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| Hey everyone,
I am a bass fisherman who is looking to get out of my Triton TR-21XDC bass boat and into a more versitile boat that can handle rougher water IE: Champlain, Potomac River (mainley boat traffic here) and Erie better than my bass boat. 3 footers are scary enough, but get caught 40 miles away from the ramp on champlain when 30mph south winds kick up and that will definately initiate the pucker factor (and a hysterical crying fit from the wife).....
The thing is, I am still only a bass fisherman and the only fishing out of the boat will be for bass. But I will also be taking more family out in the boat and I also go away for fishing vacations where we are out in the boat all day and get caught in rainstorms (the wife and I) and thought it would be nice to have the full windsheild, a bimini top and also full enclosure to make it easier for her to stay out if the weather gets bad (then I can stay out fishing ;).
So it looks like the Ranger 621VS and Triton 215X are the closest boats to fit my needs. I have some questions though. Anyone that runs these boats, can you lay your 6'6" - 7'0 rods on the front deck while running from spot to spot just like I can with my bassboat? It looks like the Triton can do this but the Ranger has a bit shorter front deck.
Does anyone know what the draft is in each boat, I dont want to lose to much shallow water ability.
The triton215X is the same width as my bass boat 94" this seems a bit skinny for this type of boat, anyone running this boat have problems with cramped space in this boat?
Any running problems with the Ranger 621, I have heard of the Triton having porposing problems if you dont have the proper engine/prop setup. Anything like this noted about the 621?
Any other info you can give me about these boats, pro's and cons would be very much appreciated.
Thank you,
-Mike |
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| I have a 621 and I've laid down 4 8ft rods down on my front deck, the tips are just poking down between the windshield after I strap them into my rod buckles I'm sure shorter bassing rods aren't any issue. 621 don't have running issue and I know guys with 215x's and I've never heard of issues with them either. Both boats are nice and will over a great platforms for bass fishing in biggger water you would be happy in both. Depending on what year your looking at the 215 is a faster hull, as far as casting and fishing from the front the Ranger will defintely be much better it's sits lower to the water and will defintely blow around less in the wind. The 215x sits higher off the water and has bigger higher gunnels. Try and get a ride on each and fish off them before you decide, either way you'll have a heck of a boat that will plow through anything. These are big boats, beam isn't everything they are shaped different than bass boats, believe me they are plenty wide, the new hull on the 621 starting in 2010 has a 99 beam slightly wider than the pre 2010 hulls. |
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Member
Posts: 2300
Location: Berlin | The 215 is an amazing ride. Best rough riding 21' boat I have ever been in. I have been in an older 621 and there is no comparison in ride. In every other aspect I would take the Ranger. |
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Member
Posts: 181
Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Hello Mike: I have been running Triton 215's since 2006 and just enjoy the boat. You have plenty of room up front for 7'6 rods. When running from spot to spot I always put my trolliing rods up front and buckle them down (Usually running 6 rods). You will also like the rod storage in the boat. I store 12 rods in the sleves and then use rod socks for my bobber and jigging rods. At one point I had 20 rods in my rod storage compartment. Besides the great rough water ride this boat has, is the layout and amount of storage you have on board. You will have room for everything. If you have any questions on the 215 (I have owned 3 of them) contact me at [email protected] |
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| Thanks for the replies everyone.
Looks like alot of the porposing problems I read aboout with the 215X were older, perhaps Triton tweaked the setup to eliminate this problem, or folks figured out how to set the motor/prop up to eliminate the problem without questions.
I guess both boats are great (as I suspected) It will come down to which I like best which will prolly be the Triton only because it has a longer front casting deck... But I do like the extra 5 gallon gas capacity in the Ranger and I like the wider topside of the ranger. I live in an area (northern VA) where I wont see many if any of these boats at shows locally this winter and definately wont find any dealers that carry them around here. So I will have to travel maybe to NY/PA boat shows this winter and hopefully be able to crawl around both of these and see which will fit my needs. Hopefully I can schedule a test ride with one of those dealers this spring.
Is there a prefered engine on both boats? I have a 225 Opti now and I love it, its my first mercury and i've had it for 5 seasons without a hiccup (knock on wood reeeeeal hard). I really wanted a 4 stroke only because i wanted something quieter, but it looks like for fuel efficiency the opti's are the only way to go? I wish the new Yamaha 250 SHO was available in a 25" shaft......
I will probably look to buy a newer used model because they are sooooooo dang expensive. I own my Triton outright so I can make some money there, but that will only cover a little over half the cost of one of these two. It will be hard to find one used the way I want it, but I could make a little money back by selling any kicker motors/controls and other stuff that I just wont need on the boat. Ideally I'd like to find a left over model year with no motor on it that I could deal on....
Alright, im done rambling.
-Mike |
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| Anyone ever put a hotfoot in a boat like this? I dont think I could drive a boat without one after having one in the bassboat, especially in rough water.... |
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Member
Posts: 2300
Location: Berlin | The SHO is available in the 25" shaft but it is called an Offshore. Same motor, different graphics. Personally, I would stick with the Opti!
I know one guy that put a hotfoot on the walleye boat and loved it. I am like you and will never be without one again.
Edited by Rich S 10/21/2011 6:02 PM
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| Fished out of both boats and either boat will suit your fishing and family needs, I have kids in the boat with me all the time prefishing.
1. Ranger is a heavier boat I've personally been in 1.5 feet of water from the transducer.
2. I had the Mercury Pro XS 250 25'' shaft put this prop on Mercury Bravo, 4 blade 21 pitch. tried alot of others and this is a good all around prop for the 2011 621
3. Triton 215X is a rocket on the water...all of them I've been in and fished against just fly so if speed is a must this will make your hat tilt back.
4. If your really up for a trip and want to see the boats made you can watch any one of the two made in Flippin Ark. Great people to talk with and meet.
Enjoy your boat
Tony |
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Member
Posts: 2300
Location: Berlin | Here is a link to the 25" & 30" shaft Yamaha SHO (Offshore):
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/v6offshore_micro/discover/spec...
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| Thanks for all the replies.
Toby, I thought Tritons were built in TN.?
Im pretty sure im gonna go with the 215X simply because it seems like its a better rough water boat, its got decent speed (coming from a 74mph bassboat) and that will be hard to give up not seeing at least a 6X bumer on the GPS...And it also has a bigger front deck and for pure bass fishing this is a must, plus I can lay my rods along the gunnel and have room for them to lay without having to stick them out between the windsheild (I think).
I do have my concerns reading lots of posts about porposing on the 215x's, I definately dont want a boat that has to be constantly tinkered with to get a good ride. I want to put one good all around prop on and go out and run the boat and fish...
Im pretty sure im gonna go with a 250 optimax as the 4 strokes are just too heavy and expensive. Plus i've read some negatives on the reliability of the new yammy's. Also, I want the same color one they are putting on bass boats, not a solid gray model...
-Mike |
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Member
Posts: 284
| Mike:
Triton's are builit in Flippin, AR now along with Rangers as they are both owned by the same investment company. This just started over the past year. I have a 2012 that was built in Flippin and am happy with it.
I'm on my 3rd 215 and haven't seen any porpoising issues. 250 pro xs 62-64 mph depending on load. The bow is huge which is one of my favorite things about the boat.
Check out the storage in the front of a 621 and the 215. There is a big difference.
PM me if you have some questions. I'd be glad to help you out. |
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| My 2005 215x Triton was purchased used three years ago for use on Lake Superior and Chequamegon Bay. It came equipped with a hot foot throttle and column mounted tilt levers for the 225 Optimax and 8 hp kicker on a Panther lift. Both of these features work wonderfully and I feel are a definite improvement over the OEM setup. I am often running in large choppy waves for long distances and being able to keep both hands on the wheel and still easily make trim and throttle adjustments is a great advantage. jdc |
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| Mike - If rough water ride is important you need to ride in a new 621. No comparison to the older hull(pre 2010). Lake Erie is my home water so we see plenty of big waves and know what a good ride is all about. The Triton will be faster but in 3+ foot waves the speed isn't going to matter a bit. Have one of my good friends that runs a 215 so have lots of experience with those. Glad to talk to you over the phone. 419-834-3619. Fit and finish of the Ranger is second to none also but you already know that.
Can also help you out with a test ride in a 621 on either Erie or Dale Hollow in TN if that is closer for you. Have had a couple of buddies from TN that run bass boats out in the Ranger and they have had no complaints at all.
Can't beat the Opti either!
Look forward to talking to you.
Matt D
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| I have a 215X and when I first got it it porpoised and I couldn't use my trim. This is a typical problem with this type of boat. The transom angle is set up for an almost empty hull. Put in an extra battery, a kicker motor and extra gear and a full rear live well and you have no hole shot and porpoising. A lot of people have addressed that problem with a variety of expensive solutions. The fix is simple. Install a panther 6 degree transom wedge. Get the solid cast aluminum part, not seperate wedges. The solid black cast panther wedge is really nice and much more solid. Now I have great hole shot without bow rise and I can use my trim. Just do it. |
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| Thanks for the info on the panther wedge Steve |
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