just looking for some pros/cons of this boat. Needing some good quality comments. I am looking at a few and would like to know the details about them.
mainly i will be fishing tennessee river, other small river impoundments around here. is this boat good in wind, rough water, etc?
speed I am not terribly worried about.
thanks!
my dad has a '96 model and my buddy has a '97 model, both with 150 EFI's. the 461's are like mini 520vx's. occasionaly we will take their 461's instead of my 519 to tourneys. they fish very big for 18' boats and are very comfortable. two guys can fish off the front deck without any issues. the layout is great and there is plenty of storage. speed is in the low-mid 60's with a 150hp. i wouldnt recommend one if you fished lake erie everyday but it sounds perfect for what you fish. they are my favorite 400 series ranger by far.
I've got a 97' 461vs with a 97' Yamaha Vmax TRP that has been converted over to a regular lower unit with a single prop. I am running no jackplate, roughly 5.5" below the pad, with a 24" Tempest Plus with all the plugs out of the prop. Top end I'm getting 58-59mph before I trim to the point of it chine walking. I suspect the motor needs to be moved up about 2" as most say it should be somewhere around 3.5" below the pad. It gets up on plain pretty good when tournament loaded w/ 40 gallons of gas, and it gets on plane really good when running with lesser amounts of fuel/people/tackle.
Overall, the boat handles very well, and it's quick considering it's not really setup 100% yet. I'm sure when I get a jackplate on her, and the motor height dialed in.....I'll probably bet somewhere between 63-65mph.
Overall fishability is great. I need to build a deck extension for the front of the boat, but i'm waiting until I can get her recarpeted so it can all match. The front deck is still pretty nice, but if you want two people up there the extension is a must.
In rough water, I have limited experience with other boats to compare. When comparing to my tournament partners 92' Pro Craft 180 pro, my 461 is a LOT better in rough water. I haven't had it in anything other than true 2 footers yet, but it has handled it very well. My tournament partner has been in and owned may boats in the 18-20' range and says that my 461 is at least as good in rough water as any other boat he's been in including the larger boats.
Overall, I'm very happy with mine. It's in great shape, and I can only hope that the motor lasts a long time.....
~Matt Miller
23’ Phoenix 21 PHX - 250 ProXS
TBNation Custom 16’ Tin - “25” Suzuki DT
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bassinthegrass »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">my dad has a '96 model and my buddy has a '97 model, both with 150 EFI's. the 461's are like mini 520vx's. occasionaly we will take their 461's instead of my 519 to tourneys. they fish very big for 18' boats and are very comfortable. two guys can fish off the front deck without any issues. the layout is great and there is plenty of storage. speed is in the low-mid 60's with a 150hp. i wouldnt recommend one if you fished lake erie everyday but it sounds perfect for what you fish. they are my favorite 400 series ranger by far.
My buddy has a 97 with a 175HPDI and I love fishing out of this boat. As said above, it fishes bigger than it is. Yet you can get it in tighter areas. He keeps talking about selling it and I keep talking him out of it. It's paid for and nothing wrong with it.
I have owned my 461VS since it was brand new and I love it. I cant see getting another one. I have even had it on lake erie several times. It was my 4th boat and it will be the last. Too many good times in my boat and money won!!
Some will argue the 461 & 462 were some of the best hulls Ranger put out. I have ridden/fished in a 461 with a 175efi and that was a quick 18 footer. I love the style of the 4 series Rangers, and those boats don't stay for sale to long here in NC.
Pimpin' ain't easy, but it's necessary.
I have had a 461 for 4 years. This boat is great. You can't beat it in small bodies of water. I fish champlain alot and have had it in some pretty nasty stuff. You just need take your time and learn how to drive it and you will be fine.
I had a '96 461 w/ a 150 EFI Merc. It was a great boat and would handle pretty much anything you'd throw at it. I've had it on the Detroit River, St. Clair, Burt/Mullett, etc... The pros - - I had a deck extension (which I'd recommend) which made it fish big from the front deck. The layout was great. The battery compartment was easily accessible. I had a Motorguide 82 lb. Tour, which was plenty for that boat (plus I didn't have the weight of an extra battery). The cons - - You can only get 7' rods in the rod locker. The front center storage was large, but had a small lid. As you can see, there are not that many cons and if you typically don't fish with long rods or carry a large tackle bag, you are all set! Good luck and I know you will enjoy one if you get it!
Migs
I once ran 35 mi on Green Bay in 3 trailing footers for a tournament. (From the Fox river to Little Sturgeon Bay). Wasn't fun but the boat was solid. The extra setback makes the boat handle bigger. Lots of people turned back after 5 miles with broken TMs and windshields.
The run back was another matter as the waves had dropped to only 2 feet. I was able to find a sweet spot at 45 - 50 mph and just skipped the tops and a very comfortable ride.
Butch Derickson
2011 Z521 w/250 hp SHO
Traverse City, Michigan
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Migs »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I had a '96 461 w/ a 150 EFI Merc. It was a great boat and would handle pretty much anything you'd throw at it. I've had it on the Detroit River, St. Clair, Burt/Mullett, etc... The pros - - I had a deck extension (which I'd recommend) which made it fish big from the front deck. The layout was great. The battery compartment was easily accessible. I had a Motorguide 82 lb. Tour, which was plenty for that boat (plus I didn't have the weight of an extra battery). The cons - - You can only get 7' rods in the rod locker. The front center storage was large, but had a small lid. As you can see, there are not that many cons and if you typically don't fish with long rods or carry a large tackle bag, you are all set! Good luck and I know you will enjoy one if you get it!
Migs
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Not sure if the design changed from '96, but I have a '97 and I can easily fit rods up to 7'6" in the locker. I tried to fit a 7'11" but it was a no go.
Besides that, rides great and fishes like a bigger boat (with the deck extension).
Highly recommended.
I ran one for seven years and loved the boat. Its is the best 18' boat ever built. Very good with the TM down and does not catch wind. Great fishability and layout
Very good 18' hull in rough water but it is still just an 18' boat - nothing improves rough water ride more than length
150 does fine on it but it really performs with a 175.
My only complaint is that the front storage box bottom is "V" shapped instead of flat
If I was in the market for a used 18' boat this would be my first choice. My second choice would be its predecssor the 361v. You cannot go wrong with either
Modified by Whiteboat at 3:32 PM 2/22/2012
Simply the best 18 ft. boat I've ever fished out of!I loved the 361 til I bought a 461.
GO STEELERS!!!
I have a 97 462 vs. great boat, the only suggestion i have is to add comfort troll for the pedal or any recessed tray for that fact. I'm 6'4 and have big ol feet so the extra foot room up front is good. I can out run most 150's, in it and it fishes skinny water great. I fish the white river in Indiana and its the right size for a river boat as well.
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