Captain's Report

Captain’s Report

Ranger doesn’t do anything half-baked. While everyone else is creating their own version of the “SUV” (i.e. “hybrid,” “cross-over”, “Fish & Ski”) on the water, Ranger has developed its own Sport Utility Vessel. Just a quick look tells you it has its roots in the fishing market, yet the boat has space and function which invites the family aboard whether they’re fishing, want to enjoy some watersports or just want to cruise. This new model can operate on lakes, rivers and bays due to its flexible design. The SS stands for Sport Series.

From the Bow

The bow of the 2250 SS has taken good advantage of the deck boat design and it’s quite wide. Like all Rangers, it’s stable from side to side and doesn’t feel tippy as you move about. The deck is covered with rubber texture pads rather than a carpet. This will make it easy to clean, soft on the feet and forgiving when someone drops things. There are two storage boxes and a concealed optional boarding ladder in the bow section. On the port side is a quick-release Minn Kota 24V trolling motor with wired foot control. There are two pedestal bases for mounting chairs for fishing to either side. Stepping over into the bow seating area, the step conceals an aerated 12 gallon (45.4 L) livewell for the folks fishing off the bow. If there is one thing this boat does not lack, it’s storage. The two large benches in the bow and aft corner seats are all storage. The large benches can store rods up to 7'6” (2.3 m) in length or regular skis. There is a sole storage locker that stows gear or the optional portable toilet.

Center Console

The center console design looks like Ranger hacked off the nose and part of the windshield of a fighter jet and mounted it on a square box in the center. The base is smaller than the console and there is room all the way around it. Having the smaller mount means you have even more foot room and can get around the cockpit from stern to bow quickly and easily. A couple of long narrow storage boxes are in the bulwarks to either side of the console for small gear. The front of the console is a cooler with lid and two of the six drink holders on board. The windshield provides basic coverage, although it got rather chilly when I tested on a cold day in the Ozarks.

Helm

The dash has Sea Star Hydraulic steering and the gauges and switches are in good position. The speedometer is covered by the wheel in the lower range, but I didn’t notice it when I was driving. The speakers are also mounted in the lower mounting box of the console but they seemed to spread the sounds out well to both the bow and the stern. Normally we don’t care about drink holders, but in this case, the lack of them deserves mention. We’d also like to see the engine control mounted on the horizontal. Moving your hand forward to accelerate is more natural than moving it up. This is a design flaw we are seeing more of on boats these days rather than less. We suspect it is because of the throw of the throttle, so a good fix is going to take some serious design work.

Aft Conversation Center

The helm seat is another unique feature. I have seen simple flip-up seat backs on fishing rigs, especially bay boats, but this one was different. While most have a simple straight cushion and rather small diameter tubes for the pivot. This one wraps around to each side and has a very heavy duty mechanism supporting it. Flipped forward, it becomes a companion bench so everyone can sit together in the aft seats and enjoy a story, sandwich or just good times together.The aft bench wraps around to each side with storage boxes in the ends and battery and oil reservoir access boxes next to them. In the center is another matching livewell for the people fishing from the back of the boat. In the sole is another storage compartment with a removable liner box to give you access to the through hulls and strainers in the bilges - a very convenient feature.

Aft Fishing Deck

The aft deck has gear storage boxes and another two fishing chair pedestal bases. In the center is a receiver for the heavy-duty ski tow bar that locks into place for fun, and stores out of sight when not needed. On the stern are a concealed three-step boarding ladder to port and a covered wet locker to starboard.

Trailer Package

This model comes with a custom matched tandem axle trailer. The wheels are aluminum with a matching aluminum spare. The axles have hydraulic surge brakes and Ranger Trail COOL hubs. The jack is a center mount swing jack and the lights are all LED and submersible. The frame is protected by Ranger’s Road Armor protective coating. The tongue is a swing away design, which takes the package length from 27’ (8.23 m) down to 25’ (7.62 m) with the engine trimmed down.

Test Results

When I drove this boat, I felt like it was on greased rails. Turns were smooth with little change in deck angle which means the person on the end of the ski rope will have a grand time. While I didn’t have heavy chop, I didn’t feel or hear any hull slapping noises from the water. The 2250 SS was out of the hole quickly for her size in 3.7 seconds, and reached 30 mph in an effortless 6.2 seconds, with two guys on board and 5/8ths of a tank of fuel. She reached a maximum of 53.4 mph at 5700 rpm and a best cruise of 29.9 mph at 3500 rpm for a cruising range of 235 miles.

Power Options and Pricing

Several power options are available for the 2250 SS, all ranging from 200-hp to 250-hp and supplied by either Yamaha, Mercury, or Evinrude. The lower end of the spectrum has the inexpensive Yamaha Z200 TXR HPDI mated to the stern for an MSRP of $47,950. The upper end of the scale will power the 2250 SS with a Mercury V250XL Verado for $55,665. But bear in mind that the “S” in “MSRP” stands for suggested. You will no doubt find that street prices will make these MSRP’s look creative indeed so don’t be afraid to wheel and deal, especially if you don’t have a trade.

Conclusion

I tested hull number one in this new line. I found she definitely has the room and amenities for a family to cruise, enjoy skiing or fishing and can do it all in the same day with ease. The center console design is definitely different, but actually makes a lot of sense for mobility aboard and I liked the soft cushioning of the deck treatment. If you are looking for a true multi-purpose boat with the speed, comfort and fishability of a Ranger, then you owe it to yourself to check out the 2250 SS. There are many deckboats on the market and some are just warmed-over sportboats and others are just modified fishing rigs. Despite its bass boat roots, I think that Ranger has done a good job on melding several concepts and functions into its new 2250 SS.

Standard and Optional Features