tracker boats?

[diggerdave]

would like some input on tracker boats!

interested in buying a boat and would like opinions on tracker, suntracker boats. info, wife, three kids. live in southwest kansas so not alot of lakes, just trying to get the family into it! appreciate all opinions and suggestions!!! have read all discussions and was wanting more info!!

diggerdave

[MOFish]

Digger Dave,

People's opinions about Trackers run hot and cold. Some hate them, others like them.

I own one and my father-in-law owns one. Mine is a 2001 Tracker Tournament V18, dual console with a Mercury 150XR6. Dad's is a 2003 ProTeam 185 with a 90 h.p. Mercury. A friend of ours just bought the new Tournament V18 All Fish, which is great for kids. I like them as a first boat because it didn't cost me $30,000 to learn about boating mistakes the hard way. I take care of it, but I've bumped stumps and docks, loaded it wrong once,... and I don't kick myself for scratching up a sparkly fiberglass rig that cost me an arm and a leg. Now that I'm comfortable driving and maintaining a boat, I could move up to something more expensive with a greater level of confidence.

If this is your first boat, there are a LOT of things YOU can do that will make the difference between a good boat experience and a bad one. The first is to research reputable dealers, because they will make or break the quality of service you get after the sale. Here in St. Louis, The Fishin' Hole is a GREAT place to buy a Tracker boat because they treat their customers right. Try to find a dealership that has a good customer service reputation.

A good place to learn more online is www.trackerowners.com The guys there are great (I go by MOFish there as well).

My boat is an 18 foot deep v below the waterline, but all bass boat above the waterline. Even with the weight of a 150, it will handle Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock on all but the busiest days, down to shallow lakes like Taneycomo (up to Lookout if no water is running).

What else do you want to know?

(Loading at Cooper Creek)

(Santa at Lake of the Ozarks)

[Dutch]

Tracker boats are not so bad in and of themselves. They are set up for the firstime fisherman in general. That means cheapest electronics, smallest power trolling motor and an outboard about 1/2 of what is recommended.

If you price a Tracker, price it with the upgrades and go look at other alums. in the same category and you will find little price difference.

You mentioned Sun Tracker, Voyager in Lebanon, Mo make a comparable boat which generally sells for less.

[MOFish]

Dutch is right. If you buy the published "Package price", you'll regret it.

Here's what I did: I built my ideal boat without considering brands using the following criteria:

• Length of the boat (I needed at least 18 feet)
  
• Length of the package (motor, boat and trailer including the tongue)
  
• Beam (width of the boat)
  
• Package width from outside wheel fender to outside wheel fender (to see if it would fit in my garage)
  
• Horsepower (I wanted to max out the power, and 150 was it)
  
• 12V, 24V or 36V trolling motor (I made my biggest mistake here; should've gone 24V)
  
• Dual or single console (Wanted dual because of my wife)
  
• Fiberglass or aluminum (and why?) (Aluminum because I fish lakes with very rocky shorelines, and aluminum dents rather than cracks)
  
• If aluminum, rivited or welded hull? (Welded, because rivets pop loose)
  
• Bass boat, walleye boat or other deck layout?
  
• Type of hull (Mod-V; V-hull or flat-bottom) (Wanted V-hull because of large lake waves and wakes)
  
• Number and location of livewells
  
• Electronics Suite (two depthfinders and a GPS)
  
• Trailer Brakes or not? (No, boat wasn't heavy enough to justify the cost)
  
• Fuel capacity (Wanted 35 gallons minimum, got 40)
  
• Number and location of storage lockers (enough to store rods for 2 people)
  
• Number of possible fishing stations (pedestal mounts) (Wanted 3)
  
• Spare tire and mount
  
• Radio/CD player or not? (No, but I can tell you that fish like country music)
  

Also, what size and kind of lakes and rivers will you most likely fish on?

Using these criteria, I narrowed my choices down to three brands: Crestliner, Fisher and Tracker. The cost difference was neglible after I priced out the boats using the same motors and options. I ended up picking the Tracker because it had platforms for three pedestal seats and a deck arrangment I liked. I also fit into some of the dock wells we use, whereas the Crestliner (arguably a better boat) was TOO WIDE! Imagine dropping $20 or $30 grand on a boat and finding out later that you can't fit it into the dock well of your most frequented fishing resort!

I'll put my boat up against anyone's for the fit and finish. But maybe I just got lucky.

[bubbaray]

I bought a Fishin Barge 21 last June at BPS in Springfield. I built my own package and am very satisfied with my choices and the quality of the boat, BUT make sure everything you order is there when you take delivery. When I picked mine up the seats were there but no pedistals. They said I would have them "next week" well 5 weeks later I finally got them, and the cover that was back ordered and would be in in two weeks I got 2 months later. Their customer service in my opinion is non existant. I got the feeling that once they had my money their job was done. Boat quality and performance are no problem. I wish I had bought from a smaller dealer. I think the customer gets lost with BPS.

[skeeter]

The Fishin' Hole in St. Louis ? You mean the "Rip you off on the warranty Hole " ? Both my current Boss and my Brother-in-law were soundly screwed on warranty issues by this place. Both had fibreglass bass boats and both developed gel coat issues less than a year after purchase. No support from dealer on either boat, one high dollar and the other entry level. It would take judge and jury to decide which guy got hosed the worst. If John Arado is still the owner, avoid at all costs !!! Bad, bad reputation with those of us who have been around for a while.

[bojack]

i'm not a bass fisherman but our first boat was bass tracker III we purchased in 1982. had a merc 50hp. kept it for 20 years fished truman, mark twain, wap., and a few others and NEVER had a leak or popped rivet. the boat was great. purchased it for $5,000 in '82 and sold it '03 for $4000. never had any problems except the normal pump going out after 10 years. the boat never leaked a drop. '03 i purchased the tracker tv18-duel console-115hp 4 stroke EFI and we love it. rides great in rough water, alum. prop i'll get 50mph--SS prop i get +/- 46mph. 18 months after we had it the finish started coming off. called the fishin hole and told them and they sent it back to be fixed, no questions asked. while being reparied someone stole my $500.00 SS prop. told the fishin hole about it and they cut me a check for $500 to replace it. even though john isn't there any more--place is now owned by bass pro shop--i've never had any trouble with them. my wife and i love our TV18. the only thing i don't like about it is i think the trolling motor is way under powered for that boat. it's only 54lbs. which i think is the biggest 12volt you can get. but i'd sure get a larger(75-80lb) trolling motor. my opinion. good luck

[MOFish]

Skeeter,

I'm truly sorry that your boss and brother-in-law had such a bad experience. I wouldn't wish stuff like that on anyone, regardless of the brand or the dealer. I've had nothing but good experiences with the people at the Fishin' Hole, but I really didn't mean to stir up a hornet's nest.

The point I was trying to make (rather than recommend a specific dealership) is that its important to do some checking around on any dealer, their ability to resolve issues and do quality work before you plunk down a bunch of money.

Bojack, you sure are right about the size of the trolling motor. 54 pounds just doesn't cut it. I'm trying to break mine (can you break a MotorGuide?) so that I can replace it with a 74 lb MinnKota Maxxum.

[diggerdave]

sort of funny that you mention the v18 all fish. that is sort of what we are leaning towards. coming down next week and going to be looking around at boats! dont have alot of boats to look at here in sw kansas!!! i wonder why!!!

thank all of you for your input, i very much appreciate it!!!

if you have any more suggestions i would love to hear them!!!

thank you,

diggerdave

[Dutch]

Before you buy I recommend that you take a look at 2 other brands: GIII and Xpress. I have friends with both and they are not first time boat owners and both are greatly satisfied. I haven't riddent in the GIII but it is third generation boat building now owned by Yamaha. I have ridden in the Xpress lots of times. It is the nearest to a fiberglass ride on the market.