1972 Ranger Bass Boat

L.Cole

Cadet
Joined
Aug 14, 2010
Messages
24
I bought this beauty about 6 months ago for $500. (Boat/motor/trailer). It had been sitting underneath a tree for the last 10 years. I took a huge gamble but the old girl turned out to be a solid boat and cleaned up pretty good. It’s still a work in progress but I’ve included a few pics of the restoration process.

LS70301790-C6DB-49A9-9D8E-1989AF4F126B.jpegC9C54C89-D072-4597-9A0E-4911C2F65E58.jpegAAA8951B-AA3E-4A8A-84AA-11DFDECEAC48.jpeg92B8A295-3DF1-4DCD-A570-BBF0A04B28A2.jpeg714B89CD-486A-4549-A3F7-FA206AFABD36.jpeg090F8EA4-5D00-49D7-A83A-1ABD7A075D72.jpeg5DA00440-3EC6-456A-94AC-85E266E018B9.jpeg99612BEC-4302-47AD-8F84-B06A126ED7A8.jpeg
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,604
If those pictures are before and after, it looks like it cleaned up very nice. How about any wood in the hull? Any of it rotted?
 

L.Cole

Cadet
Joined
Aug 14, 2010
Messages
24
Thanks for your reply. Sorry so late to respond. Yep, before and after. its still a work in process. Actually, surprisingly, the hull and transom were solid and in good shape! I put that Yamaha motor on there and made it a valuable boat...
 

dwco5051

Commander
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
2,411
Looks great. I wanted one of those so bad back in the early 70's when I was even poorer than I am now. Forrest Wood was the father of bass boats and you don't see many of his original hull designs. Nice Job.
 

Lectro88

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
303
Agree nice before and after.
Everything cleaned up real well.
Hard to believe you didn’t wood damage.
Everything I see in that starting condition is always shot structurally.
Or maybe just my luck.
Nice find
 

L.Cole

Cadet
Joined
Aug 14, 2010
Messages
24
Looks great. I wanted one of those so bad back in the early 70's when I was even poorer than I am now. Forrest Wood was the father of bass boats and you don't see many of his original hull designs. Nice Job.
 

L.Cole

Cadet
Joined
Aug 14, 2010
Messages
24
Thanks! I believe 1972 was the 1st year of the Bass Master Classic and Ranger Boats furnished all the fishermen in the tournament a new Ranger boat…
 

L.Cole

Cadet
Joined
Aug 14, 2010
Messages
24
Agree nice before and after.
Everything cleaned up real well.
Hard to believe you didn’t wood damage.
Everything I see in that starting condition is always shot structurally.
Or maybe just my luck.
Nice find
 
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