Ranger Z518

[Vtbuck]

I’ll try to figure out how to post picks of mine, but my 2 PP pumps are mounted in front of the cranking battery. I have an electronics only battery where the spare prop goes. I like the boat, 2021 with 200. I would have gotten a 519 if garage would have been a little bigger. I could have fit it, but didn’t want to angle the tandem by hand. If I ever build a garage I’ll look at a little bigger boat. The water can get rough in TX wind.

[dukhntr]

I had a 2016, 518 Intercoastal, 200 Optimax, and I sure do miss it. I hit over 75 a couple of times. Great ride, fast, lots of storage, overall just a great boat.

Not on GPS it didn't.

[dukhntr]

2012 model here. Love everything about the boat except the ride. I'll be brutally honest, it's a terrible rough water ride. In big waves or messy slop on a holiday weekend, it will chatter your teeth. That being said, it's the best boat I've ever had and I'll never sell it. I've had it since it was a year old and it still looks brand new. Zero stress cracks anywhere and it's been in a some rough Kansas winds. 70.8 is the fastest I've ever seen, solo lightly loaded. Will run 67/68 with a partner.

[bman5150]

I’ve got the 2022 Z518 and came from a 2008 Triton 18x2. I expected the ride to be worse than my old Triton but that’s not the case at all. I’m shocked how great the ride is in the Ranger. The Triton has a deeper (taller) hull so I just expected it to ride better than the sleeker Ranger hull but that’s completely not the case. The Ranger feels very substantial and seems to plow / cut thru waves whereas the Triton got bounced around more. And I along with many of my fishing partners all felt my Triton road pretty well too!

wonder if the hull design changed since 2012? No idea.

[josephsharpe99]

I made a long run this weekend in 3-4ft chop water, averaged 45-55mph... Yes it was bumpy but it did well for a 18ft

[ksubasser24]

2012 model here. Love everything about the boat except the ride. I'll be brutally honest, it's a terrible rough water ride. In big waves or messy slop on a holiday weekend, it will chatter your teeth. That being said, it's the best boat I've ever had and I'll never sell it. I've had it since it was a year old and it still looks brand new. Zero stress cracks anywhere and it's been in a some rough Kansas winds. 70.8 is the fastest I've ever seen, solo lightly loaded. Will run 67/68 with a partner.

Its not that your boat rides rough it’s the Kansas wind that sucks. My Z119c cracked all my teeth running from Thunderbird back to town of Milford on day when the wind came up 30 mph out of the straight north.

[old4runner]

Great running and fishing boats!!! This belongs to CigarBasser. It is an older 518 with a merc 200.

[DonoSport]

Not a 518,,,but close enough. 2012 118

[schumacher]

I bought my 2022 z518 last October. I’ve had it out 3 times now and I’m still breaking in the motor. It’s an awesome ride and goes 64.5 mph so far and I do not have a jackplate. Betting it will go a bit faster after 20 hours when you do your first oil change. The speed is fine but what I really love is the torque and holeshot. It JUMPS on plane. I have the 200 PROXS 4s and a single axle trailer. Adding a TrickStep later this week. Now if we could just lose the stupid snow and cold soon!

Hate to bring back up an old thread but what's the storage length with the 200 with out a jack plate and the tongue open?

[bman5150]

Hate to bring back up an old thread but what's the storage length with the 200 with out a jack plate and the tongue open?

happy to help as this was a big point of concern for me before I bought my 2022 z518 with no plate and the 200. Mine is 21’7”. Check out this thread as well: https://www.bbcboards.net/showthread...1193999&page=2

most of the other guys that measured their z518 with no plate also came up with 21’ 6”-21 7”. Ranger official is 21’ 7”. I would measure it first (the exact boat if possible if it’s sitting on a dealer lot) or have the dealer measure it for you if you aren’t local.

[520TDY]

Big difference in every respect. Get the Z 519 over the 518. you will be much happier.

[SKYRMY]

[QUOTE=botrdav;12924077]I installed the pumps where the spare prop would go and here are a few photos.Attachment 517009Attachment 517010Attachment 517011Attachment 517012Attachment 517013

Mighty nice 518 . I fished in the back of a newer 518 200 HP Saturday and loved it. Now I'm thinking about upgrading from my 1998 518 DVS to a newer one. Thanks for sharing the pics.

[520TDY]

Have owned a Z 518 and it is wonderful ride. Garage space was a limiting factor. Now have larger garage and easily put a Z 519 in it with far less effort for an old man. If you can swing a Z 519 do it as there is a big difference you will notice. 19'10 with a 225 is a whole lot more boat. Go Z 519 if you can.

[Finlander]

Back in the day Ranger pro’s dominated the derby’s with a 17’10” rig and is why I am comfortable in a sub 20’ rig today. I road in a quite few 361’s and my buddy still runs one today. They fish bigger than they are but do not do rough water well. Slow and steady on the bigger ponds but are truly a backwater dream machine. The new z518 is the evolution of the 300 series. Not to be confused with the 518vx, which is actually the predecessor to the 519. I have road and fished both and own a 12 Z519. Much easier to fish back waters over the 520/521’s but still ride better than the new 518. I also say, go with the 519 if you can swing it.

[jimsch]

I also would go 519. I have a 518 because of the ponds I fish and it does well.
72 GPS solo and gives a stable fishing platform.
Have been in some rough water and felt like seeing the dentist afterwards.
The extra length of the 519 does make a large difference.

[1ranger487vs]

72 gps ? What motor and prop. How many rpms

[jimsch]

72 gps ? What motor and prop. How many rpms

Tempest Plus 24, Merc 200 and couldn't see the digital because the shop mounted it in a lower right section below the steering wheel.
Have done this a few times but trying to behave myself. Our lakes have a 35 mph limit.
Actually it was 71.9 but I ran out of lake.

[1ranger487vs]

That’s the best I heard. I could only get 68 by myself in the cold with a 200 opti

[kailor]

GREAT BOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!