I have always owned a Ranger since 1989. I currently own one and needing the tachometer that shares the water pressure gauge instrument. I have made several attempts calling Ranger Parts like I have always done in the past. I would normally get a parts person on the phone within a minute or two. This is not the case now. I contacted my local Ranger dealer explaining what has taken place. His response, "Good luck because we are experiencing the same issue"! I spoke to a person personally this past Saturday that has sold Ranger's forever with great success. They have recently dropped them. It appears for the same reason. You simply cannot talk to anybody with a specific need. I am aware that "Johnny create a monopoly" Morris purchased and killed Legend Boats. He has recently killed both Triton aluminum and bay boats. Rumor is Triton glass boats are next. So, I suppose for the sake of the almighty dollar he has now taken Ranger aluminum boats to Lebanon, Missouri to be produced at that plant. Oh but wait, there's more. He has taken the tried and proven Ranger Trail trailers that were built onsite in Flippin, AR and now those are going to be produced by EZ Loader. Nice! Really Nice! This is the same company that Skeeter used for years. Skeeter is smart. They realized these trailers are inferior and opted to make there own at their plant in Kilgore! All of this leads me to believe there is a truly changing of the guard. Ranger has always been in the discussion as being one of the best built boats with customer service rivaled by none. This is no longer the case. As a Ranger " die hard" for many years, that name can no longer be associated with me. The stage has been set for Skeeter, Basscat, Vexus, Phoenix, etc. to take over the reigns as the best boat and after the sale service. I know there is still a matter of opinion. My opinion, "it is no longer Ranger that has been bushwacked by a greedy "Johnny screw up the bass boat industry" Morris.

As a longtime Ranger owner and fan of their fishing platforms, I have been wondering if something like this would happen at Ranger. Since this is the first actual account of it that I've heard, I'm going to reserve judgement until later. But if your experience does turn out be the New Norm (I hate that phrase), I'm going to go on record as saying I'm not surprised. And I hope I'm wrong.

The phone number listed on the Ranger Boats site is 1-800-724-7273 for parts. This is concerning because I believe the previous phone number had a local area code of (870) there in Flippin. The problem is real and I am bitterly disappointed. You used to be able to call them and provide your boat serial # and they knew everything about the boat. I have ordered several replacement parts over the years including new seat skins. I thought I would try a different angle and contacted Cabela's in Allen knowing they carry Ranger. I got transferred to the boat parts department and had to leave a voicemail. I would sincerely appreciate one of the esteemed Forum members to please tell me if they have found access to Ranger Boats Parts Department. I never thought I would ever encounter this but I suppose the inevitable has occurred. "Texan Til I Die" thanks for the follow up post but I am afraid we are experiencing the New Norm. I would not be surprised if Johnny (the butcher) does not take the Ranger production to his Nitro plants in the foreseeable future!

I actually got thru to the Ranger Boats department on the 1-800-724-7273 phone number. I was on hold for almost 45 minutes. I did speak to a nice customer service representative (Becky). Unfortunately, they are depleting much of their parts inventory for boats that are 10 years old or so. She said my tachometer is obsolete or no longer available for my Z520. I suppose I will need to research and try to find one that somewhat matches without the built-in water pressure gauge and install a separate one. Oh well!

And here’s another real-time Ranger depressing parts story: I ordered a fender for my Ranger Trail thru Cabelas in Ft Worth on June 5. Since then Cabelas has been unable to get delivery info from Ranger so I thought I’d give it a try. For two weeks I’ve left messages with the Ranger Parts mgr, the Plant Manger and as late as Friday with a corporate Customer Service rep. None has returned my call. All I want is a status—can’t even get that. So I’ve contacted Cabelas in hopes of cancelling the order and getting my money back, fixing the fender myself, selling the Ranger and never to own another one or a Johnnie Morris product. It’s a sad day indeed.

They did away with gtriton aluminum?

I am very concerned as well. I have been thinking of getting a new boat and I am so impressed with my 2013 Ranger that I was considering sticking with them. I am not so sure anymore and may jump ship.

On a general note, voice mail is the poison of communication in the 21st century. If I had a $10 for every voice mail I have had to leave, I would not have to work. I bet that 19 out of every 20 calls I make, go to a voice mail.

I'm stepping off of my soap box now.

nearly every business that has anything to do with boating is backed up now it is not a matter of hiring more people . the folks that are trained in the marine business are all working so hiring folks that know nothing about what they are doing just makes more problems there is more product being built an sold now than in a long time so wait times will continue until things slow down a little. good or bad this virus deal has been a big boom to the boat an rv business.

And you most likely only 1 out of those 20 to call you back.

I’d hate to think this is the future of Ranger boats. I had a glass boat bought new in ‘91, a very good boat to bass fish from, and now own an RT188, bought used just three weeks ago. I share Choke’s disdain for all things Bass Pro and Johnny Morris and have for some time. As far as I’m concerned he drove the last nail in Cabelas’ coffin and the only way I buy anything from either of them is if nobody else has it.

Just great news - I have Ranger with and Evinrude motor - I'm freaking screwed!

I contacted Faria-Beede which is the company that manufactured the tachometer with built-in water pressure gauge for Ranger. They have excellent customer service. One of their techs called me and told me to take a couple of pics and send to them. They promptly emailed me with both the Ranger part # and the Beede part # for my boat. I once agian called Ranger parts. I left my phone on speaker awaiting for somebody to pick up while I still worked. 45 minutes later, a very nice customer service rep picked up. Her name is Patty and evidently she has been there for quite some time. I told her about my dilemma. She said that Bass Pro had overhauled their software. After researching, she discovered my tachometer was indeed still available but had a new part number assigned to it. It required purchasing both the tach and the installation kit. $321.08 to my door with shipping. My email confirmation came to me and guess who it was from? You guessed it, Bass Pro shops! At least I got what I needed but it took an act of Congress and an excellent customer service representative to take the time and dive into it deeper. I suppose I am a little happier but can only hope I do not need a future part from "Bass Pro Shops"! Thank goodness we have Tackle Warehouse and others for our fishing needs!

I have never cared for the Bass Pro brand of products. We had a bad experience at one of the stores once. My brother and I were little kids. We signed up for and waited a long time to see a "celebrity" give a seminar. We sat near the front. Someone from the store came and told us we had to sit in the last row. Well, a seven and eight year old can't see from the back row. My Dad asked why and they said the front was for their VIP customers. What? We had a Bass Pro card and an invitation to this. As kids, we were upset and my Dad wrote letters and made phone calls relentlessly, also posting this story all over the internet. Eventually, Johnny himself wrote a letter and said a store manager was going to call and that this should not have happened. The store manager called a week later and gave us a business card with a note on it. Whenever we went to the store, we would find the manager (that store or another) and basically get a personal shopping escort the whole time. Later, we had an issue with a reel that we purchased the "warranty" on. They switched it out - 4 times in 4 years. It sat broken again for many years but recently we finally got a letter with instructions and we took it to San Antonio store. The person there said they discontinued that reel because it had problems and they do not have a comparable one. We got a refund of the last known retail price plus tax. I know I'm a little off topic from the boats, but my point is … if Bass Pro can have poor customer care and "issues" with much smaller stuff, how in the world can they manage the big stuff like boats? Its hard to find the selection and the military discount at other stores but I'm out on Bass Pro brands for anything. It is not worth the potential disappointment. Good luck with the boats, ATV's and trailers....

Yes that first situation had to be frustrating, but it sounds like they made an attempt to make it right. And they replaced a reel FOUR times over four years, and then years later refunded it completely? Isn't that decent customer care?