Ranger RT198 Boats For Sale

The Ranger RT198 (sold as the RT 198P) is Ranger's top-of-the-line aluminum bass boat, a tournament-ready rig that brings features usually reserved for the company's fiberglass line into a lighter aluminum platform. It measures 19 feet 8 inches with a 92-inch beam and rides on a foam-filled, pad hull — the "P" in 198P stands for the pad — which removes the hull slap common to aluminum boats and gives it a ride closer to fiberglass underfoot. It suits anglers chasing bass, walleye, musky, crappie and pike who want serious fishability without spending close to six figures on a glass boat. The 2019 model came on a tandem-axle trailer with four-wheel disc brakes and a swing-away tongue to fit a 19-foot boat in a shorter garage.

Power comes from a Mercury Pro XS 150-horsepower outboard, the maximum rating for the hull. With a Tempest 23-inch-pitch three-blade stainless prop, a 240-pound load and 25 gallons of fuel, the 198P reached a top speed of 58.7 mph at 5,750 RPM, planed in 2.6 seconds and hit 30 mph in 6.6 seconds. Its most economical cruise was 29 mph at 3,000 RPM while burning 4.4 gallons per hour. The boat is weight-sensitive: light, with a quarter tank and one person, owners report roughly 56 mph, dropping to 52–54 mph loaded and 47–49 mph with a heavier second angler aboard. On the 32-gallon fuel tank, the four-stroke Pro XS is frugal enough to run several outings between fill-ups, with one owner citing about 90 miles per tank.

The helm uses a fiberglass console — solid and styled like the glass boats — redesigned to accept 12-inch electronics, paired with hydraulic steering and a large wheel. Owners run setups from a Lowrance HDS or Hook unit to Garmin LiveScope with Garmin Force or Lowrance Ghost trolling motors; the 24-volt trolling option delivers 97 pounds of thrust, and the boat accepts 24- or 36-volt and lithium battery configurations. Buyers fishing the Great Lakes have through-bolted the console rather than relying on the factory lag bolts to handle big water.

Storage is a strong point. There are dual rod lockers up front — a port locker around 7 feet 6 inches and a center locker that runs up to 8 feet 6 inches with eight rod tubes, enough for 16 rods doubled up with rod sleeves and space for ample 3700-size tackle boxes. The boat carries Ranger's fiberglass cooler, known for holding ice about two days, plus a fiberglass coin locker that doubles as a step into the front deck. The center bilge hatch holds the trolling batteries, charger, battery switch and roughly a three-gallon oil reservoir, with a dedicated cradle for a spare prop — another feature pulled from the fiberglass line. The gas tank sits accessibly under the seats. Two matching rear-deck hatches with plastic inserts round out the storage.

The cockpit carries high-grade marine carpet and upholstered bucket seats, a small storage console between them for phones and gear during high-speed runs, and a passenger-side rod rack that secures four rods at speed. The front casting deck is large and stable enough for two anglers to fish shoulder to shoulder, and a fold-down seat lets the boat carry up to four people.

Points to weigh before buying: the light aluminum hull gets pushed around in 10–15 mph wind and will spray you when running into chop, more so than a heavier fiberglass boat. Owners note the painted gunnels scratch and chip from netting fish and bumping docks, and that foam cavities in the hull can take on moisture over time and add weight, which costs a little speed. The rear storage hatches are on the smaller side. Outside of those nitpicks, the RT 198P is regarded as a durable, well-rigged boat that pairs stock speed with real tournament fishability.