2020 Z521L

[TTodd]

Just purchased the boat 4/12/25 I have owned two other Rangers but from what I'm reading this one should be somewhat different. How much different can I expect coming from a Z520C to the Z521L? 250 Pro XS 4S on the new boat but had 250 Verados on the other two a Z21 and the Z520C.

[Jbass123]

My guess is that there are too many variables in play to anticipate how that boat will perform versus your previous 520C. In terms of just the hulls, the 521L *should* be slower throughout the rpm range than the 520C, but Verado and ProXS engines don’t perform exactly the same, and there is a plus/minus performance allowance between any two engines. I’d say almost certainly it will be a little slower, but you might be pleasantly surprised.

[mactlman]

nice clean boat

[avidbasser]

Nice rig! The 521L is a battleship compared to the 520C. You need to balance out your weight, learn the correct running height / trim, and possibly prop combination to get close to the 520C. The Verado has different gearing if I remember correctly, so anticipate seeing holeshot and top speed difference. You're fishing in luxury and spacious accommodations now.

[PatriotAW4]

More deck room, more stable and a few MPH slower.

[SteezMacQueen]

That boat looks EXACTLY like mine. I think my fenders may be a lighter sparkly color than yours.

good taste.

[wmitch2]

Beautiful rig !! You'll be surprised how much bigger it will feel and makes it a little harder to fish around docks. I went back to a 520 just for that reason. But, for big water, the 521 is miles apart !!

[Jbass123]

Beautiful rig !! You'll be surprised how much bigger it will feel and makes it a little harder to fish around docks. I went back to a 520 just for that reason. But, for big water, the 521 is miles apart !!

For big water, you can’t ever beat length. Reaching from one wave to the next is key. Sure beats having to time every wave for 20 or 30 miles.

[Fishshooter]

You don't really see the difference in a L versus a C boat untill parked side by side. L boats seem to have a little more bow flare from console foreward. I don't get side spray foreward of front cleats on my 521L unless I land hard enough to top one with the nose. I really don't care if I'm a mph or 2 slower. 66 mph good enough for me. My setup is a 10" Atlass plate, 23" Fury prop, 250 Pro Xs 4s. I still can run down & pass boats on St.Clair & Erie on takeoff & I get passed by some others, but the ride is still better than the 521vx I had previously. If all I wanted was max speed, I wouldn't own a Ranger. Took a little getting used to going from a 520 to a 521vx to a 521L , but don't think I would ever go the other way. Would like to drive a R boat just for comparison sake, but I do like what I have. Enjoy !

[TTodd]

Thank You! I will soon find out if the rain and storms around Kentucky Lake go away.

[Mlatham1]

2019 521L. Came with a 23 fury 3, went with a 24 Bravo 1 fs and it made a world of difference. Excellent hole shot and ride.

[TTodd]

I have a lot of experience with props. Started when I got the Z21 with a verado and then a Z520 with a verado both of those ran best with a bravo 24 but always thought a 23 would have been better. I have a 22 Bravo that needs to be repaired from a Louisiana trip. The set up now is a fury 23 also.

[Jbass123]

If you send your Bravo 22 to someone like Mark Croxton, he can re-pitch or add cup while repairing, possibly giving you as good or better performance than if you bought a new Bravo prop.

[TTodd]

Had the opportunity to run the boat. Set up as ran is 3.5 below pad 23 Fury full tank of gas and all of the load I will ever carry while fishing. Conditions were about five mph winds against the current and water temp 68. up river 67.2 down river 68.4. Did not get the chance to play with jack plate yet. Boat feels real heavy on the nose and very sensitive to trim. Saturday fished a club tournament and the wind was really bucking the current for any info but the boat will run in big white caps on Barkley Lake.

[mactlman]

Had the opportunity to run the boat. Set up as ran is 3.5 below pad 23 Fury full tank of gas and all of the load I will ever carry while fishing. Conditions were about five mph winds against the current and water temp 68. up river 67.2 down river 68.4. Did not get the chance to play with jack plate yet. Boat feels real heavy on the nose and very sensitive to trim. Saturday fished a club tournament and the wind was really bucking the current for any info but the boat will run in big white caps on Barkley Lake.

a bravo1--razor xlr and 3 below will help some also likely with heavy bow

[SteezMacQueen]

I tried a 23 Tempest Plus on my L yesterday. I don’t know why more people don’t run this prop. It is night and day better than the 23 Fury on this boat. Speed was slightly improved, but bow lift and handling it was truly a great prop. It likes to run higher, which helps.

finally got the rpms over 6000. Max rpm was 6150@ 69 mph. The Fury was too stiff for the boat. It would keep the motor at 5800-5900 and speed was 68 mph. Holeshot was MUCH better and the bow lift was great. With the Fury, I could run about half trim and that was it. More than that, it just became harder to steer. The Tempest allowed much more trim and the steering stayed lighter and easier to turn. The Atlas gauge showed best height on the Fury was 3-5, the Tempest liked 10-12. Don’t know what that translates to in inches, but it is significant. Water pressure stayed good throughout all jackplate settings I tried.

I know I’m a seat of the pants guy…I couldn’t tell ya what the technical differences are. The Tempest is a little larger, and lower pitch than the “same” size fury. The Fury just became the backup prop.

[PatriotAW4]

Tempest generally does run much better on heavier boats. I don't know why they put Furys on all of them. My Triton runs better all around with a Tempest.

[TTodd]

I found that same 23 Tempest was good on my Z520 but let it go when I sold the boat. I mat try to find another. I have a 24 Fury and a 22 Bravo but the Bravo needs repaired from Louisiana trip.

[rangerjignpig]

i have same exact boat as you. Fury 23. have the tempest 24 as a back up. Your best speed on the fury was 65 with the atlas digital gauge at 3-5 and on the tempest you get 68 with the digital gauge at 10-12? My best with the fury is 65 mph with atlas gauge around 9.