Boat Advice

[Ketchup]

Sorry bud.

I used to have a 55 Yamaha on a big extra wide flat bottom with a console and it would do 36 with me in it. It was rough as a crusty mutated cob but it would flat out get on plane and move me around the lake really well.

I totally blame Jolicious (forum member) as his boat gave me the speed disease. Booking it down the lake at 70mph can be pretty fun. But my little 115 does me just fine around 47.

I ran glass boats for 15 years, the last being a Stratos with a 225 Merc.. My little motor might take me longer than the 225, but its quiet "4 stroke" and sips gas very easily. Not sure I will go back to glass, but one never knows.

[J-Doc]

Totally understand. My next boat could be a center console. Or a deep v. Never know.

[Greenheadrocker]

You might want to look at Crestliner I have their VT-17 and have been very pleased.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I just got an 2008 txw with the 4 stroke 60. Best i have gotton is 33mph out of it. I would look for a used one for half the price, mine had 50 hours on it and i got it for 8500 and it already had an hds7 with side scan and a humminbird 597 up front. I dont like the layout in the front of the new ones that bait tank takes up valubale space. Overall the boat rides well and cut big waves great for a 17ft boat

[M_Taylor]

I appreciate all the feedback. I have been doing a lot of research as well as a lot of asking questions. Seems that I need to consider the Ranger alum boats as well.

I know the mark up is high on a new one vs a few year older boat, but I guess I get caught up on the uncertainty of maintenance needed. No doubt doing some maintenance is still cheaper than a new boat, I realize that. The other hang up is just not having everything just how you want it.

And then there's the decision of what brand motor. That could start a whole new string of dilemmas in the decision process. Whew.

[J-Doc]

After motor searching myself, I don't think you can go wrong with any brand motor. They are all good these days. And the new 4 strokes have come a long way too.

[kjackson]

I've been boat shopping for well over a year now, and Jason is pretty much right on the money about motors-- the standard brands are all pretty good. What is more important than brand is service. You need to have a good service shop that can take care of things when and if they go wrong. This is especially true with new motors--you don't want to drive four hours to get a motor worked on under warranty; at least, I don't.

As for new versus slightly used: I'm on the fence here. I'd like to buy new, but I get stopped by that first-year depreciation business (similar to a car, I'm thinking). I've seen enough low-hour boats of recent vintage on offer that I feel confident I can pick one that will be in very good condition for a lot less than new. It takes patience, but saving several thousand dollars means that I can spend the difference for upgraded electronics, a different trolling motor, and so on--while still coming in under "new" price for a basic package boat.

As mentioned earlier, it's important to have a list of things you need/want in a boat and keep that in mind. It's easy to be distracted and make a choice that doesn't take into consideration what you really need. I've done that a couple of times and don't want to do it again.

[Feathers and Fins]

If I was to be looking for a new boat right now the things I would want are as follows.

1. Ability to have two people comfortably on the bow.
2. Stable platform
3. Ability to troll with the big motor for 100’s of hours
4. Low maintenance
5. Good live-well
6. V-hull design
7. Must be able to be beached
8. Must be able to go very shallow ( under 12’’)
9. Capacity to hold at minimum of 8 rods
10. Wireless trolling motor “THIS IS A ABSOLUTE MUST”
11. Lowrance HDS system
12. Main kill switches for all electronics
13. 3 batteries

In writing this list I looked back at my current boat and this is what I found

1. Ability to have two people comfortably on the bow. ( easily does this and part of the reason is the wireless trolling motor )
2. Stable platform ( 190 tracker is a wide boat and also a V-hull design making it perfect )
3. Ability to troll with the big motor for 100’s of hours ( just had mine serviced and 500 hours at idle so easily meets this requirement 90 mercury optimax )
4. Low maintenance ( I can perform all the standard maintenance myself “ plugs, filters lower unit fluid”)
5. Good live-well ( I would love to see a boat with a circular tank as I use shad a lot but the one I have is ok I just have to use a portable bait well )
6. V-hull design ( Addressed in #2 )
7. Must be able to be beached ( Aluminum beats fiberglass easily I hunt a lot and fiberglass wouldn’t handle it )
8. Must be able to go very shallow ( under 12’’) (Netting shad sometimes requires very shallow boating as does duck hunting and my boat definitely does this)
9. Capacity to hold at minimum of 8 rods (I have had 14 in my locker though it only has 8 dedicated holes )
10. Wireless trolling motor “THIS IS A ABSOLUTE MUST” ( Check )
11. Lowrance HDS system (Check)
12. Main kill switches for all electronics ( I installed these myself not hard but well worth it )
13. 3 batteries ( I have one dedicated to the Sonar gear, 1 dedicated to the trolling motor and the main is to the engine and console instruments )

So though my boat did not come with all of it I was able to DIY the stuff that needed to be done. Total price for the boat with all the goodies out the door was right at 27,000.00 roughly off my head. 5 year warranty beats a used no warranty every day and monthly payments are low.

Now I still want to replace my bunks on the trailer for roller bunks I have side rollers on it now and love them.

I am not interested in going 60mph down the lake or more I am interested in getting to where I want to go with good fuel economy and reliability. If I am going to the Dam end I will trailer to Rocky Branch or the Damsite. If im going to Rocky Branch I will trailer there or launch at Prairie Creek and run down. If im going up river I launch at Monte Ne or Hickory creek though I can launch and run up to point 12 and Sidewalk faster by launching at Monte Ne than driving to Hickory.

My run time to the dam From PC is about 30 minutes roughly and Monte Ne to Sidewalk is about 20 minutes. Unless you are tournament fishing hard you don’t need a Go Fast boat you need reliable point A to B.

Make your list of what you MUST have and a list of What you Want. Talk to the dealer about the Wants once you have found the MUST’s.

[navery]

No, mine is a deep v combo with windshield. I was just giving input on Tracker in general. Basically what you said. Don't sacrifice horsepower no matter what style of boat and wish they had more storage. Other than that, I love mine.

[M_Taylor]

Must be able to be beached ( Aluminum beats fiberglass easily I hunt a lot and fiberglass wouldnt handle it )

Fins do you have a keel saver?