Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

[guitarkev77]

Hey guys,

I was looking at boats on Craig's List today and saw that there was a 19 ft 1976 Ranger Fish & Ski boat with a trailer listed for $650.

The boat looks to be in decent shape. I emailed the seller to ask about the floor and transom, and he informed me that the floor had no soft spots, and the transom was solid. Evidently, the boat is from California and has been kept in storage when not in use.

The boat has a blown Merc 115 on the transom, and also has a leaking fiberglass belly tank. He attributes the leaking tank to ethanol in the fuel.

I have a running 85 HP Merc that I could bolt onto the transom, at least until I saved up some more money to fix the blown 115.

My question is this: Would the boat be greatly underpowered with my motor? What kind of speeds could I look at getting from this set up?

I know that Ranger bass boats built today are supposed to be nice boats. What kind of build quality went into the Ranger boats of the seventies? Were they good boats as well?

Here are some pictures of the boat:

I think at some point I would replace the belly tank with metal tank, but for now, I have a few portable tanks I could use with my 85.

Any info you guys have on this type of boat would be great.

Thanks- Kevin

 

[nophun]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

I don't think that was built by Ranger of Flippin AR, the bass boat company, but I could be mistaken.

 

[guitarkev77]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

I don't think that was built by Ranger of Flippin AR, the bass boat company, but I could be mistaken.

It doesn't look like the typical Ranger boat. I guess I am curious if I should move on this thing or not, and if my 85 merc would be able to get this boat on a decent plane. The price seems nice.

I also wonder about the fuel tank leaking. It seems odd that the tank couldn't handle modern gas. Could this cause other problems with the fiberglass?

 

[guitarkev77]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

Any thoughts, guys?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

I'd be highly suspicious of the tank. Ethanol is NOT going to make it spring a leak unless it's a hose fitting. How does he KNOW the transom is solid? What has he done to ensure it? 35 year old boats MUST be very well cared for to NOT have some major issues. My boat was 50 yrs old BUT was Barn Stored for ALL of it's life and I could trace her entire history. Your motor would power the boat adequately. Just make sure transom, deck and all other structural issues are AS ADVERTISED!!!!!

 

[guitarkev77]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

Thanks, Woodonglass, for responding.

That sort of echos my same reservations about the boat. I talked to the guy this afternoon on the phone. He claimed that when left in storage over the winter, the tank started leaking fuel into the bilge area, and he could smell it when he walked by. I guess that my first inclination would be some sort of bad hose connection before a full deterioration of the glass. (I hope that if I spill a little gas at the pump, that this boat isn't going to dissintingrate !)

The transom is not a deal breaker. After reading posts on this site for the last two years, I think I sort of expect every old boat to have a rotten transom. Hopefully, this one won't, but for the price, that could be factored in.

If you think that my motor would push this boat decently, that is good news. That is really my main concern. I think I might have to drive the two house to check this thing out.

-Kevin

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

That's a nice hull that's worth fixing up. Your 85 should push it fine. Ethanol deteriorates fiberglass tanks so that's probably what happened. I'd be tryin' to get it for $500 or less though. It doesn't really have much value with a non-running motor.

 

[guitarkev77]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

Thanks Ezmobee,

I was thinking the same thing about the price of the boat. I think I will drive down this weekend and check it out, if it's still available.

It's funny, I was reading into fiberglass tanks deteriorating last night on a few different sites, and evidently, that was an issue. I would hope that the structure of the boat was not compromised by it.

I guess that I would have to tear out the entire deck to get at the tank to replace it, or at least a good portion of it. What kind of tank would be recommended to reinstall? Aluminum or Plastic?

It's too bad about the deck, as he said that he just had it redone. I think that he just means the carpet, though. I am not a fan of carpet in a boat. Harder to get all of the fish blood out of.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

What kind of tank would be recommended to reinstall? Aluminum or Plastic?

Either would be fine. Plastic ones are probably cheaper and easier to come by. Here's all of Moeller's tanks and I think iboats stocks most of them http://www.moellermarine.com/aftermarket/fuel_storage_tanks/permanent_tanks/

It's too bad about the deck, as he said that he just had it redone. I think that he just means the carpet, though. I am not a fan of carpet in a boat. Harder to get all of the fish blood out of.

Ah, he probably didn't do it properly anyway

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

Well, I learned sumthun here! I did not KNOW that Ethanol would deteriorate fiberglass. Learn sumthun new ever day. Sorry for the misinformation guitarkev!!!

 

[guitarkev77]

Re: Looking to buy a 1976 19 ft Ranger Fish & Ski. Any info?

Ezmobee,

Thanks for that link to the gas tanks. I guess I just need to figure out how much I want to spend at the pump.

Woodonglass,

No worries, I think I learn something new on this site pretty much every time I log on. Thanks for the response.