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Posting a reply to: Re: Beginner choosing a boat brand

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[QUOTE]Manta18 - 4/20/2025  7:41 PM

[QUOTE]Muskie101 - 4/20/2025  5:20 PM

[QUOTE]Manta18 - 4/20/2025  4:03 PM

Everyone has great points.  I was always a Lund guy.  While I was on deployment in Iraq, I ordered a brand new Lund 1675 with a 90hp Optimax and fished the pants off that boat.  I had no problems fishing Mille Lacs, Leech, LOTW as well as lakes around home.  Big water just meant keeping an eye on the weather so if wind picked up or shifted, time to pop smoke.  Got caught on Mille Lacs one time that was a test.  Launched at Wealthwood and fished up there, but it was calm so we made the run across the lake to Vineland.  Get there and the wind starts blowing about 15 from the NW and anyone who fishes the big pond knows I was going back to the landing in 4 footers.  Took my time and was safe.  Boat toook it wonderful.  Then I fished out a Ranger for my first time and knew I was done with aluminum boats.  Much easier to control in the wind, ride a little better because of weight.  Took a few years, but I finally found a '98 Ranger 681 with a '04 135 Rude on the back and absolutely love the boat.  Have no issue taking it on any big water either, same Lund.  Just have to be mindful of weather.[/QUOTE]

Just submitted a ranger boat to bass pro shop the other day for the win a free boat thing
Fiberglass is better then aluminum ?
Or does ranger do a mix of both in their boats[/QUOTE]

Ranger is primarily known for their glass boats far and away, but they do make some nice aluminum boats as well.  For the Ranger brand, they are just not as popular as the glass.

I wouldn't say that glass is better than aluminum, both have their pros and cons to be sure.  I think the main difference between glass and aluminum is the price.  Glass boats are definitely more expensive but I think they hold their retail value much better than aluminum.  They sit a tad lower in the water, so on windy days when using the trolling motor the boat doesn't get "pushed" around by the wind so much and is easier to keep on track.  Although with the new trolling motors with GPS, aluminum will do this too.  Gunnels  are lower on the glass boats as well on the casting decks which for an old veteran with bad knees makes boat side 8's easier.  Mostly I think it comes down to personal preference, which mine happens to be glass.[/QUOTE]

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Manta18

Posted 4/20/2025 7:41 PM (#1033502 - in reply to #1033501)
Subject: Re: Beginner choosing a boat brand

Posts: 373

Location: Browerville, Minnesota

Muskie101 - 4/20/2025 5:20 PM

Manta18 - 4/20/2025 4:03 PM

Everyone has great points. I was always a Lund guy. While I was on deployment in Iraq, I ordered a brand new Lund 1675 with a 90hp Optimax and fished the pants off that boat. I had no problems fishing Mille Lacs, Leech, LOTW as well as lakes around home. Big water just meant keeping an eye on the weather so if wind picked up or shifted, time to pop smoke. Got caught on Mille Lacs one time that was a test. Launched at Wealthwood and fished up there, but it was calm so we made the run across the lake to Vineland. Get there and the wind starts blowing about 15 from the NW and anyone who fishes the big pond knows I was going back to the landing in 4 footers. Took my time and was safe. Boat toook it wonderful. Then I fished out a Ranger for my first time and knew I was done with aluminum boats. Much easier to control in the wind, ride a little better because of weight. Took a few years, but I finally found a '98 Ranger 681 with a '04 135 Rude on the back and absolutely love the boat. Have no issue taking it on any big water either, same Lund. Just have to be mindful of weather.

Just submitted a ranger boat to bass pro shop the other day for the win a free boat thing
Fiberglass is better then aluminum ?
Or does ranger do a mix of both in their boats

Ranger is primarily known for their glass boats far and away, but they do make some nice aluminum boats as well. For the Ranger brand, they are just not as popular as the glass.

I wouldn't say that glass is better than aluminum, both have their pros and cons to be sure. I think the main difference between glass and aluminum is the price. Glass boats are definitely more expensive but I think they hold their retail value much better than aluminum. They sit a tad lower in the water, so on windy days when using the trolling motor the boat doesn't get "pushed" around by the wind so much and is easier to keep on track. Although with the new trolling motors with GPS, aluminum will do this too. Gunnels are lower on the glass boats as well on the casting decks which for an old veteran with bad knees makes boat side 8's easier. Mostly I think it comes down to personal preference, which mine happens to be glass.