Randy this is what happened. It all started when Irwin Jacob's took over Ranger. Then Irwin decided he would put BASS out of business by starting the FLW tour. Remember back in those days there was the BASS Federation. They were the grass root boat buyers for Ranger boats. Irwin then kicked all the BASS guys out and forced them to FLW. The other thing is in the early 90's there were 50 to 60 thousand bass boats sold per year. Now they are down to maybe 5000. I have had 8 fully rigged bass boats in my life. The most expensive one was my 2014 Phoenix at 42 K. I couldn't touch that boat today for less than 85K. It's totally a rich man's sport now Randy. Guys are taking 25 year loans out o these 100k rigs now. Bass boats have simply priced themselves out of a working man's wage. Today I have a 18' flat bottom with a 70 Yamaha tiller, and I love it.

@TomKirkman1

Ай бұрын

Amazing how well the basic type boats are able to fish. And... they seem to catch just as many fish.

@getore100

Ай бұрын

Spot on. My first bass boat I purchased in the early 90's... Ranger 340v, trolling motor, Ranger trail trailer, Yamaha 150 Pro V. Price? Under $14k off the showroom floor.

@jamesmurphy1040

Ай бұрын

I would say it is quality....I have 2021 Ranger Z520L....I have had numerous trailer issue...trailer is made by ez loader....my boat came with Bass Pro Lithium Batteries...I had 3 go out in less then a year of ownership...Quality...Customer Service is terrible...I priced other boats to replace mine...but I am not paying 113 to 125,000 for a boat! As my bass pro stuff gets out of warranty I replace it with better products...as for the trailer.. still waiting for a call back!!

@edwardcowan7012

Ай бұрын

The 374V Ranger I bought in 1988 with every available option cost 18K. I took out a 4 year note.

@alienxyt

Ай бұрын

Human nature, especially these days. We push everything to the extreme until it consumes itself. Personally, I hope this whole thing blows up and we go back to bank fishing and maybe simple jon boats. No live scanners and multiple displays all over the boat.

Got too greedy, 100k boats are Rediculous. If you dont have a sponsor it’s called debt.

@kuhlone54

Ай бұрын

White River Marine Group...higher priced, lower standards, crappy service.

@5150Fishing

Ай бұрын

I just bought a 19’ Triton.IMO a better boat and about $10,000 less than Ranger

@wheelb4973

Ай бұрын

100% If I spend $100k on something it is going to be a piece of dirt somewhere .

Ranger was ALWAYS the cream of the crop back in the day. Once Forrest sold out it’s not been the same.

I just switched from Ranger for the first time in 27 years. My first boat was a Ranger, and I thought my last boat would be a ranger. I switched to Skeeter this year. My last Ranger became a headache to deal with when the local BPS took the Ranger Dealership away from my long time dealer to sell in store. Every issue was a headache. They would want me to leave my boat there for weeks for minor fixes, almost impossible to get anyone to call me back. It was disgusting. So, my local dealer got a Skeeter License and I immediately sold my Ranger and bought a Skeeter FX21 Apex. Only had it out 6 times so far, it’s brand new and ordered custom for me. Easily the best boat I’ve ever used. So stable, comfortable mats, tons of storage, full Lowrance electronics , Yamaha 250SHO, 8’ blades. The dual axle trailer is INCREDIBLE! Don’t buy boats at bug box stores.

@scarecrow_9895

Ай бұрын

I hate u.

Nitro quality at a Ranger price. Cut corners on build quality to make more money and they’ve been declining since.

@frez777

Ай бұрын

Oldest trick in the book

@TheOzarkWizard

Ай бұрын

Dozens of people at Triton midway told them time and time again how to fix issues, but since fixing problems costs money, they didnt do that. instead they wasted money on a couple "big ass fans" and a whole factory worth of LEDS

@americanthegreatusa9596

23 күн бұрын

No Doubt 100% I watch it every day going down the line greed quicker production. I used to work for Forrest and Nina on the farm until Force passed away and then I went to work for Ranger Boats with all the stories I've heard from Forrest it doesn't seem like the same place that I've heard about still work there as of right now but it sounds like they're about to close the doors on a plant that I'm working at they cut hours had a big layoffs only a matter of time for the next one.

@TheOzarkWizard

23 күн бұрын

@@americanthegreatusa9596 good luck, Dont listen to them, theyll lie through their teeth

Ranger boats were a unbelievably strong brand back in the 70's and 80's . Every serious fisherman wanted to have a Ranger back in the day . I bought a 1 year old 1985 361-V Ranger and gave $12,000 for it . I felt 10 feet tall and proud as a peacock in that boat . It never gave me a problem and 3 years later I sold it for $11,500 . It was the best boat ever . Forrest Wood was a one of a kind man with integrity and looked people in the eye and gave them his word . No boat company will ever regain the status that Ranger had in those days , never !

@dereknappier8651

Ай бұрын

My dad owned a 361V, hell of a boat, craftsmanship was top notch

@wheelb4973

Ай бұрын

@@dereknappier8651 The brand awareness to top craftsmanship will never be equalled imo all to be destroyed by new company owners following Forrest and Nina Wood . The new owners killed the most valuable asset of the company in less than half dozen years . SAD

@BassholeByNatureFishing

Ай бұрын

I agree. It would take a look of true fishermen who don’t to much care for profits to make a boat company to really be the boat above all boats. Never sell the company and never over price it!!!

@Old_Sailor85

Ай бұрын

My one and only bass boat was a 1989 361V. The guy I sold it to is still using it.

@wheelb4973

Ай бұрын

@@Old_Sailor85 They don't build them like that anymore . The 361 V had the removable deck to steering platform and was great when fishing team tournaments . I am curious if you remember what your boat cost back then ?

You want to know? White River, aka Tracker, aka Bass Pro Shop. This to a lot of people is a Nitro. The worst thing to happen to Ranger, Triton and the boats that were killed off. Stratos ,Champion, and Legend. Bass Pro said'' oh no we are going to keep these lines separate. No sales in BPS locations . Lies. And the prices of these things. No one is buying . If you wanted a new boat today ; you either mortgage the house, or you do without. Unless you make six figures. Or buy smaller, which is still too much for what you get. The average man with a family just cannot afford it. I can get political too ,but I will leave it there.

@adamhudson2511

Ай бұрын

Don’t forget about Bass Pro buying and shutting down Pro Craft in the early 2000s. Johnny Morris is the worst thing that ever happened to bass boats.

@TheOzarkWizard

Ай бұрын

Bass pro came down to triton and lied through their teeth and said they werent going to close the doors and then did exactly that also legend became triton and all the employees who remained got screwed 3 times over

A dude at my local ramp had a new Vexus. I had never heard of that brand and walked over to look at it. He told me Forrest's son was running that company and building in same Flippin Arkansas factory.

@phillamoore157

Ай бұрын

Those are stunning boats, my wife and I almost purchased one a couple years ago.

@angelahuddleston740

Ай бұрын

True right down the road from the ranger plant and alot of the big wigs from ranger now are at vexus

@jason6325

Ай бұрын

Interesting. I never knew that. And i live a hour and a half away from flippin

@TheOzarkWizard

Ай бұрын

Vexus has Air conditioning in their factory, i hear its cushy, but smaller.

@caseysaunders2137

29 күн бұрын

@@TheOzarkWizard Their boats look amazing. There's some walk through Vexus vids on KZread made by Vexus. Killer rigs. Maybe one day when I retire I'll sell my 2002 Ranger (first boat new) and trade up !!

There all priced out of this world. A person needs 2 jobs to afford seemingly any brand let alone afford to evenfish🤣🤣

It's a real simple answer - corporate greed. It's all about the money and nothing else. When does a person finally have enough money! I still run a 1985 395V, and they will bury me in that boat, but the quality of the Rangers today can't hold a candle. And don't even get me started on the parts department (ha!) or customer service. Sad really.

Bought by basspro. Just like Cabella’s went downhill in a hurry.

@MrFuckface2013

Ай бұрын

Cabella’s was a huge loss. It's truly a shame what BPS did to it.

Loving the hat!!! 🤠 And loving the perspective!!! What about that Tackle room tour ❓🤔

My first Bass Boat was a 1978 Ranger and I ran a Ranger until 2006. Being from the North East fishing big waters like Ontario, Champlain, Hudson River and the Upper Bay everything except the Rangers broke! The 300 series Rangers were bullet proof!

@brianpierson7708

Ай бұрын

A lot of guys your way also ran a lot of Champion Boats the old ones where built good. The hull was built for big water and to handle great in that water. I’ve seen them running up and crossing big waves like a walk in the park where other boats if you could you would be fighting to hold that angle going over the wave. And probably get swamped or cracked in half. But them Champ’s are right at home.

@edwardcowan7012

Ай бұрын

@@brianpierson7708 they built a really good boat, didn't see any of them broken either

BASS PRO SHOP.

@jaydrfish

Ай бұрын

That is exactly right. Same with Cabelas... when the Bass Pro Shop accountants took over, cost cutting and profit became far more important than product quality. When I fished the BASS Top 100, 150 events as a co-angler, all the pros wore either Cabelas or Bass Pro Shop rainsuits, because they were excellent. Now they're both pure crap, and almost no one wears them. New Rangers are like new Nitros... junk!

@Precisionreelworks

Ай бұрын

Bass pro had to bail out ranger. I was talking with an engineer from Bass Pro and somehow Vexus came up. Apparently the guy who started Vexus took all the IP from ranger and gutted it. The brand would have died without bass pro

@frez777

Ай бұрын

China division

@frez777

Ай бұрын

@@jaydrfish yep, remember their Redfield brand? Awesome, then it just went to (ow quality) China

@jaydrfish

Ай бұрын

Yes, I remember that as well!

Rangers bass boats gave away 1 of 3 boats they made in bass tournaments , I believe it was the early 90s when they stopped. I back into bass fishing in 1986 when I got out of the U.S. Army and my dad and brother got me into tournament bass fishing with them. I fished tournament till 1998 ,my dad fished them till 2012 and passed away in 2014 and I just lost my brother on April 1st this year of a massive heart attack at the age of 66 years old and he had put a brand new Yamaha 225 hp on his boat and his boat is 2 years old Phoenix . I've lost my bother and fishing partner , I'm 63 years old but still fishing Old School Bass Fisherman and Crappie too.

@sshaw7912

Ай бұрын

Sorry to hear of your losses, may God bless you and your family. Good luck.

@timlacy2284

Ай бұрын

@@sshaw7912 Thank You, So Much. We Greatly Appreciate It and God Bless Y'all.

Corporatism happened. Ranger started downhill when purchased by Genmar and fell off a cliff when Johnny Morris and “White River Marine” took ownership.

@brianpierson7708

Ай бұрын

YEAP YOU DRIVE THAT NAIL ONE SWING!! I think all that J Morris cares about is the aluminum boats to push at the stores and nothing is wrong with that. But he’ll keep the rights to them and sell the glass boats side to someone who would take care of it anything is better than nothing.

Bass pro shop bought up the competition so they could sell more nitros.

one name, Johnny Morris! He owns too many companies, and Ranger has been diminished. I own a 198 aluminum Ranger that I like. I wouldn’t buy a new one. They aren’t handcrafted one boat at a time any longer. Another part of the past is gone.

@angelahuddleston740

Ай бұрын

Rangers are still made the same as they always have been

@mollythedog7490

Ай бұрын

@@angelahuddleston740 Yes. Whole new design and management team.

@rodwebbvideos

Ай бұрын

I agree about the Johnny Morris statement. He did the same thing to Stratos Boats. Ranger Boats led the way for the markup in the cost of new bass boats.

@angelahuddleston740

Ай бұрын

@@mollythedog7490 Maybe so but The way they are made is still the same as always my parents worked at the Ranger boat plant in the late 80's and I myself just transfered out of the ranger plant about 2 yrs ago into sales in the store. Sure new faces are there but same process

I think Ranger lost their identity. Forrest Wood represented integrity and everything Ranger. I'm lucky to have fished a rare Forrest Wood Open on the Cal. Delta. I'll never forget it.

Remember reading “Bass Wars” years ago - learned about a couple of young guns named Blaukat & Moseley.

I met you at the Ranger Dealer in the late 90s in Manchester, NH. I bought a 520 in 1999 but stopped freshwater and moved to saltwater pelagics around 2010. Its cool to see the old guys I looked up to and you were one of them. Im glad you continue to give us the opportunity to share your career experiences.

Things never stay the same. That was a great era tho

Went to the boat show in Madison Wisconsin a couple years ago. They had a ranger there that was 99.999.00 couldn't believe it. Thats about 15.000.00 more than I paid for my first house

@brianpierson7708

Ай бұрын

They have a ranger at the dealer by me and it’s got 115K on it with a paper on it that say’s add ffs installed for 120K or add ffs transducer to front and back 124K upgrade from 12”screens to 16” 125,500$. And they give you upgraded mounting brackets with the 16” screens. That’s F🤯ING insane. Me and my son where laughing about it walked up to the board they have for new boat sales who sold who bought the date and model. They sold 5 outright and financed 7 more this year. So out the 12 bass boats 6 of them were just like that one. And most of the sales where to people in the 25-35 year old range. We know who paying for the majority of them.

Randy I fished with you at the ‘98 BASS Invitational at lake texoma. You had a Ranger 461 great boats. We talked about it and went in yours. I had my Ranger 481VS with me which I’ve still got.

Well Randy my thinking is Johnny Morris is buying Ranger and Triton out and closing them down to get them out of the market. That's two less boat companies competing with his Nitros.

@chriswainwright755

Ай бұрын

Don’t forget Johnny killed Legend too! I own a 2018 V-20 love it but parts are impossible to find. But my V-20 is way better quality than that Nitro trash they pushing.

@steveringeisen9231

Ай бұрын

The 2024 Bass Pro Magazine had more pages dedicated to Ranger than Nitro. Not sure if Triton will survive long term but they are pushing Rangers.

@angelahuddleston740

Ай бұрын

Nitro nor Triton will ever amount to a ranger even still

Forrest passed and the rest didn't have the passion as much for the sport but more of love for money!

Bass Pro Shops sold its soul. I refuse to shop there anymore. Hope they go under.

@frez777

Ай бұрын

to China

I just got a skeeter and I love it. It is the only bass boat I"ve ever owned, but most of my neighbors own them. It must be that we all live in east Texas. Thank you for your videos.

JohnnyMart happened

@charleywalker2982

Ай бұрын

You can say that from boats to refrigerators. They don’t make them one at a time anymore and something you buy now doesn’t have the same quality as your old one.

Every time Ranger was bought, the quality went down. Now you can buy a better bass boat. It’s a shame what has happened ! Thanks Randy !

Currently crappie fishing out of a 2023 178C & I love it. Quiet, dependable & fuel efficient.

Ranger boats used to be arguably a main attraction in the bass boat world due to quality, reputation, brand loyalty and resell value. Now Ranger has become just another poker chip in the high priced bass boat fishing casino.

I have a 2022 Ranger 521. Love this boat! It’s my 4th bass boat. It was a pro boat in really good shape still under warranty. Strong tight and secure ride!

I firmly believe that one of the biggest antitrust examples was when Bass Pro was allowed to "buy" Cabela's, thus cementing complete control of online sales of fishing equipment and marine boats. Sure there's others out there (Tackle Warehouse, etc.) but they pale in comparison to the Johnny Morris conglomerate.

Over the years, I have owned 3 Rangers, but my last one was a new 2000 520VX. I live in Dalton, GA which is the home of Dalton Marine (oldest continuous Ranger dealer). I have heard comments over the years about how through each ownership change, they get more difficult to deal with. It has been years since Dalton Marine sold another brand of bass boat, but they recently took on the Ikon line. It's a very different company now than it was. I think when Irwin Jacobs owned them, that was their last glory time. Needless to say, White River Marine is not happy with Dalton Marine for the addition of the Ikon brand.

I work at a dealership selling multiple brands. Ranger is still amazing build quality. I get to look closely at them every day. If working with a Bass Pro I am sure service has taken a beating but the soul of a Ranger is still there. Because of videos like this, you can probably get a great deal! I have a Skeeter sitting next to a ranger 520 right now. No question I would rather have the 520.

@angelahuddleston740

Ай бұрын

every one keeps saying how the quality has changed but i too see them come into the dealerships and in my opinion Tritons come in with the most issues and look the worst to me

Off topic a little but prices for boats are insane.

@adamsnelson4689

Ай бұрын

Yup & it will take a complete economic collapse to bring them back down to reality just like everything else that is hyperinflated

I was with Ranger for many years with a memo boat deal. It started going bad when Forest sold the second or third time. What killed Ranger was the sell to White River (Bass Pro). Their new management wanted to run Ranger like Nitro. They did some good things like consolidating common parts to get the price of supply’s down (screws, washers, rub rails etc). The main problem was White River Marine, never grasped the concept of family and Ranger Pro Staff was always a family. You could enter the plant any time and walk and talk to anyone in the plant. Having a boat issue, they would say it in anytime and we will fix it on the spot. Parts department was always very responsive and fast on getting parts shipped. Everything change with White River Marine! Pro staff was not family and you had to make an appointment to come to the plant and that would be several week to over a month away. You had to be escorted everywhere you want to go. You could not reach anyone in the parts department by phone or email and getting a part was almost impossible. The quality of the boat build got really bad as so many long term employees were let got and new employees just were not trained correctly. White River Marine wanted to shake up Ranger and remove all the feelings of loyalty, attention to detail and most important family. What employees remained were trapped and had been put through a ringer and were now working in a hostile environment and feared going to work every day. New management was either brought from White River Marine or selected to come from any place other than Ranger. They extinguished all sense of family and building the best bass boats on the market and understanding just how valuable a good pro staff could be in selling their boats. They picked wrong people (Scott A is a perfect example) to interface with customers and in fact they didn’t want to interface with them, they only want to work with dealers. The public saw through all of this and voted with their feet and did the pro staff who departed early and went with other brands and the White River Marine removed the rest. All this in hopes of removing the Forest and Nina’s Legacy and branding…in which they were very successful. Look at Ranger now, a shell of what it once was. That’s the view from my foxhole and I was with Ranger for almost 30 years. Sammy Lee called me to see if I want to accept coming into the Ranger Family…one of the greatest honors of my life. I am now with Vexus Boats and am happy again.

The minute Forest and Ida sold it the erosion began! When BPS bought em the end was here and Nitro became their focus taking any and all patents Ranger owned!

Randy, What year and boat was the best Ranger ever built? There seems to be a lot of debate on that.

Met Forest at Crystal Pierz marine in MN. He signed my new Ranger I bought off the flw tour. They were fire saling all the flw camera and final day boats because they had a few minimal hours and crazy colors because there were no wraps yet. Got the everstart boat. Great guy and company.

Cutting back and charging more! Typical business moves!

Randy, when GENMAR had them, were you on one of the Pro Teams? I always heard that was a pretty sweet deal that included a boat, tournament fees and expense cash? Was that what it entailed or am I off base about this? thanks

I can tell you. Because I experienced it first hand. After Johnny Morris took over, the build quality went to shit and they still cost $100k. I made trips to Flippin every year to pick up and return my brand new 520’s, 520C’s, 521C’s and 520L’s. My last Ranger was absolute garbage. Screws backed out. Lids flew off. Hull delaminated. My old man, who was a friend of Forrest and traveled with him, bought a new Z522 in 2013. That boat is awesome. My 2015 521C with a 250 ProXS would run 78 with full tanks and a partner. Took waves like a champ. Now the big thing is Phoenix. And they will sink like a rock in an accident. You like Skeeters. Well, they had huge problems with their top caps coming unbuttoned. But the new ones really do ride great. As good as any 521C. If you gave me a new Ranger I’d sell it. I’d rather have a 2005 Champion 210.

Ranger boats lost the quality that made them the top dog for years, they are nothing but a higher priced Nitro anymore

@InnocentMarsh-pt7yd

Ай бұрын

That’s pretty much total BS.

As with any company....when the customer service goes to 💩....so does the company itself. People take their money and go elsewhere.....where they are treated better. I dont know why Ranger decided to self destruct....but they did. Im sure Skeeter appreciates the decision tho😁

Greed has consumed the whole company. Even the stores are losing money.

@adamsnelson4689

Ай бұрын

Greed has consumed the whole Country There I fixed it for ya

Ranger factory employed a lot for family members, often wondered what happened to them. I had rangers all my life. I’m 77 now and my first Ranger was a 1973 TR model. I just sold my last ranger last year.

Johnny Morris!

Forrest was not happy with comments about Ranger boat quality after Bass Pro bought Ranger. He got his original people back together and after the "no compete" clause expired he built a new "state of the art" factory in Flippin and started designing and building Vexus Boats. I believe he brought quality of the highest degree back to fishing boats. I got this information from the staff at Vexus, while visiting the factory while my boat was being built. My DVX22 was delivered March 2022 and is the smoothest riding, best designed, and highest quality boat I've ever been around.

@angelahuddleston740

Ай бұрын

yes and a vexus will cost you damn near if not the same as what Rangers do now

Regrettably I purchased a Ranger RT178 brand new, in 2019. Within a year the steering cable broke; within 3 years several design flaws cost me thousands of dollars in repairs. My opinion is the manufacturing and design quality has gone downhill, but the price continues to go up!

@Resistculturaldecline

Ай бұрын

My dad bought the 19ft aluminum with a 115 proXS. The boat seemed to be ok, but the trailer was bargain bin. The bunks weren't even spaced for the hull.

@donnieshelton591

Ай бұрын

I have the 2019 Ranger 520z and it’s been great. I purchased it from a large dealer, not Bass Pro.

@jarodwarren8419

Ай бұрын

I purchased an RT178 in 2013. First year they came out. Great boat. I had a trailer problem and they replaced my trailer at no cost. They have upgraded the quality of the trailer since. Much better than a tracker IMO.

I know it's a small market. But look at all the walleye boats that are rangers. It's amazing how many you see. Especially after they made the 22 footer.

@mikewubben2844

Ай бұрын

True but that's changing too. In a few years the Ranger walleye boats will be going down the same drain the Ranger bass boats have. Vexus will be gaining ground rapidly among the walleye/musky crowd. And Lund and Alumacraft are making some great boats for that market too.

Look at the price of a Nitro vs the Ranger price tag, I ran a skeeter w Yamaha and before that a Cajun

Loving the comments …but one other deal too was that when the 150 HP rule was lifted, Rangers were slower than some of the others.. some referred to them as a lead sled .. but.. I’m a big guy and they were SOLID.. one reason I was always a Ranger fan( older Rangers)…

I have a demo boat from 1987. Ranger 360v with a Johnaon V6. It has been a great boat.

They were bought by Johnny Morris and are now being built on the cheap like every thing else he owns.

@frez777

Ай бұрын

But it's Joe Bidens fault, as Joe "sold out to China". Nope, every American businessman, sold out to China

I looked at a new Champion back in the 80's and then the 90's came and the price jumped considerably. So I bought a few used boats and now I have a 88 champion 184 single console high livewell with a 175 Mercury, new trolling motor and fish finders. And it's paid for, no debt. I had a bass membership once upon a time, and now they're almost unheard of anymore.

They used to sponsor Ifa redfish tour and they pulled away and bass pro did also finishing the ifa tour which was one of the best series for redfish tournaments

Ranger changed long before Johnny Morris and White River Marine purchased them.

Johnny Morris he’s the Walmart of the bass fishing !! buy the boat company’s and shut them down ! By the FLW and shut it down ! Take pro anglers away from others and then turn them loose approximately 30 or so!! Took over Cabela’s! I don’t think John is good for the industry maybe for himself but not the industry!!! Just my humble opinion

Still quite a few Rangers fishing here in wappapello Missouri

Greed! The entire industry is imploding due to greed. It’s really sad.

@adamsnelson4689

Ай бұрын

EVERY industry is

Hi Randy. Hank Parker did a video that I watched showing off his Z521R. He said to put it to rest that Ranger boats are still making the best boat on the market. He wanted to put this so called myth Ranger is gone. I understand his position. I grew up loving Rangers. I belonged to BASS for decades and got the opportunity to go to Flippin. Got there on a Sunday and they were closed. The old security guard and I struck up a conversation since I was still a State police officer with Florida. He took my wife and for a tour through the whole factory. Boy was that a trill. I went there again 2 years later and bought some clothing in there store and was still impressed. They said Forest Wood was not there as he usually hangs out down at his lumber yard in Flippin. I understood but still thrilled to be there. To this date I still like Ranger. I have a Ranger in my garage. Bought it new and love it. Now not being a tournament angler, I don't see what you see. I will say this. I don't like White River Marine Group. My Ranger dealer says they have a hard time getting things from them. Now they carry all the top brands of bass boats. Toho Marine in St. Cloud, Florida. It is sad to say the least hearing your information about Ranger. I don't know what is going on but I watch a lot of bass fishing on this computer. One name comes to me. Bryan Thrift and a few others are running Ranger. Mark Daniels Jr. is running a Ranger. I just don't know Randy. I believe in your videos but don't know all the facts about Ranger. Oh well, time will tell.

I'm a flippiñ native. What happened is the plague of Johnny Morris. The fact that you are fishing a sceeter boat sums it up. Ranger isn't the best or even close.. thank God I still have my 88 375v.

Johnny morris kills everything he touchs that isnt his original crappy brands

Hey Randy can you do a video talking about your top 150 win on the mobile tensaw delta back in early 2000s?

@Jeff-sn3cr

Ай бұрын

This would be cool 👍🏼

Think of the movie Wallstreet and you can see how this stuff happens. Ranger became a company that sold well based on its name so it got passed around by these groups once the Woods sold it. These companies would make what they could while squeezing the technology, knowledge and fan base for all they could. You basically get a few large corporations that buy as much of the competition as possible and the brand becomes a watered down version of what it was and other boats became appealing because they were never at the top but could now compete. I loved my Skeeter back in the late 80’s but it wasn’t a Ranger which was always the best made and best selling boat. This business practice is commonplace in about every type of business. Lastly, if people would stop buying these boats at totally overpriced prices things would get better after they suffer from their greed.

Once Bass Pro Shops bought Ranger boats,I believe bass pro has purposely let Ranger boats go down hill so more people will be Nitro and Bass Tracker

@minniesfishies3024

Ай бұрын

Pretty sure that Tracker bought out Fisher Marine and shut that down. Fisher was a really well built boat, quality at the affordable entry point. No longer.

RANDY! Boat companies consolidated big time in the late 80s-90s. Brunswick, OMC, Genmar, etc. Some top-tier brands took a dive during that period. Mako, Robalo, and Aquasport come to mind. Then some of them got a revival through the mid 90s. Ranger got shuffled around in that mix. Although Brunswick was the biggest, Genmar was making what would become the most sought after boats in the used market until this day. Hydra-sport Vectors, Aqua-Sport Ospreys, and also some of the last true Scarabs, I think. Genmar went bust when our economy did what it likes to do and crapped out around 2008-10. I think that’s when Ranger went to Bass pro. From their marketing, I got the message they were pulling back in mass production (leaving that to nitro) and making Ranger a boat you’d go looking for with big bucks in hand. They didn’t need pros in them competing, they weee selling the name purely on nostalgia and legend.

What is your opinion of Bass Cat Randy?

BPS bought them and that put Nitro in the position to be front and center. Phoenix came on the scene and basically replaced Champion, which is probably better than anything else built today.

My 2023 Z519 has been flawless!

@waynecharacter4920

Ай бұрын

Mine, too! Awesome boat with exceptional craftsmanship.

A lot of really good takes in the comments. I’ve been a bass fisherman for over 40 years and I can tell you that a Ranger bass boat was always my dream. Now, that dream is so far out of reach it’s ridiculous. $100k for a bass boat? That doesn’t even include the electronics suite, and a truck to pull it with. By the time it’s all said and done your pushing $200k. I would imagine all boat manufacturers are struggling in this economy.

I had an '89 Ranger f/23 yrs. I noticed changes in service mid 90s. Bought 2013 advertised new only to find out a Demo & used in All American. Numerous issues. The Dealer M.I.A. Ranger took pretty good care of my legitimate issues. Then I started to see changes in service 4/5 yrs ago. The boat is wonderful. Not sure what vision Bass Pro has other than streamlining & eventual dissolving.

Too finish my statement. Rapport Like you explained from the beginning. Iff I like a tool place. Or material place construction. I go back. First place I go too. Gotta give a shoot. Right???

I think B.A.S.S. pro shops bought ranger and triton to get the good stuff off them and make nitro better

Always had my heart set on a Ranger but, wasn't interested in giving the new owner any of my money. After looking all around, i bought a Phoenix. I love it and so happy i chose it.

Rangers top people left and stated Vexus. 10:38

I bought a Ranger in 2020. I had multiple issues with the boat. They have the worst costumer service ever! Of course the CS department is now run out of Johnnie’s office in Missouri. Anyway, they never made anything right. They actually gave me some parts and said fix it yourself. Very disappointed. I will never buy another one.

This is at the beginning of the video, but from what i understand is that Bass Pro had to bail out ranger. One of the higher ups left Ranger and took a lot of the good ideas/technology and started vexus. Ranger couldn't compete after that departure so Bass Pro acquired them so the name didn't die. Anyways this was just what came up in convos with a white river employee

Greed change things💯💯💯💯💯👍🏾

On top of what was said below, Tracker Marine has purchased many boat companies over the years and have put a few of them out of business. One of them was Sea Craft. In my opinion a big part of it was poor craftsmanship, poor customer service, and trying to deny legit warranty claims. A friend’s 3-month old Sea Craft had spider cracks in the gel coat over the entire floor from bow to stern. Sea Craft said they wouldn’t warranty spider cracks. So my friend hired a marine surveyor which did a big write up confirming “too much hardener in the gel coat”. My friend threatened to sue and Sea Craft settled and built him a new 21’ center console which took 8-months to receive. Fishing season lost! When the new boat finally arrived it was the wrong color, my friend took the boat anyways because he didn’t want to wait another 8-months. That boat lasted another 3-months when the whole cap disconnected from the hull while underway at 30 knots. It sounded like a gun went off. The same marine surveyor was hired, the new boat was assessed, and it was determined the hull and cap were pressed, glued, and fastened together under too much stress. Sea Craft received the surveyor report and again denied the warranty claim. My friend hired the same attorney and threatened to sue again. This time Sea Craft would budge, and court litigation was underway. Litigation resulted in the boat buyer winning the case, and Tracker Marine had to pay him all his money back “in full, including the boat, trailer, and outboard.

Simple economics. Cheaper production with a higher retail means more profit for execs. The Wood family had the key ingredient that made their boats the best on the water; heart and soul.

They are still the stick in which all bass boats are held, too. And i hate to disappoint everybody who is a forest l wood fan, but he was in it for the money and still is. The early to mid 2000s ranger boats are my favorite models.

Not that I would ever question the business sense of Johnny Morris- I respect the man greatly because he’s built an amazing empire out of nothing and does a ton for conservation. But I hate that some of their business decisions and strategies have killed off completely or has shrunk some historical brands. It killed me when Stratos was cut, and you had Legend, Champion, Pro Craft and as you mentioned names like Triton and Ranger are now playing “2nd fiddle” to Nitro when for decades it was the other way around. From what I understand, some of the founding fathers of Ranger left before the BPS acquisition of Ranger and started Vexus boats as the “new Ranger”. On another note, the earlier mid 70’s Rangers were actually cloned (splashed) Allison XST Tri-vee pad boats. A lot of companies splashed that hull design but they never got them to rus as fast and as “smooth” as the original Allison make.

When Forrest Wood sold Ranger, the writing was on the wall. Then Ray Scott sold BASS. I spent 5 years on the board of directors for the NC BASS Federation in the 90's. I saw when they abandoned the Bass Federation. Im sure you remember that fiasco. Greed happened. And it was over. And now, nobody builds an affordable, high quality boat. I have a Bassmaster Classic edition 373v (1987) sitting in my driveway still. It was the Cadillac of boats in its day. Still rides as good as any 18 ft boat out there today. Im restoring it next year . And I wont have to take out a second mortgage to do it.

Had a tornado come over our house and laid 2 large pine trees across my 1 year old Sportsman 247 bay boat. I actually thought the insurance company would want to repair it, buy a new T-top and trailer but they decided to total it out. One tree fell behind the T-top, one in front of top. One portion of gunwale had crack down about 3" down, ripped rocket launcher off T-top and destroyed the leaning post. The tree landed so hard on the side of boat it snapped the tree where it was approx 10" in diameter. Collapsed and destroyed the Venture Commander series trailer from the impact. But, while talking to the estimator, he said he couldn't believe the boat held up to those trees as well as it did. As we talked, I told him I wanted to get another Sportsman boat as a replacement, only other option I would consider is the replacement cost and go get a Ranger 2510 bay boat. He said, I strongly advise against getting a Ranger, the Sportsman just proved it is a much better built boat. Said he recently did a claim on a Ranger bay boat where the guy was running in a no wake zone with witnesses on the boat said they were going slow and cut too close to a treated post channel marker where it rubbed down the side of the boat, ripped the entire side of the boat off. He texted me a photo, looked like it had been t-bone by a truck on the highway. He said he couldn't believe to damage on the boat and the owner refused to take another Ranger as a replacement boat after seeing the damage from a low speed hit on the side, wasn't even a direct hit. I have never owned a Ranger, and never will now. Years ago when I bass fished, those guys talked like Rangers were built like tanks. Just proves what happens when greed takes precedence over quality!

That’s. Cool 😎. Dream come true 😎

They are still around. Ranger Z521R bass boat is new for 2024 0:59 . Many other Ranger boat still available

I agree with others comments on pricing. It’s the same story for the current pickup truck market. They build products most average people simply can’t afford anymore. If you look at a new ranger boat and a decent truck to pull it the price is unbelievable. Fishing has always mostly been a working man’s sport. It’s just nuts what corporations do when buying up companies for the mighty dollar without any connection to the actual customer.

I have an aluminum Ranger. It’s basically a tracker. Live wells don’t work cheap latches. My mistake.

@winstonrocco1981

Ай бұрын

I got lucky bought a rt before Johnny bought them out it has been a excellent boat.

@slabbusterrtr7690

Ай бұрын

I've heard for years dint buy rager alum ...Express way to go or sea ark

I remember you back in the days back when I was young too, and when ranger boats used to mean something, another quality went down the tube and forest died😎💯

I bought my first and only new boat in 2021. Ranger 198. I will NEVER EVER buy another ranger. Top speed of 48mph with a 150. Plowed through the water with wake at the console. White river marine in Rogers Arkansas was absolutely terrible! Never fixed the problem, in fact made things worse. Emailed Ranger customer support and was told they don’t do customer service…..contact dealer. Way to stand behind your product! I ended up selling it for what I owed a year later.

When they done away with the 300 series hull , and the sale from forrest to who ever , then johnny morris , that was the nail then the cost and that was the hammer that drove it home .

I'm proud of my tracker XL classic 🙂

Got my first boat, 30 years ago, a 14 foot tri-hull 1976 Ranger with a 30hp Chrysler used for $1,900. Cut my teeth on that, then bought a 1999 Ranger Cherokee 106, 16 foot aluminum boat with a 40 hp 2 stoke Mercury on it for $10,000. Still have it, love it and use it a lot 25 years later, it is in great shape, won’t trade it or sell it, will not pay the insane money for a new one. Got a great autographed pic with Forrest at a Milwaukee boat show many years ago. Glad I got the boat when I did, it will be my last boat. Thank you Lord and thank you Ranger!

Welcome to Corporate America!! Bass Pro wants to shut down Ranger so they can have Nitro in the spotlight!!! Same thing as Triton, they gone soon too!!

The only press I've seen from Ranger is Kristine Fisher's videos of her new Alpha 208 aluminum rig she will be using in the opens. James Niggemeyer also is running one of those as well. Lots more players in the bass boat game now, compared to the old days.

I Bass and Walleye fish, but bought a 621VS in 2013 because I fish lake Erie the most and wanted a bigger boat than a bass rig. But I am sooo glad I bought it before Bass Pro bought the company because I see the difference in the quality of the new boats is not as good as my 2013 and the price was a lot cheaper than today. I came from a Skeeter to but the Ranger, if I buy new again, I will be going back to a Skeeter.

Phoniex boats hurt them alot of people are running Phoenix they build them like Ranger use to with love and for fisherman Gary has went beyond with Phoenix he hit the nail on the head .I don't even have one couldn't afford one but want one so bad because I know of I got one it would last me a life time because the way they are built .it's sad because Forest worked so hard to build the name that's being ruined . But it's ok we have phonixe built to last one day I hope to have one if I hit lotto first thing I buy .shout out to Gary way to go you did build the fire 🔥 boat around everybody wants one keep up great work .

@tomcaldwell5914

Ай бұрын

I’ve owned 3 Rangers and they were all great boats, but I’m in a Phoenix 721 Pro XP now and can vouch for the quality of the boat.

@bobbarnhill8557

Ай бұрын

Amen. I’m in a 2024 Phoenix myself. Build quality is excellent.

@tomcaldwell5914

Ай бұрын

@@bobbarnhill85572022 for me. I really like the boat a lot.