Update on my boat...

[Rebel9921]

I know in earlier posting everything has been done except getting it out of storage... I asked for some pics and got them today... thought you all would enjoy it... From the pics... I definitely do have to do lot of TLC (especially waxing and buffing) along with replacing the carpeting, new chairs, new trolling motor, minor motor work, new tires, new wiring, new lights, etc etc... but overall... just cant wait... was told I would be able to get it out within 2-3 weeks providing it gets warmer and the snow melts some more... anyways... here are the pics!!! 1988 Bass Tracker 1800FS 150HP

This snowpile has to melt first before the boat can be pulled out...

Now for the boat... Enjoy!!!

[BoxMN]

That will work like a top Rebel! Especially that beautiful big black max motor! While it probably would not be the prop you will want, my bro and I have a 21" Hi-Five you could give a spin for testing.

[cjac]

Good times to come for you! Look forward to seeing you on the water!

[Rebel9921]

Box... Theres supposed to be a stainless prop on the motor... I dont know what happened to it... but I'll be raising H3LL with the place to have it replaced ASAP... As for prop... Im not sure what I should do... Raise H3LL, get new SS prop, sell it and buy Aluminum prop??? This is my first boat so Im pretty much learning as I go along with it...

Chris... dont forget... theres still the standing offer for you to join anytime!!! You got too much in your head for me not to pick at...

[PerchJerker]

Sometimes dealers or storage places will remove stainless props, since they are expensive and easy to steal. So hopefully they have yours in the boat or in one of their buildings????

A 150 will run better with stainless but you will be able to run aluminum too, you just won't have all the performance you'd get with stainless.

Congrats on getting your boat situation worked out ...... well, almost worked out

[trackerbrent]

Rebel,

Nice boat! I have the same one, but a 1990 with a 150 Johnson GT. I run a 24" OMC Raker prop, definately go SS. I can get almost 63 MPH on GPS with just me and a quarter tank of gas. She gets squirrly at those speeds. Always hold on to the throttle and back off if you see a gust of wind coming on the water. I have had the bow pick up and move to the side, not fun.

Now for the bad news. I hate to tell you this being your 1st boat. Horrible, horrible glass job done from the factory. Exposed wood everywhere. I am in the middle of replacing the transom on mine. Not a fun job. Would be $2000-$3000 job to get professionly done, from info I have read. Check the transom. Tilt the motor up some and bounce up and down the the lower unit. If the transom moves at all it is rotted. There is 3 pieces of 3/4" plywood for the transom. 2 out of the 3 of mine are completly rotten saw dust. Another way to check your transom is remove that aluminum angle that covers the transom, where the 2 halves of the boat meet. You can pull it off without removing the motor. Drill a small hole to check to see if the wood is saturated. If it is not, great! Seal the hole and put the aluminum back on. If it is not rotten make sure you reseal the motor mounting bolts with 3M 5200 sealant, I believe that is what it is called. I think that is where water got in through mine.

I really like the boat though. What sucks is I always store it inside and dry it out after fishing. I take good care of it and the transom still rotted. The way I figure it, I paid $5800 for the boat 6 years ago and have not put anything in to it except batteries, locater, general motor maitanence. It owes me nothing, that is less than $1,000 a year to have a fun boat.

Enjoy your boat!

[Rebel9921]

Perch... Yeah I requested that they check in one of the compartments in the boat for it... and I'll make sure I'll have a prop before I bring it home...

Tracker... thanks... I'm not actually looking for top speed out of this boat... Just more of lot of fishing and be able to save gas at the same time... Excellent tips from you too... Im thinking of purchasing one of those replacement transom from Valv and go ahead and replace out the wood... but how hard would that be if I did it myself??? I already planned on replacing the wood flooring... and the wiring in the boat... Just being safe rather than be sorry... Care to elaborate about the "horrible glass job" and "exposed wood everywhere"???

Thanks again!!!

[trackerbrent]

Rebel,

Not trying to say you bought a bad boat, just because the glass job is subpar. I really do like the boat, I hope you did not take it that way. Anyways, once I removed my gas tank is when I could really see it. My knee braces did not have glass wrapped all the way over them. They are still solid though. If you look from the inside at the rub rail you will see exposed untreated wood. This wood hold the screws that atatch both halves. Mine is rotted in places causing the screws to back out. You may notice the rubber piece that runs around the hull is lumpy. Those are the screws backing out, sometimes not attatched to anything due to the wood rotting. I have found epoxying them in place works. Another area where there is exposed wood is the flotation boxes on the outside of each stringer. This is not only Tracker fiberglass boats, but most manufactorers at the time did not fully glass in the wood components of the boats.

I am a do-it-yourselfer and tend to jump in to things. But I have to fix the transom, otherwise the boat should be in a junk yard. It is not terrible so far, but new material still needs to be put back. Hopefully I can accomplish the glassing myself. The main part is pulling the motor and glassing in new wood. Many people say if wood comes out, wood goes back in. I am still at the wood removal stage, so we will see how it goes. Hope to have her sea worthy by May 1st.

Good Luck Rebel! Congrats on your 1st boat, you will really like it!

[Rebel9921]

Tracker- No I didnt take it that way...

Is there any way you can really change out the exposed wood that rotted out???

Like you said, its my first boat... so anything I can learn about it would be a plus... I am hoping to get mine seaworthy by June 7th (Muskie Opener)... so that gives me little time to get everything fixed up as necessary...

[Traxxx]

A nice coat of turtle wax and some elbow grease and she'll be like new.

[Rebel9921]

Traxxx... Oh yeah... I plan to take my sweet time in getting this boat looking and acting like brand new!!! Cant wait!!! We just need MORE days like today then that would mean sooner I get the boat home...