My buddy just bought a 03 Ranger 520 dual console with an merc optimax with a 225, hydrolic jack plate and a 25 pitch tempest prop, he was askin me how fast a boat like that should run, what is your opinion. hes getting 65 at 6000 rpms.??

I know this will come as a shock to everyone, but Rangers are not fast. I've had two of them and can promise you mid to upper 60's on any of them except the new Z520 is good. Some of the Z21's with 250's will run lower 70's but not if they are full of tackle, gear and gas. He may be able to tweak it some and get a few MPH, but he won't get a lot. Rangers were never designed to go fast and most guys seriously inflate the speeds they claim they are getting. I've been in a bunch of them.

I had one with hyd plate, worked prop and one time it saw 69 mph, the rest of the time 65 to 67. Good fishing platform, but slow in comparison to other boats the same size.

My buddy has the same set-up and we got his to do 77 mph one day. Well, that was on the highway behind the Chevy Rangers aren't the fastest boat on the water, but I have never caught a bass doing 60mph anyway.

My fishing partner has a 02 520 with a Merc 225 EFI. I was with him on a cool fall day and we hit 70 g.p.s. fully loaded. His has a 6" manual jackplate and a transom wedge.

My 04 520 with a 225 optimax will consistently run 68 to 70 MPH fully loaded or not. just my .02 cents.

I do believe this boat is setup as optimum though. I don't think you could tweak it anymore, so it's rare. The guy I bought the boat from tweaked it.

I can easily hit 67 to 68 on a regular basis. I know on a good day without load I can get over 70, but not by much, lol.

I would say replace my engine with an Optimax and you'll shave off 2 or 3 mph. So hitting 65 to 67 would be about right, but those RPM's seem a little high. Of course I don't have experience with the Opti, but my EFI is running at around 5700 at top speed, maybe 5800.

You will see different speeds at different elevation levels as well, keep that in mind. Humidity will play a role in speeds also. Lots of factors. He should be happy with 65, IMO, because that speed will fluctuate up to 67 or 68 on a good day.

03 521 w/ 225 opti, not owned long. been on lake once and saw 67.8 gps. but it sure was smooter than my old skeeter. even with my skeeter only running about 60

My 05 - 520 would run 69-70 with tournament load, with a 225 Etec HO-jack plate and 26 raker II prop. He might try a large pitch pro, maybe a 27 tempest.

His Tach is way off, 5750 is all that motor should turn and it will go into guardian mode and back the motor down at 5800 rpm. Is he reading a Speedometer or a GPS. GPS speed is the only true speed on the water.

Ed, my partner, just bought (on order) an 09' Z-520 w/ a Yammie HPDI Series 2 250HP. It'll be here in 2 weeks and we'll let you know how fast it is.

We're going from BassCat to Ranger and we don't expect as much in the speed dept. Diamond Marine swears that she will do 75mph - we're skeptical! We test drove one and, boy, did it feel heavy! Oh well, it ain't my $51 Grand.

Let you know in a couple of weeks W/ PICS!!!

-Alton

They'll tell anyone anything they need to, lol.

It's all according to what kind of truck you're pulling it with.

It may very well do it as I read folks boasting of 76 gps with the Z 520 - 250 Pro XS merc, however; I fished with Pete Ponds in the Toyota Bass Classic and he said best he ever got out of his was 72, lightly loaded.