only other negetive remark that I have heard about the 620 is the seats in the ranger sit lower to the floor. In rough water it is hard to see over the next wave to navigate.

[Minnesota Ed]

I have owned both the Ranger and the Targa 2000 and both are excellant boats. I would say that the Targa is a little better riding boat, as I have been in 50 mile an hour winds with it on big water. The Ranger has better storage and superior lay out inside the boat, both are great fishing boats, trackwell, fishwell and are excellant boats to own.

[Gone Fishing]

the Targa 2000 is the best boat for the money on the market today. You might have noticed I said for the money as there are so many good boats out there today and only about 5% do not perform well. Have you noticed that when some one purchases a boat he is always happy with it and he will always say it is the best on the market.

[As it should be]

Yup, if a guy buys that boat he should think it best. Now which guys opinion carries more weight? they guy who scraped up the money for the ranger, or the guy who couldnt afford the ranger and went targa?

[Targa_Wi]

I am on my second Targa 2000, my first being a 97 model and the current one is a 2001 model. With both boats I had to seal up the livewells and the transom. Just take a tube of good silicone caulk and seal the gap inside the livewells all the way around the very top. Then remove the end caps and the rest of the black trim from the transom area. Caulk this area realy well, re-install the transom caps and trim while caulk is still wet, and wipe off excess. Worked for me in both boats, in fact with the second boat I did this before even putting the boat in the water. Any questions, e-mail me at timk@dotnet.com Tim # 548

[Targa_Wi]

A couple other things I forgot to mention, my partner runs a Triton 205, nice boat and great layout, but nosedives thru waves. I also built some rod racks for one of the storage areas, and can get 10 trolling rods with Diawa linecounters, and about six spinning rods in there. I would like to see them redesign the front deck so it comes all the way back to the drivers console just like the passenger side. and put the rod storage in the middle like the Ranger and the Triton. They are all good boats, comes down to personal preference, and for me the choice was an easy one, I didn't have the extra 10m for the Ranger or Triton. I love my Targa, best value for the money, just my 2 cents. Tim # 548

[targa2]

Hey Al. Other than in 1996 show me a magazine ad for a Targa 2000. Good luck. By the way it doesn,t cost $10,000 for bass pro to put the Targa in their catalogue. Come to mention it the Targa 2000 is no longer in the catalogue or in the standard Tracker brochure.

[W'eyes Guy]

This is just my observation.I fish from a Warrior, and without getting into a "boat war" here; the most common feature I've seen in any Targa is the "For Sale" sign in the window. Fished a lot of tourneys, and most of the Targas have this in common. Again this is just what I've seen. Good luck in your search.

#610

[You've got to be kidding!!]

Take a lot in the classifieds right here on WC and if Rangers for sale don't out number targa by 8 to 1 I'll eat my hat!

[Start Eating]

Well if Tracker sold more than 30 Targa 2000's a year perhaps there would be more. Thats why you don't see them in their adds. Ask where the guys that own the trackers bought them. I'll bet most are from pro's that fish tourneys. Gary and Keith are probably there largest dealer for the sale's of the big boats. I don't know off a dealer that has sold more than they have.

[bigeyes03]

if i was you i wouldn't forget about skeeter zx 2050. these boats are great in the rough water. we fish lake oahe and this boat has held up so far. if you are looking for a smooth ride and enough speed to keep up with the big boys this is a great boat. the skeeter also comes eqipped with a 250 yamaha four stroke. it also has a plentiful supply of storage and there is more room between the back two seats than any other glass boat that i have seen. just givin you some input on another brand that has come along and caught my eye.
eat. sleep. fish. ah who needs to eat and sleep.

[Still Reelin']

>if i was you i wouldn't forget about skeeter zx 2050. these
>boats are great in the rough water. we fish lake oahe and
>this boat has held up so far. if you are looking for a
>smooth ride and enough speed to keep up with the big boys
>this is a great boat. the skeeter also comes eqipped with a
>250 yamaha four stroke.

FYI - There is no 250 Yamaha four stroke currently available. Check the website: http://www.yamaha-motor.com

[Lundpro]

Better get the new magazine, as I remember they were avaliable and about $18,000.00

[walleye guy]

I have a Targa 2000 1999 I love it. As a matter of fact if you would like to buy mine I am looking to sell it and buy another. The Targa handles very well in rough water. No complaints from me with a Tracker.

[seeking]

whats the boat have and how much?
where do you live?

[T-Mac]

Yamaha does make a 250 HP. However, it is a V-Max 3.1 litre 2 stroke EFI.
They do not make a 250 four stroke...............Unless they released it today,2/11/02, after I left work. :-)
They do make 225 and 200 in four stroke....

[bigeyes03]

>if i was you i wouldn't forget about skeeter zx 2050. these
>boats are great in the rough water. we fish lake oahe and
>this boat has held up so far. if you are looking for a
>smooth ride and enough speed to keep up with the big boys
>this is a great boat. the skeeter also comes eqipped with a
>250 yamaha four stroke. it also has a plentiful supply of
>storage and there is more room between the back two seats
>than any other glass boat that i have seen. just givin you
>some input on another brand that has come along and caught
>my eye.
>eat. sleep. fish. ah who needs to eat and sleep.
"meant yamaha 225 four stroke"