That’s probably my biggest constraint right now, I’ve got 24’ max to park it in my garage so I’m paying particular attention to dimensions on the trailer.Originally Posted by n2ratfishin
That’s probably my biggest constraint right now, I’ve got 24’ max to park it in my garage so I’m paying particular attention to dimensions on the trailer.
Add a Bumble Bee 180 Pro Vee to the others already mentioned. Good solid boat.
I had a Ranger 461VS. Excellent boat for the size. I still miss it.
I have a Ranger 178vx, it's 17'8". It stores at 23ft with the swing away open and motor turned. It's rated for a 150. I have had it since new and its been a great little boat. I think you could pick'em up for around 16k.
2008 Ranger 178VX
150 Yamaha V-max
GO Fins!!!
Champion 176
I would look for a champion 181 or 183
Anyone have experience with the 18' Stratos hulls? (i.e. 268, 284, 285)
I like the Champs but it's really hard to find one of those here.
I've been in a 285, I thought it was a real nice ride for an 18 1/2 footer. I've been in a few 295's and 201's too, I think Stratos is/was an under appreciated hull. The 201 rode as good as any boat I've ever been in.
Early 2000's Triton TR-186. As solid as they get if in good shape.
2003 Triton TR186
2023 Mercury Pro XS 150 HP
Garmin Graphs and LS
MK Ultrex 24v 80lb
All Aboard Marine Transducer Pole
Power Pole 8' Pro Series II Black
2017 GMC Sierra 1500 All Terrain
My first real fishing boat was a 98’ Triton TR17. It was a fun little boat, that really fished quite large for its size. I fished team tournaments for several years out of it, and my partner was 6’4” and about 275lbs. We usually Both stood up at the front and there was never any issues with space for casting. It’d skip along at 55mph quite easily with the Yamaha 130 two stroke, and we fished everything from small lakes to Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe, which are about as big and rough as you can get, and it always did well for us. Only reason I got a bigger boat was cause I started guiding and needed more space for more people, and I also got more into downrigging for salmon.
Triton Tr17, Yamaha 130
Lund Pro V 1900, Optimax 200
Smokercraft Pro Mag 182, Suzuki DF140
Helix 9si, 10si mega
Minnkota Talon, Terrova
you can find some nice ranger 300 series boats for sale. very nice fishing boat, and rock solid.
I bought a 2003 Ranger 175VS for my fist boat and it was a great boat. Recently sold it to move up into a bigger boat but was a great first boat for me.
Another vote for the 300 series Ranger. I had a 373 and now a 354 and both are great boats. The 37X series has a wider beam (88") vs (82") on the 35X. With a 150 Yamaha Precision Blend the 373 would run 55-57 while the 354 is a little faster (it is spec'd as lighter also) @ 59-61 with a Merc XRi 150.
Both have shorter decks but that is not a bad thing. I built my own storage in the 373 and am about do do the same in the 354. The biggest negative of the 3 series are the 7" rod box's.
IMAG0483.jpg
I think mine are 6'-6"Started opening them up, but the locker floor angles up towards the deck.
1990 Ranger 362V Yamaha Pro-V 150
Old Town Predator MinnKota
With aluminum if you can find a Triton Magnum series that’s a good boat.
2013 Pantera 4
2012 Opti 200 Pro XS
25 Tempest
18 ft Eyra here.
Most well kept
Ranger
Basscat
Champion
Charger
All have good 18 ft boats
Most important is Mercury motor
For me anyway. 150 hp xr6 or EFI.
Od935509
The Stratos 285 will be hard to beat. I used to have one it rode good plenty of storage, comfortable to fish out of.
I have a 1999 273 Stratos. I thinks it’s 17’ 3”. Great hull! Really fun to drive with 150, mid to upper 60’s. Fishes good with two people. With the swing away tongue you only need 21’ deep garage to store it.
1999 Stratos 273 Vindicator 2013 Yamaha 150hp HPDI Vmax
Everyone is saying a 300 series ranger I'll throw in a 400 series. My number one choice would be a ranger 461. And I'm not a ranger guy. The thing about the 3 and 4 hundred series Rangers. Mainly the 3 is you can find older really nice ones. Something about them guys take really good care of them lots of times you can find almost mint ones. I'll agree the stratos would be great and it's sister a hydro-sport Ls series were sweet Ls 175 or Ls185. Solid built fishin machines
My first boat was a 99 Ranger R93. It was a total lemon but that was on me for making a bad purchase. That's a little longer than you are looking at but I thought the R series was a decent boat. FWIW it did fit in my 24' garage with the tongue removed and it had a 8" jack plate. The main thing I wanted to add is just to make sure you find a good condition boat, that's been well kept, and do your due diligence when buying it. I got a bit excited and skipped a couple steps and paid for it, quite literally. Luckily I'm a technician and was able to fix a LOT of what was broken or neglected. Lot of good boats and suggestions out there tho, find one you like and feels good to you.
I have experience with a lot of what you are asking/saying. I have about 23' 9" of garage space and previously owned a 97 Stratos 285.
To begin with, that particular boat will fit in your garage but you will have to convert the fixed trailer tongue to swing away. If you buy a later year 285 with a swing away tongue already built in, I'm sure it will fit in your space. The 285 is an outstanding 18' boat that rides and fishes great. Mine was powered by a 175 Pro XS. It was 18' 10" in total boat length so on the bigger side of an 18' boat.
About 1.5 years ago, I sold my 285 and upgrade to a 20' boat. I did extensive research on which boats would fit in my garage which has about 3" less space than yours. Every inch counts. From my research, I found that most 20' Bass Cats from about 2000-2009 would fit. Additionally, Triton Tr20, TR20X, and TR20X HP from 2000-2008 will fit in a 24' garage. An early 2000's Ranger 519 would be an extremely tight fit but would most likely work. Rangers are long on the trailer and sit wider than other boats on the trailer which needs to be taken into consideration.
Currently, I have a 2005 Triton TR20X sitting in my garage. Motor trimmed down, and turned to the left to give me an extra couple of inches. It fits in the garage...barely AND my wife can still park her car on the other side. Her car needed to fit or it was a deal breaker.
Do your research carefully and ask potential sellers to measure their boat from the tip of the trailer to the back of the motor with it trimmed down and turned. You can run a measuring tape under the boat to do this best.
Good luck! I hope you find what you are looking for. PM me if you need additional info.
Reply With Quote
