I don't have a 520, I have a 97 482 and love the ride. But my buddy has a 2004 520 and he doesn't like how it handles the really rough water (chop/swells 2.5ft and up) very well. He told me there has been other 520's owners that feel the same way, that the 520 hull design was not Rangers best.

Now from what he and I have both heard, the Z used the 520 hull design. But maybe they tweaked it a little to handle the rough water better. And like I also told him, going up a foot in length alone will smooth out the ride.

He fished the Northern Everstart Trail last year and got beat up pretty bad on Erie (along with alot of other folks) and another body of water. So he is just hoping he can smooth out the ride just a little more.

With all the incentives to Ranger owners with the Everstart and FLW trails (which he qualified to fish this year) he'd be crazy not to stick with Ranger.