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#516424 02/04/20 05:46 PM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 175
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Posts: 175
Hi all.
Does anybody have this boat?
This year i would like to buy my first bass boat and I am taking a look at the various brands and models. Within 250 km of my house I only have 2 dealers dealing with Nitro, Ranger, Tracker and Triton.
As for measures and budgets for now I would be oriented precisely on the Ranger RT178, but I would like to know from those who already own it some more realistic and "on the field" information than those you find at retailers.


Filippo
ItalyBASS #516459 02/06/20 05:50 AM
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I had a 20 ft. Ranger for over 30 years. Recently parted with it due to me having very little interest in fishing public lakes with a 20 ft. boat.
Ranger makes a good boat but they are heavy. That's not bad because it adds to stability. I once heard them called lead sleds.

Bottom line is that I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

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ItalyBASS #516462 02/06/20 08:14 AM
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Filippo, just some background info, but Johnny Morris (Bass Pro Shops) owns all 4 brands, so it makes sense all 4 are at the same marine dealer.

Unless a forum member has personal experience with the boats you're interested in, I'd go to Bass Boat Central and open up an account. The account allows you to see all the posted images and search existing posts. They may still confirm memberships, so be sure they understand that you've only got a Tracker dealer in Italy, and you need to research boats. Once the account is set up, scroll down to the boat sections, and search for specific posts about all 4 brands. So for the RT178, open the Ranger section, and search from there. Tons of on the water info available.

Personally, I would pass on the Nitro. To get it in the same price range as the tin boats, it'll probably be under powered. Here, all boats have a US Coast Guard horsepower plate that lets you know what the maximum rated engine HP that can be used with that boat is. If nothing else, that's the one option you want. There will probably be a small increase in speed, but the main advantages are resale value, and the ability to get up on plane faster. Many under powered boats almost require a "whale tail" added to the engine's lower unit to help the boat get up on plane, and unless you want your boat to look like a Porsche rolling down the road, you don't want that.

All being equal, I'd probably buy a Ranger RT178. A long history of quality boats, and better resale value would make it an easy choice for me.

Let us know what you decide to get.


AL

ItalyBASS #516463 02/06/20 09:05 AM
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Filippo I prefer fishing my own ponds, but sometimes miss fishing on a big lake too. For what little big lake fishing I would do, I figure it's cheaper for me to fish with guides on big lakes. I fished twice with local guides in 2019 and had a blast.

The Ranger you are considering looks nice.



Fishing has never been about the fish....

ItalyBASS #516498 02/07/20 04:37 PM
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Thank you all, really appreciated.

@Dave you had a really big boat. I've fished one time on a Nitro Z21 on lake Coghinas (Sardinia) with guide and I'll be there again from march 30th to april 3rd fishing on 2 lakes: Coghinas and Liscia. They are "big" for Italy and have a lot of big bass. That boat is great, but it's too big and too much expensive for me. I think here it will cost around 65/75k euros. The Ranger RT178, with some optional, should be about 30/35k.
Stability is a must 'cause I will use it mostly in lakes with kids.

@FireIsHot great advice! I'll surely subscribe to that forum. It's really full of info on bass boats.
I really don't need a rocket and probably I won't buy a bigger than 60 hp motor. Here big motors are only for tournaments and yes, I don't want my boat looks like a Porsche rolling down the road grin

@Zep I love to fish my pond too, but mine is only 1 acre and I love to fish rivers and lakes too.
I'll spend about 1200 euros next month for a 5 days of fishing on 2 lakes with guide and I know it will be a blast, but I dream of owning a bass boat since I was a kid although this has its pros and cons.


Filippo

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