What do you make of this boat for sale?

[jazzwannabe]

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/boa/1618305328.html

[Guest]

I would say if that boat for that year looks that good in the pics and the motor checks out and if it true hes adding what he say on that list TAKE the CASH im sure there would be a best offer.

[sTony]

Looks like one beautifully restored boat to me!

sTony

[Guest]

There also a 20 foot stratos tunnel hull in bakersfield that is one solid platfrom to fish out of ive fished out of it & was sold out of madera ca a year or so and is a solid bassboat even with the 225 rude on it.

[offduty]

Get him to let you test drive it and do a compression check. If you then still like it and the hull looks as good in person as in the pictures offer him $7,500.00 cash and see what happens. But take the whole $8.500.00 just in case.
Rich

[CN]

Nice boat and if all the spec's are true it would be worth it. Someone put some time into this and I think they did a good job.

[Mike]

Looks very nice for its age, but remember that year has wood stringers and transom. I has a 80something Ranger that the transom broke because of dry rot. Make you get it inspected 1st. Other than that, its a great boat

[WackySenko]

Check the fiberglass over very carefully around the transom and the area of the rear deck and transom. Look on the classsified ads on this site there are some really nice sounding boats for $5,000 to $8,900. HAVE the motor checked. Good Luck and enjoy whichever boat you purchase.

[mark poulson]

I would give you different advice.
No boat that old is worth buying, to me, unless it's for a couple of thousand.
Here's my thinking.
No matter how upgraded the accessories are, it's still a 20 year old hull, with all the wear and tear on it. And you don't know what that boat's been through. If he fished Mead a lot, you could have a hull that's really tired, and any fiberglass that's been pounded on for 20 years is tired, too.
So, if you pay that much for it, and the engine blows, you're looking at repowering a 20 year old boat, and, by the time you're done, you'll have $20K+ invested in a 20 year old boat.
Think longer term.
If I were you, I'd keep looking until I found a newer boat in the same price range. They are out there.

[Dom]

I agree with Mark, its still 28 years old that boat is only worth 3-4g's I am in the market also and my advice is if ya got 8500 just save a bit longer you can get so much more boat for 10,000 and your not far off the mark.

I know its hard to not buy I have come across some great deals but passed I am holding out for a newer model and I think you should also. I have purchased a few boats that I have restored and I can honestly say a 80's model you will never get what you put into it. The boat is real nice looking but that dont hide the fact its still "OLD"

[Rick G]

I would give you different advice.
No boat that old is worth buying, to me, unless it's for a couple of thousand.
Here's my thinking.
No matter how upgraded the accessories are, it's still a 20 year old hull, with all the wear and tear on it. And you don't know what that boat's been through. If he fished Mead a lot, you could have a hull that's really tired, and any fiberglass that's been pounded on for 20 years is tired, too.
So, if you pay that much for it, and the engine blows, you're looking at repowering a 20 year old boat, and, by the time you're done, you'll have $20K+ invested in a 20 year old boat.
Think longer term.
If I were you, I'd keep looking until I found a newer boat in the same price range. They are out there.

There is a man with knowledge. Yes that is a clean boat and I am sure the owner is proud and deserves as much as a 1982 boat is worth, but it is almost 30 years old and without looking I guess book value is about 3K max even counting cherry condition. If it looks like a ride you would keep for life then maybe that is a good value for you. Check the engine for sure. Rick G.

[WishinIwerFishin]

$8500 for a 1982 ranger....I don't think so. I don't care how good it looks, unless your a ranger collector. For $8500 you should be able to fing something w/o wood stringers and transome. I love my 91' Javelin but the fact that it has wood stringers and transome I know it's life span is limited, and it's alot of work to fix rotten wood in a hull. Then you have to worrie about the old motor, it's just too old to be considered at that price. I agree 3-4k is a fair price for this boat, for 8-10k you can get alot newer and nicer boat.

[jazzwannabe]

I'm not really considering this one, but I wanted to know what experienced boat owners here thought about it. It wouldn't fit in my garage anyway.

[Greg_Cornish]

I'm curious what will go wrong with a hull that' s 28 years old? Will it break in half? Suddenly crumble beneath you? I'm serious, I have no idea.

[offduty]

I had a 78 Ranger 185V and I ran it hard in at Clear Lake in the whitecaps more than once. That is one flat shallow hull and I never had any problems other than a rough ride.
Rich

[Brian]

Would that year boat be rated for a 220hp motor?

[Dom]

Greg

A boat that old is made of wood and when you put a boat in the water as many times as you can in 30 years the boat will get strees crack, which lead to water getting in the wood over time and cuases rot. If it was a boat you knew for 30 years and can be sure it was not abused then maybe but not knowing and throwing that much cash at it to find out, well thats just not a gamble I would want to take.

3-4 grand I could stand to gamble with and thats what it is a gamble when you buy a boat that old.

[basshunter4u]

Mark poulson hit the nail on the head. Instead of buying a 25+ year old boat and taking chances its best to look fo a newer boat possibly a tournament won boat. You may pay a lot more but you might not have the headaches or buyers remorse later. Make sure it waht you want because they can be a problem to sell especially if its 30 years old. I bought my Ranger form Anglers as an investment for a lifetime. I orded what I wanted the first time so I didnt have to sell it and get what I really wanted later. I see it all the time guys buying a lower end boat and then 2 years later wishing they had upgraded the first time. Selling later for a loss and then getting their dream. Get what you want as if you were never going to buy another boat again. There are good deals out there

DO

[BuckSnort]

What year did Ranger stop using wood? Just curious.....

[Mike]

I think around 90'

[BuckSnort]

I think around 90'

Thanks

[Greg_Cornish]

In that case... I'm looking for a free to very cheap bass boat - 70's 80s with no motor. I'm going to gut it and deck it with only a Troller for Rodman Slough

[Smee Again]

What year did Ranger stop using wood? Just curious.....

From late '87, all Rangers had a composite (pulltruded fiberglass) transom and stringer system, although '88 was the first "official" model year.

Hope this helps.

SA

[BuckSnort]

What year did Ranger stop using wood? Just curious.....

From late '87, all Rangers had a composite (pulltruded fiberglass) transom and stringer system, although '88 was the first "official" model year.

Hope this helps.

SA

Yes, Thanks for the info..

[Phil]

In 1988, I bought my first Ranger a 350V, what sold me was the solid fibreglass transom, it was just not wide enough for me and did not handle big water well, I now own a 1989 374V and has been in alot of delta waves, as of today, no stress cracks, rated at 175 hp, it has only a 150 on it. I believe the weight of the engine also has alot to do with cracking & stress (waves, road chuck holes etc). I believe you are pretty safe with a 1988 or newer Ranger as far as transom & deck goes ? Heavy, but strong. Slow, but stable.
Thank you just my .02 on a Ranger boat
JIGS