FMNitro
I haven't ridden in one yet, but from what I've seen, and I've been all through the boat, The Ranger Z21 is the perfect Bass Boat. I've got my eye on a FLW tour edition....now if I can just convince momma.....

I have a 95 Skeeter 195 which is 19ft and fishes like it is 17ft. I can't even lay my rods down on the deck as it is not long enough and they hang over and will fall off. It is also too narrow. Can't wait till I get enough money to buy something else. You would think that at 19ft it would have enough front deck length to lay down a 6 1/2 ft rod. What a pain!

I know a guy named Gene Robison who has one of the Z series Rangers and he is sponored through Ranger and he said it was not a very dry ride. Compared to his previsous Rangers and he has owned several. I would suggest you take your time and do not let anyone else influence your decision because you are the one that is going to have the payment. Goog Luck!!

I have a '93 374V and it doesn't have a livewell up front. Rather it has two behind the bench seat just like on the newer boats.

Really what I don't like are the prices of boats these days. I can't imagine spending 45k on a bass boat. I mean, if you have got the money, more power to you, but I think that we keep sending the message to the mfgs that we will buy these boats at almost any costs, so they keep raising them.

What I find interesting is the number of Stratos, Javalin and other boats that resell for ~12K on the classifieds. When I get ready to upgrade, that is the route I am going to go, how much better can a Ranger/Triton be for 4 times the price?

By the way, I am not slamming Stratos or Javelin.

Love my boat but it isn't big or fast enough! Other than that there isn't much I don't like about it. Set up well and fishes great.

My 2005 Ranger 185vs is a great boat. However,I have a couple issues with it. The rod organizer that Ranger put in the Port rod locker is not very good. It makes it hard to put more than a few rods in the box. I am going to take it out. Also, in heavy rain, the glove box leaks a little.
Other than those two things the boat is great. For an 18.5' boat it fishes and rides well in rough water. I really like it.
I was actually impressed with the cooler. I thought it held ice longer than my little coleman that I would bring on my other boat. The ice will last at least a day or two in the hot Texas sun.

Well, all I can say is do not buy anything without riding in them all first. I was a Skeeter man 100%, then started taking test drives and what do you know found something better. I am now the proud owner of a Basscat and I love it. Storage is not what the skeeter was but the ride a fishability is much better. I test drove a ranger was not impressed with the ride but I liked the boat overall in that it had plenty of storage and fishability. I did like the layout and the latches on the new Z's. Do not overlook Basscat they are just as good as the top of the line boats out there. Very smooth dry ride, and very fisherman friendly.

86 19' Nitro, 87 175 Evinrude, Paid For !!!!!!!!!! has a few bumps and bruises but fishes great, little TLC and everything works. Would like to have a Ranger, Would like to have a Skeeter. But once again PAID FOR !!!!!!

I don't like the narrow bucket seats in my Stratos 285 ProXL. Maybe they are fine for a skinny person but the side rails on the dig into my hips and are quite painful after a long day for riding around. I have gotten to the point of using the throw cushion in the seat so it is more comfortable.

I have a 2000 model Skeeter SX186 (18 ft, 5 in) single console. It is a "quick" boat on a hole shot, but I hate to run it in rough water. Seems to me the boat is really light, does not cut through waves, is a rough ride in 2-3 foot waves, and will flat get you soaked in rough water.

I will make at least two changes when I get my next boat. I will get a double console (my wife hates to ride in the boat...she is constantly afraid she is going to "bounce out", probably due to the fact that she weighs 120 lbs. and doesn't ride in many boats going 60 mph plus). I will also get a heavier boat at least 20 feet in length that handles rough water better.

I guess it's true that no matter what you have, you always want something bigger and faster.

Peter,

All I can say is that Ranger must have had complaints on the coolers they were intalling in the older models and are now insulating them.Mine sucks.Looks like I'm going to have to insulate it myself.

Skeeter 2004 sx 190

2-3 ft waves a little ruff anything larger than that and it is a back breaker. Other than the rough ride in the big waters I have no issues.

tx_basser I know better. The throw cussion is so you can see over the steering wheel. I run a 2001 Champion 187 VTDC wit a Yamaha 150 VMax. The one thing I don't like about my boat is the payment. Just wish it was paid fer.

2002 21' Triton DC. Love it for the most part. What I don't like about it is the chine walk...yes you can learn to 'control' it, but it still keeps you on your toes. Second dislike is the simulated wood grained panels have popped off on me x 2 while towing it at highway speeds. Triton has been good to date in replacing them, but it irratates me that they couldn't figure out a way to attach them a bit more securely.

Last complaint.... ALL of the decals (boat and trailer) seem to be in various stages of coming loose. Drives me nuts....as another poster stated, when you pay >30K for a bassboat, you expect the quality of ALL the components to be rock solid.

Theres a ton of 'likes', but since the post isn't about the likes, I will refrain.