John Clark — Findlay, Ohio
If anything from the new boats I've seen personally..the quality is actually better since the JM acquisition. Quality was slipping a little in years prior..look at all the trailer problems and soft lids...other quality control..my 07 Z21 was missing a bunch of screws in the rub rail..lighting wire cut straight through in rear storage boxes. The 19 Z521L I sepnt the day in was immaculate...and beautiful.
My current Ranger is a pre JM (2015) Ranger and my next one will be a post JM Ranger and the next one and the next one
Am still a Ranger fan and they still better than most anything out there, but to say quality is better than the earlier boats is just not true. If you were lucky enough to have one of the 520VX or 521VX boats from 03 to 05 and moved to a later model you know what I mean.
A few years ago, my wife and I were christening my new Ranger in a secluded cove.
Suddenly, an image of a kayak popped into my head.
Kind of ruined the moment, but it was a pre-Johnny Morris Ranger.
2021 Skeeter ZX150
2020 Sea Doo GTI se 170
Owned many pre Jm Rangers. Most recent 2 boats are 2014 521c and this 2019 521L is my first Post JM Ranger.
Did last two go back for warranty...yes was it JM's fault ...probably(sarcasm)
Is the latest one more plastic and feel more like a nitro....yes
Things I don't like about this new one are mostly model change things...no fault of JM.
Did I still buy a JM boat even though I hear all the horror stories...yes
3 months and counting we'll see how longevity compares. quality of the glass doesn't seem the same, this new one chips a lot easier than the pre-JM
Is it going back for more warranty work....yes, plus whatever breaks/falls apart throughout the season
Has the factory changed since takeover...most definitely... If you don't think so go for a tour....talk to the guys at the factory, or have a beer with a few after work and hear what they really have to say. better yet walk into VEXUS(oops cus word on ranger forum) and ask those boys how many came from ranger.
Summary;
is it different - yes,
is it worse.....(insert personal opinion here) mine is yes
are they being built more efficiently..yes
does that mean cheaper....yes
who's responsible...easy answer the owner Johnny Morris
Will I buy another....Probably (slow learner)
Got a 2000 Ranger 520vx that is immaculate. Always gets attention at the boat ramp from the people that knows boats and Ranger. My boat is 19 years old and just repowered 3 years ago from the original Optimax. End of story.
2000 520vx Ranger
250 PRO XS
SERIAL#2B115788/ 25P Fury 4/ 25P Fury 3 blade
This is kind of comical to me. Is it REALLY Ranger bashing or not. Whether or not it is a JM Ranger or FLW Ranger or Equity Ranger? Every single position on this matter is simply an opinion. It won’t change anything, it won’t fix the JM Rangers or make the Equity Rangers better.
Believe it or not people, most people don’t even know the difference between the Rangers. We on BBC are privileged to have this knowledge but really, it makes no difference to most. It was numbing to me how many people don’t even know that JM owns Ranger or even how many people know that BPS bought Cabelas. I will be honest and say that if I could afford to buy a 100k boat, it would probably be a Ranger. Why, they have taken care of me with my current boat. They have always done the right thing and above and beyond. When JM bought Ranger my only concern was the current warranties and whether he would honor them or not. So far I think it has been a good acquisition for him and the consumer. Like my dad tells me all the time “it’s a damn fishing boat, go fishing and enjoy it”.
Last edited by Javelin387; 04-24-2019 at 07:25 AM.
I have a brand new Ranger and a 9 year old Ranger sitting side by side in my shop right now and I can tell you the fit of the compartment lids, Trim, Besels is not even close. The older boat is perfect even after 9 years. The brand new $100,000 boat has lids that are tight on one end and out 1/2 inch on the other. There is one piece of plastic around the shifter that I can fit a carpenters pencil in the gap. Now I can't see below the floor but why would it be any different.
On a good note the outside of the boat and the trailer look flawless.
Good post.
(Facts)... I bought a left over 2016 Ranger 522D from a dealer in MI in 2017 (*Paid Cash*). I'm from NY. To make a long story short, after using the boat for a couple weeks there were so many problems with the boat that Ranger took the boat back to the factory to access the situation. They ended up building be a new 2018 522D for me. The second boat had more problems than the first one, but this time I decided to fix it myself. (since there are no competent Ranger dealers here in upstate NY) Ranger worked with me, and sent me all the parts I needed to complete the repairs, and make the boat "right". Ranger sent me everything from new seats and driver's consul to center caps for the trailer and everything else in between. In the end Ranger even sent me check for my labor hours. I highly doubt any other boat company would do that.
(Opinion)...Ranger could have saved themselves a ton of money if their quality control was better.
(Opinion)...The Ranger factory missed a lot of little things (that could have easily been avoided) that added up to give the finished product a less than quality feel and look to it.
Bottom line: Good or bad, JM or not, from my 2 year ordeal, if your having a warranty issues Ranger Boats will still make it right for you. That says a lot about the present day JM Ranger Boats.
From now on I will never look at a "guy" in a kayak the same way because of this stupid thread.
Damn someone is wound a bi tight. You would've thought someone tried to kidnap his first born
There still slow!!!!!!!!!!
2020 Caymas CX20
I love my ranger.
Ahh never mind
Last edited by dean c; 04-24-2019 at 03:14 PM.