Ranger Boats " Built to be yours"

[Rob B]

I ran across this video on another website, it's about 45 minutes long. The video goes into the making of legendary ranger boats from start to finish. The attention to detail is nothing short of amazing!! Enjoy!!!http://www.westernbass.com/dotcom/tv/product_reviews/videopage.html?id=0001737

 

[nathan]

That is a long video. I will have to finish later but interesting.

 

[Sam I am]

Ranger makes good boats...

...BUT. Their service around my parts is a sad tale to tell. There are several Ranger dealers and they all cut each others throats. Very frustrating for dealers and customers when they can go from dealer to dealer and shop against the local guys. Then, when you need your boat serviced, the first thing they ask you is, "Did you buy it from us..." if the answer is no, they let your boat sit two weeks as a policy just to make the consumer feel the pain of not buying from them. I see both sides of this argument quite clearly, but in the end I think service is something that should just happen because I'm still paying for it. And if it's warranty work, that's even better for the shop. What it all boils down to is that the local sales guys are whacking customers for an extra few thousand by holding them hostage with service. Friggin sucks.

BUT, Rangers are awesome boats. I'm getting pulled towards Nitro though...their new multi species ZV-21 is quite a rig. I was in my cousin's last week on Devils Lake in ND...rippin wind and 5 swells...the boat ate them up. We were the only ones on the lake. Except for the duck hunters in their 14 ft aluminum lunds with 15 HP...CRAZY!!!

Glad to see I'm not the only one on here who got bit by the fishin bug.

 

[Rob B]

...BUT. Their service around my parts is a sad tale to tell. There are several Ranger dealers and they all cut each others throats. Very frustrating for dealers and customers when they can go from dealer to dealer and shop against the local guys. Then, when you need your boat serviced, the first thing they ask you is, "Did you buy it from us..." if the answer is no, they let your boat sit two weeks as a policy just to make the consumer feel the pain of not buying from them. I see both sides of this argument quite clearly, but in the end I think service is something that should just happen because I'm still paying for it. And if it's warranty work, that's even better for the shop. What it all boils down to is that the local sales guys are whacking customers for an extra few thousand by holding them hostage with service. Friggin sucks.

BUT, Rangers are awesome boats. I'm getting pulled towards Nitro though...their new multi species ZV-21 is quite a rig. I was in my cousin's last week on Devils Lake in ND...rippin wind and 5 swells...the boat ate them up. We were the only ones on the lake. Except for the duck hunters in their 14 ft aluminum lunds with 15 HP...CRAZY!!!

Glad to see I'm not the only one on here who got bit by the fishin bug.

You gotta move south for improved service!!! Seriously if I was up your way I'd be calling Ranger directly and letting them know what's going on. Ranger's customer service is fantastic. I've got a Ranger dealer about 5 miles from me. I didn't buy from them, but they treat me the same as those that have. That's customer service!!! I've fished my whole life for the most part, just started back to spend time with my dad, brother and the rest of the family. We all have boats!!!

 

[Problem Child]

Cool vid Rob. I have always wanted a Ranger but alittle expensive for this part time bass fisherman.I have owned a nx883 Nitro and a z7 Nitro with some amazing times fishing with my kids and friends . Although they were very nice I am still convinced that the Ranger boats are the ultimate bass fishing vessel. Hoping to get into a Ranger some day but need to find more fishing time first.

 

[jumbofordman]

I see both sides of this argument quite clearly, but in the end I think service is something that should just happen because I'm still paying for it. And if it's warranty work, that's even better for the shop

Most places get paid less for warranty work than normal work. For instance in the auto industry this is a separate flat rate book for warranty work, and it always has fewer hours for a given job than the 'normal' book. So I can definitely see them putting boats purchased there in front of boats from people willing to buy from another dealer to save a few bucks.

 

[senator-holland]

This is a nice way to explain and add the quality factor in to the boat to get it sold better...

 

[cooperider]

A very good video. The guy knew what he was talking about, or at least made me think he did.

And it answered some questions I had about the boats.

 

[JW]

Thanks for linking that up here Robbie! Very interesting watching how another manufacturer builds a boat. After watching that video, anyone could feel confident that buying a new or used Ranger they'll be getting a boat that should last a LONG time. Now I know why Rangers are a little slower than some of the bass boat builders, they're built like TANKS.
I wonder what year they started building the boats with that excellent pulltruded transom and knee setup? Looks extremely strong, with no chance of rot. I also like the way they fill the lifting strakes with that long glass fiber tube rather than putty.

 

[RNGRDVE]

When I worked for a Chevy dealer as a service wirter we did take into account where a vehicle was purchased when doing warranty work. We wouldn't back burner a car for 2 weeks but if we had 2 vehicles sitting side by side and 1 was purchased from us they were our priority. There has to be some type of reward for spending money with us and keeping the dealership selling cars. warranty work is good to have when you're slow, when busy it's a nuissance. you have to discount the parts to the manufacturer and the labor time to complete a job is less. The acceptable customer pay labor rate if it's not listed in the Motor guide is warranty labor x40%.

 

[Rob B]

Thanks for linking that up here Robbie! Very interesting watching how another manufacturer builds a boat. After watching that video, anyone could feel confident that buying a new or used Ranger they'll be getting a boat that should last a LONG time. Now I know why Rangers are a little slower than some of the bass boat builders, they're built like TANKS.
I wonder what year they started building the boats with that excellent pulltruded transom and knee setup? Looks extremely strong, with no chance of rot. I also like the way they fill the lifting strakes with that long glass fiber tube rather than putty.

The newer Rangers run in the mid to upper 70's with a Mercury 250 XS. My Ranger 185xs will run 70 with the Mercury 175. According to the website pulltruded transoms was introduced in 1987 and no wood by 1990. Did you notice the floors are made with the pulltruded material?

 

[Rob B]

A very good video. The guy knew what he was talking about, or at least made me think he did.

And it answered some questions I had about the boats.

That guy started working for Ranger in high school and became the president of the company!!

Coop can you build a boat without the balsa core like Ranger does and still be fast?

 

[cooperider]

That guy started working for Ranger in high school and became the president of the company!!

Coop can you build a boat without the balsa core like Ranger does and still be fast?

I'm still trying to find a fiberglass rope like they used. I think they have a machine that braids it and wets it out with resin as they need it.

Yes, on small boats, I don't think it would make much of a difference. On the bigger boats, thats where you would notice.

 

[Rob B]

I'm still trying to find a fiberglass rope like they used. I think they have a machine that braids it and wets it out with resin as they need it.

Yes, on small boats, I don't think it would make much of a difference. On the bigger boats, thats where you would notice.

I was thinking the same thing with the fiberglass rope they use for the strakes. The video only shows him holding the material and the guys adding the rope in the boat wetted out. That would be cool to add your setup!! What would the cost be if you were to incorporate the fiberglass stringers/transom and floor like they do? Can you build a mold to repeat the process?

 

[cooperider]

I was thinking the same thing with the fiberglass rope they use for the strakes. The video only shows him holding the material and the guys adding the rope in the boat wetted out. That would be cool to add your setup!! What would the cost be if you were to incorporate the fiberglass stringers/transom and floor like they do? Can you build a mold to repeat the process?

The part where he breaks off the putty into pieces is misleading. If you have that putty encased in fiberglass, its not going to break that easy.

Also, did he show any chopper guns being used. I may have to watch again just to see. I know he didn't mention them, but they use them. Not that they are a bad thing, but I just love videos where they declare thier boats are hand laminated, while a choppergun is blasting away in the background. Baja had a video like that, seriously.

 

[Rob B]

The part where he breaks off the putty into pieces is misleading. If you have that putty encased in fiberglass, its not going to break that easy.

Also, did he show any chopper guns being used. I may have to watch again just to see. I know he didn't mention them, but they use them. Not that they are a bad thing, but I just love videos where they declare thier boats are hand laminated, while a choppergun is blasting away in the background. Baja had a video like that, seriously.

I don't remember a chopper gun in any of the videos. I do recall them laying what look like roving woven in the mold. I'll have to watch the video again as well.

 

[JW]

He did mention chopped glass a few times, but they never showed a chop gun. Is there a type of fiberglass mat that is called 'chopped'?
Coop, I remember that Baja video with the chopper gun spraying away in the background

 

[Rob B]

He did mention chopped glass a few times, but they never showed a chop gun. Is there a type of fiberglass mat that is called 'chopped'?
Coop, I remember that Baja video with the chopper gun spraying away in the background

He was talking about CSM or chopped strand mat, you can see that in the video where he's holding multiple layers of fiberglass mat.

 

[cooperider]

He was talking about CSM or chopped strand mat, you can see that in the video where he's holding multiple layers of fiberglass mat.

That was continuous(sp) strand mat, its something they use for infusion chopped strands inhibit the flow of resin.

 

[cooperider]

Found it, lots of chopper gun work. And it looks like they don't even let the mold sit still when they are building it.

Gotta keep them boats moving.



You see the gun play at about 1:40 or so.