Boat Advice

[M_Taylor]

Hey guys, wanted to post this here since this forum is always so helpful and free with advice.

I'm in the market to replace my 16' Panfish Tracker and its 4 stroke 25hp motor on it.

I fish Beaver Lake predominately and I'm looking for a more comfortable and better fishing boat. Fly fishing from my current rig is a pain due to too much clutter in the bow.

I am looking at a brand new Bass Tracker 175 TXW with a 75hp Mercury 4stroke.

The cost is around $18,500 all in. I have never been in one(walked around them numerous times at Bass Pro) but from what I can see it's a nice boat.

That price range is top of the budget.

Any other options would be appreciated. Pros or cons of what I'm looking at would be great. I have made up my mind on buying something and lastly I want it before April. Maybe cabin fever and the office is making me a bit itchy.

Final question, if you could only afford one GPS/sonar in the $600 range plus a cheapie sonar(from current boat), what would you put on the console and the bow?

Thanks so much for any help and advice offered.

[Feathers and Fins]

As a tracker owner I love mine, but I really hate that they put a bait tank in the port forward compartment, worse mistake they ever could have made. If You want the boat when talking to the salesman specifically tell him DO NOT PUT THAT IN. have it as storage not a bait tank.

Now as for Units HDS 7 on the console and HDS 5 on the bow and you would be set. Shop around and you may find them but they will not be near the 600.00 range. for both. but that's my suggestions.

[Ketchup]

Looks like a good unit. I dont own a Tracker, but have seen it at Bass Pro many times. My buddy John bought this model in June of last year, and so far he likes it. It went from a 17' Lowe to the Tracker, and said it was an upgrade. Lots of boats in that price range. Good luck with the purchase, and congrats.

[JohnF52]

That boat you have now will make someone a fine rig for fishing the river end of the lake. I have had bigger rigs and smaller ones, but the size you now have is about the size of my current Xpress and I think a great size. The 25 will get you down the lake OK on not much gas, and the boat is easy to launch in tight places. I hope you will not be sorry about trading. Just my two cents.

[J-Doc]

GPS unit is easy. Now that Lowrance just released Gen3 versions of their touch screen units, the older Gen2 units with buttons are clearing out fast.

I would look at either the HDS 7 or an Elite 7 Touch for that range. The bottom models require an LSS module for side scane but they have internal GPS and do not require an intena. The touch screens have built in GPS and do not require the LSS unit for side scan.

If I could get one good graph, I'd for sure get at least an HDS7 with LSS package (it's a combo kit) or at least an Elite 7 or Elite 9.

My Ranger RT188 was built around my sonar. I put more money in the sonar than I did anything else. Simply because I use it heavily and use the information it gives me. I added some boat options too but sonar was a must for me. I have an HDS10 and HDS7 linked together with network cable so the two can sync up waypoints and share side scan imagery. What I paid just last July for my graphs I could buy now for a serious fraction of the cost.

A 75hp Opti will get just as good if not better fuel mileage as a 4-stroke I'm told by mechanics and I know for a fact a guy has a 75 Opti and runs 40mph GPS on a 175. After some motor work he's running 45 but I don't recommend what he did. With the 75 you can get around the lake easy enough and get probably 3.8-4.5mpg with a heavy load and wide open throttle. My 115ProXS gets 3.5-4mpg loaded and full throttle. If I drop it down a bit I can sip fuel at 5-6mpg.

During break in, I had a full tank. Drove out to Cliffty from Prairie Creek, back to PC, down to the 412 bridge and back to PC to get the initial break in hours. All on 19gal of fuel (21gal tank). To say it's got great fuel range on a 19ft boat with a 115 is an understatement. I cannot believe the economy of my motor co.pared to my very old Evinrude. It was getting 2.3-2.5mpg which for its day, was normal.

I don't think you will be disappointed with a 17-18ft boat with a 75hp outboard of any brand these days. They are all great motors and have good performance in that range.

Looking back, if I could go 4-stroke over my ProXS, I think I would. The technology has really come a long way in recent years and they are here to stay.

As for boat brands, shop around d all brands and pick out a boat that fits your needs the best. Find what you don't like and what you do like and compare. Whichever has the most of what you want and what you think you will be happiest in is the clear winner. Point is, do your homework and you'll feel more informed and confident in your purchase.

I love my new rig. Don't regret getting it. Dry ride, super stable, large fishing platform, great storage, and good quality build. Some brands I looked at, not as good on storage or quality in my opinion. Some, equal, some not.

But a boat that suits your needs and appeals to you. Not what everyone recommends. :-)

[M_Taylor]

Thanks so much everyone. Appreciate the insight. Anyone else is welcome to chime in still. So far it sounds like I'm at least on the right path.

I have been very happy with the panfish tracker, and may be looking for help on a new owner from you all. I'm not one to blame my boat on not catching fish, but I do know a bigger fishing platform and a recessed foot pedal would make fishing more comfortable. Not to mention getting around the lake a little quicker would be nice.

[Ketchup]

Look at your current boat. Think of the things you like and dislike about it. Look at the boat your planning on buying, and see if the new boat has all of the things you like with your current boat, and none of those you dislike.

[J-Doc]

Yep. What he said.

[Blll]

My fishing buddy bought a new 175 off the floor at the 2012 Spring Classic. Great ride, easy to fish from. His two regrets were not upgrading the sonar AND the trolling motor. His came with a 12 volt, 55# thrust and was not enough for windy days. I don't know whats available now but he upgraded to a 24 volt power drive with the i-pilot. Holds position fine in 10 mph blow.

[Ketchup]

Thats my next boat investment. Upgrade the TM. In calm to light wind, im like a scalded dog, but after the wind picks up, i duck and hide.