RANGER 617 VS

[doug]

I am very close to buying a 2000 Ranger 617 with a 150 Merc efi.I have not heard much on this boat I will be using it to fish big water Erie, ST Clair etc. (weather permitting). If any body out there owns one or any body have any input it would be appreciated. I know a 19 ft boat would be better but will not fit in garage and alot of $$$$. I will be getting it early summer 2001 used. I am getting it for 17,400 very well loaded, does this seem like a pretty good deal???

[Goldy]

It is not a very good deal if it isn't designed to do waht you
want. This boat is not a great big water boat. It is too narrow
and not nearly deep enough( my personal opinion). I don't know if
18K is your budget but I would seriously look at an 18-19 foot
boat. I own a Triton 189 with a retractable tongue and it will fit in a 22' garage, I don't know what a 19' Ranger has for length with a retractable tongue, but I would look into it before
you purchase a 17'boat for Lake Erie.

[Tom]

My 1999 617DVS just completed its first summer of service. I have a 150 Optimax and 9.9 kicker. It handled some very rough water on Lake Sakakawea (ND) with no problems. I don't know how it compares to St. Claire but the resevoir can get big rollers on it. It is not the driest boat on the lake but I never took on enough water to run the bilge pump. Sounds like you're getting a really good deal if you are getting Ranger's trailer and no trade in. I officially put mine away for the winter today. Now I can't wait (but I will) for spring.

[RedTheRangerMan]

Not posting to argue abiout the Triton post. But I disagree about the 617 as a big water boat. The 617 is 17' 8" of boat. It has an inside depth of 23 1/4 inches. The over all rig length with motor down and removable tongue off is approx. 20'2"

The 617 is plenty deep inside. It is only 3/4" shallower inside than the 619.

The 619 is 24" deep and approx 22'8" long, overall.

There are many anglers using the 617 on bigger waters all across the walleye's range. You'll find there will not be many times where conditions will keep you from fishing with this boat.

The 617 will handle as much big water as any boat. That being said, don't push any boat or your skills in rough water. Be safe and respect the awesome power of big water.

As to price, if it is as loaded as you say it is, the price is not out of line for the rig. In fact it sounds pretty fairly priced. See if the seller will haggle, who knows?

[Fuzzy]

Yes - close that deal now.

[eyewinder]

I don't believe you mentioned whether it is a new 2000 or pre-owned (PC term for "used"). I'm assuming, new.
I haven't studied the 617, but from looking a couple over, it appears that there is plenty of boat there (length, depth, & width). I'm running a 690VS (~18 feet, 9 inches) right now, and if I were trading, the 617 would get a good, hard look.

[eyewinder]

I looked again and saw "used" -- still looks like a really good price, especially if there are lots of goodies.

[KS]

Doug what are you getting on that boat for that price?

[MA]

ive owned mine sinse july and love it .. wish i would have upgraded the engine to a 150 (its got a 125 ) with 125 i get 47 mph gps with just me .. complaints - wish the rod box was a little bit longer although you can fit a 7 ft rod in it theres onlu one of the holes that will accomidate it ..they go down in lenght from there ...the ride has impressed all my friends that ride in every other brand you can think of .. the looks are second to none .trailer pulls like adream .. i fish millelaCS alot and i havent had to turn the bildge pump on..pasenger would greatly appreciate a console as they do tend to get a little wet in really rough water all in all id buy another one in a sec

[RedTheRangerMan]

If you remove the tube system and use rod sacks, you will be able to effectively get more rods in your rod holder and should be able to get more thsn one 7 footer in there.

I took the tube storage out of my 620 and can get 17 of my rods in there and most of a partners.

[Craig]

Let me preface my remarks by saying I'm very confident in my boat driving skills and my boat. I am not overly cautious, but don't believe in tempting fate too much either.

I have a Ranger 1997 681VS with a 115 Evinrude Intruder. It's the same length as the 617. The biggest lake I've fished was Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. It can get pretty rough. I've fished it when some pretty big bassboats(I'd guess 20 footers) went in. That may be because my boat handles rough water better, or I'm braver (Dumber? LOL). However, based on what I've read on this board, and others, I would not take my boat out on Erie unless it was a real calm day, and I wouldn't get far from shore if I did.

If you're going to fish Erie in a 617 I'd advise using extreme caution based on my experience with my boat which isn't all that different than yours. I intend to fish Mille Lacs with my boat next year. I will exercise extreme caution when I do so. We all know it can get rough, but Mille Lacs ain't Erie. If I had the money I'd definitely go bigger.

One thing for sure, if you're going to fish Erie you need to install a radio before you get the bottom wet.

Good luck, whatever you do. And if you buy the 617, welcome to the Ranger family. They make a great boat.

[doug]

KS You asked what I am getting on that boat. It has a trolling motor (not sure what brand or model),x48,x65 locators,marine radio with cd player,detachable tongue, brakes, heavy cover, bording ladder, compass, it is a single counsel I am not sure if I mentioned that in my post.

[ma]

red ranger man im not familar with the socks you mentioned .. is it as easy to slide the rods in and out as the tubes ?please describe for me .. im intrested because with all the rods i have it does become a problum ...at the end of the day i need to take 5-10 min just arranging the rod rack thanks in advance

[John]

ma

I believe the "socks" Red Ranger is making reference to can be found at Cablea's. Check out the following link. The socks cost just under $5. I beleive you can get them a bit cheaper if you buy more than 3 or 4. I use them to store rods in my Lund 1775 and they work great!

#####://www.cabelas.com/texis/scripts/store/+/CatalogDisplay/displayPOD/CabFALL1998/CabFALL1998ACBGAB/IA343H

[RedTheRangerMan]

Well, actually, I was referring to the ones I make. But the ones John mentions will work too. Mine are rip stop nylon and work on the same premice. You slide ther rod into the sleeve and then put the rod in your rod locker. Keeps line from wrapping around reel handles and tips fro getting tangled. Makes it much easier sliding rods in and out of rod locker and since there are no fixed tubes, I can hold many more than the boat originally allowed. The tube system is a very good , very functional system. For the majority of the people that buy the rig. I, however am nuts and carry 14 to 17 rods everytime I fish and need the ability to store more rods in the rod locker.

[chad]

you speak of ranger very highly. i respect that and take all into cosideration, but in my opinion no bass boat has a place on lake erie or any of the great lakes for that fact. but in the same hand the great lakes are none the less as dangerous as lake geneva or any othr lake in that fact. i have fished lake michigan in a 14 ft with a 20 hp merc many times. as long as you use care and respect the great lakes are none the less dangerous.

[Chad]

Chad,

Think you took my message wrong. My advice to Doug is to be very careful about taking a Ranger 617, or any other boat that size into a large lake. I agree with you that most bassboats probably shouldn't be taken out on something like Erie, unless you really know what you're doing.

But, the 617 Doug is talking about is a walleye, or multi-species boat, not a bassboat. This type of boat is built for rougher waters than bassboats. They are generally built with deeper vees, and higher sides to their hulls. You pay for that because they tend to be heavier, slower, and unable to get into shallower waters a bassboat can slip right into. They also tend to have bigger standard size livewells than most bassboats to hold the different types of fish (muskie, northern, walleyes, in addition to bass) we tend to deal with up here in the northlands.

As for Rangers, I appreciate the way Ranger builds boats. They design them pretty, then overbuild them by a wide margin. They make a superb product. The best? For me the answer was yes. But that was me. The truth is if you buy a boat from a reputable builder, take care of it like your life depended on it (And if you get out on a lake like Erie it does!), and don't drive it like there isn't any tommorrow it should last you nearly as long as you need a boat.

I did not mean to say Geneva gets as rough as Erie, which is not to say it doesn't get rough. Two really different lakes.

Take care, tight lines.

[Craig]

Message is mine. I don't know why or how Chad got put in there. Sorry, guys.

[RedTheRangerMan]

I don't mean to nit pick Craig, but the 617/619/620 will get in water almost as shallow as any Ranger Bass boat. There is a difference of a couple of inches, or less, but the average angler won't notice the difference.