Tracker Boats 170 TF opinions

[Avalonjohn44]

The wife has given me the go ahead, and a bass boat is in my near future. I gave up on used boats, the few I found in my area had serious defects, one motor needed a rebuild and two cracked transoms.  Other sellers wanted crazy new prices for ten year old boats.  I never seriously considered an aluminum boat until sitting in, and then researching one of the Tracker 170 TFs. The boat seems loaded with standard options, I would upgrade a few things, and even consider adding a bimini top to shade the kids.  The standard motor is a 40hp, but the 50 or 60 is not crazy expensive to upgrade to either.
Anyone have good or bad stories about this boat? 

[EllisJuan]

If you are going to upgrade the motor, pay the extra couple grand and get the PT 175.  It come with a 60hp standard fishes MUCH bigger than the 170.  It is 11" longer and 12" wider.  Plus it has the all powder coated hull, which is pretty slick looking.

[dsidle61]

I am picking up my 170 tomorrow from the dealer.  I agree with the second poster.  You don't need to upgrade the motor on the 170, if you are going to just get the 175. 

[Avalonjohn44]

Good advice, thanks. My father in law is constantly warning me away from mercury motors. Mercs are the only option on these. Are they decent motors, or should I try and trade it out with a Johnson/evinrude or something else?

[EllisJuan]

I would not hesitate to own a new Merc.  Pretty much all the big boys are making good 4-strokes these days.

[gim]

I agree, back in the day you might have stuck with one particular brand of outboard but they are all so similar when it comes to modern 4-stroke a merc will do the job just fine.

[fishnkamp]

If I were ordering one it would be a 4 stroke.  They have become really reliable, quiet, and pull really well. I met a guy with a PT-175 this weekend at my local ramp.  I asked how he liked it, he said it was just over a year old and he was tickled with it.  When he power loaded it I noticed his van was louder than the outboard!

[EllisJuan]

1 hour ago, fishnkamp said:

If I were ordering one it would be a 4 stroke.  They have become really reliable, quiet, and pull really well. I met a guy with a PT-175 this weekend at my local ramp.  I asked how he liked it, he said it was just over a year old and he was tickled with it.  When he power loaded it I noticed his van was louder than the outboard!

I have a 60hp 4 stroke merc on my PT175.  It is a 2006 and it is alarmingly quiet.  I don't know if they have gotten any quieter, if they have you may not even be able to tell it is on.

[Avalonjohn44]

Nice, I'm so excited now. BPS here I come. Well, not till July, but still... Haven't piloted a boat other than a kayak in 20 years.

[gim]

I have a 75 4-stroke merc on my 2015 RT178 and its very quiet.  Some of this probably has to do with the fact that its basically brand new but its still noticeably quieter even than the 2002 Yamaha outboard that I used for a decade.

[Slade House]

If you have kids i would consider getting something larger than the pt175.  frankly if i had my choice of aluminum boats , i would go with an Xpress .  I have a 2005 PT175, they're fine , but i'd compare them to the Doge Neon's of the aluminum boat world 

 

[Avalonjohn44]

Checked out the expresses, price is too high.

[dsidle61]

I think you are on the right track with the 170.  Picked mine up today and can't wait to get it on the water.  It's also a lot more roomy than people think.  Can easily fit 2 on the front deck and one in the back (my wife has claimed the back as a spot to lay out when I fish). Room to seat 4 as well.  

Another thing, if you want the boat in July make sure they have more than one in stock.  If they are out ordering from the factory can take a few week to a month.  

[upchuck1383]

I have a 1 year old Pro 170 and the 40hp Mercury runs perfect. I however agree with the poster who said get the 175. I seriously under-estimated the difference(I also under-estimated how much I would use it and was afraid of making a bigger investment). It will ride better in tough waves, and give you a little more space. Plus it would allow a larger outboard if you so choose. I am going to enjoy mine for a few more years and then upgrade to bigger boat.

[wordty]

Does Bass Pro negotiate any on these tracker prices?

[Avalonjohn44]

2 minutes ago, wordty said:

Does Bass Pro negotiate any on these tracker prices?

I don't think so, they advertise it as a 'No Haggle Price'...

[ChrisD46]

Any love for 2 stroke engine options on the 170 ?

[DelcoSol]

Get the 175 and max the motor. I had the 165 and outgrew it very quickly. Always go bigger than you think you'll need. If you are bringing multiple people I wouldn't even consider the 170. Also a 24 volt trolling motor is a huge upgrade as well. a 60Hp 4 stroke merc with a maxxum 70 or 80 will be great to fish from on the 175.

[Avalonjohn44]

Ya'll convinced me.

I think I'm gonna go 175 TXW, and eventually buy the bigger trolling motor. 

The 175 should handle all of my areas lakes, my small wife and two kids as well. And when I get the 24v trolling motor, the Potomac river should be totally doable...  Heck, we used to cram seven of us (My dad, my uncle and five kids) on a 15ft beater w/ a 25hp at the jersey shore when I was younger, so a 17.5 ought to work fine for the 4 of us..

[EllisJuan]

4 hours ago, Avalonjohn44 said:

Ya'll convinced me.

I think I'm gonna go 175 TXW, and eventually buy the bigger trolling motor. 

The 175 should handle all of my areas lakes, my small wife and two kids as well. And when I get the 24v trolling motor, the Potomac river should be totally doable...  Heck, we used to cram seven of us (My dad, my uncle and five kids) on a 15ft beater w/ a 25hp at the jersey shore when I was younger, so a 17.5 ought to work fine for the 4 of us..

You are going to love it.  A bass boat is a real game changer.