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Posts: 5
Location: Quebec Canada | Hi guys, this is the problem, my husband is a musky nut, mainly fishes on the ottawa river and the st-laurence river canada. He does a lot of speed trolling in the fall, and he also likes to fish bass and pike as well. He thinks the 618vs is his dream boat. I fully understand this but we have two kids and we have a summer cottage. I love to take boat rides and water ski. He thinks the guests will be comfortable sitting on the casting deck or on the side (over the rod storage or livewell) while going 45m/h on the water...DUH! At this price range, we can't afford to have two boats to suit us. We asked if we could put in a 4th seat IN the boat(between the passenger and the front seat) but apparently not. Has anyone heard otherwise? actually, all I want is a comfortable boat, for a family of four. And he, well, he wants to fish. Can anyone help us?
We have not seen any of these two boats outside the ranger catalogue(not many ranger boats in these parts of the woods - Montreal)
Thanks for your time guys!
the fisherman's wife. |
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Posts: 2089
| Wife,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in my opinion, either boat would be too small and you'll be spending a lot of money for a boat you will ultimatly be unhappy with.I sold my 681VS, the slightly smaller version of the 618 because I fish big water now, in all sorts of conditions, and the kids move around a lot in the boat!!!Depending on how much you want to spend, there are a ton of used 619's and 620's for sale . You could pick up a used machine for the same as the new smaller boat.I run a 620 and have the kids with me a lot. Casting w/ the rear deck in or trolling in the fall, it worked out great.Plenty of room, and more importantly, more storage. Everything is below deck. Nothing to trip on or fall over. I bought mine used and a couple years old , but saved thousands over new and couldn't be happier with the boat.Hope it warms up so I can start waxing.Good luck with your purchase. It's a lot of fun shopping!! Steve
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Posts: 5
Location: Quebec Canada | thanks for your reply Steve!
we already have a princecraft pro 162 BT (16 feet) and we manage ok (when hubby takes all his fishing gear out before we take a run...)
So we're upgrating with the 617-618. The bigger boats, although obviously better, just don't fit in our garage... We just can't leave the boat out in 3 feet of snow... You know how guys are with their toys...
thanks!
fisherman's wife
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I second Steve if you want to go Ranger. You can pick one up a 620 couple years old for the same money as what your looking for with a new 617 or 618. There are other boats as nice as Ranger out there as well and for less money. Boats like Triton, Stratos and Skeeter would also fit the bill and probably come in several thousand less. Check out the used selection on this sight and www.walleyecentral.com. LOTS of boats that have taken a 5-10 grand hit and still have the balance of the factory warrenty.
Edited by Muskie Treats 2/13/2004 10:12 AM
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Posts: 158
Location: Eagan, MN | Unless it changed for 2004, I believe there are four pedestal bases on the floor of the 618:
Driver
Passenger one to the left of driver
Passenger two just behind front deck
Passenger three behind driver and passenger one (as long as the detachable rear casting deck is not in place).
Not the perfect layout for pleasure boating, but I think it gets the job done. |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I have the family boat. The 620, the wife and kids love it. It is the ultimate family boat.
Your family deserves it !!!
Detachable tounge and you can get it in a 22 ft garage at a slight angle. |
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Posts: 5
Location: Quebec Canada | thanks all for your advice, unfortunately, that's not what I wanted to hear(you know us girls...)
But all in all, what you're saying is 617-618 are too pricy for what you get?
can any 617-618 owner get in on this?
Thank you all, and remember,
don't forget to tell your wives how much you love them...;)
fisherman's wife |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | FW, I was in a Ranger dealership and they had me going on a 617 full windshield with a 150 opti 5 years ago. At that time the price was $28,000. Needless to say after I got out of the dealership where the sparklies weren't affecting my judgement I promptly canceled my order.
There are a lot of other boats you can spend that kind of money on and get another 1'-2' and 50hp for the same money TODAY. Don't get me wrong, Rangers are very nice boats and the fit and finish is second to none. But if you want the most boat for the buck, most any brand will give you more. I priced out one of Rangers bassboats against retail on mine and came out about $10,000-$12,000 difference with the same motor.
Like I said before, for that kind of money you can pick-up a 2-3 year old 620 and have a boat you'll never grow out of and be probably be more happy with in the long run. Lots of room for the family, and WAY more storage then the 617.
At the end of the day you have to buy the boat that's right for you. If your not happy with the boat you own, it's not worth it at any price. |
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Posts: 2089
| Very good Treats! Steve |
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Posts: 14
Location: Burnsville, MN | I own a 618vs and have 4 children which come with quite a bit. I have a rear deck on mine so that puts the seat post behind the drivers seat up to high for cruising. Along with the Driver and passenger their is another seat post in front of them in the "bottom" of the boat. Otherwise you do have to sit on the side...with a cushion. The reason I went for the 618 rather then the 617 was a couple of things. 1) Rod locker size, most my rods are over 7' so they won't fit in the 617, 2) For the kind of fishing I do, I wanted a boat that sits low in the water. The 618 sits lower then the 617. If you have other questions, you can email me at [email protected]
Todd |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | To the happy couple....and kids.
I was talking with Steve Bendall, the owner of Fiberdome, Inc. which is the parent company of Tuffy Boats, just last week. I really want a Ranger a 619 but honestly can't afford a new one... 38k is just way too much for a fishing boat even if it is a Ranger....
I have considered the 618 very seriously to the point of almost ordering one last week but my wife says that if I"m going to spend 20k+ I darn well better like what I'm buying so I'm not thinking of trading it at the endo of one season.... I have to agree with her.... So I thought I would call Steve and see if Tuffy would consider building an interior to my design on the 1760 hull. which by the way is one of the best performing hulls in the industry.... The interior would be very similar to a 617 only better...
Good news for those who are interested in a "mainly musky but very versitile" boat...
What I learned is that Tuffy is in the process of developing a completely new interior that will be built on the 1760 hull as well as several completely new boats...
My advice to you is to hang tight for a few more months if your really in limbo.... and if you're interested call Steve at Fiberdome 800-359-4416.
All indications are that the new stuff coming from them is going to be very nicely designed and available at very competitive prices. (similar to a quality aluminum boat) Quality glass boats with user friendly interior layouts available on a working-mans budget.
I for one am interested in seeing what developes.
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| After fishing out of my buddy's 681 for several years, I finally purchased my own 617 last year. I have 2 young children and the boat works out great for all of us. The boat has high enough sides to be safe for the kids fishing, they can tube behind it and best of all I don't think I sacrifice a thing - sure the front deck is smaller than most but I'm the only one up there. Check out the classifieds on walleye central. There is a 617 that is being offered from the All Canada show folks - brand new boat just trailered around to their shows. You should be able to get a sweet deal on it. |
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Posts: 5874
| Mark,
Are they gonna lower the price on that 1760? When I wanted to buy one 2 years ago, it was $26,500 for the boat, 150 EFI, and trailer. About $4000 high, IMHO. It was actually priced the same as a plain 617 Ranger. |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Shep,
All I can tell you is that Steve B. told me he is trying hard to be able to get Tuffy pricing at the same level as say a comparible Lund/Alumacraft model. I guess to me that means the prices will be coming down from what you were quoted back then...
Right now I can buy a new 618 with a 140 Suzi, rigged with trolling motor,sonars, cover, spare tire, on board charger, etc. for 28,500.. Which IMHO is about 5k more than what that boat should be priced at.. It has gotten too over the top...these boats cost the same as a new vehicle and they are not worth it...not to me anyway.
I am going to wait to see what developes with this... I have always liked the 1760 hull and I think the new interior layouts will be what they need to get a few more people looking seriously at their rigs.. Hopefully the pricing will be more competetive as well. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Take a look at the boats here:
http://www.jacosmarine.com/fishingboats/procraft/index.cfm
I run the 210 SP and can tell you it's as smooth as butter in rough water, tough as nails, and faster then most other boats on the water (low 70's right now but when I get the right prop on it it'll be mid to upper 70's). It will take more waves the the 618 in the way of big water as well. It's a floating tackle box and fishes higher in the water then any other bass boat I've ever seen. Something to think about.
$28,000 gets you an 18' ranger and a 140hp or a 21' Procaft bass boat with a 225hp opti. Hmmmmmm, tough choice. |
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Posts: 5
Location: Quebec Canada | Didn't think shopping for a boat would be this complicated...
All this advice made us talk about what we really need and want. You got the conversation going on between a guy and his girl!!! Girl is happy because she's talking, guy's happy because he's talking about boats with his girl.
But the happy couple still hasn't decided on the boat. One thing's for sure, the 618 is outta the question, Hubby finally realised that it would be harder trolling in the 618 (with fishing buddies) than in the 617( the console being more to the front of the boat - buddies have more space to work the lines). Further more, correct me if I'm wrong, but the 2004 618 VS is a 2 seater. The front casting deck is bigger with additional storage making the front seat disappear...
Another thing ruled out is a used boat, having a new motor is important to us. Last, we don't want to go bigger than an 18 feet. We're already used to smaller and we want to be able to easily go to whatever lakes we want to. In our part of the world, boat ramps can be very muddy and harder for a heavier boat to get in and out!
Before even considering a ranger boat, we were looking at the Lund Mr. pike 18 feet. Now, we'll have to decide whether we'll go with a Hyundai or a Mercedes... (no offence)
Thanks for your replies, it's been a great ride!
And remember, release the fish, not the wives!
Fisherman's wife. |
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Posts: 5874
| I'll take offense to the Hyundai/Marcades comment! hehehe
Actually, you are doing yourself a great service by looking at other makes and types of boats. The more you look at, the more you will learn what you like. The Lund Pike 18 is a nice boat, lotsa room, rides decent, is plenty fast, good storage, seats 4 comfortably(family thing)and very fishable. I like my 1700 Angler SS over the Pike 17 because I don't like the vertical rod storage, and the wide gunnels on the Pike and ProV models. But, if you do mostly trolling, that maybe isn't so big a deal. Pike 18 is also way more affordable than the 617 Ranger, although I have seen a couple new prior year boats for reasonable. Have fun shopping! |
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Posts: 5
Location: Quebec Canada | LOOKING is all we can do from here...
I've ordered the Tuffy catalogue and visited the sites and seen the makes and models all of you have suggested here in this post...
I thought we had a hard time choosing for our SUV (finally went for the suzuky XL-7... very satisfied!)
My husband got a suscription to bass and walleye boats for xmas (his idea, my money) getting some info from there as well.
How important is dealership availability?
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| Dear fisherman's wife:
I absolutley love my Ranger 621 BUT for your purposes (family fun, trolling big waters, and budget concerns) you might consider looking at the LUND adventure series. It is a wider steady boat that rides very high in the water, allows for a kicker to save on that expensive canadian fuel, and is extremely smooth on the water. It has ample room for 4-7 occupants, has a full windshield for those nasty weather days, and will accomodate a walk through bimini top to keep the little ones out of the sun or keep hubby dry! The dry storage is not as good as a Ranger but the 15-20 thousand difference in price and excellent resale that LUND has will more than make up for it! I troll my LUND Adventure on St Clair and have been safe and sound in up to 10 footers and 60mph winds! My wife really enjoys taking the family out in it as well. She picked it out! We looked at the Pike but she wanted the Bimini top and higher, dryer ride as well as the wider boat for more stability. Your husband would love it as well for all of the room it affords for him and his buddies and the ease of trolling!
Great luck in your "Adventure",
JK |
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| The front casting deck that is new to the 618vs is removable just like rear deck. According to the 2005 catalogue, Ranger no longer lists the 617vs in its multispecies section. The 618vs is an excellent boat to fish out of for three people or less. Any more than that and its crowded. As far as skiing, I advise you to max out the horsepower rating. I have a 150 h.p. Mec Optimax which is nice but if I had it to do over again I would have gone with the yamaha 150 Four stroke to eliminate the need for remote oil tank. As for people who say this boat won't take alot of waves, that depends on how you drive. My boat deals with 4 foot waves very well when driven at a reasonable speed. The 618vs is very stable and safe fishing boat but it simply will not accomodate more than three adults |
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| Seems like an infomercial.
Your best bet is to run a few of these boats with dealers. The next thing is check the service center out. Having a dealer that is close and responsible makes a big differance in what I will pay for a boat. Service is worth alot when your shut down for the summer.
I have seen some terrible service in the marine industry. Cheap is not always the best way to go.
PS: Nine times out of ten its not the boat that can't take the wave its the driver. |
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| If this is to be a part time family boat why not look at the Ranger Reatta 1850? May I also suggest adding a dog house style extension to the rear of your garage? It wouldn't be that expensive (if there isn't a room behind the garage). |
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Posts: 5874
| Seeing as how she was looking last year, I wonder if they ended up getting something, and what did they get? |
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| I have a 618VS with a 150 Yamaha 4-stroke and could not be happier with it. I would not recommend the 618VS to a family that will have four in the boat often. After discussing it with the dealer rep that had owned two 681’s, I had the factory install another pedestal floor mount in front of the passenger’s seat. This allows for a third person to sit comfortably facing aft when running and with an extension it works well when walleye fishing with three people. |
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| I would stay away from either of the two and go with a 619-621, last year I had 5+ myself in my 621 2 kids 4 adults, although maturity is debatable, it was my best weekend all summer and I never got a bite, we did'nt go wake jumpin or anything like that after all there is only 4 seats but I have a few extra floaties for cushion, I now if it was between fishing and riding crosslegged on a deck I'll be at the bar, look for a year or two old used or new and save a few bucks boats this year seem spendy saw a 620 in the paper today new $44,000.00 ouch but if you want it buy it, you only go around once good luck  |
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| Look at a Tracker Tundra 18, it has four seats on the floor of the boat, with pedastels to put on the front and rear casting decks. Brand new with 115 HP is 23K. It is an aluminum boat, but looks like fiberglass. |
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