St. Augustine

way2slow: My inital question here, you are correct. I was looking at a new tracker V16 Laker. With that I was entertaining the thoughts of a 9.9 or 15HP motor. The boat was rated max at 40HP. After the great advice here, I went looking at the used market. The price of the V16 Laker with a 9.9 and a trailer was a little over $8,300. With a 15 it was more, and with a 25 or 40 much much more. So again with the advice here, i turned to the used market. I found and bought a 1997 Bass Tracker 165 Pro. It came as a package. Trailer, fish finder, trolling motor, and a 40HP 3 stroke mercury. My only concern was the 2 stroke compared to the 4 stroke. But price mattered, and I got this boat for 4,995 out the door, threw a $1,000 down and financed the rest a $100 a month for the rest. Plus momma was real happy with the boat itself and the fact it was much much cheaper. Anyhow, this boat is rated at 40HP max which it has. I just hope the 2 stroke thing is ok. I know the 4 strokes are quiter, but as for my first real boat outside a 12 ft V bottom that was oar powered and an ancient trolling motor, this certainly is a step up in my newbie opinion. Any thoughts you might have on this new rig, I am 255LBS of all ears. Thanks...

way2slow, are you talking about the inital question here? i just bought a 16ft bass tracker with a 40hp, that cant be like a barge?

Saving money was certainly part of it. The v16 outfit properly would have benn over 11,000. This 1997 was just under 5,000, plus the wife was real happy with it. I think I made a wise choice. I didn't want something so big that I was intimidated by its size. Being my first boat outside a 12ft rowboat with oars and a trolling motor that ran about 1/2 mph I thought it wise to get some experience first too. It's big enough to go fishing on and that's what I wanted. It will fit the kids and wife too when needed. Thoughts on launching and pulling the boat out, I am all ears.

Ok I took all of your advice. Just purchased a 1997 bass tracker 165 fully rigged out, trolling motor, fish finder, the works with a trailer and a 40 HP motor all for 4995. !!!!!!!!! Thoughts?

My guess is that for 90% of the time, it will be me and one other person. The other times, my wife and two kids plus me. I started this off by saying I am not looking to break any speed records. Most of the inland lakes here in MI are not all that big. My las boat was a 12 ft Jon boat with a trolling motor and oars! My question still remains though, what does "on plane" mean, and with the 15hp 4 stroke, can I at least get around the lake? One friend told me the 15 with just me will fly, with two guys it will take a while to get on plane, but it will do it. Another guy, with money to burn and a $40,000 bass boat that is a driveway ornament says I need at least a 25. If I get the 15, give me a scenario of how it would work in your opinion. Thanks.

Ok, I looked at finances, and I think I can swing a 15HP four stroke, would that be suffecient?

What exactly does on plane me then? If I don't get on plane what does that do? Meaning the bow of the boat is still up high, the stern low?

Question for you all. I am looking at a 2012 tracker v16 laker, which is a 16ft v bottom aluminum boat. For the record, I am not looking to break any water speed records, I just want the boat to go on plane and get where it needs to go but not lightning fast. The boat is rated up to a 40hp motor. The package I have picked out right now comes with 9.9 HP 4 stroke electric start evinrude. Mostly it will be me and one other person but at times it will be 2 adults and two kids. I can't really afford to go bigger on the motor right now. The rep from tracker said this motor won't break speed records but it will do the job. Thoughts?