The
Hull and Cap - Assembly
Rigging / Component Areas
CCBM
- Another method to mold stronger, yet lighter
fiberglass parts. Ranger’s exclusive closed cavity bag
molding (CCBM) process eliminates emissions since it is performed in a
closed silicon bag (right) under a vacuum. Ranger makes their own bags
for CCBM. Pre-cut dry fiberglass reinforcement materials are fitted to
a gelcoated mold. The materials are covered with the silicon bag. Hoses
create a vacuum inside the bag and inject a measured amount of resin
that saturates the fiberglass (applying in the picture below). Built-in
vents in the mold aid in pulling resin throughout the entire part. The
part cures inside the vacuum.
CCBM
virtually eliminates
fiberglass and resin waste. Hazardous emissions from curing are
contained providing a cleaner and safer work place. You get a higher
fiberglass to resin ratio too, which is how you get lighter, but
stronger parts. Ranger uses CCBM to mold lids, trailer fenders,
consoles, deck extensions, live wells, storage boxes and coolers.
A great deal of heat is generated from this process, which is the main
reason Ranger only uses CCBM for the smaller parts other than the hull
and deck.
Ranger
caps are bonded to the hull permanently with a
2-part epoxy agent. This picture shows a Z21 deck being lowered into
its corresponding hull. Screws are used now in an improved process that
keeps them from backing out.
The only way to remove a cap from a Ranger Boat is to cut it off in
pieces. Another important part of Ranger’s one-piece unit
philosophy you can count on even in the brutal waves of the Great
Lakes. A solid bonded-together boat with all cavities filled with foam
makes for a boat that will not come apart when the chips are down
– the livewells are full of bass and the waves remind you of
The Perfect Storm.
After
the deck and floor are bonded foam is pumped
in to fill the rest of any empty space for extra strength and
soundproofing. Bubble trim is installed around box edges. This trim
completes a watertight seal on the gelcoat edges for compartments and
further dampens noise and vibration.
Carpet is then fitted to the boat and compartment lids from the same
roll to ensure a color match. Ranger uses high-grade 20-ounce carpet
that is stain-resistant and has special UV protection to reduce
sunlight effects. The carpet backing is resistant to water and chemical
damage. A water-based environmentally-friendly glue is used that is
also moisture and chemical resistant. All Ranger’s carpet is
now cut on the computerized laser cutting machine (see page 4) to the
exact shape for each boat part. All the lids are carpeted together for
each individual boat in a set that is keyed to each boat. Having the
parts pre-carpeted in sets before they get to the boat now speeds up
putting them in the boat and makes for a cleaner job.
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The
Rigging room is next where each boat is mated
with the wiring harness and components set (owner-specific bins) that
matches what each owner has ordered for his or her new fishing rig.
Plastic is taped around the cap so no scratches are put in the show
room finish while all the cables, wiring (all wiring harnesses are
custom-built for each individual boat) and components are installed as
each boat works its way through the lines.
There are two lines that usually run the Comanche and Sport series. A
line for the Fisherman series, and a line for Bay boats and Reatas.
Adjustments can be made in the lines to handle an increase in demand
for any type of boat. It takes 7 business days for each boat from the
mold until it passes the ‘tank test’ at the end of
the rigging room.
The
old hyperventilation picture that is sadly no
more. Thanks to faster computers and better inventory tracking,
improved transportation and delivery, the big outboard stacks are gone.
Now outboards come into Ranger in the models and quantity needed to
meet the orders right about the time the transoms are ready for them.
The mountains may be gone, but there are still rows of big outboards
and they keep coming in one right after the other.
Motor
mounting – near the end of the
rigging room, each new boat has the outboard motor attached ordered by
the soon-to-be owner. These technicians specialize in hanging every
brand of outboard your heart desires (including my favorite –
Yamaha!) customized however you’ve ordered them. All the
batteries are off to the side being fully charged right before they are
installed in your new boat. Also, the gas tanks are pressurized to 4
pounds to test for leaks. The technicians then make sure the motor has
power so it will turn over using the fully charged batteries when you
get it home and turn the key.
The new boat is then hoisted into a water tank for final inspection.
Please use
the link below to get to page
4 for more pictures and info on the final water tank testing
and other important parts of the final product including trailers and
more of the high tech innovative processes developed by Ranger
Boats over all its years of boat-building experience.
