Ranger Boats has been at the top of its class in fiberglass fishing boats since 1968. The company does that by keeping a thumb on the pulse of fishermen, carefully engineering and building boats to suit them. Now Ranger uses that same ethic in the exploding pontoon market.
To meet the Ranger formula, the Reata 223F had to perform, so Ranger designed triple-tube models with speed and agility. That’s a page out of the brand’s bass-boat playbook. To give its pontoon line the lasting good looks customers expect the Ranger name to represent, Ranger powder-coated the tubes in beautiful colors that accent the durable 0.04-gauge side panels, vinyl flooring and lush upholstery.
By powder-coating the tubes, Ranger eliminates the unsightly tarnish that immediately ruins the luster of other pontoons. And thanks to synergies with Ranger’s parent company, White River Marine Group, it is able to offer this beautiful feature at a price competitive with raw-aluminum pontoons.
But Reata offers still more.
Nobody is better than Ranger at making a fishing boat fishable, so it is no surprise the Reata sports a pair of timed aerated livewells, an aft fishing station with rod holders, and a starboard-side rod locker for stowing tackle overnight. Dual fishing stations forward are comparably equipped, and four swivel fishing chairs make anglers comfortable. Equip yours with an optional trolling motor — it’s pre-wired for it (standard), and it tucks under the forward gate. And at the helm, there’s a flush-mounted Hook 5 sonar system and Bluetooth-equipped stereo, both standard.
Courtesy lighting is LED, and storage is lighted as well. Navigation lights are also low-amp LEDs, and those are complemented with bright LED docking lights. The swim platform aft is equipped with a retractable stainless-steel boarding ladder.
All that’s lacking is water and an owner who takes pride in hooking quality and value on one cast.
High Points
* Gas-assist 9-foot-long Bimini top deploys or stows with fingertip pressure.
* Attractive vinyl flooring washes off easily after fishing.
* Easily deployed changing enclosure adds privacy without taking up fishing space.
* Boat comes complete with Lowrance Hook 5 electronics.
How We Tested
Engine: Mercury 150 FourStroke
Drive/Prop: Enertia 15.3″ x 14″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.92:1
Fuel Load: 15 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.
Price
$39,295 (with Mercury 150 FourStroke)
Contact
Ranger Pontoons Flippin, Arkansas; 800-373-2628; rangerpontoons.com
