Ranger Boats Z519L (2019-)

Brief Summary

The Z519L is a premium bass boat, one of the very best in class. She is larger than her predecessor and has been given the L series treatment with more features and amenities. She has a large forward casting deck and her aft angling area has plenty of room for a solo fisherman. The Z519L comes packaged with a custom tandem-axle trailer.

Key Features

• Large forward casting deck
• Ventilated rod storage
• 97.5’’ (2.48 m)-long center rod locker
• Standard tandem axle trailer

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	19' 9'' / 6.02 m
Beam	97.5'' 2.48 m
Dry Weight	1,750 lbs. 794 kg
Tested Weight	2,351 lbs. 1,066 kg
Draft	N/A
Deadrise/Transom	N/A
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	N/A
Weight Capacity	1,580 lbs. 717 kg
Person Capacity	5
Fuel Capacity	43 gal. 163 L
Water Capacity	N/A
Length on Trailer	25' 1'' 7.65 m
Trailer Weight	5,000 lbs. 2,268 kg
Total Weight	2,351 lbs. 1,066 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	5.1 sec.
0 to 30	9.3 sec.
Ratio	N/A
Props	23pitch Fury 3 blade
Load	2 persons, 3/4 fuel, no water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate	85 deg., 68 humid; wind: 5-10 mph; seas: light chop

Engine Options

Tested Engine	1 x 225-hp Mercury 225 Pro XS 4-stroke
Std. Power	Not Available
Opt. Power	Engines available up to a maximum of 225-hp

Captain's Report

Contents of Report

• Mission Statement

• Major Features

• Features Inspection

• The Bow

• The Cockpit

• Aft Fishing Deck

• Performance

• The Trailer

• Warranty

• Price

• Options to Consider

• Observations

Mission Statement

Ranger has designed the Z519L to be a tournament-quality bass boat. At 19’9” (6.02 m) long with a 97.5” (2.48 m) beam, she’s large enough to handle normal lake chop. She comes ready to hit the water with fishfinders at the bow and helm, a trolling motor, a battery charger, a jackplate and a tandem-axle trailer. With a 225-hp Mercury outboard, she runs to 70 mph.

She has been designed and built for anglers who want the very best available for serious pro fishing tournaments.

Major Features

• Large bow fishing deck

• Standard bow and helm fishfinders/chartplotters

• Battery charging system with jump switch

• Adjustable bucket seats

• Custom tandem-axle trailer

Features Inspection

The Bow

A tournament bass boat needs to have plenty of space for casting for fish and we measured the Z519L’s forward fishing deck at 4’11” (1.5 m) fore to aft and 6’7” (2.0 m) at its widest. Forward and slightly to port is the Minn Kota Fortrex 24-volt trolling motor that has 80 lbs. (36 kg) of thrust.

The foot control is in the center and just ahead are a cupholder and a three-slot tool holder. All the way forward are the Lowrance HDS-7 fishfinder and switches for motor trim, the navigation lights, and livewell operation.

Abaft the trolling motor foot pedal, we found the socket for a movable fishing seat and outboard on each side are retractable bungees for holding down rods during a run to the next fishing spot. The Z519L comes with four 4” (10.2 cm) folding cleats.

Bow Storage. There are four locking hatches in the forward fishing deck. They open on gas struts and close on thick rubber gaskets that prevent rattling. The port and center lockers have dedicated storage for rods up to 8’ (2.44 m) long and they have Ranger’s Power Ventilation system that helps keep gear dry.

To starboard, there’s a dry forward locker and a cooler aft. An upgrade for 2019, instead of carpeted bottoms, the compartments all have rubber mats in the bottom.

The Cockpit

The Seating Area. It’s a 10” (25.4 cm) step down to the hinged cooler hatch and another 9” (22.9 cm) down into the seating area. The hatch opens a second cooler that is also insulated and has a drain. To port and starboard are thickly padded bucket seats that adjust fore and aft and have angled footrests forward.

The helm console is new for 2019 and a second pod is available for the port side. Amidships freeboard is 19” (48.3 cm) and interior deck height is 32” (81.3 cm). There’s extra rod storage outboard to port.

The Helm. To starboard, the helm console has a tall clear acrylic windscreen. Our test model had the 9” Lowrance HDS fishfinder, but there’s space for up to a 15” model and Ranger offers a plethora of optional units. On each side of the steering wheel we found the optional twin Pro-Trim switches for the jack plate and engine trim. To port, the speedometer has an integrated trim gauge and there’s a fuel level indicator and depthfinder. To starboard is a multi-function SmartCraft instrument plus a water pressure gauge. The Z519L comes with keyless ignition and digital switching as well.

Aft Fishing Deck

Between the bucket seats, ascend two steps to the aft fishing deck. The hinged nonskid hatch opens to reveal dry storage. We measured this area at 3’6” (1.06 m) fore to aft and 6’11” (2.10 m) wide. There’s a socket for the movable fishing seat. Beneath the locking hatches outboard on each side are storage lockers and in the middle is a large livewell that comes with a divider and aeration and recirculation systems plus a timer.

The aft hatch provides access to the batteries including a switch that lets the trolling motor batteries be used to jumpstart the outboard motor. Aft to port is the reboarding ladder and integrated grab handles have been carried over from the 2018 model. The boat also has a remote control for the livewell plug.

Performance

The Numbers. Ranger lists the empty weight of the Z519L at 1,750 lbs. (794 kg). With two people, 30.1 gallons (114 L) of fuel and test equipment on board, our test model had an estimated weight of 2,351 lbs. (1,066 kg). The 225-hp Mercury 225 Pro XS outboard spun a 14” x 23” (35.6 cm x 58.4 cm) Fury three-blade and had a 1.75:1 gear ratio.

WOT Speed. Spooling up the motor to 6350 rpm, we hit a top speed of 70.1 mph. Best cruise came at 4000 rpm, where we recorded 37.4 mph and 8.9 gph, which translated into 4.2 mpg and a range of 163 statute miles with 10 percent of the boat’s 43-gallon (163-L) fuel capacity in reserve.

For trolling speeds, we saw 3.1 mph at 600 rpm and 5.1 mph at 1000 rpm. In acceleration tests, the boat planed in 5.1 seconds and ran to 20 mph in 6.8 seconds, 30 mph in 9.3 seconds and 40 mph in 11.3 seconds.

The Trailer

Ranger packages the Z519L with a custom-built tandem-axle trailer that has a centrally mounted tongue jack plus a swing-away tongue to make it easier to store the boat when it’s on land. The trailer has fiberglass fenders and steps, hydraulic surge disc brakes and retractable trailer tie-downs. Ranger’s Trail Cool Hub lubrication system plus aluminum wheels with a matching spare. The trailer is finished in the manufacturer’s Road Armor protective coating.

Warranty

10 Years on hull.

Price

$60,295 with Mercury 225 L FourStroke.

Options to Consider

• Choice of outboard motors up to 225-hp

• Evinrude G2 panel upgrade

• Pearl Mist color charge com 1, com 2, com 3 and top deck

• Z500 Touring package with flat or raised cover and Dual Pro charger

• Z500 Touring package with flat or raised cover and Minn Kota charger

• Transom saver

• Hamby’s 6’ keel protector

• Port console

• Ski tow

• Choice of bow and helm fishfinders

• Deluxe boat cover flat or raised

• Engine hood cover

• Choice of electronics accessories

• Hot Foot throttle

• Pro-Trim single or dual trim controls

• 17” Challenger wheels for trailer

• Trailer entry step

• Choice of remote anchors

• Choice of battery chargers

• Choice of battery upgrades

Observations

The Ranger Boats Z519L has the look and feel of a premium bass boat, especially with her newly designed plush bucket seats and “L” package treatments. She feels like a bigger boat than her 19’9” (6.02 m) length, especially when running through some lake chop. A comprehensive standard equipment list includes everything an angler needs to head straight to the lake.

Additionally, the metal flake that is so common on bass boats has been kept to a minimum on this new model and there are many color and graphic packages available.