I'm looking at a 2005 ranger 2300 bay boat advice. I familiar with bass boats, but looking for something more family friendly and can fish 4 large men easily, but still can be used in DFW lakes easily. I want to occasional , like once year do a bay trip and go near shore fishing if the conditions are good.

What is your opinion/experience on that bay boat? I have heard it's slow, can't get the nose up, too heavy, and drafts too deep. I know the build quality will be good, but how is the performance? Can it bee a good compromise for all around or do do you have a better all around suggestion?

what kind of motor ?

250 hpdi, rebuilt block and lower a few years ago

Should run high 40’s to low 50’s depending on how loaded down. Draft is about 14” so less than most bass boats. Deep flared bow will have no problem cutting waves.

i have an 02 with the the scary fitch 250 on it it will run 35mph comfortable, 45mph if ya want. handles waves great and is stable. have no problem getting up out of the water and my jack plate dosent work. do use the trim tabs though. its a 2180, not as long as you are talking. only had it about 2 yrs.

I ran a 21’ bay for a couple years while living in S FL. Fished Okeechobee, Stick Marsh and other bass locations as well as going to the Keys and offshore in the Atlantic. On good days went half way to the Bahamas and Cuba! Would rate big water performance as better than the 21’ bass boat I have today. It bass fished pretty good for 3 guys.

A bay boat will catch more wind due to side depth but with today’s trolling motors that disadvantage can mostly be overcome. Got a friend who has a 24’ Mako bay and it is a tank. Great for room but too large and cumbersome for bass fishing. Bass fishes 3 ok but the extra length not enough to fish 4 if casting. It’s got a Garmin 36v trolling motor which is plenty power but you have to really anticipate your turns, starts or stops due to the weight/size/momentum.

What’s the dry weight on it? I’m not sure about the build quality on a ranger. I’ve heard the skeeter bays are heavy and slow. Personally, I would try to find either a blazer or a pathfinder. A similarly outfitted blazer or pathfinder would probably push high 50s or potentially low 60s if tuned right, and they have the best build quality in the business.

hard pass unless you are willing to spend 500.00 dollars a year in maintaining the fuel system.