RANGER 211 Reata

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2009 DEALS
OF THE CENTURY
s No
compromises needed: The 211 Reata has what serious anglers want, and it pleases the sun-and-fun crowd just as well.
RANGER 211 Reata
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There were about eight boats at our test
KEY NOTE: Evinrude’s E-TEC
dock on Kimberling City’s Table Rock Lake,
225 HO is ideal for this Ranger,
but I made a reservation for only one of
giving a blend of quiet runability
them — the Ranger 211 Reata. Knowand powerful acceleration.
ing a Ranger was coming and me being a
dedicated bass angler, this was the boat I
boats have a tow-pylon option, but Ranger ofwanted to test drive.
fered the sporty wakeboard tower or a pylon
Yet there was a wakeboard arch, a sleek
serious anglers might prefer to clear the air
windshield and a trolling motor on the bow.
for casting.
In just minutes, I was certain this boat would
Acceleration rocked us back in our seats.
fish as well as haul wakeboard and tube
A four-blade prop boosted a quick hole shot
riders. In fact, we juggled the idea of putting
and midrange torque. The
it in our February fishing-boat
strength of Ranger’s patented
guide. It would be at home
TEST DRIVE
and “pultruded” transom that
there or here.
n TEST ENGINE: EVINRUDE
is molded under tension was
The adjustable helm bucket
E-TEC 225 HO
evident as the boat smacked
seat gives an ideal driving posin TEST PROP: 19-INCH
CYCLONE 4-BLADE
down large wakes. Closed-cell
tion, and the throttle lever falls
n TEST LOAD: PEOPLE (400
foam fills the voids in the hull,
nicely into hand without reachLB.); FUEL (35 GAL.)
adding strength and safety,
ing, as did the tilt wheel. The
n MINIMUM PLANING SPEED:
21 MPH @ 2,500 RPM
and dampening sound.
Evinrude E-TEC idled quietly
n TOP SPEED: 51.4 MPH @
Some might call this twoand allowed conversation at
5,000 RPM
n TIME TO PLANE: 3.2 SEC.
faced sport boat schizophrenic.
comfortable levels.
n TIME TO 30 MPH: 8.5 SEC.
We call it ambidextrous. — R.V.
Most low-slung fish-and-ski
V I TA L S TAT S
n LENGTH OVERALL: 21’4” n BEAM: 7’9” n DRY WEIGHT: 2,215 LB., PLUS MOTOR n SEATING/WEIGHT CAPACITY: 7/1,090 LB.
n FUEL CAPACITY: 43 GAL. n MAXIMUM HP: 225 n MSRP (TEST BOAT W/ EVINRUDE E-TEC 225 HO): $50,279
Reprinted
from Boating
Life Boat
Buyers 2009
boatinglife.com
January
2009
58
BTL0109_RangerReata211-CE.indd 58
Watch our video review at
boatinglife.com/vtd09
s ta n d o u t
f e at u r e s
• Minn Kota Power
Maxxum 70 24volt trolling motor
makes the Reata
buddy-tournament
ready right out of
the showroom.
• Choice of Lowrance
X-135 or Humminbird 767 chartplotter/depth finders
put anglers on fish.
• Retractable tow
pylon is standard
for those who don’t
opt for the tower.
• A built-in on-board
charger means no
lugging chargers
around.
PHOTO: DOUG DUKANE
WHAT WE THINK:
boatinglife.com
11/19/08 3:48:10 PM