Second Hull Failure on my 2017 Ranger RT 198 P

[raisinrat]

28?? Yikes. Like what?

I will have to dig my list from my emails. I will admit some are minor but when your suppose to be given a brand new boat that has never been used before you expect it to look a certain way.

[Johnnyred]

Riveted > Welded. Canadian Shield lakes are all rock and the resort boats are literally dragged over rocks on a regular basis. Most of them run Lund hulls.

... went to Hawk Lake Lodge this summer with a group for smallies and walleye. They have 30-40 lakes on property all lined, coated with rocks. All the boats were Crestliner.

[raisinrat]

I will have to dig my list from my emails. I will admit some are minor but when your suppose to be given a brand new boat that has never been used before you expect it to look a certain way.

I found one of my list to them

• Trim around Trolling motor pedal isn’t attached all the way around
• Deep Scratch on right lower part of Console
• Missing Coin Box (just need install instruction)
• Scratches all over the top of the gunwales
• Rust Stain on Carpet in front of Passenger seat.
• Scratches on Starboard side near front
• Messed up decal on Trailer Decal was sent to me
• Missing Surge Brake Cap
• Scratches on the top of engine cover (it was perfect when it went down)
• 10.Engine height needs to be adjusted. (Can I have a local shop do the adjustments?)
• 11.Deep Scratches and scruffs in Splash well
• 12.Left Bunk mounted upside down and damage to the carpet.
• 13.Oil or grease Stain on the rear deck
• 14.Missing Knob for Minn-Kota Depth Adjustor
• 15.Missing Rivets on Deck under port and starboard lids (this could be why these compartment where full of water when I pick the boat up).
• 16.A deep Chip out of the foot pedal tray
• 17.Both rear boxes are deformed due to the foam expanding and pushing on them.(If water got in it would be hard to get out, about an inch would be left in v those boxes via the drain)
• 18.Broken 60 AMP break for trolling motor
• 19.No master switch for trolling motor ( my old boat came with this)
• 20.No power going to the 12v/USB plugs at driver seat
• 21.Messed up decal and scratch on port side of boat
• 22.Pin is coming out on Center Rod Locker latch.
• 23.Trim on the inside lip isn’t complete and will let water in.
• 24.The Steering doesn’t feel right it comes and goes when you turn.

• Trim around Trolling motor pedal isn’t attached all the way around
• Deep Scratch on right lower part of Console
• Missing Coin Box (just need install instruction)
• Scratches all over the top of the gunwales
• Rust Stain on Carpet in front of Passenger seat.
• Scratches on Starboard side near front
• Messed up decal on Trailer Decal was sent to me
• Missing Surge Brake Cap
• Scratches on the top of engine cover (it was perfect when it went down)
• 10.Engine height needs to be adjusted. (Can I have a local shop do the adjustments?)
• 11.Deep Scratches and scruffs in Splash well
• 12.Left Bunk mounted upside down and damage to the carpet.
• 13.Oil or grease Stain on the rear deck
• 14.Missing Knob for Minn-Kota Depth Adjustor
• 15.Missing Rivets on Deck under port and starboard lids (this could be why these compartment where full of water when I pick the boat up).
• 16.A deep Chip out of the foot pedal tray
• 17.Both rear boxes are deformed due to the foam expanding and pushing on them.(If water got in it would be hard to get out, about an inch would be left in v those boxes via the drain)
• 18.Broken 60 AMP break for trolling motor
• 19.No master switch for trolling motor ( my old boat came with this)
• 20.No power going to the 12v/USB plugs at driver seat
• 21.Messed up decal and scratch on port side of boat
• 22.Pin is coming out on Center Rod Locker latch.
• 23.Trim on the inside lip isn’t complete and will let water in.
• 24.The Steering doesn’t feel right it comes and goes when you turn.

[MidwestBoater]

Wow, that’s about the length of the list of QC issues I had with my tin Ranger. Stay on them, don’t give them a pass, and be vocal about the issues on social media and here, they do see it.

[yadkincustomlures]

It's a shame to see this be such a common problem. It will continue to be a problem as long as guys buy welded boats constructed out of .100 aluminum. NEVER buy a boat with a hull that is paper thin and expect it not to crack. I am even iffy about .125 aluminum. 3/16" (.190) is what boats should be made out of (see Gator Trax lifetime hull warranty)

[Stratos81]

What does aluminum gauge have to do with a cracked weld????

[yadkincustomlures]

Cracked welds in aluminum are not always related to the quality of the weld. That tin can .100 aluminum moves WAY more than we would like to admit. Fatigue due to flexing occurs most at the joints/seams which is where the welds reside. The less the material flexes the less long term fatigue there will be on the seams.

[spinningreel]

This is why I say A Riveted boat is way better than an all welded.

[raisinrat]

Well Finally got around to try to summarise everything.

[Mechanic Bob]

Thanks for posting your video!
I fully understand your frustration with Ranger as I had a similar situation with Ford as to my truck catching fire. They want you to sign agreements to the point you can not say ANYTHING or make another claim or ...

[Johnnyred]

It should be against federal law for a company to force a customer to sign an NDA or an agreement to not file future claims during the process of honoring a warranty claim on their products.

[Mechanic Bob]

It should be against federal law for a company to force a customer to sign an NDA or an agreement to not file future claims during the process of honoring a warranty claim on their products.

I had 6 months left on the Bumper to Bumper warranty on my truck while it was in the shop due the fire. All I was asking for was the for the left over warranty. Ford offered me $2500 in cash, but stated that I could not MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL CLAIMS whether I either accepted or denied the offer. No additional claims against the truck, no additional claims on the warranty, ... more BS. I did neither. They Penciled whipped the recall, but I was to buy into their crap. No way!

[Johnnyred]

I had 6 months left on the Bumper to Bumper warranty on my truck while it was in the shop due the fire. All I was asking for was the for the left over warranty. Ford offered me $2500 in cash, but stated that I could not MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL CLAIMS whether I either accepted or denied the offer. No additional claims against the truck, no additional claims on the warranty, ... more BS. I did neither. They Penciled whipped the recall, but I was to buy into their crap. No way!

Sorry you had to go thru that, Bob. It really leaves a bad taste in your mouth I know. I think these examples demonstrate a gap in law(s) that leave consumers in an unfair disadvantage when dealing with warranty claims against company's that don't want to pay. Their legal budgets and access to internal legal council give company's an unfair advantage when they will not meet their warranty responsibilities.

[javjoe]

Don't blame you for wanting to switch! For the waters you fish I'd go Lund.

[raisinrat]

Don't blame you for wanting to switch! For the waters you fish I'd go Lund.

That more then likely going to be the next boat.

[Crankinh20]

Warranty is only as good as the people standing behind it. Sadly few manufacturers will do the right thing without a fight.
I think standing behind your product is gone in America.
They all talk big before purchase then crickets after that.

[Johnnyred]

Warranty is only as good as the people standing behind it. Sadly few manufacturers will do the right thing without a fight. I think standing behind your product is gone in America. They all talk big before purchase then crickets after that.

Sadly, I think you hit the nail square on the head