Ranger Boat Visit
I had the opportunity this week to join other Ranger Pro Staff and dealers in Flippin Arkansas, the home of Ranger Boats and tour the facilities where Ranger boats are built… One Legend at a Time. Now I will tell you that this wasn’t my first time touring the plant. But the last time I was there, they had not opened the second, separate aluminum boat facility. With the popularity of aluminum boats, the lower price point for those just getting into the bass boat market and let’s face it, the fact that last years’ Forrest Wood Cup Champion, John Cox, did so out of an aluminum bass boat, I was very interested to see how Ranger put their boats together.
Just like the first time I visited Ranger Boats, I was extremely impressed with the efficiency, the care and the attention to detail that goes into building each boat that crosses the assembly line at the plant that houses well over 200 employees just in the operation that focuses on the building and preparation of each aluminum boat that Ranger Boats builds.
Seeing each boat as it starts from being just rolled aluminum that is shaped and welded into the hull and deck that will soon become a finished and well-constructed unit was impressive. The timing of how ancillary parts are built alongside main body construction so as to minimize storage issues while boats are in the building process was an example of the state of the art efficiency this plant operates under. And then there was the familiar Ranger pultruted fiberglass reinforcement with every available cavity filled with closed cell foam level flotation which means that this aluminum boat won’t have the traditional aluminum boat characteristic of heaving downward as you move from center to forward farther toward the bow of the boat. These boats are clearly built with the Ranger stamp of excellence through and though. The same flotation foam that provides for the superior stability attributes in the Ranger also give it a solid quiet hull not found in other aluminum boats.
Once the hull, deck and reinforcements are constructed it’s time for adding Rangers’ infamous top of the line added features such as the premium marine grade upholstery and carpet as well as recessed trolling motor foot pedals, integrated cup and tool holders and custom built wiring harnesses built in house that are hand fit for each boat to ensure proper connections and tailor made fit. Another feature that adds to the sleek look and construction of this rig is the fiberglass console which makes getting behind the wheel of this bad boy even easier and more enjoyable.
Each boat can be rigged with the owners’ choice of motor options. Obviously, one of the new Evinrude outboards with their just announced 10 year warranty would be the smart choice. The Minn Kota trolling motor is standard on each model.
Models range from the RT series which even includes the 198p that features a pad bottom hull, a center console RB model and the VS line of Deep V hull boats. There is also a line of Hunting and Fishing boats available for the camo inclined among us. One thing to remember; when that new aluminum Ranger Boat comes out of the testing tank and goes from the lift to its’ new trailer, it’s still being set on the finest trailer ever made. The same structural steel channel beam construction, the exclusive COOL Hub system and Road Armor finish is the same trailer that the big boys ride on thousands of miles each year and another reason Ranger Boats continue to have the highest resale value of any other used boat on the market.
Touring the Ranger plant for a second time this year was far from routine. In fact, being able to witness the construction process of the both the aluminum boat facility and revisit the plant that is currently building my boat that will hopefully be called my workplace for the upcoming FLW Tour gave me great pride to know I am supported by a company that goes to such great lengths to produce a quality product each and every time a boat leaves those outer doors.
Still Building Legends….One at a Time.
