I would love a review of this boat from somebody running it around Charleston. Any ■■■■■■■■ on the Ranger Intracoastal? I need a 75% bass boat/25% reds and trout boat and this seems like the way to go.
I was curious and just looked at that boat on their website. It looks like a bass boat to me. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but how is it not a bass boat?
Lack of carpet?
Little Tuna,
You said, “I need a 75% bass boat/25% reds and trout boat and this seems like the way to go.”
I say bingo: that’s exactly what the Ranger Intracoastal is. It’s a bass boat that’s been stripped of carpet and corrosive metals and upgraded with stainless steel and other salt-friendly materials and hardware. If you want a boat that’s 75% bass and 25% trout, it looks like you have found it.
I haven’t owned this boat, but a friend of mine uses a Ranger with basically the same hull in the salt, and I’ve fished with him a bit. I also looked hard into this one a few years back. The one problem with this model that hinders some people, but might not hinder you, is that it is not self-bailing, and the deck drains into the bilge (unless that’s been changed since I checked it out). That really shouldn’t be a problem, unless you go through a sheepshead phase, like I did a few years ago, or throw a castnet for bait like some other folks do. If you’re just throwing plastics at trout and bass, it’s no problem, really. Bass boats typically have a better deck layout (in my opinion) and more storage than the typical flats or bay boat (if you’re used to, and like, the bass-boat layout), and not having a T-top in the way is a plus for baitcasters (but you can get plenty of bays without a T-top). I’ve always liked the increased casting-deck space, fore and aft, that the bass boats sport, along with the standard pedestal mounts, multiple livewells (thought this model has only one), and ample storage. I do wish it had walk-around gunnels, but most bay boats don’t either. I don’t know what it weighs, but knowing Ranger, it will probably be heavier than most bay or flats boats of the same size, and you probably won’t want to be trying to pole the thing. Some also say it won’t ride as well across a harbor as a bay boat, but it will almost certainly do better than most any flats boat in a chop, and the draft is about the same as a bay. On the other hand, some bass fishermen will point out that it will do fin
Thanks Lee. Wow, that was in depth.
The only worries I have are visibility (low to the water) around shallows in salt water and the fact that there is seating for only three. No party fishing off that Ranger.
I would think a good bay design boat would cross over to fresh water, better than a bass style boat would cross over to salt water. Or a bigger flats style boat such as a 21’ Redfisher
Thats about as in depth as I can go right now
quote:and glitter.
Originally posted by birddawgLack of carpet?
Yeah, fellas. I’m really starting to think about going to bay/flats route rather than that intracoastal. I can’t get over the vision issue.
quote:
Originally posted by Little TunaThanks Lee. Wow, that was in depth.
The only worries I have are visibility (low to the water) around shallows in salt water and the fact that there is seating for only three. No party fishing off that Ranger.
I tend to go into some detail when I write.
Per your desire for more seating, it sounds like you really want a bay boat to me. A small bay boat with a good trolling motor and without the T-top will do just fine as a x-over bass boat/trout boat, IMO. I personally wouldn’t go too big because I want to be able to turn around in tight spaces and maneuver as much water as possible. Always gives and takes.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
quote:
Originally posted by Little TunaYeah, fellas. I’m really starting to think about going to bay/flats route rather than that intracoastal. I can’t get over the vision issue.
For 75% bass and 25% trout, that’s not really an issue, but if you’re really also wanting to sight-fish and pole for reds a good bit, too, that’s certainly something to consider. Form follows function.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862