Skeeter SL 190 or Ranger 180

[shazun]

I am looking at buying a new F/S and am having trouble deciding b/w these two. The Skeeter has is really my fav right now, but the front deck being small is really holding me back on it. Does anyone have a Sl 190, and if so is it a good fishable boat? I realize that rods prolly going in the ski locker, is there room for them on the front deck? What size trolling motor would you recommend? I'm thinkin 70lbs edge? The Skeeter I'm lookin at is an 09 with 4stroke yamaha for $23,500, good deal? The Ranger is new 07 with carbed yamaha for $25,900, I'm thinkin not so good deal? Also is skeeter customer service good? Thanks in advance for the input guys!

[wildkat7]

If you are looking at it for fishability, look the other way. I had a fish/ski for about a year and hated it. Traded it in for my Skeeter. Best decsion I ever made. The whole family fits fine and we ski/tube/etc in it just fine.

Just my opinion. It's your money. I like the fish/ski for play boating and such. Hated it for fishing.

[shazun]

I just sold a stratos 201 b/c it wasnt a "family" boat, so I am going to get a F/S, but I want the one that is most fishable. I will even be fishin tournaments out of it, so I will need a as big a deck as I can get with as much storage as I can get. I am also tryin to stay around the 18 to 19ft size so I dont have to pay storage anymore. Thanx for the input!

[Jason Hale]

Come for a ride. I have the SL190 in stock with the F150. You probably knew that. We can go to the lake anytime. You won't be disappointed.

[Jason Hale]

You can also get the deck extension for the SL190 which will help the front deck.

I acutally live in Cookeville, so I will be able to take care of any service issues that you would ever have.

BTW, did you have the 201 for sale on Buffalo Valley Rd?

[shazun]

I sold my 201 in May, wasn't me. Anyway I will have to take you up on that offer to go for a ride. The SL190 that I looked at was at Anderson Marine but didnt ride it, is your boat the same price? Thanx

[Jason Hale]

Nope ours isn't the same price, it's better. see link below.

http://www.bbcboards.net...90000

I have 1 left. It's the blue one on our website. Yes this does include the 70lb. Edge TM, swing tongue on the trailer, and 5 year warranty.

BTW, you won't beat our service.

[jejb]

I found some older threads on this one that might interest you:
http://www.bbcboards.net...67181
http://www.bbcboards.net...53583
http://www.bbcboards.net...20603


This is a more recent one I started about which motor to pick, and we got into a little on the Skeeter vs Ranger FS in it, but it is the bigger ones, SL210 and Reata 210:
http://www.bbcboards.net...07688

We've had our SL210 for about a month and a half now and have 18 hours on the motor. Really enjoying the heck out of it so far. Great ski boat and the rod locker works great with the rods in rod socks. I have a 7' rod that fits fine.

[DavidnTex]

I had an SL190 before the ZX 250... I will say fish and skis are the El Camino of boats, not great ski boats and not great fishing boats, but they serve their function for families. You will like the higher sides of the fish and ski's for little ones. I had the 190 when they allowed the 200 on it and it flew. It was actually almost too much motor on that sized boat. I ended up putting my fishing rods in the ski locker and it fit a lot of rods... It will perform much better than the ranger and fish better as well. Fit and finish are about the same. I am sure JAson will take care of you I just wanted to chime in. if you have any specific questions let me know

[shazun]

Thanx man those are very helpful!!

[shazun]

I like the El Camino analogy!! I keep seein people on here that have sold their F/S and got a bass boat, guess I will have to find out on my own!! DId you have the deck extension? If so did it help? Ever fish any tournaments out of it? How was it? Thanks

[jejb]

If you mean me, no, I don't competition fish, just fun fishing. And it's great for that. Easy boat to position and keep positioned. I do have the deck extension and it's nice to have. I also have a powerdrive trolling motor with US2 and a co-pilot and don't even use a foot pedal control. Not to save room on the deck or anything, just because that's what I prefer. But it is nice not to clutter up the deck with it, too.

[DavidnTex]

I did not have the deck extension it wasn't available at the time but it would definately have been helpful... I usually situated an ice chest there so I had a little extra deck. I did not fish tournaments and I suppose it would be suitable. The livewells were adequate and technically you can fish out of a bathtub if you need to. I founf it to fish really rell, just not as well as an actual bass boat. I will say I missed the mornings when it was freezing outside and you could get behind that console and not freeze. Its a great family boat too. Fish in the morning and play in the afternoon. I would certainly highly recommend it if that is your pupose... And it could actually fly for that sized boat. Mine with the 200 could hit 68 no problem.

[Jason Hale]

Shaun,
It was good to meet you yesterday. Let me know what day would be good for you and like I said yesterday, I will be glad to bring the boat home with me one night and we will make sure it will fit in your garage. It will also be a good time to let the wife take a look and will save you the hour drive back down here to let her look. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Jason

[tman5611]

I have a 03 Skeeter 190 SL with a 150 VMAX, with a MINN-KOTA 70 LB TROLLING MOTOR with AUTO PILOT, and I could not be happier with it. Its is by far the best handling boat I have ever had at high speed and low speed. I have had two Rangers before the Skeeter and I will never go back. It runs 60+ and never gets loose, and it is great to fish out of. In the spring it is strickly a fishing boat. You really want this trolling motor!!