Best Bass Boat

[BIGSHOW]

Looking for a new bass boat. I am kinda leaning toward the ranger 2050 reatta. Any comments or input? I like that it has more room than a typical "bass boat" because it will also double as a family boat to tube and ski. The dealer I talked to is pushing the yamaha saying it is very reliable. Any input? Or other options? Hate to second guess when i'm forking out that much cash.

[djkimmel]

Ranger Boats have and always will be my boat. I have gone to the factory a number of times over the years to watch them make the boats from materials to finished product.

They are built very well. They are extremely safe - will not sink. They do that demonstration all the time - cut a bunch of big holes through the boat to let if flood with water. Still floats. Safe for your family.

They are the best compromise mix of fishability verses speed verses ride verses storage in a bass and fishing boat in my opinion. I like to fish from my boat quite a bit, and have spent a great deal of my time on the big ole Great Lakes, so stability and the quality of the fishing capabilities are pretty important to me. Easier to fish from a more stable platform. Safer for passengers too.

I have had my Yamaha HPDI 225 for 9 years now and it has started every time I want it to - winter, spring, summer and fall. I have not had to have any repairs to get it to run. They don't say 'turn the key reliability' for nothing. Also good on gas and oil. Great torque for the times I have been in rough water. Torque is also good for things like tubing and skiing.

I'm very confident in the Ranger - Yamaha combination.

The poor boat and trailer have been put through the ringer by a less than perfect owner. I used to be a little bit of a hard driver when I fished tournaments but not counting the two times I had outboards break off (1 my fault, 1 the outboard makers or possibly a combination of the maker and a bad driver from England) my boat has held up very well to 20 years of the Great Lakes and being stored outside.

I did have a spindle go bad last year on my trailer after 19 years of traveling around Michigan, the Great Lakes region and some national travel. My fault. I did not put the hub on correctly and blew a seal on a downhill highway drive. Doesn't take long to do damage at highway speed if you spin out all your grease. If the boat and trailer can last this long with a so-so owner, I am not surprised how well they hold up and stay looking great with the good owners like my old fishing partner Derek. His boat and trailer still looks like the day he bought it almost 10 years later.

Bonus: Ranger Boats have generally the highest and best resale value. Especially if you keep them looking nice with a little bit of maintenance and care.

[BIGSHOW]

I can see they hold their value now that I have been looking at used ones and new. How do your guys boats do on the rougher water? Like I said i'm looking at the reata (fish and ski type) with the deeper hull. There just seems to be more room for the family outings. I would also think it may take some rougher water better.

[Waterfoul]

The Reatta is their "multi-species" "multi-use" boat.  It has a taller hull then their bass boats and will therefore get blown around in the wind a bit more.  They also have actual gunwhale's so you are more "in" the boat than a bass boat where you basically are "on" the boat.  Not great for flipping if you like to do that sort of thing.

But, they are a great family boat and will ride better in bumpy water.

[djkimmel]

I have driven the 2050 Reata down South but not on real rough water - moderate boat chop. It runs a more like a deep-v walleye/fisherman boat hull than a bass boat hull. I have been in a number of the 620/621 hulls in real rough water up here on the Great Lakes and the Reata is very similar to them.

Drier and can power through some of the moderate to rough waves because of the combination of depth, weight and beam. It will be a very dry hull and will not jump out of the water like a bass boat so the ride won't be as bumpy as a bass boat hull. Unless you try to run full speed into really big waves, you will feel a lot more calm after a run in rough water in this hull.

That is the reason some of the Great Lakes bass experts on the Lake Erie side of the state have switched over the these types of hulls for their bass tournament fishing. They tell me they are able to fish better because they still feel good when they get to their spot after the long run in the big water piles. I felt that when I have been out with them.

If you want to always be first to the spot and you mostly fish calm water, you may be disappointed in the deeper, heavier hull. But if you want your family to feel safe, dry and secure, and not be as worn in the boat chop or rough water, you will like this hull.

When I have run my older Ranger against these deeper hulls (back in my run harder, get there tournament days) I would pull away from them in the flat water to moderate chop, but when we got out into the big stuff, they could keep up or even pass me. The Reata is not rated for quite as big a motor as the Fisherman series (225 top vs 250 top for the 620) but for a family boat, it will still get the kids squealing if you want to.

[fish hound]

My advice is don't be in a hurry and test drive/ride in any model you are thinking of, and make it the roughest day you would fish, or worse.  Basically, ride and decide, and let the boat tell you.  As far as engines,  there are bad reports about all.  Do your own research and find what fits you,  anything else is bound to be 1 persons experience.  And yes, some are paid to say nothing bad. Keep that in mind.  My 2 cents.

[Cy]

My advice is don't be in a hurry and test drive/ride in any model you are thinking of, and make it the roughest day you would fish, or worse.  Basically, ride and decide, and let the boat tell you.  As far as engines,  there are bad reports about all.  Do your own research and find what fits you,  anything else is bound to be 1 persons experience.  And yes, some are paid to say nothing bad. Keep that in mind.  My 2 cents.

I can't believe it...I thought for sure you would say buy a Champ w/ Merc or you're dumb!!!   

[bassfan586]

Nest bass boat is your buddies.:-P  I have riddenin quite a few and I bought a ranger.  I agrre with everything that Dan says.  But every one thinks there brand is the best.......  I did a lot of research and ridding in them before i pulled the trigger.

[bob o]

don't forget about basscat check out the all new basscat/yarcraft calico

http://www.towelloutdoormedia.com/Boats/BassCatBoats/Calico/24585595_VcgG3c#!i=2011123495&k=27BMZ3d

awsome customer service

[Ranger482v]

I have owned a few different brands I now own a skeeter but the first chance I get to buy another RANGER I absolutley will.They aren't the fastest boat on the water but in my opinion they are the best ride in a chop and they have a very good resale value.

[djkimmel]

I've been in quite a few tournaments in the past where the 'slow' Rangers were the first boat out leading the pack over quite a few years. I've passed more than a few real fast "70 to 80+ mph" boats in my 60mph 20 year old Ranger too! Always enjoyed the look on their faces!!

I've had several partners, and fished against a number of other good anglers in the past who made a habit out of passing those 'faster' bass boats with their 'slow' Rangers. I also kept track of which brands sank verses which ones didn't.

I once borrowed a friend's 'slow' Ranger and took it down to Lake Hamilton to pre-practice for the All-American. I was blowing by all those really fast southern boys. I had a number of them checking me out in the parking lot later to figure out what the heck I was running that was 'so big and fast too!!' I really enjoyed that. A lot!

All part of why I own a Ranger Boat! Good times...

[fish hound]

I can't believe it...I thought for sure you would say buy a Champ w/ Merc or you're dumb!!!   

You have so much to learn, young grasshoppa.  "Ride and Decide" was Champion's slogan,  too bad there not arround anymore.  As far as Merc, I don't think I'd own anything newer than an EFI or XB, I think they run too close to the ragged edge of lean for my taste.   

[LennyB]

Ranger's finished product is the best. If the NEW Stratos Elite's (made from Champion's hull mold) were finished to the quality of the Ranger, I would consider buying one for the better rough water ride, but they are not finished to the level of a Ranger. I wish they were. Just my 2 cents. 

[djkimmel]

They should be. They come down the same lines in the same factory.

I'm still extremely happy with what I can do in rough water with a Z21 and a 250HP Yamaha. All I have to do is save a few really big jars of pennies to get my own.

Meanwhile, I imagine I can get another 10 years or so out my trusty 1993 492VS. Especially, now that I try to not put that poor boat through anymore Great Lakes 'storm trials.'

(I am not a paid spokesperson for Ranger Boats. But I am partial...)

[motocross269]

I am not going to get in an argument on what boat is the best but I will say that Bass Cat has the best Customer Service of any brand out there....JD powers winner based on initial quality for I believe 5 or 6 years in a row now....
Lifetime warrany (Transferrable) on Hull and stringers says alot also......

Bass Cat and Yar Craft coming together to manufacture boats...I couldn't think of a better combination....

No matter what brand you are going to buy I would get as much information on the quality of service of the dealer you are looking at doing business with....Even if you are buying used knowing that your rig is going to be serviced in a decent amount of time and fixed right can make the difference between a summer watching bassmasters on TV or time spent on the lake....

[thedude]

i know there's a lot of ranger fans out there, but i always considered them them Lincoln/Cadillac (at least cadillac 10 years ago) of bass boats. Nice ride, well built, good quality, expensive, classy and perfect for old people.....  

ranger is a good baseline to compare too i think, there's a lot of boats that are not as good and a lot of boats that are comparable or better - just depends on what features are important to you. If you are concerned with resale value - ranger is #1, if you are concerned with rough water running (in a true bassboat hull) they aren't, not #1 in terms of speed, fit & finish, etc either..... finding 1 boat that is the best at all those things combined is pretty much impossible however.

[Revtro]

Ditto on Moto's BassCat take.  I have had outstanding customer service including talking to the owner.  There's no reason for arguments because it's all subject to personal opinion.  My personal opinion is that the BassCat ride is actually smoother in rough water than Ranger, but that's just my personal experience.  I have ridden in a few Rangers and felt this way.  I have also had several people ride in my BassCat and comment how it's been the smoothest ride they've ever had.  I personally think Ranger and BassCat are the top 2.  So don't discount BC.  I will say though that I wish mine was Yamaha powered.  I like my EFI, but it's a gas and oil HOG.  And I'm not thrilled with the low-end torque.  And I love how quiet the HPDI Yamahas are.  Just my $.02.  No diss to Mercury or Ranger. 

I will say tho...the driver does have a little something to do with the ride. 

[djkimmel]

The driver has a LOT to do with the ride. I can't tell you how many times over the years while I was traveling to 'big' water in other states where nervous people got in my boat thinking they were in for a beating, yet at the end of the day they would tell me things from: 'they were pleasantly surprised,' to 'it was the best rough water ride they had ever had' and everything in between.

On the days my patience was worse than normal, or we had to run through stuff that you just shouldn't be taking a bass boat out in the first place, or my internal 'beast' (or too much coffee and morning rock 'n roll) got the better of me, I didn't get as many compliments. Even had a few people not real fond of my boat.

Not bad really considering I have 'old technology' hull that was designed over 20 years ago. You can tell lots of people have been led to believe lots of things about various brands, models and hulls. I had a number of Ranger fans tell me they didn't like the Z21 hull. They couldn't drive it the way they used to drive their previous hull.

Well, that's the whole deal right there. You have to learn to drive your hull in various conditions through experience to find out what tack works best. I LOVE the Z21 hull. I drove one about 140 miles during some of the worst Lake St. Clair/Detroit River day I've ever been through a few years ago while doing camera and video work at an FLW event. I was amazed at how dry it was and how the next day I was barely sore at all yet I was able to cover quite a few competitors from the Detroit River to quite a ways up the St. Clair River to far East central part of the Lake St. Clair and back fast enough to have 5 pro boats following me back down the Detroit River.

That day sold me on the Z21. I have no idea why some Ranger owners don't like that hull?? I LOVED it! To cover that much water efficiently with good speed, stay dry and not be sore for the next 4 or 5 days, what more can I ask?!? Lots of anglers like the 500 series hull with the Z deck layouts but I still like the Z hulls better having been in rough water in both a number of times.

I'm pretty impressed with many of the newer hulls of several brands anymore when I get to drive them in rough stuff. You stay drier, get beat a lot less and can get around faster without breaking all your stuff. I especially like things like the Ranger soft ride seats (SRS) and since I do fish more than drive, I like the padded front deck on some of the models, and the stability for anglers and passengers moving around the boat while in waves.

If I had kids to take out with a lot more, or the wife and I was into doing things like skiiing and tubing, I would lean towards the Fisherman or Reata series hull no problem since they are deeper, drier, safer and less anxiety-causing for people not used to being in waves. I have had my wife out a couple times in some decent swells and she did not like feeling that close to the water at all! She let me hear it! I think that is common for many kids and non-angler types to feel more comfortable and secure. Good that companies make boats available to keep the family happy and still give you a decent fishing platform.

[mikesmiph]

Driver has A LOT to do with it. I've been back seating quite a bit lately. Was in a BC last year and nearly got beat to death. Couldnt stand straight for 3 days. Recently, Spent another day in one on LSC and had a great ride. Same boat. Same with Rangers. Last year in a Z-521 driven by a master. 5 footers from Muskegon to White, with no circulation in my right leg. Dry as a bone, and fished all day. 2 recent trips on LSC in pretty much the same boat, one good, one bad. My one trip out in a Legend was in 4 footers. Must have been a good driver, I didnt know him. Best ride I've ever had in a boat. Like Dan says, you have to learn to drive each hull. They drive different. Layout, and design are two things I look at. I figure with enough practice I can learn just about any boat. I take my antique out on LSC in 5 footers. I've learned how to drive it. Very slow, with the nose up lol

[Got Fish??]

 Your question was? Best Bass Boat? What ever you can afford, that gets you out on the water and back safe. Is the best bass boat.