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Posts: 743
| How do the hull designs of the various models of Ranger and Tuffy compare? Are any of them very similar or are they completely different? |
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Posts: 485
Location: On my favorite lake! | I assume you a talking the deeper style V's. They are somewhat similar. I prefer ranger but a lot of guys like tuffy's. Really it's personal preference. Look at features , deck layout, comfort etc. Also take a ride in the models you are considering , if possible. |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The Ranger hull is not at all similar to the Tuffy hulls, lots and lots of differences, all models. Both brand's hull designs do what the designer wants them to do.
I just got a sneak peak at the new 21' Tuffy hull...looking good.
Ranger is a national manufacturer, Tuffy a regional builder. Both are very nice boats built by good people.
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Posts: 743
| The Ranger hull is not at all similar to the Tuffy hulls, lots and lots of differences, all models. Both brand's hull designs do what the designer wants them to do.
Could you provide some examples about the differences and " what the designer wants them to do" |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Not tonight. I'm at the Masters Walleye Circuit Championship in Prairie Du Chien covering the event, and have to get up at 5 AM. I'd be happy to answer what I can tomorrow if I have time, or Monday.
One thing for sure, the differences between the hull designs from 17.5' models to the 21' model deep Vs are more numerous than the similarities.
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Posts: 393
Location: Hopefully on the water | While these two boats are completly different in design. I have owned a older Ranger R70 Sport 17' with a 115 Johnson on it and liked it to some extent but it was more of a bass boat and on lakes that got any chp the ride wasn't great or fun. That was about 8 years ago I had that and 2 different boats in between there. Now I have a Tuffy x-190 and am not afraid to take it out on any water (still using some common sense). The ride, layout and storage is awsome in that boat and the flexibility to take 4 people comfortably is a option that i have used already with the wife and kids. The saying of you get what you pay for I think is not right comparing the 2 brands. If you compare similar models between the 2 I personally feel you get more for your money at a better price with the Tuffy. Don't get me wrong ranger makes a nice boat but I feel there is alot in their name and price tag. Again I have nothing bad to say about either overall as a whole but I personally will not spend the extra money to have the Ranger name on it if it was my money.
Now on the flip side I haven't had the Tuffy long enough to see the resale value vs the Ranger resale value but I would not hesitate again to buy a Tuffy. Good luck with your choice and which ever it is it will be what you like and preffer. |
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| i'm a proud owner of a ranger, was once a proud owner of a tuffy, a champion and a boston whaler each fit my needs at the time... in a daydream once in awhile i would like to be the proud owner of a basscat.
i personally would rather have a 690 than any of the newer ranger hull or layout designs, but it has to do with how i use a boat. the new ones are starting to look more like crownline or searay ski boats than a fishing machine and pricing has moved beyond ridiculous to lunacy. |
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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. |
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Posts: 224
Location: Madison | sworrall - 10/16/2010 10:39 AM
X176, new 2011 Tuffy...nothing in the Ranger line like it, so moot.
Very interesting, when does Tuffy release 2011 model information? I'd like to hear more about this boat. |
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Posts: 743
| Thanks Steve.. The new boats sound pretty interesting. I too, am curious about the X-176. Really thinking about glass this time around but still sticking with a tiller. It's really all up in the air as to what the next boat is going to be. |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The X176T is my next rig. We'll have an X169T rigged with a 50 Merc too, Keith is buying one. |
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| Steve,
Could you give me a ball park figure on what a 176T will cost? I'm guessing the max HP will be 75. |
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Location: MN | Agree, any info on the X-176 would be appreciated. Based on this topic, any insight on how the X-176 would compare to a Ranger 681vs? My basic thought would be these boats are similar in concept and the mkt. they target(ed)... obviously Ranger doesn't sell the 681s anymore. |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The 680 was Ranger's answer at the time to the Esox Magnum. The X176 will be more along the line of the X190. |
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| Steve, when do expect to have specs or pictures etc available on the new models? Interested in the 176 or 169 in particular. Will these be 2011 models and available next season or are they still being developed?
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | According to Tuffy this morning, all the new models will be available for Spring of 2011. |
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Posts: 444
| Does anyone know what the model # is of the smallest ranger Avail? did Ranger at one time make 15-17ft boats and now makes everything 18ft +??
thanks
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Posts: 392
Location: KY | I have an R70 that is 17' they used to make an R61 that was 16'3".
Here is a good link for late model ranger specs.
http://www.bassboatcentral.com/rangerspecs3.htm |
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Posts: 444
| Thanks Bruce. |
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Posts: 134
| Any word if the Tuffy X176 or X169 will be on display at any of the upcoming shows? Also, any more details would be greatly appreciated! |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | X170 (officially 17' long) will be ready for a December launch; Fiberdome sent me pictures of the pattern today. The X176 will be ready directly after, probably a couple weeks apart. Watch for them both at the shows this winter. |
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| Sworrall, can you give away some specifics on these two boats...are they totally new hulls, dimensions, capacities, tiller/console?, etc etc. without having to post pics and so forth.
Am very curious and will be buying a new boat in 2011 (hopefully being delivered by May/June) and am just trying to make sure I don't buy a holdover now(dealers seem VERY motivated currently) - if something is coming down the pipeline that may be worth waiting on...again I am not expecting you to give away the farm on these but please share all the details you can. Gracias! |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The X170T will be about 70" plus wide, low profile, and a V hull. It will be a simple, nicely appointed, but efficient boat that will handle two anglers easily and run bigger waters with no issues. It will run about 26 MPH with a 40, and 32 with a 50 loaded. Nice front deck, reasonable platform in the rear, livewell and rod locker, front deck storage hatch. 6 gallon gas tank, electrical for bilge, horn, lights, and livewell, 12 volt to the bow for the trolling motor, and a retail boat, motor, and trailer water ready price targeted at the very low teens. Perfect rig if you want the ride, fish mostly on lakes where 3' waves and less are the rule, want economy and performance, and want to pull it with a smaller vehicle.
The X176 is the 'little sister' of the X190. More on that when the tooling is in place. Will be 17'6" long and rate for 75 tiller and 150 console.
The new 21' Deep V model will be ready for shooting in a few weeks. 21' long, 97" wide, rated to 300. New features added to the interior Tuffy offers in the Esox Deep V and Osprey. New consoles, more amenities.
All I know for now. |
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| "and trailer water ready price targeted at the very low teens. "
!!! That, along with Tuffy's past history and what this boat is sure to turn out to be, will make this THE best entry level new musky boat (or most any boat for that matter) on the market. I can't wait to see this in person (and the x176 too!)
sc |
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Location: Contrarian Island | even tho I have Ranger tattoo'd on my butt, those x170s and x176s do sound like a very nice rig for smaller waters...i might have to check one out for a new "up north" boat....please post pics asap.
will the x170 be able to run a 24 v trolling motor...ie are there spots for 2 deep cycles and 1 starter or is 12 v the only option?
Edited by BNelson 11/12/2010 12:39 PM
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Posts: 1224
Location: Okoboji | i have a 02 tuffy osprey 1700c with a 90hp merc 4 stroke...asides from the merc,,i love the boat! my next will be a bigger dual console tuffy with a etec. |
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Posts: 1224
Location: Okoboji | forgot to add, i have been in some nasty stuff with my 17 and it got me through almost dry |
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Location: Twin Cities | kodiak - 11/12/2010 3:08 PM
forgot to add, i have been in some nasty stuff with my 17 and it got me through almost dry
What exactly does "nasty stuff" mean? Mille lacs in 20mph winds? Or tonka? |
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| Thanks! Will be holding my breath to see these boats...value priced glass! Tuffy could be onto something with these two boats. Can't wait. |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | jredig,
The 1700 hull is perfectly at home on either. That hull was the first 'big water' glass walleye boat available, and was sold as a Yar Craft, Warrior, Skeeter, Kingfisher, Tuffy, and a couple other brands. Most dropped the boat in favor of bigger, faster hulls; Tuffy kept it in the lineup because of the Esox Deep V demand. Turned out to be a somewhat popular console model for the multi-specie guys once gasoline went to 3 bucks a gallon. It isn't a 20 footer, but it is a great big water boat for a 17.
BN,
Probably yes on the 24 volt, but 12 is standard. 50# of thrust throws that boat around really well. |
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