I hopeful that within the next two years I will be the proud owner of a boat, however I am just starting preliminary research.  Does anyone know what the best boat warranties typically are?  Ranger seems a bit short ranging from 5-1 years depending on item of defect, is this a typical warranty?  I am looking at Aluminum boats, especially since this will be my first boat ever, I feel as if I will be better protected from accidental damage.

Accidental damage would be an insurance claim not boat warranty. Most of the major boat companies have a lifetime warranty on hulls.

Lund has a 3 year bow to stern, limited lifetime hull, lifetime rivets, and lifetime floor. There are a number companies offering 5 year hull warranties on tin boats and a few others offering lifetime. As far a Mercury motors, comes with a 3 year warranty. On occasion they offer a free additional 2 years that covers mechanical(no electrical), and you can buy extended warranties which cost less the sooner you buy them. I don't know about other motor manufacturers, but I'd imagine they are similar. As far as glass boats, I think most are limited lifetime. Some hull warranties are transferable and some are not. 

The length of the warranty does not indicate the quality of a product. Warranties are set up by the marketing department to help sell more stuff.  Longer warranties cost the company more money that they either make up by including it in the cost or by increasing sales. I've had the same Ranger boat for 25 years and never needed service on the boat in or out of warranty. 

Thanks for the information, I wasn't referring my warranty question to accidental damage just pointing out the reason why I am leaning towards aluminum.  I am glad motors where brought up as I am about as clueless with motors as I am boats.  I hear good things about mercury, who in this field is the Honda/Toyota and the Chevy/Fords?  As for boats my price range just about keeps me out of fiberglass anyway but I do have my eye on a nitro z6, I also like Tracker boats which I just learned they are the same company.  Ranger is making Aluminium boats and when I was a kid I always wanted a Ranger boat but as I understand it this is the first time Ranger is bringing an Aluminum boat to market with the "Ranger" name so I never like to be a beta tester.  I also have looked at Lund and thanks for the awesome perspective on your boat "slonezp", I am just not sure about them, they sit very high in the water and I am a tall guy 6'8" so I am afraid they will kill my back trying to lip a fish, plus how hard are they to get back in after the off chance I fall off, do they come standard with a boat ladder?

Thanks for the information, I wasn't referring my warranty question to accidental damage just pointing out the reason why I am leaning towards aluminum.  I am glad motors where brought up as I am about as clueless with motors as I am boats.  I hear good things about mercury, who in this field is the Honda/Toyota and the Chevy/Fords?  As for boats my price range just about keeps me out of fiberglass anyway but I do have my eye on a nitro z6, I also like Tracker boats which I just learned they are the same company.  Ranger is making Aluminium boats and when I was a kid I always wanted a Ranger boat but as I understand it this is the first time Ranger is bringing an Aluminum boat to market with the "Ranger" name so I never like to be a beta tester.  I also have looked at Lund and thanks for the awesome perspective on your boat "slonezp", I am just not sure about them, they sit very high in the water and I am a tall guy 6'8" so I am afraid they will kill my back trying to lip a fish, plus how hard are they to get back in after the off chance I fall off, do they come standard with a boat ladder?

The boarding ladder is a factory option. Mine was a showroom model without a ladder. I installed an aftermarket ladder on a few weeks ago. Sent you a PM 

Yeah, that is one option I had on my old boat and put on my new boat. Got to have a boarding ladder even if I had a bass boat. How are you going to get in or get someone else in if they fall overboard. People think that you can just hop up on the gunwales. Easier said than done. Maybe if your 17 years old, but I'm not 17. We tried to get a 250 lb guy back into his boat when he took a dip, and believe me it was not an easy task. We had three guys trying to get him in.

 

PS: I'm not a tall guy, but when you're in the water it doesn't matter on height, you have to pull yourself up and out. You will be wet, gunwales are wet, and if you have a partner, he is trying to grab and help a wet body. Trust me buy a boarding ladder. If you never use it you are money and safety ahead.

Yeah, that is one option I had on my old boat and put on my new boat. Got to have a boarding ladder even if I had a bass boat. How are you going to get in or get someone else in if they fall overboard. People think that you can just hop up on the gunwales. Easier said than done. Maybe if your 17 years old, but I'm not 17. We tried to get a 250 lb guy back into his boat when he took a dip, and believe me it was not an east task. We had three guys trying to get him in.

 

PS: I'm not a tall guy, but when you're in the water it doesn't matter on height, you have to pull yourself up and out. You will be wet, gunwales are wet, and if you have a partner, he is trying to grab and help a wet body. Trust me buy a boarding ladder. If you never use it you are money and safety ahead.

 

If you need to get in the boat from the water, the stern is the place to do it.  You can use the cavitation plate on the motor as a step.  If your foot tends to slip off the back of the plate, tip the motor up a bit so your foot will not slide along it as easily. 

 

Use the steering cables or the mount for the cables, hoses if you have hydraulic steering, as a grab bar.  Get your foot on the cavitation plate, and work your way onto the back deck.  I had to do that two years ago, and it worked like a charm.  By the way, reverse the numbers in 17 years old, and you have my age.

 

I went to get my truck, and my buddy decided to take his gear to his car.  When he jumped from the bow to the beach, it pushed the boat away from the beach.  By the time I got down to my skivvies the boat was about a hundred feet from the shore.  It was mid September, and the water temp was still close to 70.

 

The main thing when getting into the boat is to do it slowly, with as good a grip and footing as possible.

Here's some pics of my ladder install. I made the platform from a high grade 3/4 plywood, 6 coats of spar urethane,  and stainless fasteners. Sealed everything up with 3M 5200 and attached outdoor carpet with stainless staples and outdoor carpet glue. I went with this style rather than an emergency ladder which normally attaches to the motor or jackplate because, to me, it looked easier for me to board with my bum shoulder. 

slonezp,

      Nice job on that. You have the same ladder I had on my old boat. My current boat has a few less steps than my old one and its a b***h to get on, but I tried it out in summer to see how difficult it would be. Well I can get on the ladder and in the boat so I'm sure I can get someone else in as well. It's more of an emergency thing for me.

If you need to get in the boat from the water, the stern is the place to do it.  You can use the cavitation plate on the motor as a step.  If your foot tends to slip off the back of the plate, tip the motor up a bit so your foot will not slide along it as easily. 

 

Use the steering cables or the mount for the cables, hoses if you have hydraulic steering, as a grab bar.  Get your foot on the cavitation plate, and work your way onto the back deck.  I had to do that two years ago, and it worked like a charm.  By the way, reverse the numbers in 17 years old, and you have my age.

 

I went to get my truck, and my buddy decided to take his gear to his car.  When he jumped from the bow to the beach, it pushed the boat away from the beach.  By the time I got down to my skivvies the boat was about a hundred feet from the shore.  It was mid September, and the water temp was still close to 70.

 

The main thing when getting into the boat is to do it slowly, with as good a grip and footing as possible.

 

Definitely some good tips. Didn't think about tilting the motor up and standing on the cavitation plate.

I have tin boats because I like them.   I own a SeaArk (fantastic warranty) and absolutely love it.  I've also got a Grumman that I'll be selling at some point.  I love it too.  It's just small.

 

Ranger is making Aluminium boats and when I was a kid I always wanted a Ranger boat but as I understand it this is the first time Ranger is bringing an Aluminum boat to market with the "Ranger" name so I never like to be a beta tester.

 

Ranger sold tinnies in th 90s.  They were well made boats.