I'll soon be 69 yoa and about this time last year I decided it was time to give up boating. Wasn't using it much blah blah blah so I sold my 18' 90hp aluminum multi species. Immediate sellers remorse. I bought a 1985 model 18' Lund Alaskan w 1986 70hp Yamaha mini project 2 months later. Got it rigged to suit and it's a good old boat.

Was browsing boat trader a couple weeks ago and there it was. 2018 Ranger 1880MS w 200 hp Mercury Verado 4 stroke. 18'10" long and 101" beam. Only 39 hours, 3 years warranty and one of the USA's best Ranger dealers, Dixie Marine, Fairfield Ohio, rigged the boat. I saw it Fri night and put a deposit down Sat. Suited me fine so I bought it. 3 years engine warranty left and lifetime hull & transom on the boat. Deluxe Ranger trailer.

I've had 200hp bass boats since the 1980s, fun as hell but they beat you to death in a chop. Ohio River will be my main water as the ramp is 5 minutes away from home and with this boat being deeper, wider and heavier it should be better on Ohio River than a bass boat and I wanted fiberglass as opposed to aluminum as this will be used mostly for pleasure cruising old folks. I do see a Feb trip to Weiss Lake or Guntersville in my future. My wife just retired and I told her this was her retirement gift.

Also got a 2014 Chevy Express 2500 passenger van. 60k miles, great shape and has tow package. I picked the boat up Tuesday and have had more fun dealing with light pigtails and other hands on trial and error projects than I've had in a while. Zero buyer's remorse yet.

Congrats!

Congratulations on the new boat. (And the van, I guess. [Not really a van fan, if y'know what I mean.])

We sold our powerboat last spring--after her not having been splashed for five years. Sold our sailboat spring of 2013 after the costs couldn't be justified any longer for the amount we sailed her. We loved them both, but we'd had enough of boating.

I'll be 69 tomorrow. My wife isn't far behind me. It's exceedingly unlikely we'll ever own another boat.

Enjoy!

Congratulations! That looks like it'll be great fun for you and your wife. She's a beautiful craft. The van looks nice, too.

Is your Lund Alaskan a tiller steer?

Well, you know what they say, "The two happiest days..."

Congrat's looks like you found a good one. Enjoy.

As a "boat guy" all I can tell you (her) is, congratulations. Being on the water is in ones blood. If it isn't, you will never understand it.
Have many great days on the water!

Looks fun! Hope you gets lots of use and enjoy it to the max.

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
Is your Lund Alaskan a tiller steer?

Side console.

Good looking Ranger!

I have a 20' Alaskan 90 HP tiller. So many good memories.

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
Is your Lund Alaskan a tiller steer?

I had a kind Alaskan tiller for a few years when I first moved to AK, had some awesome moose hunting trips with it. I actually wish I still had it but I sold it to get a 22 foot wooldridge with a 383 inboard.

Congratulations, I dread the day when I can no longer get out on the water.

Congrats on the Ranger. That’s one hell of a nice boat. Looks a lot nicer than the older Lund you had. I hope to see some pics of smiling faces and beautiful scenery when you finally get it out in the water.

That;s a nice looking boat. Should run really well with a 200hp on it.

quote:

Originally posted by safespot:
Good looking Ranger!

I have a 20' Alaskan 90 HP tiller. So many good memories.

Love big/high horsepower tiller steers. You get so much speed for the horsepower, and they are so simple and roomy.

What was the top speed of your Alaskan? I'll guess 55 MPH. My 14 foot Lowe with a 25 Mercury goes low 30's. My brother has a 16 foot Lowe with a 25 Mercury on it and he barefoot skied behind it.

I don't have speedo or even a tach on the Lund but I'd say top comfortable speed is mid 30s.

I purchased an 1880ms in 2017 (200 Evinrude g2). Awesome family and fishing boat. The kids love the jump seats - so much so that we don't usually have the rear two pedestals in unless we have more than 4 people going out. I came from a 16' aluminum and every time I was out I watched the weather like a hawk - worrying about wind/waves etc. While it's still on my mind, I now know that I have enough boat to get back in all but a tornado.

I've put on about 50 hours a year on the main. Between fishing and family days we're on the water in excess of 50 days a year (which is pretty good since I'm in MN and we have ice from Nov - April).

There is the occasional day where I wish I had a 620, but it wouldn't fit in my garage and would be more of a hassle to move around in the driveway etc.

Congrats on the new rig - you'll love it! My top regular speed is 52.x mph with a full load and two guys. Top speed with the fam and all of the toys is right around 49mph. Cruise in mid to low 40s with ease.

Shawn

That's a beauty! Enjoy!

Will cute chicks show us their bewbees when we're on the lake in that !?!

No ... ok, I'll bring my crappie rig and settle for pan fish.

Nice find, great boat for taking friends and family fishing.

I have my Gambler bass boat but wish sometimes it was deeper for my young grandson.

If you were to get buyer's remorse go put it in the water and your thoughts will go away with the first fish. Congrats.