Mine has hit 65 with a light load and my heavy load. Not bad for a ten year old boat imo.

Nope he don't, guy I know running a 520 with 250 SHO worked prop and one power pole is getting 74 tourny loaded and 76 by himself. He is about 5'11" 180 maybe?

I love to read the responses when someone posts a question like this.

The bottom line is that it doesn't really matter a hill of beans how fast your boat runs unless you are trying to set some sort of speed record. Rangers have never been known for being fast but the new Z500 series boats are changing a few folks minds. The new Z500 series is as good a fishing boat and as fast a hull as they have ever built.

It is the first Ranger in a long time that I have driven that will actually lift the nose and run "clean" without having to overtrim the motor. I have been in James Caldemeyer's new Z520 with a Merc 250 ProXS and it will literally fly with two of us and a heavy load.

The term "literally fly" has different meanings to different people. Having owned a few (like 7) Bullets and a couple Allisons my definition of flying may be a little different than someone else. For a premium tournament bass rig loaded with all the stuff a guide carries in his rig and two people, 72 is literally flying.

A few years back at Lake Lavon I was out testing some props in my new Bullet/Merc 300 rig and thought I was setting the water on fire at 103 on gps. A Talon comes running by me with twin 300 Mercs like I am tied to a stump! I thought that was literally flying until we saw Gordon Mineo in his 32' Eliminator with Twin 2,000 hp gas turbines come around the point at 180 mph.

At the end of the day we all share the same passion for bass fishing and all the other stuff like fast boats and fast cars is just icing on the cake.

Ask Sinkey how fast my old Bullet ran....

Didn't say "couldn't". Just said "wow" as in 180 mph at Lake Lavon would be a butt puckering ride...

I remember going out with you in that bullet on hot summmer day and you hitting 101. You are about the only person I trust to drive WOT on those boats Ken.

I've been damn near thrown out of a gambler around 80mph and had a prop blow out with another guy on the forum here at over 90mph that got me airborn and on the back deck holding on to the rear ped seat seeing my life flash before my eyes.

I was a little sad when I saw you got away from fat boats

Well said HasBen!!!!!

Just my observation, but there seems to be quite a few 70-75mph boats out there. Most of the name brand boats can be rigged to get into that range. About 78 is where it seems to get a little sketchy. A few can do it, but not that many. Then, getting to 80 and above, I think you eliminate most all the name brand fishing boats and step into the realm of the small production, specialty bass boats built for speed and fishing. Compromises for sure.

Just know when you buy a boat that will top out at 40, you will want to go 50. Same as when you buy a boat that will go 85, you will want to go 90. It's just the cost of being a guy.

Speed cost money, especially when you are trying to make a tugboat into a raceboat. But it can be fun trying.

i agree with that statment 100%
the ole 361V is one of the best ranger ever made!!

The best! The 361, then the 391, were the best boats Ranger ever produced. The Z520/Z521 aren't far behind in 2nd.