Just watched this video. I bought a new Ranger RT178 with a 60hp 4 stroke motor. Right off the bat, I get a registered letter from Ranger about the gas cap fuel being defective and a safety issue. I was told to contact my dealer and they will replace the fuel cap. I knew there was a problem when I tried putting fuel in the boat. It took about 25 minutes to put 5 gallon of fuel in the boat. Well, cut to the chase, it took 6 months to get it fixed. I picked the boat up and again tried to put fuel in the boat with the new gas cap. Same problem, just a different gas cap. We kept taking on water and when I took the plug out, about 2 gallon of water poured out. For months we tried figuring out what was going on. Finally, we took the boat back to the dealer and left it there for 2 weeks wanting them to do a water test. Well, they found the problem. The factory didn't seal the back of the boat. The dealer sealed the back transom and solved the problem. Ranger had to pay for that. The paint job on the hull was very poor. I called White River Marine Group and could not get a can of hull touchup paint. I finally went to Walmart and bought a can of paint so close to the actual color and it worked. I don't trust White River Marine Group. Customer service is bad. The boat has good quality but I just don't trust them. Sorry, but that is the way I feel. If Forest Wood was still alive and Randy Hopper was still the CEO I don't think I would of not had those problems. I am retired and paid cash for this new Ranger that was sitting on the showroom floor. I always wanted a Ranger but couldn't afford one. Now I love bass fishing here in Florida. I don't fish tournament. I only fish for the fun. It is too late to cry over "spilt milk". It is just the factory didn't do their job in building this boat. My dealer is good. They don't like White River Marine Group. The service manager has a lot of issues with Ranger. My dealer is 90 miles from where I live. Oh well!!!!!!!!
A friend of mine shared this video with me because I had a very similar experience with Tracker boats (also owned by Johnny Morris) back in the mid 80's. My boat was a TX-17 with a 45 hp Mariner, I bought it from Giant Enterprises in Ionia Michigan. Back then Trackers were rivetted, not welded. My issues started with a single rivet popping out at the end of my first season of ownership. The first repair (missing rivet) was repaired by the Giant Enterprises. They replaced the missing rivet with a pop rivet and some silicone, which was leaking when I came to pick the boat up! They drilled the pop rivet out, put a new pop rivet in, and put more silicone on it and gave me a spare prop for my troubles. In their defense, there was no way to crimp a rivet without removing the decks. That being said, they really didn't help me with getting my boat repaired properly or replaced by Tracker. I continued to have troubles; more rivets popping out and the aluminum ripping. Giant washed their hands of it and told me to take it up with Tracker. Similar to your experience my boat went down to Missouri and was gone for most of a season. Tracker welded it and put aluminum patches were rivets missing. The work looked like it was done by monkeys! The following season the boat started leaking again along one of their welds. There was a lot of back and forth and I suggested they replace the hull, and they told me that wasn't going to happen and to go ahead and sue them. I couldn't afford to sue them at the time, so I kept the boat for a couple of years and would just pay a local welder to patch the hull any time the boat started leaking. He's start chuckling every time he saw me pulling up. I got an offer to trade up the 45 hp Mariner for a used Evinrude 70 hp. The motor blew a powerhead and I literally gave the boat away. As a side note, this debacle caused an incredible amount of stress between me and my wife because of the money we were funneling into this rig. The old adage; you get what you pay for doesn't really apply with the White River group because one of my best friends bought a brand new Ranger 519 a few years ago and had an air bubble/pocket on his front deck, and when it was delivered is had chips out of his console, and he's been fighting with Ranger, and his selling dealer, since he got it. This is the way Johnny Morris has done business for at least three decades and there is absolutely no way he not be aware of how poorly the customer service is at his companies. With so many people experiencing their warranty issues not being properly taken care of, there's no possible way someone hasn't bumped into Johnny Morris at a BPS opening and complained of the shit service they have received. Morris knows and he doesn't care, it's all about bottom line, and that's probably why he's a billionaire! I would warn anyone against purchasing ANY White River Marine boat, PERIOD. I'm sure Forrest Wood is rolling over in his grave seeing what Morris has done to his legacy! By the way, very shortly after Forrest Wood passed, Johnny Morris fired all of the old regime Ranger people that used to stand behind the Ranger product!
Glad I did not end up getting a 198. Second video of this boat full of problems. I'm done with white river marine since I sold my tracker that had been fixed and sent back to the factory a couple. Times. Phoenix or skeeter for me no more aluminum
That is why I sold my last Ranger after 22 years of supporting them and went to Skeeter. BPS took the Ranger dealership from my local shop and service went to hill. Local shop got Skeeter and Xpress, and I immediately got rid of my ranger after the first major warranty problem I had and the headaches they caused
I have a Ranger fiberglass deep bed bought new in 2018 it was a 2017 model. First thing the livewells front and rear were both leaking badly, dealer checked the hoses all secure. Found out they were leaking around the top because they were not sealed. Apparently Ranger knew that was a problem so back to Flippin AK 2 months, fixed ? Nope same thing again. I took a mirror to look at the top of livewell no sealant and a 1/4 inch gap around the top. Finally fixed it myself took about 4 hours standing on my head. Buy a Ranger buy the best, yeah right Johnny Morris is only interested in the dollar. Never again my next boat won’t be a Morris product.
Sorry for all the trouble they put you through. I have been looking at downsizing. Was considering the Ranger, but there is no way I will buy one now. Too many horror stories like yours from just reading the comments here. Like I said, sorry for your troubles but thanks for sharing. Good luck with your next boat.
I have a Ranger VS1782SC deep V, bought new in 2018 at the same dealership in Kalamazoo. Use it mostly for smaller lakes, but have been out several miles on Lake Michigan a few times in 2-3' chop trolling for kings and lakers. Luckily, no issues so far...fingers crossed. I really wanted a Lund, but that would have been $15-20k more for this style of boat. I really hope this Ranger holds up better than a Tracker.
Side note, I have a 1999 Forest L Wood Ranger I bought brand new at a boat show. I have fished it for 25 years and I never had one issue. I have blown the og. Motor twice and repowered in 2017. I paid 27,999 in 1999 for a brand new 19’8” boat with a 200. Isn’t it amazing how things have gotten? Those 90s 2000s era boat were built like a tank.
I had a very similar experience with WRMG on an aluminum 2020 Ranger. I only owned it for 18 months. I am so bitter about how I was treated for that 18 months that I won't even step foot in a Bass Pro or Cabela's ever again. I moved to a Lund, I've had it a year now and have had ZERO issues with it.
All manufactures have issues now and then. It’s how the company handles that situation that will make or break them as a company. JM is working to destroy the once great company that we all know as Ranger. If you want that Old Ranger customer service. Buy a Vexus!!!They have had some growing pains but stand behind there product 100 percent. Thanks for sharing your story.
Yikes. I just looked at two new Rangers two days ago. My all aluminum Fisher from 1983 is still running likw a champ. I put new wrap and Eva dlooring in recently. Perajps I should keep it
Its a real shame too, because they are actually really good looking and well designed boats. I think its just they pump so many out none of the boats get the love and care they individually need and it results in shoddy work way too often.
Probably an unpopular opinion but after a less than ideal situation with a depth finder from bass pro I refuse to buy anything from bass pro or anything they own and Johnny Morris stuff I’m not touching with a 10’ pole. It seems that if he touches it that it only gets more expensive for the consumer and cheaper made. Only my opinion tho
Customer service motto is “Mind over matter” WRM does not mind because the customer doesn’t matter!!! I have a new Nitro pro18 and sooo many things shouldn’t been allowed to leave the factory. You can tell it is just hurry up and get it out. I am fortunate that I can fix all of the problems myself so far. Just sad. Btw the new Rangers aren’t any better!
If you don’t mind me asking, what brand of aluminum boat you looking to get next? I’m looking at ranger and Vexus a kinda hard to just not do the ranger for the price. Love the videos!
Customer service is everything thats why there is no boat on the planet better than gator trax they build the best boats money can buy they also have the best service if you want a trouble free boat go see kent saxon springfield Louisiana
Having issues with another brand, not with leaks but with wiring and porpoising. Ridiculous these manufacturers aren’t held to higher standards and it takes legal action to get anywhere for a resolution.
What I have learned with myself, friends, and family dealing with warranties, life insurance, health insurance, and travel insurance. Extra protection warranties. Without a lawyer, they will screw you to no ends, finding anyway to back out of what the promise and state in writing.
Similar experiences with white river marine and mercury and ranger boats…my motor blew up on first outing…3 months later they replace motor but transfer warranty from original motor to new motor so 33 month warranty not 36 mo…more problems with new motor and ranger boat itself and dealer..some things not repairable…many many shop returns. Johnnie Morris doesn’t care. White river marine no customer service or support, same for mercury, and ranger rep no response. Nobody cares after they get 70 K. Now 3 years and would never deal with ranger or mercury marine again
Sorry dude. I've got a 2018, RT198 pressure gauge has never worked, lumps in the carpet, speedo stopped working, drains in the floor do not let the water go to the bottom of the boat. It stays pooled up under the drain ( foam is trapping it, i think). The boat sits off center on the trailer, the power to the trolling motor, and fish finders had loose connections. Screws are coming out of the piano hinge on the coin box. definitely not the old Ranger company building these boats now.
I have thought about this a lot. In light of what happened to you, I honestly believe if I found myself in this situation I would hire a pro welder to do the repair and move on. Life is to short for the time lost, stress and all the BS that went along with it. Back on the water next week sounds like the right solution for me even though it is wrong to have to do it this way.
That’s the fallacy with warranties, even worse for white River owners but most other brands too. They will fight and claw to do halfass repairs and hold on to your boats for months. I think the aluminum bass boats just aren’t a good idea in general either. I know guys with trackers, rangers, express and crest liners that have had hull failures. I just don’t think the aluminum holds up once you get into rough water unless it’s a deep v.
JC, I'm sorry to hear about your trouble, but not surprised. The sad truth is, you don't own a Ranger. That company died and was buried with Forrest and Nina Wood. You paid for a Ranger, but you bought a Tracker with a Ranger emblem on the side. I own a real Ranger and they took care of me like I was family. Those people are now all fired or moved on to other companies. I can't get a return phone call from WRM now. I'm not surprised to hear you are moving on to a new boat company, most other Real Ranger owners are too. If you are going to be treated like you don't matter after the sale, you should have saved $15000 and just bought a Tracker in the first place.
I owned a Ranger 361v. It was a nice Safe, boat but it was so heavy that it tore up 5 different motors. therefore i will never own another Ranger boat. I own an Allison craft now and i can pick the boat up with 1 hand and put it on the trailer hitch.
How do you have a 2-stroke motor on a 2017? You mentioned them assuring you that the 4 stroke controls would work on a 2-stroke. I’m guessing this is a motor you already had and you ordered the 2017 without a motor?
The outboard is a 2017. It was on a 2017 hull and how I bought it brand new. They moved my original outboard over to the new hull is all. If memory severs me right 2017 was the last year of the 2 stroke.
Bro ,I thought I had alot of trouble with boats,first bass boat 1988 bass tracker 60 mercury biggest p.o.s ever made,I allmost quit fishing bc of it,motor only worked 2 out of 3 trips,it totally turned me against mercury,so then I had 1992 javelin 175 Johnson fast strike it was fast,blew up twice,next 1994 skeeter same motor blew up twice last time 3 days out of warranty then got a tin skeeter 2000 with 150 yamaha,well the hull was defective a total death trap,jump out of the water on a little wave,argued 4 months then they gave me a new hull,guy I bought it from went to test it with me,boat was about to flip in chop,scared me the way he opened it up,porpoiseing jumping out of water,he said my equipment was off balance I said boat empty no equipment he said well u need to put a 80lb bag of sand in storage box,I said I didn't by this boat to haul said went over his head,got new hull it want much better,then I hot a awesom boat a 05 Triton 186v mag with a mercury efi 150 ,got in 04 ,best boat & motor I ever had 20yrs later lots of fishing,was all oringle equipment,but just replaced trolling motor switch went out,then I found a switch ,anyway I'm 63yro now an I will keep this boat rest of my life,I wouldn't trade it even for one of them 2025 new trackers that cost 40,000+ if I had to fish out of it,bro I would get rod of that 80,000 boat if I was u an never get another ranger
Contract law and wording is very important. Understanding the wording and how they are used and the meaning of said words. Blacks law dictionary is a must imo.
Cooper and Finn have never liked the boat. We lost Cooper last November to cancer. We got a new pup at the start of the year. She is a 76% foxhound and the rest is beagle. I haven’t introduced her to the water yet.
I agree they should have replaced the hull per the warranty but when you mentioned fighting with them over motor height, propping, setup, how is that their responsibility? Am I missing something? Thats always been something on the customer to do to wring all the performance they can out of their boat.
The new hull wasn’t designed for the 2stroke motors. They said the outboard which was bought through them as a packaged deal would work with no issue including the controls, power steer, it ended up not being the case. And they had to change all of that out.which cause a done of headache getting things rigged correctly.
I ask myself that question, I guess right now it’s financial not ready to buy another boat. My rate on this loan is something I can’t even get close to currently.
My pockets where not that deep for that fight. The thought crossed my mind. But talked with the lawyer on options and the goal was to not drag this out to long cause the cost would get out of hand
I have a 2018 rt188 roughest riding boat I have ever owned just a little chop will beat you to death I didn't expect glass boat ride but didn't expect a flatbottom duck boat ride either should have never sold my champion
Ranger is not Ranger any more. Johnny Mart changed it. Hell they just laided off 170 employees. The bottom line is all they care about.!! Buy a SKEETER
@@JCDropshot sure, it’s more expensive than a John boat. About half the price of the glass boats. Look at what the offshore guys pay for their boats, yes these aluminum boats are basically free with the purchase of a motor
Just watched this video. I bought a new Ranger RT178 with a 60hp 4 stroke motor. Right off the bat, I get a registered letter from Ranger about the gas cap fuel being defective and a safety issue. I was told to contact my dealer and they will replace the fuel cap. I knew there was a problem when I tried putting fuel in the boat. It took about 25 minutes to put 5 gallon of fuel in the boat. Well, cut to the chase, it took 6 months to get it fixed. I picked the boat up and again tried to put fuel in the boat with the new gas cap. Same problem, just a different gas cap. We kept taking on water and when I took the plug out, about 2 gallon of water poured out. For months we tried figuring out what was going on. Finally, we took the boat back to the dealer and left it there for 2 weeks wanting them to do a water test. Well, they found the problem. The factory didn't seal the back of the boat. The dealer sealed the back transom and solved the problem. Ranger had to pay for that. The paint job on the hull was very poor. I called White River Marine Group and could not get a can of hull touchup paint. I finally went to Walmart and bought a can of paint so close to the actual color and it worked. I don't trust White River Marine Group. Customer service is bad. The boat has good quality but I just don't trust them. Sorry, but that is the way I feel. If Forest Wood was still alive and Randy Hopper was still the CEO I don't think I would of not had those problems. I am retired and paid cash for this new Ranger that was sitting on the showroom floor. I always wanted a Ranger but couldn't afford one. Now I love bass fishing here in Florida. I don't fish tournament. I only fish for the fun. It is too late to cry over "spilt milk". It is just the factory didn't do their job in building this boat. My dealer is good. They don't like White River Marine Group. The service manager has a lot of issues with Ranger. My dealer is 90 miles from where I live. Oh well!!!!!!!!
Absolute nightmare. Sorry this happened to you. I'm so glad I decided to go with the Lund renegade over the tracker or ranger.
A friend of mine shared this video with me because I had a very similar experience with Tracker boats (also owned by Johnny Morris) back in the mid 80's. My boat was a TX-17 with a 45 hp Mariner, I bought it from Giant Enterprises in Ionia Michigan. Back then Trackers were rivetted, not welded. My issues started with a single rivet popping out at the end of my first season of ownership. The first repair (missing rivet) was repaired by the Giant Enterprises. They replaced the missing rivet with a pop rivet and some silicone, which was leaking when I came to pick the boat up! They drilled the pop rivet out, put a new pop rivet in, and put more silicone on it and gave me a spare prop for my troubles. In their defense, there was no way to crimp a rivet without removing the decks. That being said, they really didn't help me with getting my boat repaired properly or replaced by Tracker. I continued to have troubles; more rivets popping out and the aluminum ripping. Giant washed their hands of it and told me to take it up with Tracker. Similar to your experience my boat went down to Missouri and was gone for most of a season. Tracker welded it and put aluminum patches were rivets missing. The work looked like it was done by monkeys! The following season the boat started leaking again along one of their welds. There was a lot of back and forth and I suggested they replace the hull, and they told me that wasn't going to happen and to go ahead and sue them. I couldn't afford to sue them at the time, so I kept the boat for a couple of years and would just pay a local welder to patch the hull any time the boat started leaking. He's start chuckling every time he saw me pulling up. I got an offer to trade up the 45 hp Mariner for a used Evinrude 70 hp. The motor blew a powerhead and I literally gave the boat away. As a side note, this debacle caused an incredible amount of stress between me and my wife because of the money we were funneling into this rig. The old adage; you get what you pay for doesn't really apply with the White River group because one of my best friends bought a brand new Ranger 519 a few years ago and had an air bubble/pocket on his front deck, and when it was delivered is had chips out of his console, and he's been fighting with Ranger, and his selling dealer, since he got it. This is the way Johnny Morris has done business for at least three decades and there is absolutely no way he not be aware of how poorly the customer service is at his companies. With so many people experiencing their warranty issues not being properly taken care of, there's no possible way someone hasn't bumped into Johnny Morris at a BPS opening and complained of the shit service they have received. Morris knows and he doesn't care, it's all about bottom line, and that's probably why he's a billionaire! I would warn anyone against purchasing ANY White River Marine boat, PERIOD. I'm sure Forrest Wood is rolling over in his grave seeing what Morris has done to his legacy! By the way, very shortly after Forrest Wood passed, Johnny Morris fired all of the old regime Ranger people that used to stand behind the Ranger product!
Many of those good workers are at Vexus boats from my understanding now. Not how true that is just something I have heard.
I had a Lowe boat with a hull that split. Lowe replaced the hull in 3 months, no questions asked.
Glad you got it fixed. This video and those like it are why I will never buy a boat made by Bass Pro's companies.
Exactly!
Hey I'm glad I found this video I was just looking at boats today
Glad I did not end up getting a 198. Second video of this boat full of problems. I'm done with white river marine since I sold my tracker that had been fixed and sent back to the factory a couple. Times. Phoenix or skeeter for me no more aluminum
That is why I sold my last Ranger after 22 years of supporting them and went to Skeeter. BPS took the Ranger dealership from my local shop and service went to hill. Local shop got Skeeter and Xpress, and I immediately got rid of my ranger after the first major warranty problem I had and the headaches they caused
I have a Ranger fiberglass deep bed bought new in 2018 it was a 2017 model. First thing the livewells front and rear were both leaking badly, dealer checked the hoses all secure. Found out they were leaking around the top because they were not sealed. Apparently Ranger knew that was a problem so back to Flippin AK 2 months, fixed ? Nope same thing again. I took a mirror to look at the top of livewell no sealant and a 1/4 inch gap around the top. Finally fixed it myself took about 4 hours standing on my head. Buy a Ranger buy the best, yeah right Johnny Morris is only interested in the dollar. Never again my next boat won’t be a Morris product.
Glad to hear your getting your boat back together brotha, Some solid advice in this video as well. 👍🏻
Thanks
Sorry for all the trouble they put you through. I have been looking at downsizing. Was considering the Ranger, but there is no way I will buy one now. Too many horror stories like yours from just reading the comments here. Like I said, sorry for your troubles but thanks for sharing. Good luck with your next boat.
I have a Ranger VS1782SC deep V, bought new in 2018 at the same dealership in Kalamazoo. Use it mostly for smaller lakes, but have been out several miles on Lake Michigan a few times in 2-3' chop trolling for kings and lakers. Luckily, no issues so far...fingers crossed.
I really wanted a Lund, but that would have been $15-20k more for this style of boat. I really hope this Ranger holds up better than a Tracker.
Side note, I have a 1999 Forest L Wood Ranger I bought brand new at a boat show. I have fished it for 25 years and I never had one issue. I have blown the og. Motor twice and repowered in 2017. I paid 27,999 in 1999 for a brand new 19’8” boat with a 200. Isn’t it amazing how things have gotten? Those 90s 2000s era boat were built like a tank.
Yup
I had a very similar experience with WRMG on an aluminum 2020 Ranger. I only owned it for 18 months. I am so bitter about how I was treated for that 18 months that I won't even step foot in a Bass Pro or Cabela's ever again. I moved to a Lund, I've had it a year now and have had ZERO issues with it.
I can sympathize with the bitter feeling.
I have a 2017 Arkansas built boat and never had an issue.. good luck
All manufactures have issues now and then. It’s how the company handles that situation that will make or break them as a company.
JM is working to destroy the once great company that we all know as Ranger.
If you want that Old Ranger customer service. Buy a Vexus!!!They have had some growing pains but stand behind there product 100 percent.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Yikes. I just looked at two new Rangers two days ago. My all aluminum Fisher from 1983 is still running likw a champ. I put new wrap and Eva dlooring in recently. Perajps I should keep it
The "Ranger" name & its great reputation is long gone, these boats are worlds away from when Forrest Wood owned the brand
Its a real shame too, because they are actually really good looking and well designed boats. I think its just they pump so many out none of the boats get the love and care they individually need and it results in shoddy work way too often.
@mikey-nm3od the replacement has been solid and every tourney I have entered since getting it I have won or come in second
@@JCDropshot truthfully, that boat probably shouldn't be on the GLs unless the weather and weekend boat traffic was extremely stable. Js
Probably an unpopular opinion but after a less than ideal situation with a depth finder from bass pro I refuse to buy anything from bass pro or anything they own and Johnny Morris stuff I’m not touching with a 10’ pole. It seems that if he touches it that it only gets more expensive for the consumer and cheaper made. Only my opinion tho
Customer service motto is “Mind over matter” WRM does not mind because the customer doesn’t matter!!! I have a new Nitro pro18 and sooo many things shouldn’t been allowed to leave the factory. You can tell it is just hurry up and get it out. I am fortunate that I can fix all of the problems myself so far. Just sad. Btw the new Rangers aren’t any better!
Love your content JC !
Thanks
That just plain ol sucks no other way to put it .Sorry you went through that .
I worked for tracker for 10 years seen alot of garbage go through there alot of cracked boats fiberglass tracker aren't any better stear clear
Man been waiting on this
I would look at express but beware of the trailers f and s marine in Pennsylvania is a top-notch place to go
If you don’t mind me asking, what brand of aluminum boat you looking to get next? I’m looking at ranger and Vexus a kinda hard to just not do the ranger for the price. Love the videos!
Venus and Lund
My Dad’s 2019 Ranger 1888 did the same thing. Taking on water because of failed welds. Just dropped it off at the dealer. We’ll see what happens.
hopefully your guys experience goes better than mine
Customer service is everything thats why there is no boat on the planet better than gator trax they build the best boats money can buy they also have the best service if you want a trouble free boat go see kent saxon springfield Louisiana
Having issues with another brand, not with leaks but with wiring and porpoising. Ridiculous these manufacturers aren’t held to higher standards and it takes legal action to get anywhere for a resolution.
Great video, buddy! Just purchased the rt188p. Fingers 🤞. Was wondering where you got your console and bow graph mounts?
The console is from Panther Marine, and the bow mount is from str8 up mounts and is the Dual offset.
What I have learned with myself, friends, and family dealing with warranties, life insurance, health insurance, and travel insurance. Extra protection warranties. Without a lawyer, they will screw you to no ends, finding anyway to back out of what the promise and state in writing.
Similar experiences with white river marine and mercury and ranger boats…my motor blew up on first outing…3 months later they replace motor but transfer warranty from original motor to new motor so 33 month warranty not 36 mo…more problems with new motor and ranger boat itself and dealer..some things not repairable…many many shop returns. Johnnie Morris doesn’t care. White river marine no customer service or support, same for mercury, and ranger rep no response. Nobody cares after they get 70 K. Now 3 years and would never deal with ranger or mercury marine again
Some good advice. Stay away from aluminium. Glass is far superior
Good luck sorry about your misfortune
Sorry dude. I've got a 2018, RT198 pressure gauge has never worked, lumps in the carpet, speedo stopped working, drains in the floor do not let the water go to the bottom of the boat. It stays pooled up under the drain ( foam is trapping it, i think). The boat sits off center on the trailer, the power to the trolling motor, and fish finders had loose connections. Screws are coming out of the piano hinge on the coin box. definitely not the old Ranger company building these boats now.
yikes my boat just got back from ranger and was re welded from cracking...im scared this will happen to me too man
they never properly cleaned or dead ended my crack in my hull, Hopefully they did the right thing on yours.
I have thought about this a lot. In light of what happened to you, I honestly believe if I found myself in this situation I would hire a pro welder to do the repair and move on. Life is to short for the time lost, stress and all the BS that went along with it. Back on the water next week sounds like the right solution for me even though it is wrong to have to do it this way.
That’s the fallacy with warranties, even worse for white River owners but most other brands too. They will fight and claw to do halfass repairs and hold on to your boats for months.
I think the aluminum bass boats just aren’t a good idea in general either. I know guys with trackers, rangers, express and crest liners that have had hull failures. I just don’t think the aluminum holds up once you get into rough water unless it’s a deep v.
What did you end up buying for a new boat
I just put this one up for sale.
JC, I'm sorry to hear about your trouble, but not surprised. The sad truth is, you don't own a Ranger. That company died and was buried with Forrest and Nina Wood. You paid for a Ranger, but you bought a Tracker with a Ranger emblem on the side. I own a real Ranger and they took care of me like I was family. Those people are now all fired or moved on to other companies. I can't get a return phone call from WRM now. I'm not surprised to hear you are moving on to a new boat company, most other Real Ranger owners are too. If you are going to be treated like you don't matter after the sale, you should have saved $15000 and just bought a Tracker in the first place.
I bought a bass cat, seems fine
Hey there JC ,What's up Everyone Hit The Thumbs Up 👍👍👍
I owned a Ranger 361v. It was a nice Safe, boat but it was so heavy that it tore up 5 different motors. therefore i will never own another Ranger boat. I own an Allison craft now and i can pick the boat up with 1 hand and put it on the trailer hitch.
How do you have a 2-stroke motor on a 2017? You mentioned them assuring you that the 4 stroke controls would work on a 2-stroke. I’m guessing this is a motor you already had and you ordered the 2017 without a motor?
The outboard is a 2017. It was on a 2017 hull and how I bought it brand new. They moved my original outboard over to the new hull is all. If memory severs me right 2017 was the last year of the 2 stroke.
Bro ,I thought I had alot of trouble with boats,first bass boat 1988 bass tracker 60 mercury biggest p.o.s ever made,I allmost quit fishing bc of it,motor only worked 2 out of 3 trips,it totally turned me against mercury,so then I had 1992 javelin 175 Johnson fast strike it was fast,blew up twice,next 1994 skeeter same motor blew up twice last time 3 days out of warranty then got a tin skeeter 2000 with 150 yamaha,well the hull was defective a total death trap,jump out of the water on a little wave,argued 4 months then they gave me a new hull,guy I bought it from went to test it with me,boat was about to flip in chop,scared me the way he opened it up,porpoiseing jumping out of water,he said my equipment was off balance I said boat empty no equipment he said well u need to put a 80lb bag of sand in storage box,I said I didn't by this boat to haul said went over his head,got new hull it want much better,then I hot a awesom boat a 05 Triton 186v mag with a mercury efi 150 ,got in 04 ,best boat & motor I ever had 20yrs later lots of fishing,was all oringle equipment,but just replaced trolling motor switch went out,then I found a switch ,anyway I'm 63yro now an I will keep this boat rest of my life,I wouldn't trade it even for one of them 2025 new trackers that cost 40,000+ if I had to fish out of it,bro I would get rod of that 80,000 boat if I was u an never get another ranger
Guess what the replacement boat is going back to the factory found a not so good thing when putting it to bed this winter.
Contract law and wording is very important. Understanding the wording and how they are used and the meaning of said words. Blacks law dictionary is a must imo.
Yikes!! What a nightmare man. You’d look great in a kayak buddy.
You got that right!
Gator Trax! Gator Trax! Gator Trax! Period!
They're close to 100k, more if any upgrades are required. Can't see that for ANY tin boat.
Do you ever take the beagles out on the boat?
Cooper and Finn have never liked the boat. We lost Cooper last November to cancer. We got a new pup at the start of the year. She is a 76% foxhound and the rest is beagle. I haven’t introduced her to the water yet.
I agree they should have replaced the hull per the warranty but when you mentioned fighting with them over motor height, propping, setup, how is that their responsibility? Am I missing something? Thats always been something on the customer to do to wring all the performance they can out of their boat.
The new hull wasn’t designed for the 2stroke motors. They said the outboard which was bought through them as a packaged deal would work with no issue including the controls, power steer, it ended up not being the case. And they had to change all of that out.which cause a done of headache getting things rigged correctly.
After that experience, why are you still in a Ranger?
I ask myself that question, I guess right now it’s financial not ready to buy another boat. My rate on this loan is something I can’t even get close to currently.
You should've stopped paying on it and took the dealership and them to court. The more I listen to this the more I want to 🎉🎉🎉
My pockets where not that deep for that fight. The thought crossed my mind. But talked with the lawyer on options and the goal was to not drag this out to long cause the cost would get out of hand
Lund is better...sorry you got a bit burned
Ugh...glad I went with the Vexus AVX1880. The similar Ranger RT 188p doesn't even compare.
Before ranger sold out to bass pro the ranger boats were top of the line now its all about how much money they can make and how little they spend
I have a 2018 rt188 roughest riding boat I have ever owned just a little chop will beat you to death I didn't expect glass boat ride but didn't expect a flatbottom duck boat ride either should have never sold my champion
Ranger is not Ranger any more. Johnny Mart changed it. Hell they just laided off 170 employees. The bottom line is all they care about.!! Buy a SKEETER
The name ranger used to mean the best , now it means garbage. Thanks johnny
For what it’s worth, I also have a story from hell with Ranger 🙃
Tell your story!
Couldn’t you just grind the welds and weld it yourself? It’s a cheap boat and that’s the point.. right?
Man you think this is a cheap boat I wish I had your kind of money.
@@JCDropshot sure, it’s more expensive than a John boat. About half the price of the glass boats. Look at what the offshore guys pay for their boats, yes these aluminum boats are basically free with the purchase of a motor
express is no better !!
Jonny Morissette sold the company 20 yrs ago.
What a nightmirror and what a disgrace. It is to ranger boats and and to the dealership that sold you that piece of crap.
Nightmare
Keep that boat off lake st clair......
Nah
Was Rose the dealer?
Sell that piece of shit and get you an ALWELD or a Welded G3.
It's up for sale
BPS LOL 🤣 theres your sign