Tracker Pro Guide 175 W/115 Merc

[captain4ever]

I am interested in a Pro-guide v175 with a 115 Merc, Can anyone tell me how it performs loaded with fishing gear, live well's full and with a couple of persons on board? I am wondering if the 115 is enough for that size of a boat. I frequently visit Table Rock, Truman and Lake of the Ozarks chasing after paddlefish, stripers, crappie and bass

Tom

[Feathers and Fins]

Cant speak for that specific boat, but I have a 2011 TRACKER Pro Team 190 TX with a 90hp dfi and it handles big water in rough conditions just fine with two guys loaded with fishing and hunting gear at the same time. The one your talking about I looked at but went with the larger boat to handle the amount of gear I use for hunting.

[Dutch]

That is the motor which should be on that size boat. Most of the time Tracker under powers. The biggest problem is the trailer. I have fished in that boat and seen others on the ramp. It is a bear to load.

[Feathers and Fins]

Most people from my experiance have no clue how to load a boat to begin with. I see way to many people put the trailer way to far in the water and then struggle getting the boat centered or have to back down and up numberous times to do it. Most trailers if designed for the boat simply need to be far enough in the water for the guide boards to be just in the water and then drive the boat up on it and they will center the boat lock the front down and drive on up the ramp and lock the back down.

[captain4ever]

I currently have a older Pro Guide v16 with a 60, and it is way under powered, with 3 people and gear it will barely just get up on a plane. I am sure the 115 will be a huge improvement. I need to keep the size around 16-18 but cant afford to break the bank. I agree it can be a pain to load depending on the ramp design. most of the time I will stop when the guide board's are about 2 ft in the water.

[just fishin]

I have purchased several boats and motorcycles throughout my life and my experience has taught me to buy as much motor as the product is rated for. This is just my philosophy so take it with a grain of salt. I noticed the new 2012 pro guide 175 is rated for a 135 hp motor, if me I would skrimp on whatever else I had to but it would have the 135 hp motor. Every time I have purchased less, after a while I kick myself because I am always thinking if it just went a little faster it would be perfect.

[rps]

Check out an alternative - an Alumacraft Navigator 165 Sport or SC with your choice of 90 HP motor will cost very nearly the same as the Tracker you are investigating. It will be better built, dryer, and more stable. It will also hold its resale value. I have a 2010 model with tiller steer and the max 75HP allowed on the tiller steer. With a stock prop and a fully loaded boat with two people it runs about 32 mph at top end and holds plane at little more than half throttle.

[captain4ever]

Good news. I picked up the boat a couple of weeks ago and all is well.With the 115 Merc, It will get up and get out of the hole with three of my fishing buddy's and gear and keep a decent pace going to my favorite fishing spots. My wife and I broke it in real good last weekend as my wife hooked her first Spoony tipping the scale at 72 pounds. after pulling the fish in and out of the boat a few times we had blood everywhere! ended up the trip on sunday with 7 crappie and beat tired, have to rest up to go at it again next weekend.