Rank these…top to bottom.

[PatriotAW4]

From all my searching Ive noticed the Triton is the best bang for the buck. Equipped with a 200 it’s a LOT cheaper than say a Ranger with the 200. Usually 10+ thousand different. I just don’t know if I could justify the difference for a fun fishing retirement boat. I was just wondering if it was that much cheaper because it’s made that much cheaper than some others.

Triton isn't made as well as they were back in the Earl days, but they are on par with Ranger now, actually made better when it comes to some things. They ride, handle better and are faster, most of their models now also use switches for all the controls instead of the touch screens like Ranger and Nitro use that go out all the time.

[WildmanWilson]

gotcha! I don't fish 2 guys up front so have not tried this but would not see it as a problem. I do think the layout of each boat needs to be evaluated by the OP instead of asking for biased brand preferences.

btw, if the Sabre is longer up front, that would imply it is very short in the cockpit or rear deck area. Has to be because the Phoenix is officially 6 inches longer and unofficially more like 10 longer;; and I would not call my rear deck huge by any means.

It’s not very easy to look at all the boats. Especially side by side to compare. They can also be several hundred miles away sometimes. I understand people have different opinions but if 90% say one is awesome or one is junk it may help. Or I hope it May.

[nojretlas]

It’s not very easy to look at all the boats. Especially side by side to compare. They can also be several hundred miles away sometimes. I understand people have different opinions but if 90% say one is awesome or one is junk it may help. Or I hope it May.

I had a 2020 Ranger 518L with a 200xs. I still believe Ranger is the best choice for 18’. I ran 65 with two of us and 69 just me. Very wide and stable compared to others.

[davidsa]

It’s not very easy to look at all the boats. Especially side by side to compare. They can also be several hundred miles away sometimes. I understand people have different opinions but if 90% say one is awesome or one is junk it may help. Or I hope it May.

I don't think anyone has suggested a junk boat thus far. Go online and look at the layouts of each and the figure out if they have had any changes in the past few years. go see one or two. It would also help if you described how and where you fish and the dealers you have within 50 miles. For example, if you fish Cedar Creek in Stanford as your primary water, then I'd want a wide Tin boat not glass because of all the standing timber. If you fish Barkley mostly then I'd want the biggest 18 available and that can work but ideally you would be in a 20 on that lake. Fishing alone on a Wednesday is different as well as trying to be in a 3 day weekend tournament.

Realistically if you are buying used in the state of KY at the 18ft mark you won't have many choices because most guys who want a small boat go tin. I'd think Triton and Ranger would be most common glass 18ft because of the amount of dealer support we have in the state. I'd think Phoenix would be next. I have rarely ever seen a 18ft Skeeter in the wild or at a dealer so I'm not sure if those would be available or not. I've never seen a 18ft sabre in the state of KY. Up until 2024 we had no dealers. Closests was north of Indy for years. the point is inventory is likely going to be low. The Nitro is likely going to be in biggest circulation in the 18ft class.

Boat markets change but in my experience when a well kept 18ft glass boat comes available it lasts for a few days to a week if they are priced reasonably. Just not much inventory and lots of fun fisherman that want a lightly used small glass boat.

[RazorCat]

BassCat
Phoenix
Caymas
Triton
Ranger
Skeeter

[Macy's Bullet]

One of my fishing buddies has a 518 and it is a very stable fishing boat with plenty of room.

[KYKTB]

Phoenix- top quality & customer service
Caymus- Skeeter- great quality but I haven’t heard about their CS
Bass Cat- great quality & customer service but I hate their layouts
Ranger- decent boats but they aren’t near as good since JM bought them
Triton- decent boats but are probably being phased out so JM can sell more Rangers & Nitros

[barbarian]

All those boats are very good. Layout to me would be the most important and that is a personal preference 100%

[davidsa]

All those boats are very good. Layout to me would be the most important and that is a personal preference 100%

agree,

The Triton, Caymas and Phoenix have similar front deck layouts. The Basscat Sabre and Skeeter have some layout similarity. The ranger has the most unique front deck layout from the group in regards to where tackle gets stored vs rods. The Sabre requires the least space to store. The Phoenix requires the most.

The need for speed might be a factor to some people as well. I think the Caymas has a max motor of 115hp which means it competes with say the Phoenix 518. The Triton and Ranger might come with a 200hp. The phoenix max for the 818 or the prior 618 is a 175. The sabre can be had in a 175 and that would fly on the smallest platform in the group. Speed is not my top need in a 18ft class boat but I don't want to have to "drive it" at 47mph so I think I'd require at least a 150hp so I can cruise around about 50.

[printman71]

BassCat first, Caymas last, the others are interchangeable.

[ttranger]

Those are all good boats if properly set-up and cared for. I would evaluate based on the following:

- Overall condition of boat, motor, and trailer
- Local dealer support for boat and motor
- Brand of outboard and hours on it (no Evinrude)
- Interior layout and storage
- Accessories
- Price

Any one of these could be a fine boat that will last you a lifetime.

[townsend266]

Those are all good boats if properly set-up and cared for. I would evaluate based on the following:

- Overall condition of boat, motor, and trailer
- Local dealer support for boat and motor
- Brand of outboard and hours on it (no Evinrude)
- Interior layout and storage
- Accessories
- Price

Any one of these could be a fine boat that will last you a lifetime.

This should be the first thing you consider when buying a used boat, forget about the brand. Everyone is going to have their own opinions. But, if it wasn’t taken well care of none of them will be worth buying.

[WildmanWilson]

I don't think anyone has suggested a junk boat thus far. Go online and look at the layouts of each and the figure out if they have had any changes in the past few years. go see one or two. It would also help if you described how and where you fish and the dealers you have within 50 miles. For example, if you fish Cedar Creek in Stanford as your primary water, then I'd want a wide Tin boat not glass because of all the standing timber. If you fish Barkley mostly then I'd want the biggest 18 available and that can work but ideally you would be in a 20 on that lake. Fishing alone on a Wednesday is different as well as trying to be in a 3 day weekend tournament.

Realistically if you are buying used in the state of KY at the 18ft mark you won't have many choices because most guys who want a small boat go tin. I'd think Triton and Ranger would be most common glass 18ft because of the amount of dealer support we have in the state. I'd think Phoenix would be next. I have rarely ever seen a 18ft Skeeter in the wild or at a dealer so I'm not sure if those would be available or not. I've never seen a 18ft sabre in the state of KY. Up until 2024 we had no dealers. Closests was north of Indy for years. the point is inventory is likely going to be low. The Nitro is likely going to be in biggest circulation in the 18ft class.

Boat markets change but in my experience when a well kept 18ft glass boat comes available it lasts for a few days to a week if they are priced reasonably. Just not much inventory and lots of fun fisherman that want a lightly used small glass boat.

I fish lake Barkley most and Ky some with a few others like Nolin occasionally. I’m fish with a buddy that has a 2000 model 17 ft Ranger with a 125 now. He’s 6’7 and 400 pounds too and it does amazingly well. So my thinking is any of the boats I listed with a 150-200 would surely do as well or better. I would not be running 30 miles in tournaments because I’m just a pleasure fisherman. My main goal is to get a very dependable boat that’s going to last in retirement.

[davidsa]

I fished KY/Barkley for about 15 years and got 19'6 and 18'10 boats to work OK by trailering to the area I was going to fish so that I don't have to run the width of the lake in bad weather. They are not ideal but they will work. I'd suggest you consider a 19ft class boat in your search as well if that is home water like the Phoenix 819.

Dependable boat as detailed by several here is about well kept, overall condition and not so much about brand. The motor is critical and that is typically what leaves someone stranded not the hull.

[lost-in-salt]

Numerous people have said the 18 foot BassCat has a weird layout. I have never been in a Sabre, but looking at the layout online it looks as normal/traditional as any other boat. What am I missing? What is weird about the layout?

[davidsa]

Numerous people have said the 18 foot BassCat has a weird layout. I have never been in a Sabre, but looking at the layout online it looks as normal/traditional as any other boat. What am I missing? What is weird about the layout?

The Sabre is no longer built. The ones I've seen up close are all in Florida and I can't speak to age as they all were in excellent shape. Couple of things hit me. The Trolling Motor is mounted in the very front tip of the boat such that I would not be able to stand and use the TM. The second thing that hits me even on the Sabre is how narrow it is up front. It reminds me of the width of my basstracker 17'6 and is not much longer. Finally, some of the models I have seen have a front deck shape that is more like a U as much of it in the center is cut away.

On the new basscats, a dealer showed me how the TM peddle could be moved further back from the nose. Visually this ability was not obvious on the used ones I've seen walking around in Florida.

p.s. I have seen a Basscat Pantera II new in the last year. That model looks of same/similar size of the Ranger or Phoenix 18ft boats. If buying new again, I'd look at it. However, I saw an old Pantera II and it was very narrow so they appear to have increased width of that boat at some point.

[n2ratfishin]

Numerous people have said the 18 foot BassCat has a weird layout. I have never been in a Sabre, but looking at the layout online it looks as normal/traditional as any other boat. What am I missing? What is weird about the layout?

The Sabre hull had two different top caps. The Sabre FTD was what I consider a normal tournament layout where the standard Sabre front deck had a notch cut into the rear of the deck and a big step up. It reminded me of the layouts in the 80's. Most folks added a deck extension plate on them to have a full front deck. The standard Sabre has hand rails where the Sabre FTD (full team deck) does not have hand rails. Strap a 175 on the tail and you have a water go cart.

I fished Guntersville, Stick Marsh, KY Lake, etc... with mine. Not as comfy as my old Cougar, but they always got me back.

I owned a lot of 18's in my life, my fav was the old Champion 187 with a 175.

FWIW I have fished all those lakes and more from my now almost 9 year old Ranger RT188.

[520TDY]

Ranger
Triton
Skeeter
Phoenix
Basscat

[PatriotAW4]

Ranger
Triton
Skeeter
Phoenix
Basscat

Worst to best?

[ford4wd08]

I'm a little biased, but I think the Triton 18TRX (same as my 189TRX) is a very good hull and layout in an 18 ft boat. Only difference in mine is the sticker and the gauges. I have the tournament live wells, and all of those options with the pump outs. I bought mine as a 2019 leftover (which is unheard of since covid) and for the price I don't think I'll ever get rid of mine.