Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | A couple comments:
Ranger has so many designs it's tough to answer the question. When looking at the 17', nope, there isn't one like the Tuffy 1700.
The 17.5' class Angler was completely different than the Tuffy and is shooting at a different market. The Ranger hull is part of the Angler series, which is a price point V hull line and features a more 'family use friendly' interior. The Tuffy is an Off Shore hull that was refined after buying out another boat company years back. Totally different hull design, but both handle big water well. The Tuffy 1760 is one of the brand's nicest big water/average water hybrids and is designed to meet the needs of Muskie and Walleye fishermen.
X190..Ranger has bass models that are somewhat similar, but that's about it. Completely different concept and marketing strategy.
X176, new 2011 Tuffy...nothing in the Ranger line like it, so moot.
X169 T, new 2011 Tuffy tiller for the river guys and smaller water, again, moot.
Esox Series, Tuffy has no one competing with a hull anywhere similar. Marketing strategy created this design including the Esox which is the original Tuffy hull with a few tweaks from 1976.
1890 Tuffy...sorta close in length to a 619, but the similarities end there. Both are wide hulls. Design of the 1890 is to allow use of a 90HP tiller and get good performance, yet run a 200 and if one tweaks the rigging get close to 60. A big water hull in both brands, Ranger's hull so different it'd take images of both to describe what those differences are.
20' Models...the Ranger is wider by a margin, yet the Tuffy interior is nearly equal in fishable space. Tuffy was shooting for performance and speed, and hit the mark. Ranger was and is looking at both the Walleye and Muskie markets with the 20' model; Tuffy is as well, but added a muskie specific accessory line. Wider wetted surface means more water contact under power and on plane. The Ranger is a padded hull, so is the Tuffy, but the similarities end there.
21' hulls..Tuffy enters this market in 2011, the proof will be in the finished product, so can't comment on that yet. The Ranger 621 is without question the best big water ride Ranger has ever built, and I see plenty in action all open water season working for AIM and covering the MWC and FLW. Great ride.
Those are some general concepts on hulls for both brands.
Lamination:
Tuffy uses a 13 layer hand laid process, differing from 'hand lay-up' in that all materials, whether a bonding layer or sheet goods, are rolled in by hand, and not vacuum bagged or other processes, and the process does incorporate bonding layers of strand. Best resin and gel coat they can buy. Composite transom and floors, side tanks, etc.
Ranger is similar. From what consultants have told me who know both layups well, there's not a significant enough difference to make one shine over the other, but Ranger does have a couple patented processes like pulltruding fiberglass parts. Fiberdome owns several lamination patents, as well. Is one or the other 'better'? Let's put it this way; both processes create a hull that will take the rigors of big water while running over 50 MPH and both hold together well. Both are, as I said before, great products built by good people.
As was suggested, ride both, decide on what you want to spend, and buy the boat that meets your needs and expectations. |
