Reata 1850 or Tyee 186 GL??

[Carpenter]

Anyone have experience with either boat? I spoke with a dealer for both and they recommended the GL if I'm looking for more of a fishing boat (while still fish/ski combo). He said the Reata has a more rounded bottom which won't track as well. I've also heard that the Ranger sits lower and can be more likely to take waves over the bow. Any word on the tracking and waves? I've been in the GL and it's AWESOME, but haven't had much experience with the Reata. Looking for some serious experiences/fact. Don't need ranting opinions from brand lovers. I also know it's Lund's first glass boat in a while, but it's the existing Tyee's hull made with glass. Any help would be appreciated. Oh and it'll be a 4 stroke either way.

[DTro]

Can you lose?

[tonkapat]

i fish out of a friends 1850 quite often. doesn't take waves over the front in 3 plus foot waves. rides almost as good as a 620(a lot of seat time in both) ranger has made great glass boats for a long time. never rode in a new lund(triton hull)

in either boat definately get the max hp 175 i believe. one thing i don't like on the reatta is the rod locker. good luck

[Northlander]

Myself I would go with the Lund if you will use it for mostly fishing. The reata just doesnt seem to be "Fishy" enough for me. I really like the looks of the new Lund glass boats. The Triton hulls are nice and fast.

If you want a family fun boat/fishing boat the Reata is a nice boat for that purpose.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Have you looked at the Ranger 1860 Angler? Very similar to the Reata, but "fishier".

[Sandmannd]

I would go glass. Riding in a glass boat in good sized waves last week convinced me that glass is just much smoother ride.

[DTro]

I would go glass. Riding in a glass boat in good sized waves last week convinced me that glass is just much smoother ride.

They are both glass

[bassNspear]

the 1850 reata is a top seller in the country.

[BJB]

I run a PRO V 1900LE & had always said my next boat would be a glass one and it very well may be, but I'll also always have a tin one around so that I can "cowboy" around the rocks on a windy day. I would not take a glass boat up on top of some of the south end of ML reefs.

[Sandmannd]

Originally Posted By: Sandmannd

I would go glass. Riding in a glass boat in good sized waves last week convinced me that glass is just much smoother ride.

They are both glass

DOH!!! I'm an one-who-thinks-I-am-silly!! In that case, what dtro said in the first place, you can't really go wrong with either one.

[PerchJerker]

I have the 1850 Reata and really like it.

My wife and two young kids and I use our boat a lot, and that was the primary reason we chose the Reata, because of features like the jumpseats in back, the retractable deck in the front, the recessed swim ladder, all the interior space, the deep sides, the stability you get with a wide glass boat, the smooth and dry ride you get with a glass boat, etc.

I get pretty serious about fishing and when we got the boat I thought I'd like it for some kinds of fishing but not so much for other kinds of fishing. Actually I really like it and don't really have any complaints about it at all. One common complaint you hear from some people is the rod storage in the floor, but I don't mind it and after spending a lot of time fishing in other boats with "pro style" rod storage in the front deck I actually prefer my rod storage because it's bigger and easier to get more rods and gear in it (although you're limited to 7 foot rods). I wasn't sure there'd be enough storage space in the boat but that hasn't been an issue for me. At first I thought the front deck would seem to small but that's not an issue, I fish up there a lot with my kid or with another adult and it works fine. The design of the transom (low, recessed, curved, set-back, etc.) makes it a poor design for back-trolling but I don't backtroll anyway so that's not an issue for me. I really like all the open space and the stability and I frequently fish with 3 or 4 full size guys in the boat and it works great.

Overall I thought I'd be happy with the boat but it has worked out better than I expected and I am really happy with it. If I was buying a boat strictly for fishing this might not have been my first choice, but we use the boat about 1/3 for family time and 2/3 for fishing and it's been great for both.

Without doing too much brand-pumping I'll say that Ranger has a reputation for the best (or one of the best) hulls and rides out there, and I agree with that. I haven't been on the water in the Lund GL but I've heard from a couple people that it's a great ride also. None of those guys were in the boat in choppy or wavey conditions though and that's where any differences would show up. I think the line your sales guy fed you about tracking better and rounded hulls is plain and simple salesman B.S. I wouldn't be concerned about either hull. If someone was going to put me on the spot and make me guess which one rides better overall I would pick the Ranger or call it a tie.

Rangers ride with their bow low to the water. There have been a few times I've taken water over the front, like trolling into waves or fishing in the bow in waves. It takes pretty big waves spaced pretty close together to come over the bow. When crusing around, even going slow with the whole family sitting in the bow, I've never had water come in the boat. The trade-off here is that a boat that sits higher in the water will be less stabil and will catch more wind. I almost never get water coming over the front and I don't feel it's an issue but other guys might.

Hope this helps.

[blueroof]

(although you're limited to 7 foot rods).

I almost agree with PerchJerkey 100%. One correction - you can fit 7'6" rods in the rod locker without a problem.

[PerchJerker]

I guess I need to try again. I can't get one of my muskie rods in there, I thought it was a 7.5 footer but maybe it's an 8 footer.

[Carpenter]

Thanks for the info guys. I have seen the Angler, but my wife likes the conversion bow. I can't complain too much, she directed me away from the alumacrafts/crestliners/aluminium boats towards the glass Reata.

[MIDNIGHT777]

This is my first year owning a Ranger 1850. I also have to agree with what Perchjerker had to say. This boat is an overall fantastic rig. It can be converted from a family/fun boat to a fishing machine if equiped properly. I disagree that the reata is not "fishy" enough. The way mine is set up it could be mistaken for a tournament walleye boat. Rod storage is OK and I can fit 7.5' rods in the locker, just not in the tubes. My wife and I have used it mainly for fishing, but have tubed/skied behind it as well. I have taken a few waves over the bow but that was in probably 4 foot waves going slow straight into them. I have been in some pretty big waves and this boat handles them like a dream. Very dry and soft ride!!!! This boat tracks just fine.

I have no experience with the Lund and I am sure it is a really nice rig.

One thing I do know is that Ranger's customer service is top notch as I think Perchjerker can attest to. You have a problem and they will make it right.

Matt

[Chode2235]

The ranger is more of a 'bass boat' hull from what I can see. It will likely be faster, more agile, and run a little shallower.

While the Lund is a more traditional deep V style. It should handle the big water and waves a little better. It also appears to be set up for fishing a little more.

The choice really depends on the ratio of fishing / not fishing time. If you will mainly be fishing, I would lean toward the lund, but if you mostly go out and goof around on it the Ranger is more up your alley.

But you cant really go wrong.

[PerchJerker]

The ranger is more of a 'bass boat' hull from what I can see. It will likely be faster, more agile, and run a little shallower.

I don't think that's true for the 1750, 1760, 1850, 1860 or 2050 models, those are v hulls just like Ranger's 619s and 620s. The 'bass boat' hull models are the other Reatas like the 190 and 210, but those aren't the boats he asked about.

Ranger's v hulls are not fast, they are probably the slowest glass hull for that style of boat by a couple mph. But I think they're probably the best riding hull for tha style of boat.

Like you say, there's no way to go wrong with either of the boats he's looking at.

[Chode2235]

Thanks Perch, I was looking at the wrong ones.

[dan z]

my choice would be the LUND more room and fishability (sp)

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Thanks for the info guys. I have seen the Angler, but my wife likes the conversion bow. I can't complain too much, she directed me away from the alumacrafts/crestliners/aluminium boats towards the glass Reata.

I think your wife and my wife should become friends

Good luck with your decision. I think you would be very happy with either one.

[sparkyaber]

I have had my reata for about a year now, and it is the nicest boats I have fished in. I have fished lake michigan more than once in it, mille lacs on a windy day, never got wet, except for an occasional spray from over the side of the boat while underway going diagonal across waves. I would not trade it for anything. I do think the lund would be similar, the look the same, and the interiors are almost identical.

I think the most important thing would be the dealer, location, and customer service.

[rodmaker]

Just ask PerchJerker