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Posts: 144
| I have been looking at new boats this year and I was wondering why tuffy doesn't offer a lifetime hull warranty. I asked a dealer at a recent boat show and he really didn't have an answer. Maybe some of the guys that run them could offer a theory. Anyone had any hull issues? |
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Posts: 5874
| They don't need to. Very well built hulls, that if there is a manufacturing issue, it is going to show up well before the 5 years is up. 100% transferrable, and non declining. And depending on what would actually happen to require any service, my experience is that Tuffy is totally committed to customer service. My last Tuffy was 11 years old when I wanted to sell it. I needed a bit of work done, and they kept the cost very low for me. Went above and beyond with the work performed, and the boat came out looking nearly new. I got premium dollar for that boat.
My previous boat had a "Limited Lifetime Warranty". Well, all fine and dandy, except that after 4 years, I paid 1/3 of a "Warranty" repair. If I had sold the boat prior to the repair, the new owner would have paid an even higher percentage. Lifteime Warranty is a perceived value that you are probably going to pay for up front, and will not be worth much when the boat is more than 5 yrs. old. And many warranties are not transferrable. I don't believe a second hand Ranger warranty is Lifetime. Read the fine print on any warranty. You'll learn alot.
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| Rangers hull warranty is transferable but limited to 10 yrs from original purchase date...
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Shep said it very well. |
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Posts: 144
| Thanks for the info shep, I am the original owner of my current boat and I have the "limited lifetime warranty". I have never heard of any problems with any of Rangers "Fisherman" series hulls but they still give you a lifetime warranty. I have read my warranty and I am responsible for a $50.00 charge after the first year but i firmly believe they would make good on their warranty. The new Tuffy's sure look like great boats though. It sounds like they will stand behind their product as well. Thanks. |
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Posts: 5874
| Yes, Ranger is Lifetime, and 10 years for transfers. But how many actually need warranty work after the first year or two, if any? Same with most of the qaulity glass boats these days. All composite, no wood, they just don't have many issues with the hulls.
Tuffy has a very low rate of incidence of issues. I look at my new 1890, and I am still impressed by the workmanship and quality of this boat.
Edited by Shep 1/31/2007 4:26 PM
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| this is not a knock on Tuffy ...but you may not need the warranty after a year or 2 but nice to know it's there....
I'm sure they are great hulls but a warranty says alot to me about backing up a product...my 2 cents |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | make sure to get a warranty on that merc though Shep ...  |
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Posts: 5874
| Brad, I don't think the Ranger warranty adds $12-15K worth of peace of mind, to me anyway. But I would like to know the rate of claims on Rangers older than 5 yrs. I'll have to ask Steve lindahl one of these days.
Sled, I get the 5 yr on the best motor made. I'm not worried. Last Opti was flawless, so too will this one.
Edited by Shep 1/31/2007 5:37 PM
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| Shep
From what I have seen the 1890's are priced right about the same price as 619's with the same motor etc......Am I missing something?
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| This is just for example purposes..I bought a used 690 Ranger, it had been back to the factory to be "re worked" after the original owner bought it...which was in Oct 99 I believe..How do I know he didn't beat the living crap out of it and had cracked the hull before I bought it? I don't...but my warranty is good for another 3 full seasons...like I said...you may not need any longer of a warranty than 5 yrs...but just in case..it's nice to know it's there...
again, not a knock...just for discussion purposes...they all are nice boats...
but I personally think Ranger is just a touch above the rest... |
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| Bn, not sure what you brag about an 8 year old boat for but why don't you take a look at a Tuffy sometime! Like Shep said, if you are going to have problems with a boat it will more than likely be within the first couple years. I guarantee you that Tuffy boats are built better or just as good as any Ranger out there, considering they probably make a quarter of the boats that Ranger produces. The time and detail going into a Tuffy is far more than time spent on your Ranger! I find it funny how so many people are buying boats to sport a cetain hat or a jacket on there back! |
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| A 619 Dual Console at in the Milwaukee show was about 48K. A comparably rigged 1890 DS at Mr. Marine in the Osh Kosh show the same weekend was about 10K less. Both had pro kickers, Mercury V6 motors, both had sonars and electric motors that were comparable, etc. The 2060 DW at the Osh Kosh show was about 12K less than a 620, rigged EXACTLY the same ( Both had 250 Opti XS and Pro Kickers rigged up) except the Tuffy had a Terrova instead of a cable drive Minn Kota.
The warranty on the Tuffy is the entire boat components we manufacture, not just the hull and deck. Any 'hull failure' after the standard warranty runs out is handled on a one to one basis, and it is handled fairly based on what caused the 'failure'. That has happened so infrequently it isn't even an issue, but if it should happen, Tuffy will be there in Lake Mills, Wisconsin as they have been since 1976.
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| Tuffy, I have looked at them...and I've been in at least 5 newer Tuffys in the last year...so I did my homework before buying my yes "8 yr old Ranger".....the 690 if you've ever talked to anyone that owned one or has been in one is probably the best layout and one of THE best hulls ever made by Ranger...I'm not bragging about it in my post above..not sure how you could construe that I was bragging...
At the Milw. show last year, there was a 619, yes it was a leftover, but new, I believe it was 2k more than the 1890 there...in any case they were close...I find it funny you think people buy Rangers to sport a certain hat or jacket...I own one Ranger visor..no jackets, no shirts, etc...
like I have said, they are all nice boats...I have seen and fished out of many Tuffys, probably a lot more Rangers than you have been in....and for the money, I believe Ranger builds a better product...to each their own..that is why we live in a free country right...free speach...free to buy what we want and like....
I love guest posters.
bn |
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Hey, all companies have unique methods of marketing their product. I've worked for or with Tuffy most years with a couple U turns since 1976, and can tell you they take care of their warranty issues. Sure, there are disputes, but usually NOT over warranty. Usually, it's someone wanting Tuffy to pick up and/or drop off their rig at their house or a similar deal or 'fix' scratches in the boat for free when it's in for warranty, or fix a component a dealer or aftermarket agent installed, you get the picture.. Try to get ANY company to do THAT! All boat builders have their supporters and their detractors. It's Business.
Ranger and Tuffy have been in the business for a comparable period of time. I remember very clearly standing across the aisle from Forest Wood's booth at boat shows when his boats were brand new to the midwest.
Neither would be here today if they built a bad product. Both have had warranty issues and arguments, and both have handled them very well over all. Shop value, shop brand, shop whatever drives your decision. Both builders will get their share!
As far as the 690 goes, it is an excellent multi specie rig. It didn't handle as well as it could have in the really big stuff for a number of reasons, was not a big enough boat overall to carry the horsepower popular now and needed to be redesigned to meet the needs of the Musti-specie angler, so the 619 and 620 were designed to 'replace' the 690. Tuffy's Esox Deep V and Osprey models went through a similar redesign, for similar reasons. Like I said, it's business. |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | Sled, dont knock the "BLACK ON BACK"!
Mercs rock! |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | I sure hope that Ranger's are built better considering that they average anywhere from $2000 to $10000 more for comparing model, such as 1760Angler to a 1760Osprey or a 619VS to a 1890Osprey or 620VS to a 2060Osprey. I can almost bet you your just paying the extra dough for the name not necessarily the product! |
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| Yes I do own an 8 yr old Ranger that is in better shape than alot of boats half as old...and it was priced right...and still has warranty...
What do you own?
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Been reading this thread and it is a good one, and wonder why the ridicule of someone with an 8 year old Ranger... Does the fact that owning a boat of older than 8 years, not warrant someones opinion of a product? I have been in alot of older rigs, and run nearly 20 years old myself. Boats will last alot longer than most people here think they will, with proper maintenance and care. Now, the staus of owning an 8 year old Ranger will probably not quite alow bn to sit with the 2007 Ranger owners at the country club bridge table, but i'm guessing that if that was his desire, he'd own a newer one. I agree with him that the 690 is a boat to be reckoned with. I have been in alot of them, and I love the layout of that boat. The newer ones might be able to handle more horsepower, and handle bigger water, but they do lack the layout features that that rig had. Wish they would have made more 690 tillers, and wish I would have bought one when they were being built. They are about as tough to find as Jimmy Hoffa...
That said, the wife and I cannot wait to see the new Tuffys at the shows(hopefully there will be a few of them at the Green Bay show..). at this point, in a tiller rig, they seem to be taking the steps to make a functionally sound Musky fishing machine for everyone aboard. If the dry storage is as good as I've seen in the recent Rangers, and better than what is in my partners 2002 Esox LTD. I'll really be interested.
Edited by Reef Hawg 1/31/2007 9:32 PM
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| Well said Jason...the day my 690 popped up on walleyecentral was also the day I was one phone call away from pulling the trigger on a 06 Ranger from Frankies...I saw the Ranger, drove to Plover at noon and put my money down...a guy was coming at 5pm with the money to snag it but I beat him to it....I could own a new Ranger but found this bad boy and it was just the boat I wanted...it fits in my garage and to me has a better layout than current 619s and still does 57 on gps....win / win...I like to go fast...oh, and it left the factory at Ranger in 01 with a completely new deck....so not quite 8 yrs old....
it's not the boat that catches fish..but it can make your day on the water more enjoyable to have a nice one.... |
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| I own a Ranger and a Tuffy.
The Tuffy is a older model, which does not bother me in the least. However what is starting to bother me is I sent an e-mail to Tuffy two weeks ago this coming Friday. I was looking for some specs and info on the model I bought. I sent an e-mail because I knew it would take a little research and I didn't want to tie up anybodys time on the phone. The lack of response leads me to believe..............
A) THEIR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS NO GOOD
B) NOBODY CHECKS THEIR E-MAIL
C) IT'S A USED BOAT AND NOBODY CARES
D) IT'S SHOW SEASON AND THEY ALL ARE AT THE SHOWS
Anyway i'm sure in the next couple of years somebody will get back to me.
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Posts: 1245
Location: Madtown, WI | OK, so I have a unique perspective on this...
First, I own a Tuffy 1760 Deep V esox....I think it is probably about 5-6 years old now......For the life of me I can't see myself selling this boat. WHY?? Because it rocks!@!! I have had it on some big water...and the hull is one of the best out there. I LOVE what Tuffy has done with the new 1760's. Just goes to show, always working to make things better (and cheaper for the customer..Steve said right when the new models came out, that I could have gotten one for almost what I had paid for mine a few years earlier...they improved it that much AND took out that much cost!!).
Tuffy makes one of THE best muskie boats on the market, period.
NOW.....with saying that....
I have spend quite a few hours fishing in BN's ranger....and I will tell you what...that boat looks BRAND NEW!!! It may be 8 years old...but the boy got a great boat for a great price. Ranger makes an awesome boat, period. Are they better than Tuffy, I would say there are some areas where Ranger might excel (more of the flashy things), but I do think Tuffy excels on the hulls.
They both make great boats...not worth a pissing match.
Look at both boats....see which one fits YOUR needs....look at the price....if your happy with what you get for your money...buy it.
I spout off to anyone that will listen to me how much I love my tuffy and how great of boats they are....but you won't hear me knocking Rangers...because they are good boats too....I just like what Tuffy gives me for the price. To each their own.
Cory
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | None of the above, Mr. Hoffies, and if you can be civil, I'd be happy to answer your questions right here. If you sent an email to Tuffy, you sent it to me. I answered one a few days back about an older Tuffy, what is your email address?
Never mind(check your spam filter, maybe), I found it, here was the record:
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The rating on that boat is 60 HP, and the boat weighed in at about 900 pounds. The 180 XT was rated for 4 people, I believe, and 1200# motor, people, and gear, from memory. Please call Laurie at Tuffy to have someone check to see if we have a plate there, that was WAY before Fiberdome bought the company. Foam is under the floor in the rear under and in the side tanks, in the bow, and in between the stringers. Any wires there are down the center of the boat, if I remember correctly.
Fell fee to call me at 800.359.4416 with questions.
Steve Worrall
OutdoorsFIRST/Tuffy Boats
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Hoffies
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 7:48 AM
Subject: coast guard plate
Morning,
I recently purchased a Tuffy 180T boat and motor. I can't find any coast guard rating plate on the boat. The serial number on the back of the boat is "Tuffy 1400191". Can you give me any info.
Specifically I'm looking for max horsepower rating and also weight ratings.
If there are any spec sheets still available that would be great!
I'm also looking to find out if any floatation foam was used back then, if so is it only under the floor. Also fuel tank capacity. I'm looking to remount seat pedestals is there any wiring that runs beneath the floor or does it run down the sides.
Any and all help and information will be great!
Brian Hoffies
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Hope the old girl serves you well, that was a great hull. Also, I see I didn't answer the fuel question. If the boat has a built in tank, it's a custom. No idea what the capacity will be, but in all probability, it will be 20 gallons. I was with Skeeter for a couple years back then, and no one on the factory floor in boat finishing was working there in 1991, far as I know. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Bn, I know your having fun, because I am too! But seeing you were so interested in knowing I will tell ya, I run a 01' Alumacraft, so in other words Tuffy or Ranger is not tattood to this butt! But does it really matter what I own or what I drive? What I laugh at is everytime a boat thread comes up, your so quick to jump at is the fact you own a Ranger and it's the best thing on the water. All I am asking is you say Ranger is a touch better, well what in your opinion makes them better? I haven't heard or seen anything that makes me think there a touch better? But anyhow, maybe I just need to stop talking because I'm sure you probably think I'm some stupid, knowledgeless college kid that knows nothing about boats. |
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| basically...
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Figures! If only you knew me and the knowledge that I have of boats! I'm in NO means saying I know everything about boats but I'm not the average 20year old when it comes to boats and some of the knowledge I have accumulated about the industry! |
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| Yah Yah I know...they are both nice...
buy whatever fits your needs/budget/garage/fishing style....
And if it says Ranger even better! kidding...I catch just as many fish in the 1985 Bass Tracker I run too...
I still think you should get Tuffy tattoo'd on your butt...
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | hahaha, you put Ranger on your's and I'll consider! Otherwise there will be no ink on me! |
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | bn,
I can vouch for the fact TJ has seen about every brand boat out on the market working for weeks under the toughest conditions imaginable. No need to expand on that, just thought I'd let you know he's not talking out of his targeted tattoo area. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | big water, big crazy stuff .... full-sized 20' boat completely out of the water smashing down .... i wanna get home and live through it. so far i've lived that type of experience in a Ranger and a Champion ... now, never had the experience in a Tuffy so can't even comment, but my last 3 boats were Ranger, Boston Whaler and Champion in that order going back to 1991 ... somebody give me a reason to shop for anything else. oh, and the final re-sale price for my boats were pretty impressive considering the beating i gave them. the only thing that's failed me in 15 years has been two optis and a mg pd. so, TJ .... if you blast Ranger and call it a club or something you must not have spent much time in one .... and especially not when it's really ugly out there.
sell me ... |
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