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Posts: 1
| I just sold my beloved Ranger 681. There is an opportunty to purchase a minty 04 Ranger 20' tiller boat at a good price but as this is a much bigger rig than I'm used to, I have some concerns. First, I fish alone much of the time. How difficult is it to get a big boat like this back on the (Ranger trail) trailer in a cross wind? Would it's size preclude it's use on some smaller (Vilas Co.) lakes? Should I expect the 115h
motor to provide acceptable performance on big water (Mille Lacs, Vermillion, LOTW etc)? Thanks in advance for any assistance here.
Harvey |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Well if you're capable of trailering your 681, the 620T shouldn't be a problem. Alot of us trailer our 20'+ Rangers and other boats by ourselves in heavy wind. If you're familiar with how to line it up, compensate for wind drift and get it on there, it shouldn't be an issue. Every boat is different. Took me a couple of times out to get everything just right on my boat, but now I do it in the dark with a 25 kt side wind.
As far as size for the lakes you mention, I dunno. Sled sold me my boat because he wanted to downsize because it was just too big for alot of the water he fishes in WI, but I'll let him speak to that. I know I don't try to launch my tug on smaller water and dirt or shallow ramps. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | Used to have the same boat and set up. Easy to launch and trailer by yourself. Of course it will take getting some used to but practice it. You can expect about 38 top speed with that motor and it can handle any water you put it in. The room inside it is un real. |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | I fish a couple handful of lakes in vilas and can only think of one lake that I fish that a 20ft boat would be a problem and thats irving. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | boats are like motorcycles and you really need a couple of them to do what you want to do. the boat jeff bought from me is an awesome boat and especially now after he's done some improvements to it. loading and unloading really no problem alone with a bunk trailer, key is a tandem trailer with brakes vs. a single without ... i downsized for a couple years and loved the tuffy i had ... but since have gone bigger again.
ride, comfort and versatility ... 20' boat i would say is pretty good. bigger than that and when it cramps your storage capabilities is time that it's too big.
my next "downsize" if there is one would be a second boat along the lines of the tri-hull lunds you see on this site being restored.
my guess is that if you liked your 681 you'll love that 20-footer ...
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Too big is when you can no longer get into lakes you want to to get into, or have gotten into in the past. It is a reality now especially in Northern WI. Also is the size of the launching are in terms of backing a boat in. As Sled mentioned you could really use more than one boat for cases like this. Some really great lakes in Northern WI have some really terrible landing as far as water depth, and actual launching size.
If you usually fish by yourself why the reason to get a big boat? Heck if I was by myself most of the time, or usually only fish with one other person I wouldn't go any larger than a 17' boat. I choose that simply to carry the gear I usually carry.
Now boat size may not come into play if it drafts very little water. If that is the case and you have all the space in the world to be able to back it in then go as big as you want. |
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Posts: 2089
| I've run 2 different 620T's and loved them both. Easy to trailer, tons of room and will handle the big water as well as the 100acre puddles. Easy by yourself too. I ran 115's on both and the power was more than adequate, but a 150 would have been nice. Both boats also had the Mertens Power Steering. Absolutely amazing. |
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| Wish I had a 150 on the back of mine. Tough to get on plane with 4 guys and a ton of gear. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | 115 sounds small for a boat that big. I run a 115 on a 16' bassboat and it gets on plane in a reasonable time. It isn't real fast. But that boat will weigh a lot more. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | 115 runs the boat fine unless your really loaded up. If you fish walleyes the 115 is the way to go for trolling, because the 150 will not troll down slow enough. Muskie fishing the 150 would be awesome for that boat. Nice gas mileage with the 115 though. |
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How big is too big?