TNewman, Your old boat, this Ranger 680T made an appearance on Larry Smith Outdoors last weekend… About 2 mintes in, at the boat ramp. Couldnt miss it…

Thinking of making the same trip next week.
I’ve been watching the Oconto Harbor Cam, http://cityofoconto.com/Harbor_Cam.html
But read on another site report that theres still 50 yards of ice blocking harbor.I’ll be following this post.

Wow, How far down from last year is it? 3ft? Heading up this weekend for the annual fishing trip, wondering what the dock situation is going to look like.

I too am undecided. Coming from Lowrance LCX units with Navionics chips. Looking for Lakechip for HDS8 unit.

Thanks John,
Kinda what I expected, Sounds like I could power it from the LCX113HD I’m keeping on the bow, but would have to have it “on” the whole time I’d be out just to power the NMEA. Bummer.
Well, I’ll be running wires and such putting the structure scan and NMEA network in, so one more wire setup wont be too bad. Now, I need to see if I have a unused switch on my panel! Thanks again.

I recently got a Lowrance N2K NMEA Starter kit to Network my new units. I previously used my LCX113HD on the console, but purchased 2 HDS8 units, one combo with Structure Scan. I am moving the 113HD up to the bow, and putting both HDS8 units on the console. Reading the NMEA network diagram, it shows that a separate power cord is needed to power the Network. There LCX 113HD power cord has power in it previously used to power the GPS module. Can I use that LCX power cord on one of the HDS8’s to power the network? It would eliminate the need for another T connection I would have to purchase. I believe the LCX power cord hooked up to an LCX would do this, but I don’t know if the HDS8 hooked up to the same cord would send power to the Network.

The 89 680T had a 89 Evinrude 60hp. I didn’t run it much as I started swapping out for an Etec. I believe it had a 15 pitch prop on it. I tried a 17, and like Bob’s experience, it was a pooch out of the hole.

Hey Tab, Glad you love the boat! I put a 60hp Etec on my 89, and posted it on here. Loved the Etec, ran great, run about 32mph or so loaded. Is the bigfoot fuel injected? I liked that I could just hit the key and its purring.

SOLD

Yes, It is still available.

Sorry about that, didn’t realize I forgot to list the price.
I’m asking $2,700 for it.

Thanks everyone. So far, its been a great boat.

I’d still like to tried a Trophy 21P just o see the difference.

I’ll check out the fb page. Thanks for the info.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Turns out, the Trophy prop being smaller diameter than the hub it required a “Prop seal ring” on the prop which it did not have. I have since bought one, and installed it. MUCH better holeshot, running on plane, and overall performance.

Yep, Motor trimmed all the way down.

Thanks for all the replies!

So far, I’m liking the boat except for how it performs during take off.

I just got back from a 5 day trip on Rainy Lake, and I fished with only 1 other guy and his gear, and taking off the boat would sky the bow, and just plow not getting on plane at time until my buddy got up and moved toward the bow to sit it down. Once on plane it was fine. A bit of porpusing taht I’m working on, but the holeshot is terrible.

Currently running a 4 blade Trophy 19pitch. What have others run?

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I hope to hit the water friday after I change the impeller, spark plugs, and service the lower unit. Terrova got bolted on tonight, still need to finish the connections, but it’s taking shape! The kicker is mounted on a Minnkota Power Up which looks very similar to a Panther Lift.

I bought it from a guy named Gary.
Super pumped to fish out of it, just picked up a 80lb Terrova yesterday for it.

Well said.

Maiden Voyage!!!

The Ranger was splashed in on Sunday after lunch. With a twist of the key, the Etec was purrring to a nice idle, warming up while I parked the truck. It ran great! The 680 was smooth and stable, I’m impressed with this old classic hull.

The boat ran 30mph upstream and 34mph downstream, it was running 6k rpm no problem, and I did happen to test the rev limiter a few times playing with the trim.

Does 32mph seem in the ballpark for a setup like this? The motor has a Doel-fin Hydrofoil on it, and I have a few other props to play with, seems like the motor height is pretty good?

so I’ll post more, when I know more.

We did manage to get some fishing in too!
Got about a 1/2 hour of fishing in, just south of Prescott, before the cold wind started wearing us down. We’ll give it another shot soon. Thanks,

Well, technically I hit my target date? It was ready to hit the water. But I didn’t end up splashing it in on the opener. With how windy and cold it was, my son wasn’t too excited about the idea, and well, neither was I! So with the option of freeze my butt off on the river, or turn up the heat in the shop and install the Keel Guard that I ordered… I went with intalling the keelguard!

I cranked the heat up to 75 degrees in the shop to get the boat hull temp up to an ideal temperature for installation. I searched youtube, and viewed a number of the instalation videos. All stated that it was VERY important was to make sure the temp was over 70 degrees or the adhesive may not hold up. I gave it a few hours to get to the hull to temp, then started the installation.

I took my time in each step, holding in place and marking outline, masking it off, scuffing, cleaning, and finally after about an hour, I was ready to install the keelguard.

I went with light grey colored model to try to match the hull color.

Thanks for kind comments, I’m pretty excited with how it’s turning out.

SO, the MN opener was my target date for the maiden voyage of the Ranger. On Friday, I finished carpeting the side guides, and repainting the brackets, (which I realized I dont have a picture of). I also added a peice of “Sure Step” on the boat side of the splashwell where the tiller handle would possibly contact it. Looks good, and seems plenty thick enough rubber to hold up. With that complete, It was ready to splash in opener morning…

The Etec is mounted up and ready to go!

I finished up a few nights ago. Installed a new fuel line/squeeze bulb as well as the Tach and warning light guage. I also “fished” some wires up to the bow, and installed a trim/tilt switch up there as it didn’t have one originally. Turned out great! I do have a few other steps to do before I splash it in on Pool 3. I need to finish the trailer guide bunks (they are shown in first pricture) they looked kinda ratty, so I recarpetted them last night. I also picked up a keel guard, ande hope to install this week, just in time for the opener!!!

I used 2 differnent products of 3M Marine restorer. The blue flake gunnel and inside, I used a 2 step process, first 3M™ Marine Color/Gloss Restorer, then follow up with 3M Marine wax. On the sides of the hull, I used a 3M marine restorer/wax in a single step product. Both worked very well. I really liked the performance of the 1 step product.

X2!

Nice! Looks solid now! Well done!

Thanks everyone!

I was amazed at how well the fiberglass shined up, kinda hard to tell in the pictures, but it was night a day difference! It has been a learning expirence with the fiberglass, past boats have all been Aluminum, so mounting rod holders etc has been a bit nerveracking! Got a few other plans as well, install a keelguard and eventually a 24V bow trolling motor.

Post more as I go.

Mounted up! Still need to make the final connections, run the wires and fuel line, and mount some gauges. This is where I’m at, post more as I go.

Here’s the new power getting bolted up.

The newer Evinrude 60hp Etec tiller handle is several inches longer than the 89 Evinrude. So I installed fixed set back plates to set is back about 5 inches.

I found a 2007 Evinrude 60hp Etec to update the powerplant on the Ranger. So off comes the original Evinrude.