Tracker boats

[12poundbass]

After doing a lot of research I've decided I'm going with a Tracker 175TXW. I'm leaning towards getting a new one instead of used. 

   I happened to be by the closest Tracker dealer to me yesterday so I stopped in and checked them out in person for the first time in about six years. I got to talking pricing with the sale man and he said with the "No haggle no hassle pricing" the price is the same no matter where you go. Is this true no haggling? 

   Then came the talk about electronics.

I talked with the service manager and the labor for 2 Helix units is $500! I asked the salesman if I buy this boat will you install for free? Flat out NO. It doesn't even sound like he'd be willing to negotiate on install labor. What is your experience with haggling when buying a new boat? I mean geez if I'm going to drop that kind of money plus electronics you'd think there'd be something.

  Side note a while back I responded to a post about installing electronics and I said I'd do it myself and save the money. I'll admit I might be eating some crow. After looking through the boat I would be a little nervous about removing part of the flooring to run wires on a brand new boat! The wiring, no problem, running/hiding the wires yup, crow doesn't taste good. Lol thanks guys!

[fishnkamp]

Their base price is the same no matter which store you buy from. However there are differences in freight and prep charges from store to store. These are set by Tracker itself.  If it were me I would contact the other Tracker dealers in your state and compare the boat laid out the way you want it from each dealer.  See how close each dealer is on price. My two closest Bass Pros are very different in the boat service departments. 

[PECo]

Running wires for electronics isn't THAT hard, even on an aluminum boat. You just have to locate the existing wiring chase so that you can get through all of the foam.

 

Do it yourself. You'll be happier with the installation, in the end.

 

Oh, and that's a nice boat.

[Avalonjohn44]

$500 for two Helix mountings is high, IMO. I was quoted $120 for mounting the the Helix 7 and the side imaging transducer...

[slonezp]

More than likely the power wires were run to the bow and console from the factory. You will just need to pull the transducer wires and mount the units. 

One other thing. Can you order the boat from the factory with the electronics installed and would it be cheaper than having the dealer do it?

[Further North]

$500 to mount two Helix units is nuts, IMO.

 

Even if you're putting in a a hub, and a Terrova, it's nuts.

 

You can do this in a long afternoon in your garage, with a buddy.  I've done a bunch of them. My last install was a Helix 12, a Helix 10, a hub, an Ulterra and a Humminbird 360°.  No way I'd pay $500 for that.

 

PECo's cot it exactly right.

6 hours ago, PECo said:

Running wires for electronics isn't THAT hard, even on an aluminum boat. You just have to locate the existing wiring chase so that you can get through all of the foam.

 

Do it yourself. You'll be happier with the installation, in the end.

 

Oh, and that's a nice boat.

Unless you are all thumbs and lack basic mechanical ability (which is fine, lots of people do) this is an easy project.

[moguy1973]

Running wires on Pro Team 175txw's is a piece of cake.  There are screws that hold down the  throttle control area and more that hold down the  wire race down the rear starboard deck.  Took me about 30 minutes to run the wires and install my Garmin unit at the dash, about an hour to install my front one, and that included going to to the hardware store to get a fish tape to help run the wires under the front deck.  They are pre-wired up front for power for the finder if there isn't one already installed.

 

If they charge $500 to install two units I'm in the wrong business as an hour and a half to install two works out to be $334/hour

[12poundbass]

This is exactly what I'm looking for. The wiring I'm confident in, it's running the wires/removing the panels is what I'm unsure of. Any videos you could direct me to would be great. The other thing is I'd get the hdsi transducer which I'd/they would have to wait for so I might have to do myself anyways. Thanks guys!

[12poundbass]

13 hours ago, slonezp said:

More than likely the power wires were run to the bow and console from the factory. You will just need to pull the transducer wires and mount the units. 

One other thing. Can you order the boat from the factory with the electronics installed and would it be cheaper than having the dealer do it?

That's a good question and I will have to check into it. It's going to be a little while before I actually purchase the boat. I'm taking this slow so I know I get exactly what I want.

[fishnkamp]

15 hours ago, slonezp said:

One other thing. Can you order the boat from the factory with the electronics installed and would it be cheaper than having the dealer do it?

Unfortunately you can not order your choice of electronics by custom ordering it from their factory, at least not on that boat. I checked the "Build a Boat" section on Tracker's website. They do not offer any electronics in their "Options" section.  What they offer their is stuff that mounts to their accessory rails for the most part. 

That was my first thought so I checked. It is the main reason I suggested he put on paper exactly what he wants and then shop each Tracker dealer in his state.  I live in Baltimore MD and there is a huge difference between the manager's policies in our MD Bass Pro/Tracker Marine and the manager's policies in the Bass Pro/Tracker Marine shop in Harrisburg PA. The man running that PA shop was willing to take used engine trades on engine repowers. All he did was have his guys check it out and give you a fair value towards another used or new engine.  He charged you labor as well, but fairly.  He also was happy to ad electronics, downriggers and other gear. His workers never worried about the economy and their employment, while I observed our MD shop had no work sometimes. In my case I traded in a perfectly working 9.9HP 4 stroke for a well kept 25 HP 2 stroke. I paid the difference and walked out happy. His employees had work, he made money because the 25 had been traded in on a 115 Hp Optimax ( so he sold them a new motor) and the customer outfitted "Dad's old boat" with a complete set of downriggers they purchased in the store.  He made money selling me my engine and charging a fair price for that engine and to install it. He made money selling that motor of mine for a Susqy river jon boat no doubt.

I say all that to say the manager of the department can make a difference in your sales deal.  Go shop within your state. If you need service your local Tracker dealer will still supply that  

[A5BLASTER]

As a owner of a tracker boat let me say this first and hope you will take it as helpful advice, take your money and shop with a diffrent boat company.

 

When they say the price is the same no matter where you go that is false my boat was 1500 dollars cheaper buying it at basspro in bossier then it was buying it at a dealer closer to my house and yes that was for the exact same setup.

 

Also their hatches, lids and hinges don't hold up to wear and tear, now I use my boat alot like every day, so if you don't use it much it may last better.

 

Also you can get whatever you want as for as trolling motors and electronics in the boat if you go with a diffrent company.

 

Tracker as set options on what you can get and it's a arm and leg cost to have them install them, they charge you for the part, labor, freight and shipping, how can you run a buisness and not have inventory on hand to install options asked for.

 

You can spend your money how ever you think is best but I'm just trying to give you something to think off from my experience of dealing with them and owning one for a few years now.

 

If I had to do it over again and buy a new boat I would go with a ranger,nitro are some other brand.

 

Hope this helps you sir.

[Fishing Rhino]

9 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

Unfortunately you can not order your choice of electronics by custom ordering it from their factory, at least not on that boat. I checked the "Build a Boat" section on Tracker's website. They do not offer any electronics in their "Options" section.  What they offer their is stuff that mounts to their accessory rails for the most part. 

That was my first thought so I checked. It is the main reason I suggested he put on paper exactly what he wants and then shop each Tracker dealer in his state.  I live in Baltimore MD and there is a huge difference between the manager's policies in our MD Bass Pro/Tracker Marine and the manager's policies in the Bass Pro/Tracker Marine shop in Harrisburg PA. The man running that PA shop was willing to take used engine trades on engine repowers. All he did was have his guys check it out and give you a fair value towards another used or new engine.  He charged you labor as well, but fairly.  He also was happy to ad electronics, downriggers and other gear. His workers never worried about the economy and their employment, while I observed our MD shop had no work sometimes. In my case I traded in a perfectly working 9.9HP 4 stroke for a well kept 25 HP 2 stroke. I paid the difference and walked out happy. His employees had work, he made money because the 25 had been traded in on a 115 Hp Optimax ( so he sold them a new motor) and the customer outfitted "Dad's old boat" with a complete set of downriggers they purchased in the store.  He made money selling me my engine and charging a fair price for that engine and to install it. He made money selling that motor of mine for a Susqy river jon boat no doubt.

I say all that to say the manager of the department can make a difference in your sales deal.  Go shop within your state. If you need service your local Tracker dealer will still supply that  

 

Let me tell you about my experience with the manager at the BPS in Harrisburg.

 

I was on my way from MA to Pickwick in 2015.  I'd been checking my hubs and all was fine until I got to the PA state line on I-78.  Stopped for fuel and the right rear wheel was covered with grease.  This was about ten o'clock at night, and raining.  I put more grease in that wheel and continued on my way, stopping every half hour or so to check the wheel.  Got onto  81 south and stopped at the rest area just north of Harrisburg.  The grease cap on the left rear was gone, and the wheel was steaming.  It was now about one in the morning.  Jacked up the wheel, spun it, and blessed silence.  Pumped more grease into that wheel, and drove slowly to Harrisburg.

 

The rain finally let up by daylight.  So I headed south to Harrisburg, stopping for breakfast along the way.  Got to the BPS without further incident, parked in the Tracker Marine area about an hour before the store opened.  A half hour or more before the store opened, there was a tap at my window.  

 

Turned out it was the manager of the service department.  Told him what had happened.  He checked the trailer.  No damage.  I got a set of grease caps and the rubber plugs, and spares, as well as a tube of grease, just in case.  I replaced the missing cap, as well as the one that was leaking on the other side of the trailer.

 

The manager sent out an employee with a grease gun and a jack.  We jacked up the wheels, made sure everything was properly lubed, and he sent me on my way.  I was back on the road before the store opened.  He gave me a discount on the parts, and wouldn't let me give him ten bucks for lunch.

 

I'll always have fond memories of the fellow that went above and beyond.

[WIGuide]

On 6/9/2017 at 11:34 PM, 12poundbass said:

This is exactly what I'm looking for. The wiring I'm confident in, it's running the wires/removing the panels is what I'm unsure of. Any videos you could direct me to would be great. The other thing is I'd get the hdsi transducer which I'd/they would have to wait for so I might have to do myself anyways. Thanks guys!

Running the wires on these is easily done if they haven't changed them. My buddy has one and there is a trim piece that runs along the back deck. There are like 6 or so screws that hold it on. Nothing is hidden, it's all right there. You take that off and run the wires behind it.