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Most Online39,925 Dec 30th, 2023
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: etexbasser]
#10965221
07/09/15 10:56 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,709
timbertoes
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,709 |
And most 17' are limited in the length of Rod Storage. slabexpress, I thought your old boat was a 16' ?
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: etexbasser]
#10965304
07/09/15 12:12 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,860
BlueNitro
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,860 |
My wife appreciates the extra foot..........on my boat. If the cost is not a concern, get the 18' so you never feel like you settled and should have got the bigger boat.
LiftSaver Trolling Motor Mounting Bracket - Patent Pending and LiftSaver Transducer Pole Mount www.liftsavertmmount.comWorks with MG Xi5, Xi3 and MK Terrova, Ulterra, PD V2 and Riptides as well.
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: etexbasser]
#10965402
07/09/15 12:58 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 486
etexbasser
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 486 |
Cost is always a concern to my wife. I have a ranger 188 now and really like it, and I have had 17'ers in the past. I am pretty sure I will go with the 18, I have another grandkid on the way. They love to go out fishng with me and with the crappie boat with the 3 across seating in the front, it will make easier for me to keep up with them. I will probably add seat belts to the front seats. (LOL) Anyway, ready for a new boat and that is what I am wanting, so again thanks for the replies.
later...don
Don Chumley If I ain't fishing, I ain't happy. But mostly I'm happy. I love being retired, the check is in the mail. Mt. 6:33
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: etexbasser]
#10965473
07/09/15 01:27 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,461
stretch
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,461 |
I had a 17' before my 19' and I will say that the ride quality is better as well as you feel much more stable in high winds. And the extra deck space is nice, usually its me, another adult and my daughter trying to fish off the front.
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: stretch]
#10965853
07/09/15 03:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,409
karpbuster
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,409 |
I have a 16'6" Lund because I can handle it easy by my self, fits in my garage and I can use a 12v trolling motor system (55#) with two batteries in series for all day plus some fishing. That said get the biggest boat, motor you can afford - for your circumstances.
My Lund has an 88" beam and is my dream boat come true.
"Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness."
"All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy." � C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: etexbasser]
#10966092
07/09/15 05:49 PM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,087
SoonerDG
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,087 |
Like said above. Unless you have some specific need for a smaller boat then buy the biggest one you can afford. I know I've never wished i had a smaller boat but oh how I would love to have a bigger one.
"Life is a matter of luck and the odds of success are in no way enhanced by extreme caution." - Erich Topp, German U-boat Commander, 1943.
When in doubt, set the hook.
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: etexbasser]
#10966183
07/09/15 06:21 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,423
buton
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,423 |
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: etexbasser]
#10967412
07/10/15 02:40 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,100
Dutch1947
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,100 |
At least 18. 19 is better.
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: etexbasser]
#10967715
07/10/15 11:47 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 907
Tommie
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 907 |
I saw one of the new Ranger deep V aluminum boats at my local dealer the other day and they are sweet looking boats. Plenty wide and plenty deep. Looks like a great crappie boat to me and should handle some rough water as well.
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Re: 17 or 18 foot boat
[Re: etexbasser]
#10968012
07/10/15 02:12 PM
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,423
GhostRider32
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,423 |
I apologize if this will sound like an advertisment for Tracker, it's not. I'm not affiliated with them in any way. I'm just very pleased with my boat. If you want a test ride and are in NE Texas, PM me.
I bought a new aluminum boat about 2 months ago and love it. I was origonally looking at a Tracker pro 175 but ended up with the new 195 pro, not the 190 pro. I bought the bigger boat for 2 reasons, size for fishing and power for pulling a skier or tube. The 195 pro is 1" shorter at 18'7" than the Ranger but the beam is at 98" which is 6" wider than the RT 188. I looked at the Ranger and was seriously thinking about buying one but for about the same price of a RT 188 with a 115 Etec, I was able to get the 195 with a 150 HP Merc 4 stroke with SST prop. It will absolutely pull a 2 person tube with ease and literally planes out in about 3 seconds. I like having the extra power with the 150 but rarely use it. I generally run at about 3000 to 3500 rpm's and depending on how I'm loaded, I get 35 to 38 mph on the gps at 3500 rpm's. 35 loaded heavy, 38 or so loaded with 2 people. I've had it up to 59 on the GPS at full throttle with 3 people. According to the tests I read about the Merc. 150, it gets it's best mileage at 3500 rpm's. It burns about 3.5 gph at that level and is pretty quiet. My son and I can talk at fairly normal tones at that speed. They both have good warranties. The Tracker now has a lifetime hull and deck warranty and the hull thickness on both the Tracker and RT 188 is .100. The Tracker does have a very small amount of marine ply on the deck with all of the doors being aluminum but as I said, it does have a lifetime warranty if there's ever an issue. Everything else is all welded aluminum. I believe the RT 188 is all aluminum.
If you are looking at using the boat for tubing as the grandkids get older, I would definately want the 150.
It is my understanding that Tracker now owns both Ranger and Triton, if that matters to you.
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BPSIFrame?catalogId=10051&langId=-1&storeId=10151&targeturl=http://www.trackerboats.com/&tab=4
Edit, the rod box on the 195 will hold up to 8.5 foot rods if that matters to you. Look at the spec's and photo's on the link, they show pretty good detail. Also, the ride in rough water is good.
Last edited by GhostRider32; 07/10/15 02:15 PM.
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