Posts: 37
Location: wisconsin | Not to resurrect an old topic, but after having this very same discussion with a friend yesterday, what good is a warranty if you end up having to use it ?
Nobody pays for your down time do they ?
I have a good friend who guides and went through a nightmare warranty and lawsuit against Ranger and Mercury a few years back... Nothing like having a good warranty ,when dealing with a boat company in receivership.
Lifetime means nothing, just look at St Croix Rods change in policy over the years.
If you don't cheapen up the product or don't mass flood the market with your wares, a lifetime warranty is non issue , correct ?
The bottom line for most boat buyers comes down to price, as few shoppers ever compare apples to apples anyway.
Would I like to a new Tuffy Esox Mag ?
Of course, but when mine is fine and there is no shortage of older ones, why spend 30K+ for one, when another nice older one is out there to be had for well under a third of that ?
Case in point:
I paid $5k for my beloved "special order" '87 Esox Ltd in 2000, it came from ILL and the original owner put a good OMC motor on it rather than the guy that typically spent large for the boat then cheaped out with a Force or Mariner back in the day.
Though the previous owner and I took extreme care of it, the boat eventually needed to be re-floored a couple years ago. Unfortunately I waited too long as about the time I finally decided to take Tuffy up on doing it, they decided that they no longer wanted to fix Glasways short comings, which I get as boat companies are in business to sell NEW boats NOT fix old ones.
My boat was repaired by a former employee and I am still pleased 3 years later.
I've read an awful lot of Ranger V. Tuffy articles here and find them comical at best
because there is no Ranger boat made now or then that can compete with an Esox Mag or Ltd. , much less a 154 , Roustabout, Bassabout , Rogue [for the old timers] in performance or price.
As for the build, Ranger has been in bankruptcy [once-twice?] and builds how many times the boats a year that Tuffy does. So tell me who really has the upper hand on quality control ? Last I heard there are 3 guys assembling at Fiberdome.
How many guys are building the endless supply of Rangers ?
If you like Ranger, no digs, obviously they are doing something right other than marketing. The resale is fantastic, so how can you lose ?
My only complaint with Tuffy today, is the Gunwale and transom corner molding is crap black plastic rather than the aluminum it used to be. Plastic is UV unstable, aluminum lasts forever. It is a structural and cosmetic downgrade that I can't accept.
I like the idea of the newer one piece drop in floor , but fiberglassed foam does not appeal to me over marine plywood that is glassed on both sides.. Foam is stronger than plywood ? Not a chance....
My Esox turned 30 this summer and looks at the most a few years old, The new floor is glassed both sides, which Glasway should have done from the start, rather than brushing on a coat of polyurethane on the undersides.
My transom is solid, it's a clean boat , so why pay 30 grand?
Other than that and the obvious cost cutting measures that ALL makers take these days, I"ll take a Fiberdome built Tuffy over any glass boat on the water.
Hell, aren't they using Kevlar in the hulls or has that gone away already ?
Bottom line is every fisherman's needs and tastes are very different and once you get away from the Esox and Roustabout hull , all dynamics change, but I'd still take a big water Tuffy over the competition.
Then again, any commentary is totally subjective, and most could careless about that little Lake Mills Boat Co anyway 
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