Ranger Long Term Maintenance

[Juhas]

Ranger owners over 5 years. What kinds of maintenance issues can I expect to pop up as my 2005 620 gets a little older. Don't know of many Ranger owners that have had the same boat for more than a year or two. Maybe that's the answer in itself?
Thanks
Chris

[bobk]

I have a 04 and have had no issues at all. Depends on how well you take care of your boat. Lots of Ranger owners keep boats for more than 2 years. How many boats don't drop in trade in value after 5 years?

[fshrman]

I had a 97 untill 03 and never spent much other than servicing wheel bearings on trailer each year. The batteries and tires were ready to be replaced but I could have probably gotten another 2 years on tires. Winterizing engine was done by me so not alot of expense there.

I presently have a 03 that is now 6 years old and just replaced batteries, the tires are still good so I plan to get another year out of them. The brakes are still good and winterizing both main motor and T-8 is done in house.

I expect the big expense will come if I need to repair or replace the motors.
As far as "Ranger Long Term Maintenance" I have not had alot of expense, the first three years everything from front to back is under warranty.

Both these boats have been stored inside when not in use.

[captain chris]

I have always been a big believer in complying with the provisions of the warranty. A warranty is literally written to "protect the boat from it's owner" (and sometimes the dealer) from causes that occur once the boat leaves the manufacturer, so that a claim will not arise. Sure, there are unforeseen issues that can occur whereby the product may have developed a covered failure, but in the mix of it all, they build the boat with the utmost of quality control and they know it. So, read it carefully; however, but it is best said that following a warranty for the life of the boat is probably a pretty good policy.

Captain Chris

[Esoxchaser]

Ranger owners over 5 years. What kinds of maintenance issues can I expect to pop up as my 2005 620 gets a little older. The usual maintenance issues any boat has, livewell pumps don't last forever, normal wear items of that nature, depending upon how you use your boat, and how you take care of it. Keep it waxed, keep it covered, it will last you a lifetime, looking good the whole time.


Don't know of many Ranger owners that have had the same boat for more than a year or two. Maybe that's the answer in itself?
Thanks
Chris
Most of the people I know with Rangers say they have purchased their last boat. They would only replace it with a newer, better Ranger as the line evolves. Some of the guys I know are running boats that are 25 and 30 years old. Yes, some have been repowered, and have had items that will wear over decades of use replaced, but the hulls are sound as ever, and although they may look dated due to styling, as a rule they look pretty darn good as far lustre, fit and finish go. Part of that is due to the high quality of materials Ranger uses in making boats, the other due to the fact that most Ranger owners take a lot of pride in their sparkly boats, and maintain them well.
Ranger offers one of, if not the best warranty in the business. They can afford to with the quality of boat they produce. And they back it up, with customer service and technical support that is second to none.

Just as an example, I E-mailed them with a couple questions regarding the manner in which and location where I intended to mount some track. I never got an E-mail back, instead Within 15 minutes I had gotten a phone call from a real person, who spoke English! Not only that but he understood my problem exactly, and gave me all the information I needed to overcome it. Then he spent a little while longer offering up some more tips and ideas, all of which were very helpful.
I never got that kind of support from any other manufacturer.
But I don't have to worry about the others, IF I ever buy another boat, it will be another Ranger. Only if it's bigger and badder, but it will be a Ranger.
And no, I am not normally a guy who exhibits brand loyalty, I judge everything on it's own merits..........but I have been won over by quality and service.

[SJD]

I had my '96 until 2006, have an '04 now and the only reason I sold the first is to go from a Comanche to a Fisherman. As others have said anything that is not "Ranger", (pumps, motors, etc) have a lifespan. Things wear out from normal use. As far as the boat itself, I religously clean and maintain it not only so it looks good but so it stays that way. It gets a full detaling twice a year and multiple quick clean-ups/polichings through out the year. The only thing I had done to the '96 outside my normal routine, before I sold it was had a professsional body guy buff it. I thought it looked really good before that but holy crap, that '96 looked like it was just built after he did that. He also said that the thickness of the gelcoat on the Rangers allows for many buffings if need be without worry (from someone that knows what they are doing)

[DRAG]

Ranger owners over 5 years. What kinds of maintenance issues can I expect to pop up as my 2005 620 gets a little older. Don't know of many Ranger owners that have had the same boat for more than a year or two. Maybe that's the answer in itself?
Thanks
Chris

My Grandfather has a 1972 Ranger with a 70 Evinrude. Not that it is relevant to your question about modern Rangers, but it has never had an issue and was fished every week for over 30 years. It sits now as he is too old to take it out, but it will fire right up and fish just like it did when he brought it home. Original carpet still looks good, motor has seen nothing but routine maintenance and fires first turn, original gauges and electronics :) Fiberglass certainly doesn't look 40 years old.

I think you are ok as long as you care about your boat and maintain it.

[Fishoil]

My 621 is now 5 years old and I just replaced the cables and valves on the livewells. They were working yet but didn't seal well and were getting hard to move. Other than that a couple of livewell pumps and livewell valve position levers.