View Full Version : My first glass boat? Ranger vs. Skeeter
Dan R.
03-18-2003, 08:56 PM
This is my first post to this great site. I want to purchase a glass boat and am interested in Ranger (617VS) and Skeeter (ZX 1775). Any comments on these 2 boats would be appreciated. I fish medium sized lakes in NY (finger lakes) and 1000 islands (St. Lawrence river). I haven't looked at prices yet but heard they were both 23-24K. Is this accurate? Thanks for the help.
I think that you will find that each boat has its set of very ardent owners.
You will also find another set of folks who don't get particularly excited about either boat.
Having said that - both boats are well made, and can give you lots of years of fishing and boating enjoyment.
As far as cost is concerned, it is not unusual, for an 18-20 foot high end glass boat, with max horsepower, full set of electronics, kickers, bow mount etc. to top out $40K.
On the other hand, depending on the model boat, and the loaded motor, you can often get rigs nicely equipped for the low 20s.
If you can, before inking any deals, take a test ride in each prospective boat. Try to take the ride in some very smooth water, as well as some very rough water - i.e. waves in the several foot range.
By taking both of these test rides you can get a pretty good feel for the relative ride qualities of each boat, in an assorted set of conditions. Look for things like ride dryness, hole shot, top end, comfort, and perhamps most importantly for a fisherman; fishability.
If you like to fish, it is no fun to buy a boat for fishing and find that there are a bunch of things that you don't like about the boat.
What about storage? How much storage do you need? What about rod lockers? What about extra pumps, bilge, aerator etc.?
If you find the price of a new rig, equipped the way that you want it equipped, you might look at a boat that is a couple of years old. A well kept 2 or 3 year old boat, can give you excellent performance and life; at the savings of many thousands of dollars.
Many folks forget about the idea of a test ride in a "boat".
Would you ever buy a new or used car, without first taking either the car under interest, or similar car on a test ride?
Same thing for a boat, kick the tires so to speak.
Take care
REW
Pitts
03-19-2003, 07:31 AM
Dan
I have a 1775 dual console Skeeter 98 model but they have not changed much except for an added baitwell in front of the driver console.
It has a 150 V-Max with a 8" manual jack and I get about 54 MPH GPS with a normal load at 5600 RPMs.
This is my first glass boat but I am impressed with it's rough water handling for it's size.
I fish Mille Lacs, Winnie, Leech, Rainy, lakes in MN and I have been out in 30 plus MPH winds with big enough waves to make you grit you teeth when running.
I did check out the Ranger before buying but it was new on the market at that time and no used boats available.
I purchased a fully pro rigged Skeeter 2 years old for 18,000 no taxes. The boat and equipment price tag was 29,000 new, I have all the receipts.
The Ranger has a center rod console but the Skeeter has a much higher inside depth.
I talked to a dealer and I think he said that Skeeter was coming out with a boat to replace the 1850 soon that would also have the center rod locker which is a nice feature if it is long enough to accomadate longer rods.
I love my boat and it has not shown any weakness in the gelcoat no cracks whatsoever and the seats are a premium. I purchased a new seat from Skeeter almost 5 years after it was manufactured and if it wasn't for the different looking pedastal I could not tell the other 3 old seats from the new one.
Good luck in your seach and check out the classifieds on WC and save a bundle.
Pitts
JimRK
03-19-2003, 07:59 AM
These are both great boats. I own a Ranger and my fishing buddy owns a Skeeter. When it comes to rigging, jigging, and casting, the Ranger with the lower profile is the boat we prefer to run. When it comes to trolling, we prefer the Skeeter with the higher sides and we have more room in the back of the boat when working lines and netting a fish. As one of the posters stated, get a ride in each boat/model that you are interesred in, and look at the layout of each interior. Your favorite style of fishing will most likely decide which boat to buy. Happy shopping and hope you get a great deal on your new boat.
:-)
Jim Ordway
03-20-2003, 08:55 AM
All good advice from the other posters. Think about style of fishing you prefer or want to learn about and then think about the logistics of access and storage of equipment you will use. Convenience, security of equipment, dry storage, comfort, room to mount eletronics, live well position and size, and appearance that pleases your eye. Good luck on your search. Have fun with it and do not rush into a purchase until you have completed your check list.
Take care,
steve(IL)
03-20-2003, 10:04 AM
Good comments from all so far. Another boat to consider in the range
you described is the Tuffy 1760 Osprey. What is especially nice on the Tuffy is that the fiberglass doesn't come all the way down to the
carpet on the inside like on the vast majority of boats. This space
gets lost. It makes a terrific shelf for storing "in use" rods that keeps them out from under foot and out of the sun. Plus a couple 6'6" jigging rods can lay flat up on the front deck (you can't do that in
many 19' boats). They stay up there at WOT w/o being strapped down.
The boat is scary fast, smooth, and easy on the eyes. It's also great for trolling. It's a very capable, all-around boat. The biggest problem is that you probably don't have a dealer anywhere nearby. Take a look
at tuffyboats.com just to compare.
Otter
03-20-2003, 11:51 AM
I own a Ranger 617 and love it. I would like more long rod storage, but that is because I also do musky fishing. I have personally never met another 617 owner who had bad things to say about the boat. I like the low profile - doesn't catch too much wind, so it is great for the drifting presentions that I like to do. I also owned a Skeeter bass boat some years back and was happy with that - Skeeter also makes a quality product. As others have said - try to get a test drive in each boat, and also look carefully at the boats to see which layout works best for you.
I think both boats are fine. Personally I would go with Ranger over Skeeter. When I was in the market for a similar boat I fell in love with the YarCraft 1785 MilleAcs.
Sark
(Remeber Skeeter is Yamaha. Go with Ranger or YarCraft and buy American!)
steve(IL)
03-20-2003, 06:23 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Skeeters are built right here in the good old USA by american labor. Don't knock them for a foreign parent. It's the way of the world now.
LochNessMaster
03-20-2003, 06:23 PM
Steve makes a couple of excellent points on the rod storage issue and the availability of dealers. That's not to mention the Tuffy. They make a very nice boat. I've looked at more than one and they are a very well built boat. I own a Ranger 681 but if I were ever to consider replacing it Tuffy would be a boat I'd want to look at real close.
The rod storage issue is a big one. I lost some rods and reels overboard last fall. They just bounced up and into the slipstram and out they went. You start talking Loomis rods and Calcuttas and it gets real expensive real fast. What Steve's talking about is essentially free storage space not available on most boats. That also means you've effectively got a larger fishing platform.
If I were going to buy a new boat the location of the dealer would not be an issue if I were buying a quality boat, such as a Tuffy. You probably would never need one. The availability of dealers that could do warranty work on the motor is something else.
Dutchman
03-20-2003, 07:27 PM
Skeeters are built in Kilgore Texas.
" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "
David Anderson
03-20-2003, 07:45 PM
I have owned 1 Skeeter T135 and 2 Rangers. The 1775 is the boat that replaced the T135. I would give the nod to the Skeeter for ride and big wave handling. I would give the nod to Ranger for quality, fit and finish, and resale.
Dan R
03-20-2003, 07:50 PM
Thanks for all the posts! I lived in Grand Forks for 6 years before getting a transfer to the North East. I did alot of fishing in the Detroit Lakes area as well as Devil's Lake. Hopefully within a few years I can transfer back to the mid west. I'll take a closer look at Tuffy and the others. I still go to Grand Forks on business every couple months so buying a boat in the area isn't out of the question. However, if it requires shop work I may have a problem. I currently own a North Wood King Fish Aluminum boat. Not a bad boat but I'm ready to move up. The hull weighs only 600 Lbs and we get rockin' in what I consider light chop. I want a stable boat for the family and one I can hold onto for years to come. Thanks again for the posts and keep them coming.
-Dan R.
fishhunter
03-20-2003, 09:51 PM
Take a ride in them both but before you buy take a ride in a Yar craft, I think your mind will change in a hurry.
steve(IL)
03-21-2003, 06:39 AM
Resale? Have you tried to buy a used Skeeter, Tuffy, Yarcraft, or Warrior? I'm always on the look out for my next new used boat. If you can find one for sale, nobody is giving them away. Any sort of huge disparity in resale values is not apparent to me. This seems to be another myth.
I am happy that Skeeter employs Americans, I always knew that. My point is that the profits are going to Japan/Yamaha.
(Is a Honda Accord considered American? It is built in Ohio. This is an honest question, not an attempt at sarcasm.)
Sark
steve(IL)
03-21-2003, 10:31 AM
Sark,
The world is changing. I've met people who work in the Marysville, OH Honda plant. They are thrilled to have steady jobs while living in small
town america. Just like there are many US-based companies that own foreign assets, there will be some foreign companies owning US assets.
The sooner we adapt to the changes, the better off we'll be. Staying ahead of the curve is the challenge of today and tomorrow.
I do understand your point. I was never really "Mr. Wave the Flag" and buy only American, but I don't think it hurts to point out the truth.
If I thought Skeeter was the best, I wouldn't really care were it was made. (Unless the children stuck sewing soccer balls all day long were building them at night!)
Sark
(Two of our three automobiles at home are German)
David Anderson
03-21-2003, 02:46 PM
Steve,
Because the price of used Skeeter, Tuffy, Yarcraft, or Warrior are high has nothing to do with their relative resale value vs price paid. There is no myth regarding relative resale on Skeeter vs Ranger. The spread might be small and in the end may not be an overriding factor. I speak from experience. I have owned and sold both. Discounting accessories my Ranger held its value better. I sold the Ranger to buy a Skeeter and sold the Skeeter to by another Ranger. I would have bought a Skeeter again, despite this difference, however they felt that the 1775 is as large as they want to build in a tiller and I was looking for something larger.
Have you thought of a 189 Triton?
steve(IL)
03-21-2003, 03:19 PM
Resale is going to be determined by the demand for the model of boat
you have and the demand for that kind of boat in your area. Supply and demand. Even within the Ranger line, not all the boats depreciate at
the same rate. Some models are more popular than others and will hold their value better. This is true for every manufacturer. Nobody - including Ranger - is immune.
You were satisfied with how your boat value held up. I've encountered Ranger owners who were disappointed. Again, it's going to vary.
Dan R.
03-21-2003, 08:29 PM
Honestly, I'm considering all of the manufacturers. I believe that all have qualities I can appreciate. I do like the fit and finish of the Rangers. However my better half would like to see me stay between 24-27K if possible. Can I even get a rig for that price? Being a weekend fisherman (with the occasional weekday thrown in there) I don't need all the bells and whistles. I do plan on keeping this boat for a good amount of time though. Thanks for the inputs.
Dan
fishhunter
03-21-2003, 09:41 PM
Depending on motor and other goodies you MIGHT be able to get a ranger or yar-craft under 27k. Skeeter will be cheaper. If you would like a 18ft glass boat for aluminum price take a look at a sylvan viper or smockercraft cobra (same boat), you can get one of these with a 140 four stroke for around 23k.
steve(IL)
03-22-2003, 08:59 PM
Dan R. - If you're interested, post your e-mail or send me an e-mail at goodogs@ameritech.net. I did some shopping recently and would like to give you some budgetary numbers I came up with and where.
LanceAtRiverview
03-23-2003, 06:00 AM
Did you see the used Skeeter listed in the classifieds in IL. for $12,995.00 ? I can give you all the details and many great photo's of it!
Dan R.
03-23-2003, 04:16 PM
Is it possible to get an 617DVS for 25-27K or am I dreaming? I've been cruising Tuffy, Skeeter, Yar-Craft, Ranger, and a few other sites. Yar-Craft makes some nice stuff but I think it's more than I want to spend. Should I look at a Lund? I really wanted glass but a fully loaded Lund for the same price would be hard to pass up. Like I said before, I frequent Grand Forks so purchasing in that area would be OK. It would probably be cheaper than the north east anyways.
Thanks.
Dan R.
dutchboy
03-23-2003, 04:33 PM
Though this may be premature "Welcome to the Ranger family". :)