Ranger vs Phoenix?

I have ridden in Rangers all of my life. I have never been in a Phoenix and I may not ever but I have heard good things about them. Those of you that have been in both what do you like better? I know the pros and cons of a Ranger but what about the Phoenix?

Never owned a Phoenix but have owned a Ranger. My take is they are both good boats and you buy the one you like and can afford. Both are well made and serve a purpose. I do thing Ranger's have better resale value though.

Both bout the same.

I have owned a 2012 Z522 and a 921 Phoenix. This is my comments, their is no boat that fishes as good as a Ranger once the trolling motor is down. The 22'4" Z522 spans the waves in high wind great and rode good but could beat you up if you hit a wave wrong. The 921 won't span as good as a Z522 but the re entry is really soft and will not beat you up so its easy on the back. The 921 doesn't fish as good as a Ranger but if the Ranger is a 10 on a 1-10 scale then the 921 is a 9-9.5. The lay out is close on the PHX and Ranger, the Pro XP is my favorite. The resale right now is as good on Phoenix as any brand out their because they are selling as quick as they can get them out. I think I heard the 921 is about 18-20 weeks now. They are not taking any new dealers right now because they cannot keep up. They are both good boats but their are difference in the two brands on most points. The Phoenix is a little cheaper for now but they are getting more expensive each year.

The Z522 was 22'4" long and weight 1940 pounds, the Phoenix 921 is 21'6" and weights 1950 pounds but the Z 522 ran about 67 fully loaded the 921 would run 75.

I like the 921 better it will be a better buy for now but that will change and the Phoenix may be the only brand that can sale as quick as a Ranger and resale will be as good or better because you can buy a new boat in the Phoenix and it will not lose as much money as others brands because of demand right now just not many used boats on the market in the Phoenix brand.

For resale,nothing beats a Ranger

the 921 2012 model sold new for around 54-56 and sells today for low 40's the 721 sold new back then for around 45 it sells for around 40 today. I do not know of many brands out their that can say this. the brand is so new it out sold its expectations and the resale has been great and they sale as fast as Ranger because of wait time on new boats. We will see in coming years if this continues but its been great for the last few years. I agree Ranger for twenty years did out sale other brands but Phoenix has held their own against other boat brands and even Ranger. The Phoenix brand as amazed me in the fact you can have a boat that sold new a couple years back for 59-63 still brining 48-52 thats only 3-4 thousand lost per year not many brnads can do that. The 2014-15 are still in the low 50's to upper 40's even now

You owe it to yourself to take a ride in a Phoenix. PM me if you want jump in my boat one day and take it for a spin, I run a 921.

I don't have a dog in this fight (Yet) but i couldn't agree more, i have been looking at "New to me Boats" for the last 5 months, and Phoenix has a very good resale value, currently trying to work a deal on a 2012 721 for just a touch under 40k, that's a lot to be said for a 5 year old boat, NADA has this boat at average retail of 42k.

yep 721 does better then any boat out there. The 2012- 721 would have sold new in the mid to upper 40's, for the boat to still NADA for 42 is amazing.

Reason Phoenix boats is holding value is because prize of boats have been going up.Not knocking Phoenix boats,been in boat business for years friends,but to be honest nothing beats the used price of Rangers,as long as boat prices keep rising used prices will stay up.

have other boat brands prices not gone up last few years like Phoenix. The base price for a 921 was 54,000 in 2012 its around 63,000 today thats about 9,000. The Z520 was in the 62,000 back then if they are in the 71,000 now its about the same. I do not believe their is a Ranger that sold for 45-47 in 2012 is still selling in the low 40's today like the 721 is.

Ranger is a great boat but resale isn't as far ahead of other brands as it once was.

Where can you find a fully loaded out 921 for 63k?

You can get a fully loaded z521c for 71,195

I didn't say fully loaded, if you will look I said base price, time most people add everything it's about 69-73 depending on lots of stuff as you know. The 63 is Mercury Pro XS and 9 in dash 7 up from and 112. Time you add upgrade graphs,PP, Hydraulic Jack
plate you now have a 10-12 thousand added in.

Both will make you an outstanding boat. Go ride in both and I bet your personal preference will lean one way or the other. Its your money so buy what makes you happy. You gotta pay for it.

I looked at Ranger and Phoenix. I went with Ranger for the fit and finish....I couldn't get past the cheap looking plastic on the Phoenix console that looked exactly like my kids toy trucks the drive in the yard. Also got turned off by how the local Phoenix dealer denigrated brands they didn't sell when I asked simple questions for comparisons.

Those damn feather decals on the back of a pheonix should be enough to turn anyone off.

People in here makin' up stuff about resale values.

Have road in both and hands down Phoenix is a softer smoother ride in big water. And because of that I purchased a 2017 921 PHX. Big front deck and all the storage and more. My tournament partner owns a triton and I think they ride better than the Ranger. Phoenix is the hottest boat on the market right now. Hate all you want love this boat.

That's the only thing I know for sure I hate about them.

Can we also take this time to discuss how sensitive some Ranger owners are? Is now a good time?

They by far get butt hurt the most

Logically, which would be easier to sell in say 5-10 years?

Never ridden in a Phoenix. On my second Ranger now bought a 2002 518 in 2005 for $20,900. Sold it 10 years later for $18,500. Hope to do similar with my current boat. Rangers hold their value.

I bought a use Ranger that was 5 years old back in 09 and also paid 18500 and sold it for 21,000 but he was in a bind and needed to sale. When boats get in the 20 thousand range they all hold their value its when they are new when brands struggle.

That's pretty impressive

I went from Ranger to Phoenix. The Phoenx rides better but the Ranger is a little more stable. I give the Phoenix the slight edge though. We will see how the Ranger brand holds up since they are Nitro Sr. now.

All you need to know is every time someone wants to compare they always compare to a ranger. Nobody compares anything to a skeeter, a triton, a nitro, a pheonix, basscat, stratos, charger,Legend, it's always to a ranger. What does that tell you.

Good point WAWI and the truth mostly because of the heritage of Ranger boats and the impeccable reputation of Forest Wood the founder. Very few people know who founded any of the other makes. The Pierce family of Bass Cat boats have a similar reputation. Forest Wood along with Ray Scott, were and still are the most responsible and deserve the most credit for the popularity of bass boats and bass fishing that we know today.

Ranger is good at marketing to the uneducated consumer?

I don't know about marketing to the uneducated customer but I do know that in the used boat business there is a better resale market for ranger boats than the other brands.

That kinda hurts my feelings Frank. How about the other manufacturers, do they do a good job too ? Can't recall I've ever seen any other boats advertised on fishing shows but Ranger and Skeeter. I've owned 2 of each. Dumb me.

Ranger - most expensive shower you an buy

Ranger is a great boat, never been in a bird boat, have heard good and bad, about the ride thing, how much time do you ride versus fish ? If the boat is 20-21 feet and not 20 years old it will ride fine ,unless someone does not know how to drive it. I figure in an 8 hour day you probably fish 7 of those, run open water maybe 30 minutes, idle another 30, so to me the layout , how the boat fishes, fit and finish, resale, looks, are all above how it rides.

Only time I got wet in mine was when it rained. I know how to use the trim button.

Ranger guys in the market for a new one, consider this one.

http://www.deckboats.com/fishing-boats/r...mate-dream-rig/

Just buy 1 of each if you're a baller!

Where...I've been looking for weeks and both boats loaded are pushing $88k

When I compare it's speed, speed, and more speed... And ride is a close 4th... Dan

Phoenix IMO

I Ran Rangers for years until JM bought them.

Was not sure there was a better riding boat out there till I got in a Phoenix.

I have owned multiple brand boats, and fished out out pretty much all of them.
My previous boat was a BC, now a Phoenix 721. I love the ride, and fishability is awesome.
I highly recommend them. One of the best rough water boats I have been in.

Well. Three years ago, WHEN THIS THREAD WAS GOING, boats cost less. Lol

That is what I was thinking!

Well it is almost 4 years old now so not a record for "Thread Resurrection" but it is getting there!

These damn threads crack me up

Free shower with every Ranger/Nitro purchase.

I own a 2015 721 phx and a 2021 520L, there is pros and cons to both boats. Phoenix ride can not be beat hands down, my buddy has a 2019 921 and his boat rides rougher than the 721 but is smoother than ranger. I would rather fish out of the ranger and since I’m a tall guy I like the ranger taller seat height. My fishing partner has a 2019 520c and that boat is smoother and faster than the My L. If speed and smooth ride is what you want get a Phoenix my 721 will do 75mph loaded. 520L same load 2 people 68. Buddy’s 520c 72. But if you are wanting a better built boat it’s a ranger if going to trade off in couple years get a Phoenix. Phoenix has way to many screws that break or work out and if you fish big water you have to keep tightening and getting bigger screws to put in. Just my .02

I'm pretty certain Phoenix never made a 721 PHX

My bad since I spend more time fishing than posting I was referring to boat brand but it’s a 721 pro xp