Tracker Boats?

[ib_jigged]

My family and I are looking at new boats. I really like the new Lund Impacts, but my wife likes the price of the Tracker 175WT. About $7000 less.

Does anyone on here own a Tracker and if so, what are the pros and cons over a Lund?

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Nick Kuhn]

Pros - Price, wider beam, and you can actually stand and cast from the rear platform, unlike some other deep V boats.

Cons - Ride isn't quite as smooth, and the finish just isn't as high of quality as the other boats.

There's really not much else to it. Both float, get from A to B reasonably dry and reasonably fast, and can be equipped to be rather fishable.

[Pat K]

Make sure everything about the "package" is the same. When I looked at Trackers a few years ago the price looked good at first glance. I was looking at similar sized Tracker and Alumacraft boats.

Tracker had a 55lb 12v trolling motor.

Alumacraft had an 80lb 24v trolling motor.

Tracker motor less than 60% of rated horsepower.

Alumacraft motor 80% of rated horsepower.

Tracker trailer rated for 200lb more than the listed weight of the boat & motor.

Alumacraft trailer rated for 600lb more than the listed weight of the boat & motor.

The depth finders on both packages were cheap units.

If I upgraded the accessories on the Tracker and put a heavier trailer under it there was little difference in the prices. I'm pretty sure you'll find similar numbers comparing it to a Lund.

[gregg52]

jigged theres another thread on this very same question

i think its under boats and motors you might want to read that

[RK]

Hiya -

I've owned both Lunds and Trackers over the years, and was on the Tracker pro staff for some time. I'm not any longer, but still run a Tracker.

Here's what I'd tell you:

- The packages Tracker offers are convenient, and priced fairly for what you get, but as another poster mentioned, be sure you are comparing apples to apples when it comes to price comparisons. Figure the pricing with comparable accessories like locators and trolling motors, and factor those into your decision.

- The convenience of a pre-built package is great. Basically, you pick it up and you're ready to fish.

- Tracker's base advertised packages can tend to be underpowered on some models. It may be fine if it's just you, or you and another person, but if you carry heavy loads, consider upgrading the motor. The plus side there is Tracker frequently offers motor upgrade deals, especially during boat show season. It's worth asking about. It's also something to keep in mind as you compare package deals brand to brand.

- Tracker trailers are great. At least mine have been...

- You will NOT see the same quality in the fit and finish of a Tracker that you do on some other brands. This isn't to say the quality is bad. It's simply that some of the details may not be as refined - no hydraulic lifts on rod lockers, etc... That may matter to you or may not, but it's something to be aware of.

- Tracker's no haggle pricing is actually a plus, I think. When you sell boats like that, the only way they sell at all is if they're priced fairly in the first place.

- Tracker gets a bad rap for service sometimes, but often that's more the dealership than Tracker Marine. Choose your dealer wisely. That goes for any boat purchase regardless of brand though.

Just a couple random thoughts. Like I said, I've really liked my Trackers, and I'll be running mine until I wear it out...

[snoozebutton]

Max out the HP with what it's rated for. I've had 2 boats over the years that weren't maxed out and I wasn't happy with either one. It's worth the extra money.

[OnAFly]

My dad's got the V16 with the standard 50 on it. It's definitely underpowered. The boat is nice enough for us. We can get out onto big water well enough and small water well enough. I think he paid ~13K brand new a couple years ago, so the price was good.

We've only had to replace a bilge pump (which was probably due to someone leaving it on ) in the years we've had it. I would buy one, but I would definitely put on the maxed out motor.

[gregg52]

i keep seeing this max out the horse power deal

just a comment or 2

if you are a speed freak by all means go for it!!!!

think about the water you fish most of the time

as other people are saying you might get there a minute or so

later but you wont miss to many bites in that time..lol

now if you are on a bigger lake unless you are a crazy speed guy

you wont be running wide open 60% of time or so any way do to ruff water

and if your set up right specially in a tiller you will be albe to use the big motor to troll(back) and have good boat control if its to big you will probably go little fast and you will need 10 ft splash gaurds

to stay dry...lol i personally i have a 20 ft glass boat that i have a

150 on and to be honest i'm not sure what the max is but i'm presuming 250 any way......on flat water i run 44 trimmed out which is not real fast but it works for me...also i plane out right now lots of power

i go threw enough fuel with a 150 cant imagine what it would be if i was maxed out...it is a 2 stroke

i think thats where alot of the problem comes is these 4 strokes just dont have the power and then when some is thinking a 115 is good for their boat they really need that 150 and are disappointed with their boat....and some salesman assurred them they would be albe to 60mph

so i guess what every one say is probably true max out if you are buying a 4 stroke

but if you want power and trolling capabilities smaller light motor

think 2 stroke........just my opinion

[RK]

Hiya -

Some follow-up on the max HP deal...

- Maxing out the HP WILL help with eventual resale, at least somewhat.

- My Tracker is NOT maxed out HP-wise, but I did upgrade from the base package. I drive my boat with it maxed out, and it felt like it was overpowered. You didn't drive it so much as you aimed it. It was jittery on plane and from talking to the owner, had a tendency to chine walk. I have none of those issues with my technically 'underpowered' boat. Plus my fuel bill is a lot lower. I can live with 10 mph less an hour for that.

Bottom line, everything in a boat purchase, and I mean EVERYTHING is a trade-off in some way. Just be aware of what you're trading.

[muddpuppy]

Max HP....real life example: I have a 16' fishing boat. It is rated for a 90hp I run a 50hp. I can by myseld do 30mph most days.with 2 people I can do 27mph with 3 people I am lucky to get on plain. My boat would be dangerous with a 90 on it guessing it would be 40+mph but it would greatly help the getup and go and I wouldn't be at full throtle all the time.

My next bout will be maxed out.

[OnAFly]

Our 16 with a 50hp does ~23 with 2 people. It could use more hp. I would gladly take a 70hp on it.

[foulpole18]

I have a 14' alumacraft with a 25 hp on it and it does 27 mph. Its rated for a 40 hp and I think that would be scary. However for a bigger boat I would max it out. Can always run it slower, but if you need the power and don't have it your outta luck.

[knowsnothing]

We own a Starcraft so I cant help with the comparison, but in my opinion you never purchase a boat based on price. If it is not what you want, you will be disappointed three years from now when you find out you get nothing for trade in to get what you really wanted. With that being said, if the Tracker has everything the family is lookng for in a boat go for it. If not, I would keep looking. Good luck

[Northlander]

MAX the horsepower! You are better off running a big mnotor at 60%-75% than a undersized at 100%. Its also safer to have the extra horsepower just in case you really need it.

Now if you just fish little puddles and backtroll all the time dont worry about it.

[tonkapat]

+1 northlander

[Rodbldr4fun]

I have a 175 Alumnacraft Navigator with a 75 Merc 4 stroke tiller. It is rated for an 80. My main concern is getting on plain with 4 people in it. I like to take my family out on the water at times. I can get about 32 mi/hr with 3 in it, which is just fine with me. I don't need to go any faster with a tiller.

I had a 16' Back Troller with a Johnson 30 at first and couldn't get on plain with 3 people, which was a real pain. Had to upgrade to a 40.

My thought is that you want to get a motor near the rating. You certainly don't have to run it wide open if you don't want or need it. But, a motor that is too small is being worked very hard, which is not good for the motor. With a larger motor, you can carry more payload/passengers when you need or wish; it is more versatile. Also, I want that extra power when I am in rough water even though I take it easy. You still want the power to best control the boat in heavy seas.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I had a 16' Back Troller with a Johnson 30 at first and couldn't get on plain with 3 people, which was a real pain. Had to upgrade to a 40.

That would be a dog! I've got a 60 on my 16' Backtroller (Max 60 HP) and it scoots along great.

[Kyhl]

Get the motor that you are comfortable with and that does what you want.

I've got a 175 Alumacraft tourny sport with a 115 4 stroke that does exactly what I want for me. The boat is rated for a 175 and I think most people put a 140 on the boat.

I wanted the ability to forward troll without a kicker so my goal was a 115. It does low 40's WOT which is plenty for me. Planes fine with three passengers and gear.

The previous owner actually had the boat under proped so he could troll even slower. He couldn't run WOT because WOT would hit the rev limiter but he could slow troll with it.

It's all in what you want to do.

[IlliniWalli]

i have had 2 trackers and really no complaints with either.

"powered up" on both packages.

had a '99 16-footer with a 60 2-stroke that was a nice little rig but just too small. traded that on an '01 targa 17. cant believe the dealers try and send those boats out the door with a 60 2-stroke when max hp is a 125.

i bought the boat new scratch and dent. small ding on the back saved me $3k and i put an '02 90 4stroke merc on it.

kept that rig til last spring when i dealt it for a 2010 alumacraft 165 nav and got the max hp 90 4stroke merc on it.

loved that wide, roomy targa and put lots of hours on it. had to patch a small crack in the hull thanks to a tuna boat throwing us onto some rocks. never had an issue with the motor. changed oil and plugs myself every year.

did have trailer issues, though. broke a leaf spring, so replaced both with heavy duty springs. then had a leaf bracket tear from the frame. me and a farmer buddy with a small shop fixed both of those problems. replaced bunk and side boards twice.

i was going to trade for another tracker but dont like full windshields and the only model you can get now with double bubbles is the tundra, which is too much boat for my needs.

[Musky_Madness]

Google _________ Boat Problems for all the brands you are looking for. There you will find the real dirt and experience from real life people and how they have been treated after problems have been located. Some issues are minor and are often 3rd party (motor, depthfinder, trolling motor), some are cosmetic (seats, carpet, flotation), some are major structural problems. I would encourage you to spend a few minutes checking each of the brands out there and you'll notice a common trend when looking at just the summaries of the problems.