Ranger 1850 Reata
"The Perfect fish and ski boat!"
by: Brad Baker
Hi everyone!! Does the following sound like your family? Dad likes to fish, mom likes to be on the water, and the kids want to ski or tube and bring a friend along. Has your family been discussing getting a new boat but you are all on a different page in terms of needs and wants? I think there is a compromise that the entire family will enjoy. This boat is a Ranger 1850 Reata.
For the last three seasons Ranger Boats has been building the 1850 Reata for a compromise of family fun and a great fishing boat. I describe this boat as "The perfect fish and ski boat" for one main reason-versatility! At 18'5" in length, 96 ½" wide, and a solid v-bottom design this is the perfect size boat for both small and large bodies of water. The cockpit area in this boat is very spacious. The boat comes standard with four fold down pedestal seats and two flip seats in the in the rear making it easy to accommodate up to six people comfortably. An optional "family fun package" that includes front deck cushions, snap in carpet, ski tow, and a bimini top is a must for any recreational boater. The fiberglass gel coat finish with the six package colors make the look and style very popular with the entire family.
As a knowledgeable fisherman myself, and with Ranger Boats being a fishing boat company, this boat "fishes" very well. The Reata is a very stable platform and sits down in the water, not getting blown around by the wind. The dry storage compartments, good electronics, well built livewell systems, and lots of room for everyone makes it as good of a fishing boat as it's larger 600 series multi-species cousin. The 1850 Reata has additional features that include ski/rod storage, a built in cooler, a huge livewell, baitwell, Sony CD/radio, ladder, 24 volt Minn Kota trolling motor, Lowrance depth finder, and much, much more. These features make accommodating the entire family possible.
When you purchase a Ranger boat, yes you are buying the "Ranger" name. This name however signifies quality. You've heard the saying, "you get what you pay for." This is absolutely true with a Ranger boat. Ranger Boats has a proprietary product called pultruded fiberglass that has a strength to weight ratio stronger than steel. Pultruded fiberglass is placed throughout a Ranger boat to add strength to certain areas. Ranger's "one piece feel" motto is true in rough water. The boat feels completely solid with no give or unnecessary movement in the construction of the boat during rough water ventures. This is not the case in many competitive models, trust me! Fit and finish in a Ranger boat is second to none, look for yourself. Many items that are normally made elsewhere are made in the Ranger factory in Flippin, Arkansas . Ranger makes all of their own upholstery, including covers, and their own trailers, each specific to a boat model. The Rangertrail trailers load and fit better because of this. The trailers are coated with "Road Armor," which is similar to a bed liner in a pickup guarding against paint chips and rust. On top of this no other entire fiberglass fishing boat company holds its resale value like Ranger Boats. It's almost unreal!
A Ranger 1850 Reata with a Mercury 150XL Optimax, Rangertrail SF4500, all standard features, family fun package, and a deluxe travel cover sells for around $35,000. For all the extras you receive with this boat it certainly is a great value. This boat does almost everything making it "The perfect fish and ski boat!" If you have any questions or would like to set up a test ride in an 1850 Reata, please send me an email or give me a call. Thanks for your time and I look forward to talking to you soon.
Best Regards,
Brad Baker
bradb@kennedymarine.com