New boat purchase

[ww2farmer]

Well after MANY years of begging I finaly have the wifes ok to buy a bass boat. I currantly fish out of a small bass raider plastic boat with an electric tm. It works great on the many ponds, small lakes, and canals I fish. I also take it out on bigger lakes but am restricted to bays, creek arms, and close to shore....any rough water  and/or heavy traffic and I am done. Now my budget is very small.....around $10K-$11K give or take a little and will be paying cash.........no financing. The boat I think I am going to get is the Bass Tracker pro team 170 w/25 hp merc. I plan on fishing it as is for a while before upgrading some stuff on it. I fish by myself 99.9% of the time and the larger lakes I fish are less than 1500 acres. I don't fish tourny's, and blazing speed is not what I want and or need, just something bigger/more stable to get me around on the lakes I fish. I have an acceptable tow vehicale (jeep cherokee).  This boat looks like every thing I need/want in an affordable package. I would love to find a nice used one in my area for a few $$ less, but they rarely if ever pop up. I kow the 25hp is smallish, but I just can't afford the bigger outboard. Are they any real reasons or issues that should keep me from buying this boat???

[hakksaw]

life is too short my friend, if this is the boat you want, then you should proceed.  i purchased an older bass boat a couple of months ago and am constantly trying to improve what is outdated and worn out on it.  the price range you are at will get you a great boat that will last for many seasons to come.  sounds like it would be perfect for your fishing habits and having the wife's approval is certainly a plus!  take care, enjoy and update us!  

[HPBB]

If you want it get it. Just like hakksaw said "life is to short my friend"

The tracker is a great boat you will be  happy with it. Don't worry about the 25HP it will push it fine. Up here in Pa we have some HP limited lakes.  Most were 10 HP and many guys ran the 170 with 9.9hp and they ran ok. Now the lakes are 20Hp limits. The 170 and the 175 are the most popular boat around here now, on those limited lake. They all run 25HP with 20HP stickers. my father-inlaw  bought a 2005 Pro team 175 with a 25HP merc 2 stroke.  with two guys ( around 250lbs each) and all our gear the boat runs in the mid 20s on gps. That is not bad. If that is what you can afford and you plan on keeping it a long time. get it. You'll love it.

[striperone]

That's great! Nothing like upgrading to a bigger or better boat that's for sure.

Bass tracker does produce a nice boat. I don't personally own one but have fish out of a few different models and they were all comfortable to fish from.

From a financial stand point it would be nice if you could find a used boat as just like with a new car you will take the initial beating. But hey nothing beats the smell of a new car!

Which ever boat manufacture you choose, Good Luck and hope you enjoy it.

[cart7t]

I'd go with a newer used boat and get a larger motor.  Buying into those package deals on boats that are grossly underated HP wise always turns out to be a loser for the boat owner.  Once the newness of the new boat wears off you start seeing other likesized boats on the water running a larger sized motor and getting around a lot faster than you are. Then you decide to upgrade the motor and then you find out what a bath (financially) you'll take if you want to make the switch.  You settle for not making the upgrade because of the finances and keeping what you've got or you try and sell it and then you find out nobody wants it because it's so grossly underpowered.

Just my opinion of course.  

[Pa Angler]

I own a 17' 2004 Tracker Targa deep V and I went with the larger 90hp up from the standard 50hp as it was a power up savings deal. I would opt. for the larger motor rather then the standard 25hp if I was you the 50hp ELPTO with the $500 power up savings is the way to go. That boat is somewhat under powered with the 25hp motor and after a while you will learn just how much it is. Just my thoughts if I was buying it.

Chow

[blanked]

I'd go with a newer used boat and get a larger motor. Buying into those package deals on boats that are grossly underated HP wise always turns out to be a loser for the boat owner. Once the newness of the new boat wears off you start seeing other likesized boats on the water running a larger sized motor and getting around a lot faster than you are. Then you decide to upgrade the motor and then you find out what a bath (financially) you'll take if you want to make the switch. You settle for not making the upgrade because of the finances and keeping what you've got or you try and sell it and then you find out nobody wants it because it's so grossly underpowered.

Just my opinion of course.

cart i always enjoy your input on boats and boat ownership.   you must be in the boat business for a living  

[cart7t]

I'd go with a newer used boat and get a larger motor.  Buying into those package deals on boats that are grossly underated HP wise always turns out to be a loser for the boat owner.  Once the newness of the new boat wears off you start seeing other likesized boats on the water running a larger sized motor and getting around a lot faster than you are. Then you decide to upgrade the motor and then you find out what a bath (financially) you'll take if you want to make the switch.  You settle for not making the upgrade because of the finances and keeping what you've got or you try and sell it and then you find out nobody wants it because it's so grossly underpowered.

Just my opinion of course.  

cart i always enjoy your input on boats and boat ownership.   you must be in the boat business for a living  

Years of knowing guys in the biz along with the usual mistakes made along the way by myself and others.  You pick up a thing or two.  

[hwsanders]

Great advice already given.  I would like to add; I was in the same situation you are in now, however I did a little shopping around and bought a 2005 Nitro 700DC in March 2006 (still in showroom) from Bass Pro Shop in Nashville Tennessee for $11,000.00.  Don't be afraid to haggle a little bit, you may get more for your money.

[Daniel My Brother]

My best friend lives 10 miles from Coffeen lake, a 25hp limit lake east of St. Louis.  He has the same boat you're looking at (I think it's a 2002). He weighs in around 210, I'm about 180. We carry 2 coolers, and plenty of gear and that little boat gets up on plane no problem and peaks out on the speedo at 24mph (I have NO idea how accurate this is). I really enjoy fishing out of this boat, even on larger lakes. If you've fished this long out of a plastic boat with an electric trolling motor, you'll be thrilled with the Tracker. I don't know if it's the best boat for the money, and I don't know what the resale value is, but it is a fine boat for fishing.

Good luck!