Ranger Boats ranks as one of the world’s premier fishing-boat builders. Pontoon buyers who enjoy angling can “cast” themselves in the ­confident glow of Ranger’s expertise by considering the Reata 223FC.

This fish-and-play design delivers enough stowage for plenty of fishing gear, plus other accessories such as water skis, sandbar floats and beach chairs. A 7-foot-6-inch rod locker, located on the starboard side, will accommodate fishing outfits up to 7 feet, 6 inches long. In the bow, and in the stern, anglers enjoy fishing stations and rod holders, as well as holders for drinks and tools. Forward, find two deluxe swiveling, reclining fishing seats with self-leveling arms and a storage pouch. On the aft deck, find two fold-down fishing chairs. Aerated livewells are located fore and aft. If you want a trolling motor, adding one is easy thanks to the pre-wiring.

New for 2024, Ranger’s RIDE (Ranger Intelligent Display Engine) touchscreen graces the helm. There’s a 12-button switch panel here, and you command from a swiveling, reclining high-backed chair with a storage pocket. Overhead, the EasyLift Bimini top offers LED lights and a storage pocket. There’s abundant storage inside the plush L lounge and aft bench, each made with multidensity foam for maximum comfort. Deep gutters surround the lockers to keep stowed gear dry. Also new, the woven flooring is cushioned and easy to maintain. Aft, a four-step stainless-steel swim ladder eases boarding from the water.

The rugged construction aboard the 223FC includes 26-inch-diameter logs made from 0.100-gauge aluminum. Its  deck is 3/4-inch marine plywood; the transom is an all-aluminum box beam. Ranger backs it with a 10-year lifetime limited structural warranty.

Power the 223FC with Mercury outboards up to 200 hp. With undercladding and strakes on the logs, this pontoon can deliver performance. A changing-room kit, ski tower and tandem-axle trailer are some available ­options. Fishing pontooners should make Ranger’s Reata 223FC a must-see.

High Points

• Four-step, folding stainless-steel swim ladder makes getting in and out of the water safer and easier.
• New Ranger RIDE (Ranger Intelligent Display Engine) system provides touchscreen monitoring and control of multiple functions at the dash.
• EasyLift Bimini top comes with an LED light and a stowage pocket, and looks great.
• Fishing stations fore and aft; livewells fore and aft, plus a huge rod locker that will stow outfits up to 7 feet, 6 inches in length. 

Pricing and Specs

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There are a handful of premium bass-boat brands at the apex of tournament fishing. Ranger has always been one of them. People were hand-wringing after it was acquired by White River Marine, the parent company of Johnny Morris’ Tracker Marine, but the acquisition broadened Ranger’s dealer network and expanded access to service, and the company continues to hand-build gorgeous, rugged, beautiful bass boats. The new Z520R is a perfect example.

Ranger aims for comfortable fishability with reliable, competitive performance. Our test rig, fitted with a Mercury 250 Pro XS, freight-trained over 12-inch chop and larger boat wakes at 68.4 mph while fully equipped with trolling-motor batteries, a full tank of fuel and two test drivers. It’s pretty frugal for its size, making 3.9 mpg at 40 mph. Handling was pure Ranger legacy—smooth at all speeds, easy in turns, and never a threat of chine walking at top-end. The 18-degree deadrise, multistrake padded V-hull gives a solid, secure feel, even in rough chop. It features a tilt helm with hydraulic SeaStar steering system.

The console is extra tall and wide to accommodate dual side-by-side 12-inch Lowrance HDS graphs plus the Ranger RIDE digital-switching screen just below and to starboard. The cockpit seating is plush, deep and wide. Between the seats is a dry-storage box with phone charger and key tray. The optional passenger console is removable and has a large glove box.

Our tester had a Lowrance HDS 12, with room to spare. The HDS graph works together with the Ghost trolling motor to navigate and control with better accuracy for angling. Ranger’s rod-storage systems with tip protectors and room for dozens of utility boxes is unsurpassed. Tons of dry storage is available, including compact compartments such as the cooler step forward and the glove box under the aft center step.

Twin livewells are amply aerated and recirculated to keep the catch healthy.

The full-beam bilge hatch gives generous access to batteries, pumps, breakers and a charger. A Slidemaster manual jack plate is fitted and has optional dual Power-Poles.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 250 Pro XS FourStroke
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 23″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 46 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.

High Points

• Tracker lithium batteries and charger are standard.
• Gelcoated storage lockers have a protective Ranger-logo mat.
• Forward casting deck is padded beneath plush carpet to reduce angler fatigue.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Ranger Boats – Flippin, Arkansas; rangerboats.com

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This is Ranger’s fourth year in the pontoon marketplace, and we think it’s the company’s best, thanks, in part, to this new, fully featured but value-priced RP 200F. Part of the Classic Series, the affordable RP 200F builds on Ranger’s premium-quality lineup.

The nearly 22-foot fishing pontoon has plenty of crew-carrying capacity thanks to its 24-inch-diameter pontoons, and ample performance courtesy of its PowerPod motor mount that sets the propulsion aft of the logs for cleaner water out of the pontoon turbulence to enhance acceleration and top end. Powered by a 90 hp Mercury FourStroke outboard, the RP 200F hit a top speed of 24.2 mph at 5,900 rpm and consumed an economical 8.3 gph. With the standard 40 hp Mercury FourStroke, this pontoon prices at less than $24,000.

An abundance of standard features reduces the need to ponder options. Anglers will enjoy the two corner fishing stations at the bow, complete with rod and tool holders. There is storage underneath, with matching swivel pedestal fishing chairs beside them. An aft fishing station boasts a livewell in its corner pod. The padded seat in front of the console holds a second livewell. Trolling-motor batteries are stored beneath the console. There is a lockable rod box and ample storage for tackle, watersports gear and life jackets underneath the seats in guttered storage that diverts water away from the gear.

The trolling motor is removable for family cruises made comfortable in the luxurious, supple vinyl seats. The deck’s vinyl woven mat is durable, washable and sporty-looking. The main seating area is shaded by a standard Bimini top, which is spring-assisted when raising or lowering it. The system works so well, smaller passengers can safely raise or lower the top without assistance. That makes choosing full sun or cooling shade an easy choice and one accomplished in seconds, not minutes. To work it, flip open the Bimini support latches, fold back the brow, and lower the shade with one hand. It raises as easily and quickly—eliminating the most common complaint of Bimini tops.

High Points

·Optional fish package includes Minn Kota motor and Lowrance Hook 2 5-inch sonar/GPS.

·LED courtesy lights are handy for night fishing.

·Aft boarding platform equipped with a sturdy stainless-steel boarding ladder (standard).

Specs

LOA: 21′11”

Beam: 8′6”

Draft: N/A

Dry Weight: 1,700 lb.

Seat/Weight Capacity: 10/1,370 lb.

Fuel Capacity: 32 gal.

Price: $28,315 (as tested)

How We Tested

Engine: Mercury 90 ELPT FourStroke Command Thrust

Drive/Props: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 16″ x 11″ 3-blade stainless steel

Gear Ratio: 2.07:1

Fuel Load: 32 gal.

Crew Weight: 370 lb.

More Information

Ranger Boats – Flippin, Arkansas; 870-453-2222; rangerboats.com

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Ranger’s RB series proved itself popular among bass, crappie and coastal anglers—and now includes this larger new RB200.

Our test boat was powered by a four-stroke Mercury 150 ProXS outboard, a speedy, agile combination enhanced by hydraulic steering and smooth, precise throttle control. The RB200 planed in 2.8 seconds, reached 30 mph in 6.4 seconds and missed 50 mph by just a fraction. The RB200’s stout foam-filled hull is solid and knocked downdouble-up wakes without knocking out dental work—something many aluminum boats can’t do.

Ranger owners have come to expect ergonomic efficiency as well as stellar performance. This means paying attention to details that are often overlooked in the showroom. New steps—a pair nested port and starboard in the corners of forward bulkheads—make it easy to mount the casting deck. Three seat pedestals, one in the center flanked by two more, allow for setting it up with a leaning seat or a pair of folding seats for crappie spider riggers. Then there’s Ranger’s Lock-Track tool rail that runs the length of each gunwale, accommodating as many rod holders as you care to mount.

The wide front casting deck includes a trolling-motor pedal storage compartment with a trim ring to convert the compartment into a recessed tray.

The RB200’s layout is perfectly tailored for taking on inshore fisheries or buddy bass tournaments with dual livewells, ample rod boxes, and cavernous in-deck storage on the fore and aft decks and under the rear jump seats. Rod lockers to port and starboard hold up to 8-foot-6-inch rods. The front center livewell is ideal for keeping the catch fresh and holds larger fish such as muskie, stripers and snook along with a bait bucket for leeches or minnows. The all-fiberglass helm station has a sturdy grab rail and can hold a 9-inch sonar/GPS display. There’s a wide leaning post for two people and it’s flanked by jump seats aft.

Quick, nimble, easy to trailer, ultimately fishable for any species—the RB200 might be the most tempting fish boat we’ve seen in this price range.

High Points

⋅Batteries are easily accessible under the console.

⋅The rugged Rawhide spray-in cockpit floor liner is handsome and easy to care for.

⋅A standard aluminum-frame trailer makes it easy to launch, load and haul the boat.

Specs

LOA: 20′4″

Beam: 8′0″

Draft (max): 1′0″

Dry Weight: 1,550 lb.(without engine)

Seat/Weight Capacity: 5/825 lb.

Fuel Capacity: 28 gal.

Price: $37,714 (as tested)

How We Tested

Engine: Mercury 150 Pro XS

Drive/Props: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 19

Gear Ratio: 2.08:1

Fuel Load: 25 gal.

Crew Weight: 370 lb.

More Information

Ranger Boats – Flippin, Arkansas; 870-453-2222; rangerboats.com

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The only thing that could improve the performance of the original RT188 is the pad and offset transom on the 2020 version.

Together, these features deliver better handling, more stability and a faster top speed than traditional aluminum bass boats with modified V-bottom hulls. An all-new keel design also offers greater strength and rigidity too.

The RT188P’s sporty look features Ranger’s custom graphics and a metallic urethane paint—you choose the combination from six options. The upholstery is not only designed to complement hull colors, its three-dimensional cushions offer the big-boat ride expected from Ranger’s fiberglass tournament boats.

On the forward casting deck, a recessed tray keeps the optional Minn Kota Max 70 trolling-motor pedal handy when needed and secure when trailering.

A forward center rod locker stores sticks up to 81/2 feet long. Or, the rod locker can be arranged to hold Plano 3700 utility boxes while keeping shorter rods in the portside locker. A starboard tackle compartment and fiberglass cooler complete the storage options.

Ranger added three fiberglass elements to enhance the utility and look inside. A fiberglass bow console is large enough to flush-mount a 9-inch sonar/GPS screen. The fiberglass helm console accommodates gauges, one-touch switching and a Lowrance HOOK2 7 combo fish finder/GPS unit at the optimal viewing angle. An optional fiberglass storage step between seats holds phones and keys.

Ranger also enhanced aft storage and bilge access by moving the fuel tank beneath the cockpit seating, opening space for large compartments and a large bilge-access hatch on the aft casting deck. With insulated lids on the storage compartments, they are ideal for stowing life jackets, rain gear and other large items. A recirculating, divided livewell with a timer is centered below the rear fishing chair.

The RT188P may be the most pro-ready aluminum bass boat we’ve seen this year, and with the electronics, Power-Poles and trolling motors you choose, it’s the best-equipped and tournament-ready.

High Points

⋅A color-matched trailer is standard with the RT188P.

⋅Three fiberglass pods add practical, stylish spots for electronics and gear.

⋅Transom design accommodates dual Power-Poles and hydraulic jack plate.

Specs

LOA: 18′4″

Beam: 7′8″

Draft (max): 1′0″

Dry Weight: 1,300 lb.

Seat/Weight Capacity: 4/660 lb.

Fuel Capacity: 24 gal.

Price: $38,573 (as tested)

How We Tested

Engine: Mercury 115L Pro XS FourStroke

Drive/Props: Outboard/Mercury 23P Tempest

Gear Ratio: 2.07:1

Fuel Load: 10 gal.

Crew Weight: 450 lb.

More Information

Ranger Boats – Flippin, Arkansas; 870-453-2222; rangerboats.com

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The 621cFS PRO might be the most technologically advanced freshwater fishing boat we’ve tested. Designed for walleye anglers, it is loaded with innovative technology such as Ranger’s RIDE (Ranger Intelligent Display Engine), a 9-inch, touchscreen switching system for controlling and monitoring all the functions of the boat.

The upholstered helm console is redesigned with a luxury-car look and accommodates a 16-inch sonar/chart plotter along with the RIDE display.

The all-new FS PRO Series hull delivers optimal performance when it steps up on pad, and it has the solid construction for which Ranger is known. With a Mercury 400 XL Verado engine, it shot from the hole in 5.1 seconds and accelerated to 30 miles per hour in 10.6 seconds. We cut sharp turns to create wakes, which this Deep-V model handled with ease.

Ranger delivered a larger cockpit by removing the rear tackle boxes and replaced storage by lengthening the bow deck 4 inches to enlarge the forward storage boxes. At the bow, a trolling-motor pedal storage box and a concealed drawer—tap it with your toe to deploy it—for storing pliers and other fishing tools were added.

Forward storage boxes are gelcoated and boast Ranger’s Power Ventilation Rod Storage system that removes moisture to inhibit corrosion and mildew. The bow center rod locker can handle 8-foot-6-inch-long rods. A cooler on the port side and a baitwell on the starboard side flank the center rod compartment. The front deck step has a net handle socket for stowing a landing net and a storage compartment below.

Our test boat was equipped with one Power-Pole, along with optional Zipwake interceptors. These compact modules replace trim tabs and won’t obstruct a kicker motor. Adding to the robotic-tech effect, Zipwakes automatically react to conditions and load balance to keep the boat on level pitch and roll and ideal trim.

Walleye pros might have set the style for this boat, but it will be coveted by anglers of muskie, pike, stripers and black bass throughout the U.S.A.

High Points

⋅Luxuriously upholstered seating and coaming pads.

⋅An electronic, programmable, combination-ignition touchscreen keeps the boat secure at the dock.

⋅Dual livewells efficiently maintain a lively catch and keep bait frisky.

Specs

LOA: 21′10″

Beam: 8′6″

Draft (max): 1′4″

Dry Weight: 2,450 lb.

Seat/Weight Capacity: 7/2,300 lb.

Fuel Capacity: 56 gal.

Price: $114,130 (as tested)

How We Tested

Engine: Mercury 400XL Verado

Drive/Prop: Bravo 22

Gear Ratio: 5.44:1

Fuel Load: 45 gal.

Crew Weight: 380 lb.

More Information

Ranger Boats – Flippin, Arkansas; 870-453-2222; rangerboats.com

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Ranger launched the 2360 Bay, its downsized version of the 2510, in early 2019. You’ll need to look sharply to distinguish it from the 2510 at first glance because the lines, console, hardtop and leaning post are borrowed from the wildly successful larger flagship.

Our test boat featured Mercury’s new 250-horsepower DTS V-8 outboard for power. (It’s also available with Yamaha and Evinrude powerplants.) With the Merc, we hit 52 mph with two men on board and 25 gallons of fuel. Acceleration is snappy, and the boat rode flat, requiring little trim to bring it atop the water, skimming the waves. Trim tabs are not needed for the hole shot, but they are helpful to level the load or lift the bow side facing quartering seas for a smoother ride.

The hardtop on the 2360 Bay is a beautiful addition. While some anglers don’t care to have it interfering with casts, few 2510s leave the factory without it. Ranger expects it to be just as in demand on the 2360. It should be. The two-part hardtop has a molded-in electronics cabinet and four speaker pods for 6.5-inch stereo speakers. It is rigid and good-looking, and even better-looking if you opt up for the colored ceiling—match it to your hull, or go with a darker shade to knock down glare. The pipe work can be ordered as anodized, but the boat is far more beautiful—and resalable—with powder-coated pipe work that only adds $1,462 to the cost. And, for fishermen, it sports six rocket launchers and two kingfish rod holders.

Learn more about the Mercury outboard that powered this boat.

There are plenty of bay boats in the range of 23 to 25 feet; it’s that beefy console that most of them lack. Ranger’s comfortably protects two anglers behind it with just the right height for easy forward visibility and maximum weather protection.

Pathfinder’s 2300 (comparably equipped with a trailer, less the trolling motor and power poles) starts at $93,341, and opts for a trimmed-down console and a narrower beam at 8 feet, 4 inches, and about a foot and a half of its length comes from a bustled transom, which adds performance to the stepped hull but not deck space. There is nothing you can take away from Pathfinder’s reputation as a quality builder. Its fit and finish are unapproachable, and the boat is a hard-edged fisher without the niceties of aft jump seats—stowable aft seat cushions and a backrest are optional.

There is plenty of deck space on the 2360—its beam is the same 8 feet, 6 inches as the 2510. And the 2360 is just as practical and fishable. Its length overall is shortened mostly by the reduced aft deck that ends just behind the same jump seats you find in the big sister. Three Plano tackle boxes slide from the cabinet to the starboard of the jump seat, and the raw-water outlet is in the cabinet to port. What’s missing from the 2360’s deck are an aft storage compartment and crustacean livewell.

Yet there is still plenty of livewell capacity. In the leaning post (also borrowed from the 2510) is a 30-gallon livewell complete with dual inlets, a high-speed pickup on the hull, and two 1,100 gallon per hour pumps to fill and refresh it. There is also a recirculation pump that further boosts oxygen and baitwell capacity. One of the first to build in livewells for bass fishing, Ranger has more experience than anyone in that discipline, and it shows here and in the insulated cooler/livewell forward that can be used for crustaceans, additional pogies or greenies, or whatever live bait you’re fishing.

Access to plumbing, livewells, the battery charger and hydraulics is perhaps easier on the 2360. A hatch in the cockpit sole between the livewell and aft seat gives access to the baitwell, and fresh- and raw-water plumbing. Access to the dual bilge pumps is beneath the jump seat. On the front of the leaning post, a large hatch gives comfortable access to the livewell recirculation pump and inlets for the dual 1,100 gph fill pumps. Batteries are in the front of the leaning post for easy management, and a wiring diagram makes maintenance easy.

The console is generous, with room for dual 12-inch chart-plotter displays and instruments. We’d opt out of instruments and either go with the engine-proprietary LCD or network the engine’s NMEA 2000 communications system to the displays so engine data is reported in a window on them. This opens the dash panel near the throttle to installation of a stereo controller, which keeps the wannabe DJs from reaching over the skipper’s head to play tunes. You could also put the VHF there, eliminating the need for an external speaker, but you’ll have to mount the mic higher on the console, or it will interfere with the throttle and chart-plotter display.

Ranger has been building saltwater fishing boats since 1982, and that is on top of 50 years of building the world’s most successful performance bass-boat brand. The 2360 not only springs from that experience, but it also proves Ranger knows how to expand upon it in each new model it builds.

High Points

• Forward cooler is also plumbed for a livewell.
• Bow deck is lowered for security and to make the step more comfortable.
• Stow eight rods in the locker and 22 on deck in rod holders and rocket launchers.

Low Points

• Compass is optional.
• Power-Pole hydraulic pump and control head is reachable but hidden from view, making initial programming difficult.
• Ranger Trail trailer is rugged, and the bow step is handy, but it will jackknife into your tailgate.

Price: $94,638 (with test power)

Available Power: Outboard

How We Tested
Engine: Mercury FourStroke 250 hp DTS V-8
Drive/Prop: Mercury Rev 4 23″ 4-blade
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 25 gal.
Water on Board: 0 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Ranger Boats – Flippin, Arkansas; 870-453-2222; rangerboats.com

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Durable luxury and irreproachable comfort stand as benchmarks of performance in a good pontoon boat. It’s a new performance paradigm for Ranger, but one it tackled well three model years ago and improved even further in this year’s pontoon lineup — which includes this triple-tube Reata 223FC. Even more, the 223FC combines exciting features to make the boat a seriously fun fisher too.

Durable good looks come first from powder-coated tubes that eliminate the near-immediate tarnishing of raw-aluminum tubes. Washable and waxable, with care they will hold their glossy looks for years. Topside, rails are anodized after welding, and color-matched side panels are securely fastened so that they don’t drum and rattle. Cleats, magnetic gate stops, a boarding ladder and all visible, functional hardware is of attractive, highly polished stainless steel.

Luxury comes from the thickly padded seats with comfortably bolstered back rests and bottoms. Vinyl is supple and the textures include a metallic-look weave, quilted beige mid panels and a supple, smooth vinyl for the pillow tops. Bases are padded and upholstered to the kick panels and when the seat designs meet the woven-look vinyl flooring — durable and washable — it all comes together in a style fit for a corporate jet.

To fish, the boat is equipped with an aft tackle center that includes a large livewell. Utility tackle storage is accessible under the workstation top hatch and a pair of rod holders keep sticks handy for two companions in the aft bucket fishing seats.

For added style, there are LED courtesy lights and LED docking lights. The deck is shaded nicely by the standard Bimini top, color-matched to complement the boat’s tubes, side panels and seating.

The 223FC comes ready and wired for an electric trolling motor and at the helm is an optional Lowrance sonar chart plotter. The luxury bucket seat is ideally positioned for comfortable driving, as is the tilt wheel and throttle lever.

In pontoons, performance is luxury, but this one also provides watersports speeds with its 150 Merc. Imagine what it will do with a 200 hp outboard!

High Points

• Easy-lift Bimini raises and lowers for storage and bridge clearance with fingertip pressure.
• Gates are carefully designed to prevent pinching.
• Magnetic catches hold the doors open for easy boarding.
• Interior LED courtesy lights add a warm glow.
• Hydraulic steering for easy control is standard.
• Dual fishing chairs aft make angling comfortable.
• Exterior LED lights under the deck illuminate the tubes and water below.

How We Tested
Engine: Mercury 150 hp FourStroke
Drive/Props: Enertia 15.6″ x 13″
Gear Ratio: 1.92:1
Fuel Load: 24 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Ranger Boats – Flippin, Arkansas; 870-453-2222; rangerboats.com

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If there were an animated movie about bass boats, the Ranger Z521L Comanche would have Clint Eastwood’s voice and John Wayne’s swagger. It’s that good, that American, and its reputation is known by every bass fisherman in the world.

The Comanche platform has evolved over decades as solid, stable and reliable. In fact, many a decades-old Comanche, once forgotten in bass fishing’s back country, has been reclaimed from oblivious neglect with little more than wet sanding and recarpeting. That durability comes from a pultruded transom, factory cast under tension for uncompromising true rigidity. It’s bonded to the hull and stringer system. Then, as with all Rangers since the beginning, the hull voids are filled with rot-proof, waterproof, rigid foam filling that makes the boat ride as firm as it is unsinkable.

When the throttle is applied, the Comanche rears up like when Eastwood or Wayne nudged his horse with spurs, then it stretches its neck forward, eager to run — often well in excess of 70 mph.

As solid as the hull is, the styling is equally unforgettable, unique and exciting. Stainless-steel trim, tool holders, an integrated measuring board slot, cup holders, a boarding ladder and grab handles disguised as transom louvers just scratch the surface of the Comanche look. The helm is modern, amply adorned with chrome and angular like a stealth aircraft, with a large chart plotter / sonar display. Add a second helm for your passenger if you wish. Both are designed to protect rod tips in a slot between gunwale and helm.

Tackle storage up front has Ranger’s custom ventilation system to care for your tackle when its “rode hard and put away wet.” Rod storage systems hold well over a dozen rods, and you’ll be able to clear your garage of tackle by keeping it in the dedicated compartments on board the Ranger. Tool holders at the bow and the step to the front deck keep fishing pliers and cutters in place. A cooler under the step is for drinks and sub sandwiches, and the console step to the transom platform keeps phones and other small gear safe.

When it’s time for a bass fisherman to fill his hands, the Z521L will make his day.

High Points

• Remote drain-plug control eliminates the hunt for a lost plug.
• LED lights throughout all compartments ease access to contents in low light.
• Fishing tools are kept handy by built-in holders near the trolling motor and the step to the front deck.
• Mercury’s new V-8 FourStroke is powerful and quiet, making for a quick, comfortable ride to the fishing grounds.
• You can choose the hull and interior colors to match your taste.
• Boarding ladder springs into place.

Price: $72,095

How We Tested
Engine: Mercury Pro XS 250 FourStroke
Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 23″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.85:1
Fuel Load: 33 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Ranger Boats – Flippin, Arkansas; 870-453-2222; rangerboats.com

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On the hull, Ranger’s welds are smoother than a row of nickels — the welder’s standard for an even melding of metal. Inside, the deck sports four swivel bucket seats and a fishing-seat socket on both the fore and aft fishing decks. Fiberglass parts include sleekly designed dual consoles for captain and passenger, borrowed from Ranger’s popular Reata line. Also check out the tool holder at the bow, which houses a large sonar chart plotter. Lift the small hatch at the bow to reveal a fiberglass compartment that holds the trolling motor’s foot pedal. Aft, there’s a fiberglass tackle holder that’s both functional and good-looking. And, as with all of Ranger’s fiberglass boats, the hollows beneath the deck are filled with foam to add rigidity, emergency buoyancy, and a softer, quieter ride.

Rod storage on deck includes holders under the gunwales, and a large carpeted center compartment under the bow deck features rod-tip tubes and butt hangers to keep your gear safe in rough water and as easy to draw out as a saber.

Livewells take advantage of Ranger’s many years of experience in keeping the catch or the bait alive. They fill with fresh lake water, and recirculate and aerate as well. For Great Lakes anglers, the gunwales are wide enough to accept downriggers.

Like each Ranger we’ve tested, the VX1888 WT is rigged perfectly, this one with Mercury’s new V-8 power. Our hole shot was rewarding, acceleration smooth, and top speed more than adequate to race the competition to the choicest fishing grounds.

Ranger has learned a lot in its decades-long quest to build premium fishing boats in both fiberglass and aluminum. The VX1888 WT brings the best of both.

High Points

• Jump seats in the aft deck come in handy.
• Access to starting battery and charger is easy.
• Trolling motor batteries sit forward on the centerline for smooth handling.

Price: $42,695

How We Tested
Engine: Mercury V-8 225 hp
Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Rev 4 14 5/8″ x 19″
Gear Ratio: 1.85:1
Fuel Load: 28 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Ranger Boats – Flippin, Arkansas; 870-453-2222; rangerboats.com

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