tracker boats

[beertech]

Looking at the tracker v16 boats. Are they constructed well. I noticed they are all welded. And i want a 50 hp two stroke for it. Are there any competitors in the same price range I should check out. Would be interesed in almost new to non currents as well if anyone knows of a place to check out

[double trouble]

i am not a big fan of tracker myself. they are the bayliner of boats durring the bad years. poor quality materials and spotty quality with hard to obtain service.i have also heard that the mercs sold with these boats are the rejects from the merc factory ,but hard to verify.
if you get a good one ,they are fine and a good value for the money ,but beware.check out g-3 boats for the same money.or buy a good used alumacraft, sea nymph, lowe , lund ,or crestliner. much better boats i.m.o.

[thedude]

lowe, lund, crestliner, g3, express.
tracker sucks. i own a tin avalanche. it will be my first and last experience w/ tracker or nitro. its at d & r right now getting re-welded :sad:

[chamookman]

Tracker Boats - poor quality/fit finnish, no service if You do have issues. There are many other GOOD boat companys out there - keep looking, You won't be sorry - Bob

[CASEY G]

Beertech, back in 2000 I bought a brand new 17 targa all welded, life time warranty, 2 months later the hull broke in 14 places. It took me 9 months to get it fixed. It happened 2 more times. I am not hard on boats, its that they are not built for using in waves more than 1-2 feet. In my opinion they are a throw away boat. Yes the price sounds great, but it will not last long enough to even get paid off. I now own a 2005 1900 LUND pro-v. This is a nice boat, alittle pricey, but now I believe, you get what you pay for.I believe all boats Except Tracker and some Smokercrafts, are great boats, Just take your time and find one that fits you and your needs.Make sure that it is a good dealer too, I believe a good boat dealer is a big part of what brand I would buy too. The tracker dealer on this side of the state is terrible with customer relations. I bought my Lund in sept. of 04' and my dealer still calls me almost every month just to see how everything is going. A good dealer makes life Great. Good Luck!

[waterfoul]

Drove by D&R yesterday Dude... if I had known your boat was there I'd have put a few scratches in it for you.... new paint job would make it an easy sell!! LOL!!

[ESOX]

I would opt for a 4 stroke if it's in the cards.

[wally-eye]

In the early spring of 2004 I purchased a 04 model of the Tracker Pro Guide V16 side console powered by a 50 hp 2 stroke Mercury and the optional swing tongue trailer.

Since that time I have fished this boat literally hundreds and hundreds of times over 2 years with no complaints period. I have not found any cracks, leaks or problems period with either the boat or motor. I have fished it at least twice a week this year and it fishes very well. The boat does get a workout.

The boat package came standard with a 40hp and I upgraded to the 50hp. The boat will hit 35mph and will cruise all day long at 30 mph with 2 or 3 people aboard.

This model is a very deep v boat and sits higher in the water and weighs a lot more than the normal 16 foot boat. The boat came standard with a 40lb thrust bow mount trolling motor and I should have upgraded to a 60 lb thrust. The 40lb trolling motor has done everything I have asked of it however the 60 would have just done it a little easier.
Is this a perfect boat, no. I personally would have laid it out a little different if I had that option but I have yet to see a boat that was perfect for everything thrown at it.......however I have no issues period about the fit, build or dependability of it. I would not hesitate to purchase another. This is my 5th boat I have owned in my life and it suits me well....

[CASEY G]

lowe, lund, crestliner, g3, express.
tracker sucks. i own a tin avalanche. it will be my first and last experience w/ tracker or nitro. its at d & r right now getting re-welded :sad:

That dealer is reason #2 I would never own a Cracker

[DangerDan]

lowe, lund, crestliner, g3, express.
tracker sucks. i own a tin avalanche. it will be my first and last experience w/ tracker or nitro. its at d & r right now getting re-welded :sad:

Many aluminum and marine alloy welded and non welded boats suffer the same fate, cracked welds and loose rivets. Actually it's the heat affected zone in the weld area that cracks resulting in failed welds. It's the nature of the beast. G3 has suffered the same issues as have Lowe and other manufacturers. The only asnswer is to stear away from a "tin hull". There are also other attributes to consider.
I am also looking for a shallow water smaller boat that would serve my needs in almost any sense from rivers and smaller lakes in the north to poling flats down south. I find a skiff to be the best option in all applications. Last weekend fishing on the river I saw a southern made skiff transverse the river while it was very low and was impressed. I've found somthing with a composite hull for long life and quiet stealth, shallow draft, excellent manuveralbilty. Plenty of platform space for spinning & fly fishing. Competative price as well. My second choice would be a G3 based on the waranty offered. I'll put one my X-mas list to the wife..:evil:

http://www.mitziskiffs.com/mainpageST.html
http://www.g3boats.com/GatorTough/tunnel/default.php#1756cct

Decisions decisions...

[beertech]

Iliked the tracker because of how deep it is. I have never heard of g3 boats but yamaha outboards are my motor of choice so I will check them out. I didn;t find thr lowes as deep as trackers. I own a 1979 sea nymph right now and it doesn;t leak a drop. Problem is its layed out like a bassboat and its not very comfortable while downrigging

[WALLEYE MIKE]

I've had my Tracker for 5 years now. (Targa 18) It's been great. Sure I could have paid 10 grand more for a Lund, but why? Once I set it up my way(rod holder and little things here and there) eveything works in harmony with a lot less mony. My buddy also has one and suits him just fine although his motor could be bigger. I'm seeing alot more Trackers out on the pond than I used to. Must be a reason.

[flinch]

I bought a 16 foot starcraft last year with a 75 merc 2 stroke. Kinda speedy with that motor so I was glad I added a windshield. With a merc laser II prop, it does over 40. In hindsite I think a 4 stroke 60 would have also been a good choice as well. So far I have been very happy with it. A well made boat with reenforcements built into the hull. It handles great, even in the waves. Most don't even realize that it is made of aluminum until they look at the bottom and see the rivets. Pics are in my gallery. I would suggest a swing away tongue on the trailer if you want to store it inside. A boat this size should easily fit in the garage leaving room for another vehicle.

[Jason Adam]

I'm seeing alot more Trackers out on the pond than I used to. Must be a reason.

I'm not knocking the boats, as the only one I've used seems to do its job fine, but the reason you see more of them is because they are doing the best job marketing, period. They put their product ads infront of people that wont see another ad with boats and fish and familys and financing all year. I dont get many random circulars in the mail or sunday paper with ads and pricing on the full line of lunds or mirrocrafts....

[WALLEYE MIKE]

I'm not knocking the boats, as the only one I've used seems to do its job fine, but the reason you see more of them is because they are doing the best job marketing, period. They put their product ads infront of people that wont see another ad with boats and fish and familys and financing all year. I dont get many random circulars in the mail or sunday paper with ads and pricing on the full line of lunds or mirrocrafts....

Also I think its a good boat for the money. Kinda like Chevy vs. Cadilac, both will get you there, but one costs alot less.

[Fishfoote]

I bought a 2000 Targa 18 new. 115 merc engine ran great, but was mounted 1.5" off center - but that was the dealer. The dealer also rigged most of the interior components which were done marginally (not terrible, but not great either). Screws stripped out, pieces just not quite lined up, polarity on courtsey plug reversed, ect. The boat handled waves well though, and I never had any welds break during the two years I owned it.

I think all boats are about the same, like cars - you may get a great one, fair one or junk.

[sfw1960]

So I shouldn't WHOMP thru waves with my lil Starcraft V16 then??
:yikes:

Robert

[Jason Adam]

I bought a 2000 Targa 18 new. 115 merc engine ran great, but was mounted 1.5" off center...

Thats absolutly amazing... 1.5"... I think I would have demanded my money back on the spot....

[wallywings123]

I`ve owned 2 Trackers in the last 5 years that I purchased from B.P.S. in Auburn Hills and have had way too many problems. I should have learned after the first but I saw the Tundra and had to have it. I`ve had the Tundra back for warranty issues 19 times now for various issues.Thank god for silicone!!! I spoke with a lawyer and was told that as long as they are honoring the warranty that I can`t take any legal action as there is not a lemon law on boats.They have a constant turnover of employees that just don`t seem to care.I spoke politely with senior managers at the store and it seemed that the higher up I went , the worse I was treated. I e-mailed the company twice to complain and never got a response. NEVER AGAIN!!!

[waterfoul]

My former boss used to be the production manager at the Tracker assembly plant. But that was before they started their welded boats production. Next time I see him (his younger brother sits within a stones throw of me here at work) I'll have to ask him for a number you can call to get an answer to your questions.

[CASEY G]

My former boss used to be the production manager at the Tracker assembly plant. But that was before they started their welded boats production. Next time I see him (his younger brother sits within a stones throw of me here at work) I'll have to ask him for a number you can call to get an answer to your questions.

The answers should be very obvious, Dont buy a Tracker,but if you get on www.trackerowners.com (http://www.trackerowners.com) they should be able to help you.

[double trouble]

try this thread on w.c. for more reasons not to buy a tracker.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=3&topic_id=306786&mode=full

[Fishfoote]

I`ve owned 2 Trackers in the last 5 years that I purchased from B.P.S. in Auburn Hills and have had way too many problems. I should have learned after the first but I saw the Tundra and had to have it. I`ve had the Tundra back for warranty issues 19 times now for various issues.Thank god for silicone!!! I spoke with a lawyer and was told that as long as they are honoring the warranty that I can`t take any legal action as there is not a lemon law on boats.They have a constant turnover of employees that just don`t seem to care.I spoke politely with senior managers at the store and it seemed that the higher up I went , the worse I was treated. I e-mailed the company twice to complain and never got a response. NEVER AGAIN!!!

That's where I bought my Targa - they were idiots about the motor being off center...I wouldn't buy a canoe from them.

[limige]

my buddy trashed a tracker as well, 16' with 20hp merc, ended up gettting his money back after threats of harassment and got a 16' smokercraft. the smokercraft has a few leaky rivots after a few yrs but it didnt' buckle like the tracker...

i'd steer clear of them myself.. buy a used lund instead, it'll last you way longer!

[Spanky]

Trackers are junk, Lunds are overated for the money, look at a sea nymph, starcraft, or Lowes. They have most of the same options, are reliable and last as long as any aluminum boat. Every single person I know that bought a tracker, either sold it, trashed it, or hated it!

Sure you may luck out and get a decent one, but why risk it, go with a boat company that stands behind their product. If I were buying a new boat right now, I would wait till the spring shows and do a little shopping with the Starcraft, or Lowe dealers! ;)

[FYRE926]

I've owned 2 boats so far both Trackers...the first an 87 16 ft semi V with a 40 hp Mariner I bought used and due to neglect from a prior owner (leaving it outdoors unprotected) I had to re-deck the main floor & the front casting deck. I fished the boat from Lake Michigan to Maine to Northern Ontario and it never let me down. BUT I always took care of my equipment too. My 2nd Tracker I've had for approx. 2 seasons, I bought it "used" from an ole boy who had got it in the water 3 times since he bought it after he retired. This one, a 2002 Targa 17 ft Deep V with a 75 hp Tracker has performed admirably and I have rigged it out for Salmon fishing here on the Big Lake as well as taken it to Minnesota and fished lakes there with it and towed my kids on a tube plenty also. This 02 is a riveted unit but it's bone dry inside. I've always been satisfied with the Trackers I've had and my brother also owned an 89 semi V with no problems either. I sold my 87 on Ebay in mid 04' for $3000.00 which I thought was much more than I'd get at a dealer on trade in but I know the guy that owns it today has had no problems and enjoys it as much as I did. :coolgleam

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Trackers are junk, Lunds are overated for the money, look at a sea nymph, starcraft, or Lowes. They have most of the same options, are reliable and last as long as any aluminum boat. Every single person I know that bought a tracker, either sold it, trashed it, or hated it!

Sure you may luck out and get a decent one, but why risk it, go with a boat company that stands behind their product. If I were buying a new boat right now, I would wait till the spring shows and do a little shopping with the Starcraft, or Lowe dealers! ;)

I guess I own a piece of junk. :lol: Seems to work just fine and suits me well.

[FishTales]

I guess I own a piece of junk. :lol: Seems to work just fine and suits me well.
:yeahthat: Me too, :lol: and it's all paid for :D
Rich

[Spanky]

let me know how they work when they are 41 and 28 yrs old, like my 2 starcrafts! :lol:

I do remember when the trackers first came out. There were not too many "package" type boats back then. Tracker showed the boat market that it would be alot more marketable than alot of the manufacturers thought. Since then, every boat company has packages now.
The reason so many anglers have them is their cost. Plain and simple. As the old saying goes, you get what ya pay for. WM and FT, chances are you guys got a decent boat, and if it hasn't broke yet, probably won't , But they did make alot of junk, especially in the early days.

[greg531]

Have a 2000 Tracker Aluminum Deck boat from D&R.....The Sales manager was great, the service department was bad....A few things wrong with the boat, was fixed, through the sales manager.....
The Boat has a few problems, the rear door is loose, the vinyl is losing a couple of seams, but the engine is great, a Mercury 4.3 V-6, it's been a good boat for me....no problems with the welds, but I heard others had welds come apart, and Tracker gave them a new boat.....If you get a lemon, I go to the top, and see what they can do for you....