What do you think of Bass Tracker boats?

[gim]

I recently bought a 2015 Ranger RT178.  Eventually after I started looking I narrowed it down to 3 choices for an entry level aluminum bass boat: the bass tracker pro team 175, crestliner VT 17, and ranger rt178.  They're all very similar in size, weight, towing, etc, with a single console and come maxed out with a 75 hp outboard motor.  Part of the reason I eventually excluded the bass tracker was because the lack of color options, the console configuration, and location of the nearest dealer/repair center (20 miles).  However, there were a couple things that the bass tracker had that the others did not, including a really nice center rod locker and a portable gunnel mount system, plus a lower price tag.  I think they are a boat that should be considered in the buying process based on budget and options.  Plus, they've been the best selling bass boat in the country for a long time and you don't do that if your selling a terrible product.

[Goldstar225]

I have a 1987 tracker that still serves me well.  In a couple of years I will buy a newer boat, probably another tracker.  I've considered and checked out the Ranger 178 and Eagle Talon.  Both good boats, the main advantage being the availability of Yamaha motors.  I am leaning toward the tracker because of the ride, storage and longevity of my current tracker.

[jrbdad]

I am also looking at getting new aluminum bass boat.   Have looked at Tracker 175txw, Lowe and Ranger RT178. 

For us the Tracker might just fit the bill.   Actually we liked the front deck of Tracker and rear deck of Ranger.   The Lowe,,,,,, no thinks!!  Did not seem very well made and had some issues that I cant be leave left the factory. ( suck as a metal bracket that mounts the console sticking out.   Could see someone catching a leg on it and needing stiches.  Trailer had plastic fenders, etc.)

The Ranger did have a few nicer finishes then the Tracker, but also came at higher cost.  In both of the RT178 I saw the driver seat was not centered behind the steering wheel.  I found that extremely odd.   We have not made up our minds yet, but I am leaning towards 175txw with 75hp motor.  I like the rod locker and the price...... But we will see. 

 

["hamma"]

I have a 2000 tracker super guide v 16 tiller, bought it new, Its a deep v, back then they were stripped down, boat motor trailer and running lights with a livewell and thats about it,.. so, set it up nicely with good electronics and trolling motor and have loved it completely. It handles the bigger lakes and chop just fine, and probably drafts the same as a john boat style rig does. as far as quality? i have no issues with it., and everyone that takes a look at it says the same thing,.."nice rig!! ",... its getting a newer motor and ulterra trolling motor this year as my health dictates,.. and new carpet as its starting to wear, (for 16 years old,.. aint bad) and this boat has been fished hard ,..very hard, i have spent alot of time out of work due to my health.,, so i fished weekdays, as much as i could actually. and she still is big water durable. ,...so in a nutshell ,..i have no complaints

[Dye99]

Never owned one personally, but Ive had two friends that had them. One an older one, the other was purchased new at BassPro.

Both were awesome to fish out of, and both owners were more than happy with them.

For some reason the internet loves to hammer them since they are cheaper, but if I was to hang up my yak paddle and got to a bass boat, a pro175 is what I would be after.

[DelcoSol]

I had a 2013 Pro 165 with a bunch of issues. I would advise looking for something else. If you are planning on fishing SMALL waters then it should hold up. By small I mean like private lakes and ponds. Anywhere with heavy wind potential is not a good idea. 

[Kalop]

I bought a 2016 Pro Team 175 TF in early March.  I've taken it out pretty much every weekend since and I absolutely love it.  Of course, this probably has a lot more to do with fishing from the bank for the past 30 years until the wife finally came around to the idea of buying a boat more so than it does with the boat itself. 

But before I bought it, I asked myself three important questions.  Where would I be fishing, what are the lake restrictions and who will I be fishing with?  I live in west central Illinois; nearly every lake within a hundred miles of me has either an electric only or 10 hp restriction (Lake Bloomington and Springfield Lake being the exceptions but they are 70 miles away).  I didn't need a big boat with a monster engine.  It would just be a waste of money and since I fish alone most of the time, I wanted something I could handle trailering by myself. 

[kens]

I fish lake Springfield Lake 4-5 times a year. Nice place.

 

[Kalop]

I haven't actually been there yet but my wife has a conference in Springfield in early June.  I already have the boat slip reserved so that's where I'll be spending the 4 days of her conference.

[racedad]

I had a 2005 Pro Team 175 I bought new and fished it for 4 yrs without one problem. Powered by a 75 merc with just basic maint. Wish I had kept it, but got into offshore fishing and sold it like a dummy. They are decent boats and wouldn't hesitate to own another. If your willing to shell out another 3-4 grand extra, look at the crestliner.

[Steve Berdami]

I have a 1991 bass tracker  with a 60 hp Johnson. I bought this boat brand new and have fished hard with it ever since and have NO COMPLANTS!!!!!!! I paid 8500 with 24 volt, stainless steel prop, can’t remember the trolling it came with. I have replaced the front deck and the floor about 4 times. Has probably had 1/2 dozen different trolling motors in 30 years. Buy a bass tracker you can’t go wrong.The 60 hp Johnson with regular maintanence, which I do myself, runs as good as it did did the day I bought it!!!

[Russ E]

34 minutes ago, Steve Berdami said:

I have a 1991 bass tracker  with a 60 hp Johnson. I bought this boat brand new and have fished hard with it ever since and have NO COMPLANTS!!!!!!! I paid 8500 with 24 volt, stainless steel prop, can’t remember the trolling it came with. I have replaced the front deck and the floor about 4 times. Has probably had 1/2 dozen different trolling motors in 30 years. Buy a bass tracker you can’t go wrong.The 60 hp Johnson with regular maintanence, which I do myself, runs as good as it did did the day I bought it!!!

Not sure if you realized it, but this is a 4 year old  thread.

I find it interesting that you have no complaints, but replaced the deck and floor 4 times.

One time would make me complain.

[Steve Berdami]

Replacing plywood floors 4 times in 30 years is nothing to complain about!!! It’s left out in the elements a lot.

[detroit1]

I replaced floor / decks on my 96 grumman twice. I made the mistake the last time by using 3/4" marine plywood instead of 5/8". That is heavy wood. Too heavy. 

[Imjuz8up]

I have 2016 190 with 115 mercury 1676 hr fish everyday all year around only had couple issues one was steering cable broke not good but they did replace it under warranty the seats come apart and they wouldn’t fix under warrant  but overall for price cant beat it it’s a good boat 51  -55 mph and it easy on gas not at 50mph but tight line allday

[rtwvumtneer6]

If this is going to be revisited, I've got a quick question to throw in.  Looking at a Crestliner Storm 1700 with a 20HP.  Sounds like a lot of people here have boats of similar size.  For towing reasons, I'm trying to get an idea of what the total weight of the boat, motor, trailer and gear/fuel might be?

 

Thanks for letting me hijack!

[learnin]

I've got a 2013 Pro 17 with a 40hp Merc & 45Lb Minn Kota Edge I bought new in early 2014 that I like real well for what is.  Never fished it on real big lakes. Fished it once or twice a week From March into November since then.  The only mods on it are a trolling plate & Bimini top.  When it gets too hot in the valley for daytime bass we fish the high lakes for trout.  It has a scratch or two as it's bounced off rocks & docks a few times and been in the brush once and a while.

 

With routine maintenance I do myself there's never been a problem with it or the trailer. They've always worked.  Still running smooth with the original spark plugs.  The initial price was relatively inexpensive, easy to tow, easy to store, easy on gas and has plenty of storage space for a boat this size. Only thing I don't like about it is the sharp up & down angle of the foot pedal on the trolling motor. It's some work on windy days.

[MN Fisher]

12 minutes ago, learnin said:

I've got a 2013 Pro 17 with a 45Lb Minn Kota Edge

How well does that Edge 45# pull that boat around?

 

I've got an Edge 45# that I'm putting on my F-9 (Alumacraft 14' that I gutted and am transforming into a bass boat with storage, livewell, the works.). Wondering how well the Edge will pull it.

[desmobob]

33 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

How well does that Edge 45# pull that boat around?

 

I've got an Edge 45# that I'm putting on my F-9 (Alumacraft 14' that I gutted and am transforming into a bass boat with storage, livewell, the works.). Wondering how well the Edge will pull it.

 

I have the same boat/trolling motor (Bass Tracker Pro 170), one year newer.  I think the Edge does OK except in windy conditions, but I was frustrated by its 5-speed selection.  It finally died after seven years of good service and I replaced it with a 55lb. MotorGuide X3 Digital which has a variable speed control.  I am much happier with it.  

 

The only problem I ever had with the Edge was with the wiring in the foot control.  A wire was rubbing an eventually, the insulation wore through and shorted things out.  No damage done and an easy fix.

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, desmobob said:

 I think the Edge does OK except in windy conditions, but I was frustrated by its 5-speed selection.

I'll have to put up with those issues - the 45# was the best bow-mount I could get with my budget this year...and even then it was a refurbished unit with a 1-year warranty.

[desmobob]

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I'll have to put up with those issues - the 45# was the best bow-mount I could get with my budget this year...and even then it was a refurbished unit with a 1-year warranty.

 

I don't think you'll be the least bit unhappy!  Mine performed like a champ for seven years.  And even when it finally gave up the ghost, it did so gradually for the last few weeks, giving me the chance to read and research on what might be a good replacement.  I did almost buy another one.  

 

Take a look at the arrangement of the wiring and how the wires are bundled/tied back near where they connect to the terminals in the foot control.  Mine weren't quite tied back to where they didn't interfere with each other and/or moving parts.  Still, it took about five years before it created an issue.

 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, desmobob said:

 

I don't think you'll be the least bit unhappy!  Mine performed like a champ for seven years.  And even when it finally gave up the ghost, it did so gradually for the last few weeks, giving me the chance to read and research on what might be a good replacement.  I did almost buy another one.  

 

Take a look at the arrangement of the wiring and how the wires are bundled/tied back near where they connect to the terminals in the foot control.  Mine weren't quite tied back to where they didn't interfere with each other and/or moving parts.  Still, it took about five years before the issue came up.

 

Good to know - thanks.

 

And I'll definitely inspect that area before I take it out...gonna be a bit yet.

[desmobob]

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Good to know - thanks.

 

And I'll definitely inspect that area before I take it out...gonna be a bit yet.

 

Another comment I should have added: I ran mine on the standard Interstate-brand combination starting/deep cycle battery that my Pro 170 came equipped to run the trolling motor with.  I did some marathon fishing days with it, and I don't remember ever running out of juice.  

 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, desmobob said:

 

Another comment I should have added: I ran mine on the standard Interstate-brand combination starting/deep cycle battery that my Pro 170 came equipped to run the trolling motor with.  I did some marathon fishing days with it, and I don't remember ever running out of juice.  

 

Battery I'll be running is a Mighty Max AGM 100ah - and only the TM on that

I've got a Might Max AGM 35ah to run lights, pumps, electronics.

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

How well does that Edge 45# pull that boat around?

 

I've got an Edge 45# that I'm putting on my F-9 (Alumacraft 14' that I gutted and am transforming into a bass boat with storage, livewell, the works.). Wondering how well the Edge will pull it.

I have an Edge 45 on my G3 175 and I always have it on 4. On windy days 5 works just fine. You’ll be plenty happy with it.