Fish & Ski Boat...Your Opinion?

[eyepatrol]

Considering all the glass boats out there, what, in your opinion, is the best fish & ski/sportfish/fish & play type glass boat out there? I'd be looking at one where it's got "comfy" seats (for my wife), yet I can still have a kicker motor on the back and an electric up front.

I know there are Warriors, Rangers, Tritons, Champions, Skeeters, Stratos, and so on that a person could get. But, in your opinion, what brand would be the best fish and ski boat to buy?

Thanks for the help.

bc

[sparkyaber]

basscatcher- I am in the same situation as you- Looking for the best all around fish and ski- I think I have to give the nod to the ranger for what I am looking for. A few things that stuck out was the rod storage on the ranger and also the fit and finish over some of the other boats in its class.

I still would like to see the triton fish and ski's because they seem comperable to the ranger.

Now the stratos that I looked at were more of a walleye boat, not a bass boat- that is what I have been concentrating on the most. (I don't fish walleyes more than a few times a year.)

What I found is to make a list of things that are important to you and find which boat fit the bill the best. If a few fit, great, then you have some to choose from.

Some critera I used-

full windshield

outboard motor

live well

ability to seat 6

bimini top

shallow draw

rod locker

ski pole

boarding ladder

location of dealer

type of trailer (roller vs bunk)

quick removeable trolling motor

cd player

cooler

the last two were not that important, but were things I considered.

These things were important to me, and may not be to someone else, but that is what I was looking for.

If anyone else has any other things that I should be looking at, let me know I am all ears.

[PerchJerker]

Look at the Ranger Reatta 1850, 2005 was the first model year. Much more fishable as walleye boat than most of the fish and ski boats out there. I believe there is going to be a Reatta 1750 in the 2006 model year but I haven't seen it yet.

[buzzsaw]

I had this very tough decision this past spring and it came down to the Ranger Reatta and the Crestliner Sportfish... I went with the Sportfish but was very much a big fan of the Reatta!!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Was there a big price discrepancy between the two?

[fiskyknut]

Ooooh ya that 1850 Reatta is one sweeeeet boat.

[eyepatrol]

I've been looking at the Reatta and have heard some rave reviews and comments about it, but here's my question(s).

First, it doesn't look like there is really a good place to clamp on a tiller kicker motor on either side of where the big motor goes. How could I get a kicker motor on there, and yet still have the ability to take it off if I wanted? Do they have or use a mounting bracket for that?

Also on the Reatta, where would I sit to run the tiller kicker motor? I'm not a fan of driving the kicker motor from the steering wheel in the least bit just because of the chances to get lines caught in the prop of the kicker motor, so I like to sit on the platform in the back of the boat. That's what I did on my recently owned Warrior.

Lastly, how would passengers sit and fish out of the back seats if they want to turn around and face out the back of the boat when I'm trolling? It looks like those bench seats in the back are such that you can't turn around to fish out the back...you'd have to face towards the front and have your pole hanging out the side of the boat which doesn't seem comfortable for fishing.

I've never seen a Reatta in person yet, just pictures from Ranger's HSOforum, so maybe I'm missing something here.

Any comments?

bc

[EJ]

Basscatcher,

Ranger puts a static bracket on for kicker mount. Very nice setup. The boat has 4 pedestal seats and they all turn for facing the back. The seats you are looking at are just jump seats that fold down over the battery and rear storage. Like all boats, a picture doesn't do it. You need to sit in them to get the right feel.

EJ

[eyepatrol]

EJ

Thanks kind of what I was thinking too. There's only so many pictures I think that they put up on their HSOforum, and the best thing for me to do, at this time, is to hit the boat shows this winter and check them out. It will be a little better than a year before we get another boat, but I'll enjoy the looking part!

What about running a tiller kicker motor...is there a seat base or something on the back platform to put a seat in and troll back there?

[EJ]

The top of the jump seat is flat when folded down(all the time)you could sit there or mount a swivel seat there. You can also remove a rear pedestal seat and put it in the hole on top of the rear platform and fish from there.

EJ

[eyepatrol]

That sounds great. I'm looking forward to seeing one of those and how it's all set up.

Thanks for the info!

[buzzsaw]

Quote:

---

Was there a big price discrepancy between the two?

---

Well I paid 28,000 with the way my Sportfish was set up and I was only 3-4K shy of the cost of the Reatta.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Thanks! Any regrets? Was price the big factor, or was there other things that you liked better in the Crestliner?

[eyepatrol]

buzzsaw

How does the Sportfish ride? What size/length did you get? We've been looking at those boats too, but are a little cautious of the ride of an aluminum boat.

[buzzsaw]

guys, no regrets whatsoever. I originally had purchased a new 1850 (thats 18.5 feet) Sportfish in 2002 w/merc 2 stroke 125 HP and was completely disgusted with the motor (thats another subject) I then decided to look at Lunds, Crestliners and the new Reatta this spring based on the fact that I was going to be in a four stroke. I'm a guy with a 2 very young children and a wife, I thought it was the right choice. I'd say take one out for a ride and make the decision that is right for you and your family. I'm certain I would have liked the Reatta as well.

[PerchJerker]

A guy called basscatcher wondering about running a kicker motor and trolling ..... I love it.

I control my kicker motor with the tiller - no remote controls at all. I have an extension handle that's about 30" long and there's also 18" handles. My kicker is a Merc which has twist grip shifting - forward, neutral, reverse and the throttle are all controlled by how far you turn the handgrip.

Using the extension I can run my kicker by sitting on the rear platform, sitting on the gunnel, sitting on top of the big motor, standing in the back of the boat, or sitting in a pedestal seat in any of 2 or 3 seat bases. If I'm trolling open water (planer boards and rod holders) I occasionally run the kicker motor but steer using my big motor as a rudder. Lots of possibilities.

Regarding how to mount the kicker to a Reatta, you can go with a static bracket or with an auxiliary lift like a Panther lift. Both bolt through the transom and are very solid.

I know of a dealer that has (or recently had) a late shipment of 1850 Reattas with Yamaha 150 hpdi motors and some other options like the family fun pack. No motors available other than the 150 hpdi, but those boats could be had for $29-$30.

[eyepatrol]

Perch

Yeah, my username is a bit of a misnomer isn't it. Long story made short, it's a cb handle/name my grandpa gave me years ago from catching lots of smallies in Canada one year. I am, though, by far a walleye fisherman. I love fishing for 'eyes!!!

The way you troll is exactly the way I troll too with the kicker motor (when I need to use it that is). I've never seen one of those long arms for a kicker motor before, so I'll have to check that out at either a boat show or dealer or something. Sounds interesting.

I take it you have a Reatta? If so, what length and what size motor? Curious as to the speed of those boats. Also, did you get a bow mount for it and what lb thrust? I'm really interested in one of those Minnkota Gensis trolling motors for the bow. They look pretty nice. My previous boat had a Minnkota that you had to push off the mounting bracket and that, at times, was a real pain in the you know what.

Anyway, just curious on what you got and how it performs, if a Reatta is what you have.

Thanks.

bc

[PerchJerker]

I've seen a few different makes / models of the extension handles. Pretty common, Cabelas should have them. They would work for steering on any kicker but are really nice with Merc's twist-grip shifting.

I ordered an 1850 Reatta with a 175 Optimax a couple weeks ago but don't have it yet. I'm taking the Minnkota 65 PD off my old boat and putting it on the new one - it's a little smaller than I'd like, but I don't use the bowmount that much so I think it will be OK. EJ has an 1850 with a Yamaha F150 4-stroke and a bunch of other great options / accessories and he gets 51 mph with his boat.

The 1850 will make a great walleye boat but the other 3 Reattas (180, 190, and 210) are laid out much more like pleasure boats or bass boats. If there is a 1750 for 2006 I'd think it would be a similar style to the 1850.

[EJ]

A Basscatcher and and a Perchjerker discussing how to rig a boat for Walleyes!

EJ

[PerchJerker]

You should see me on the ice, those perch don't stand a chance