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| I have a tuffy LTD and a 50 horse fore stroke. It is a great boat for musky fishing and can launch in shallow water, but it can not take the waves. I am getting in to fishing a bigger water and want a bigger boat. Is this worth the $$$, or should I stick to the tuffy?  |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | I have 618vs and 4 footers is are not very fun, if you drive right it's do able. If your talking about the 618 tiller that is a bit deeper and should handle a bit better. IMO 4 footers are not fun to fish in any boat. 2-3 footers you can do the in 618vs but 4 is pushing it. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Tuffy makes an entire series of bug water V hulls. |
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Posts: 512
Location: Appleton | This is just my opinion but I really don't like the layout of the 618 or the hull design. Seems like Ranger was really off base with this boat. Lack of storage and rod storage seems odd for a 35K boat. I would have thought it would have been like a mini 619 but it isn't close. Perhaps that is why ranger doesn't make the boat. With that hull design I would say 4 footers are out of the question. Look at a used 619 or Tuffy 1700 or 1760. I would think all those would be much better options. Again this is just my opinion as I've looked long and hard at many boats because of the same reasons you are looking at new boats. |
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| Thanks. What about the skeeter tiller musky boat? It looks like it could take on some waves. |
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| 618 tiller can handle about anything. Lee Tauchen guided on Mille Lacs out of one for a couple seasons. He eventually went to a bigger rig but the 618 was fine out there.
If it can handle ML it can probably handle whatever you want. It also drafts fairly shallow and can be lauched in some crappy landings.
There are quite a few very nice used 618 tillers on the various used boat websites.
They are a great boat.
Skeeters to me are too high sided and are a better walleye rig than musky rig.
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| The 618 console boat is getting disconinued for that very reason. Totally different design than the 618T. The 618T is just a slightly chopped down 620T. I can put tons of stuff in the DRY storage compartments. I've had mine out in 3 to 4 footers, and I was very impressed. |
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Posts: 148
Location: Northwest Wi. | I got a Tuffy 1760GC Esox last spring and I fish a lot of big water( M.L.- Cass- Ver.) and could'nt be happier with it. Low profile, Very steady, Plenty fast. Its size lets you put into the smaller landings with ease, only one axel to worry about. Smooth towing,Fish's two people great, three not bad. Nice storage set-up. Its also a few bucks less than some of the others...Its worth taking a look at. |
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Posts: 2089
| I ran a 618 tiller for a week and a half earlier this season , but normally run a 620T. BIG difference between these 2. More than just a foot and a half of length. I liked the 618(which I almost bought before the 620) but it is NOT the boat for big water every day. Every once in awhile would be fine, but I'd of gone nuts running one all season. 3 guys most of the time too?? No way. Do it right or just get by? Oh, and 2 footers was NOT fun , and 4 footers were unfishable in the 618. LEGIT 2-4 footers, not what a lot of people PERCEIVE them to be. Funny stuff. Steve |
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| To each their own. The 618T is the same hull as the 620T. Only difference is length(about a foot and a half). Been in both, fished rough water in both and didn't feel uncomfortable in either. The 618 will sit on a single axle trailer which makes manouvering a bit easier. The only advantage I saw in the 620 was a little bit more storage( but not much), and the mertens option offered on the 620T with a higher HP motor than the 115 rating. Fishing three is a little bit easier out of the 620T because of the extra length. Adding a front deck extension helps alot on both boats. I don't think I'd trade my 618T for a 620T. There just isn't big enough difference to warrant the extra $ in boat cost, fuel, tow vehicle, etc. I fish two guys out of the boat most of the time, and fish MN lakes and smaller waters as well. In my opinion, there is a huge difference in the rangertrail trailers and most manufactures. That trailer makes loading a boat in crappy lauches so much easier. All led lighting, road armor finish, etc. Get out and run a buddy's in some rough stuff and judge for yourself. Unless I guided everyday for a living, not just twenty or thirty guide trips a season, the differences would be minimal at best. |
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| Since when is running any ranger, Tuffy, Skeeter, etc. just getting by? LOL
I don't think the guy camps out on Mille LAcs everyday. He's looking for a good boat that can handle some rough water. |
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| I 618t can handle anything a 620t can imo.
also, for 09 the 620t can be outfitted with a 200 hp tiller, yup, 200. wow.
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Posts: 2089
| Apparently my thoughts didn't translate to the screen as I typed. The 618 was a great boat. I talked to a lot of people before buying my 2nd 620T. I really wanted a 618(for a lot of reasons) but was repeatedly talked out of it by every person I talked to, because of what I do. Running/operating both boats in similar conditions, literally within hours, I noticed some differences.A little more speed allowed the boat to "bridge" some of the rollers. Put a 115 on the 618 and it gets it done. Please, please, if you run a 618, don't think that i'm belittling your craft. Oh, and for "guest", my reference to "just getting by" was in regards to boat length. If someone is going to spend ALOT of money on a boat and plans on fishing big water ALOT, then a larger boat would probably be a better idea than buying a 17.5 footer. Reasons? Comfort and safety. I should add that the Mertens Power Steering makes a huge difference. Time to go "Camp Out" on Mille Lacs. Hahahahahahahaha. Steve
Edited by Steve Jonesi 12/6/2008 10:00 AM
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| Steve, don't shortchange me, LOL! My 618T is 18.5 feet not 17.5.
Better you than me on Mille Lacs everyday.
I wander why they never put a power steering rating on the 618? |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | There is no USCG rating for tiller 'power steering'. |
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| There is no USCG rating for tiller 'power steering'.
but there is some vagueness about what is meant by "remote steering", right?
it seems more and more boat manufacturers are seeing the power steering as "remote" and putting the big motors on their tillers...
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Not true. Manufacturers have nothing to say about it.
It's not legal to exceed the USCG formula HP rating on any tiller, and there is no rating altered for power tiller steering...yet. An 18' tiller boat will not legally rate higher because of hydraulic steering, for a couple reasons according to the USCG. The tiller operator is in a position where good vision past passengers is a problem; tillers can be more dangerous to run at high speed because of the faster left/right steering response, the steering test required is tougher/near impossible to pass, etc.
The formula for console steering isn't the same as the formula for tiller, obviously. One can find the math on the USCG Backyard boat builder website, it's in there somewhere. It takes a compliance specialist to rate a boat legally, however, and it's somewhat complicated.
The USCG doesn't enforce a rating for boats over 20', tiller or console. That's why you see 300 HP motors on 21' boats and 250 Racing engines on 20'1" models. Technically speaking, a 20' plus boat is considered a 'ship'. |
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