Tracker 2018 Heritage/2019 Classic edition boat

[Quick44]

7 hours ago, Bolar said:

I had it out for the second time yesterday .  Step 2 engine break-in complete , and I'm definitely into Step 3.  It was a little windy, 10-18 mph, and it certainly was cold.  The boat handled great in the small waves and wind.  The max rpm achieved was 5600 and max speed 32 mph, even with the wind.  I used an app on my phone to measure the speed.  Something I did notice, steering seems a little squishy at max speed.  I don't know if that's the nature of the beast, but something to note. 

 

For me the biggest part of the beak-in is complete.  Step 3 which reads, "For the next eight hours of operation, avoid continuous operation at full throttle for more than five minutes at a time." is how it will be mostly driven anyway. 

 

I had the wife with me this time.  It helps to have some ballast on the other side of the boat (as little as that maybe).  By-yourself it does list a little to the starboard.   I know it's only March but I need some warmer weather to get out there and finally fish   .

 

One other note, when you launch and recover everyone will notice this boat and want to check it out .

 

17 minutes ago, JimW said:

Don, the anticipation and excitement of your son is more than worth the price of the boat. Have a great summer.

Congrats......a special purchase it will be....especially when HE gets the big one :-)

[Quick44]

On 3/3/2018 at 8:53 AM, Fuzz said:

 

Nice video. Looking forward to seeing your mods. Mine has a build date of 3/28 so delivery around mid April.

Super video ....very informative for a novice like myself....thanks for sharing

[therivermonster]

After looking the boat over a number of times at our local Bass Pro and researching the boat online, I put a deposit down this last Saturday. The Tracker rep was very informative about the process, but it sounds like I'll have to wait until at least August before my boat gets built. I suppose I'll have plenty of time to prepare for it. I also mentioned my concerns to the rep about quality being sacrificed for quantity, but he assured me that every boat is being meticulously built just as all Tracker boats have been. I hope this is true. Fingers crossed!

[jaimeastin]

That's for the feedback!  I shave a few more videos coming.  Learn from my dog and don't, lol. 

 

I have both new fish finders wired up.  Getting that right side panel off just didn't happen... So I cut the wore to to the lowrance transducer.  In hindsight site, I maybe syould have left itans had two... That wire might be like enough to get to bow for some of you.  I wanted to move it to one of the kayaks anyhow, so I may fine with that.  I will post a video of how to fix it and I will test it in my pool.

 

Ok... So  first pet peeves.  Tracker drilled holes for the that fish finder. They used rubber and steel/aluminum gaskets.  I thought my Garmin mount would fit the holes but they did not.  So I was off to make a transducer mount out of a poly cutting board.  Thing is I want a least  a half inch to 3/4 of an inch.  All cutting boards were 30mm.  I need a restaurant quality one.  I could not find one and did not want to drive to BP... Or just wait for one to be shipped.  I make one out of two... After all of those hours, I bought one today and installed it, lol! 

 

Instead of drilling more holes, I used the three holes that they drilled.  I went from. Their #10 hex to #12 flat head.  I modified the transducer block with holes and creveces that the epoxy could lock most in. Nothing really sticks to poly.  I mades sure I sealed the holes with 3m 5200 when I screwed rhem in.  

 

Buy #10 and 12 oval hesd screws.  The ones they used stripped out.  I used all of the same holes.  Try to work with friend if you can.

 

Thank for the tip about lock hatch sharp edges.  I filed mine down but then decided to put some rubber gasket on it. It is not to insulate, more aesthetics.

 

I have a little trouble figuring out where to mount charger. What are you all going to do?  I tried mounting in the battery hatch, which I liked I have it on wood.  I just don't know ow if it ok to have back there with gas and batteries.  I am thinking about putting it in the locked storeage, buy then it will be enclosed when it does a lot of its charging.  Finally I was going to mount it on the inside of the transom.  This way it is fareast away from the batteries and gas, it is not covered and all can vent by the design of the boat. But I canopen the hatch further for maximum venting...

 

I will be finishing up today.  I will have a video done then as well as some how-to.

[J Francho]

You should be alright to put the charger with the batteries.  I always lift the lid and slide a small block of wood in when charging.

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

On ‎3‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 1:54 AM, jaimeastin said:

Video Overview.  https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=YlR-dYYrKuM

Thanks Jamie … great video and you have given us a lot of practical information for when our boats arrive and we start prepping for use.  Thanks again brother!

[jaimeastin]

1 hour ago, therivermonster said:

After looking the boat over a number of times at our local Bass Pro and researching the boat online, I put a deposit down this last Saturday. The Tracker rep was very informative about the process, but it sounds like I'll have to wait until at least August before my boat gets built. I suppose I'll have plenty of time to prepare for it. I also mentioned my concerns to the rep about quality being sacrificed for quantity, but he assured me that every boat is being meticulously built just as all Tracker boats have been. I hope this is true. Fingers crossed!

Might be better by then... They a humping now.  What you hear from us who have it true... Kinda messy and I found a few minor nuances... But nothing the ding the quality.  The boat is nothing more or less than what they are advertising.  It is a solid investment and you will be happy. 

 

On a positive note, you will be extremely prepared.  Us on or me on the bleeding edge will make some decisions, some mistakes and other choices that you can do even better after seeing everyone enhancements.

 

Honestly, it could be argued that no modifications should be made.  If I wasn't so "me" I would have left it alone.  Don't be pressured to need to do anything.  The fish finder works... 

 

Congratulations

[jaimeastin]

20 minutes ago, Bisk1tSnGraV said:

Thanks Jamie … great video and you have given us a lot of practical information for when our boats arrive and we start prepping for use.  Thanks again brother!

You all are very welcome.  That's what we do here.  Share with one another.  I love open forums and YouTube.  We can leave something positive that we never know who all read and help. 

 

[conceptmachine]

1 hour ago, therivermonster said:

After looking the boat over a number of times at our local Bass Pro and researching the boat online, I put a deposit down this last Saturday. The Tracker rep was very informative about the process, but it sounds like I'll have to wait until at least August before my boat gets built. I suppose I'll have plenty of time to prepare for it. I also mentioned my concerns to the rep about quality being sacrificed for quantity, but he assured me that every boat is being meticulously built just as all Tracker boats have been. I hope this is true. Fingers crossed!

congrats man!  finally someone after me

 orders still must be rolling in because I ordered a couple weeks ago and they said late June.

that's fine with me but I am still thinking about getting a 175 as I like the 4 person capacity and the rod storage.  I want a smaller boat and like the vintage look...so I may stick it out.

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

11 minutes ago, jaimeastin said:

You all are very welcome.  That's what we do here.  Share with one another.  I love open forums and YouTube.  We can leave something positive that we never know who all read and help. 

 

Is it okay with you if I share your YouTube on my Facebook Group?  There are a lot of guys there who would love this information.

[thinkingredneck]

On Friday, December 15, 2017 at 9:52 AM, 12poundbass said:

Anybody seen the new 40th anniversary boat? It's a great price at $9995, but the "chocolate Brown" carpet and seats aren't my cup of tea. I know it's a throw back boat, but whoa those colors are ugly. The hub caps are cool though. LOL 

 

For you guys who lived and remember the 70's do you look back and cringe at the browns, yellows, and pea greens used all over the place? Those were some hideous colors. ?

 

 

It looked different back then.  Maybe it was the haze we were in...

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

2 hours ago, therivermonster said:

After looking the boat over a number of times at our local Bass Pro and researching the boat online, I put a deposit down this last Saturday. The Tracker rep was very informative about the process, but it sounds like I'll have to wait until at least August before my boat gets built. I suppose I'll have plenty of time to prepare for it. I also mentioned my concerns to the rep about quality being sacrificed for quantity, but he assured me that every boat is being meticulously built just as all Tracker boats have been. I hope this is true. Fingers crossed!

You are right in my corner of the PNW.  Congrats and hope the time goes fast.

[Bolar]

6 hours ago, jaimeastin said:

That's for the feedback!  I shave a few more videos coming.  Learn from my dog and don't, lol. 

 

I have both new fish finders wired up.  Getting that right side panel off just didn't happen... So I cut the wore to to the lowrance transducer.  In hindsight site, I maybe syould have left itans had two... That wire might be like enough to get to bow for some of you.  I wanted to move it to one of the kayaks anyhow, so I may fine with that.  I will post a video of how to fix it and I will test it in my pool.

 

Ok... So  first pet peeves.  Tracker drilled holes for the that fish finder. They used rubber and steel/aluminum gaskets.  I thought my Garmin mount would fit the holes but they did not.  So I was off to make a transducer mount out of a poly cutting board.  Thing is I want a least  a half inch to 3/4 of an inch.  All cutting boards were 30mm.  I need a restaurant quality one.  I could not find one and did not want to drive to BP... Or just wait for one to be shipped.  I make one out of two... After all of those hours, I bought one today and installed it, lol! 

 

Instead of drilling more holes, I used the three holes that they drilled.  I went from. Their #10 hex to #12 flat head.  I modified the transducer block with holes and creveces that the epoxy could lock most in. Nothing really sticks to poly.  I mades sure I sealed the holes with 3m 5200 when I screwed rhem in.  

 

Buy #10 and 12 oval hesd screws.  The ones they used stripped out.  I used all of the same holes.  Try to work with friend if you can.

 

Thank for the tip about lock hatch sharp edges.  I filed mine down but then decided to put some rubber gasket on it. It is not to insulate, more aesthetics.

 

I have a little trouble figuring out where to mount charger. What are you all going to do?  I tried mounting in the battery hatch, which I liked I have it on wood.  I just don't know ow if it ok to have back there with gas and batteries.  I am thinking about putting it in the locked storeage, buy then it will be enclosed when it does a lot of its charging.  Finally I was going to mount it on the inside of the transom.  This way it is fareast away from the batteries and gas, it is not covered and all can vent by the design of the boat. But I canopen the hatch further for maximum venting...

 

I will be finishing up today.  I will have a video done then as well as some how-to.

 

 

 

 I figured that's how the hoses where hooked up, glad to actually see it.  Can you still lock the rear storage OK with the window seal?  Nice idea.

[Fishing Rhino]

You guys have a nice thread going on here.  

 

But these guys might give you a run for your money, or vice versa.  You've got some serious catching up to do, but this is what happens with the very popular types of boats.  It may be kayaks, or canoes, or this one.

 

Any Pelican Bass Raider Owners Out There?  This thread is 109 pages long, but it was started years ago.  Sometimes it disappears from the front page, but always makes a come back.

[Coweta]

Sorry, I tried to post in the Tracker Heritage thread and missed, somehow. After that I lost it. Doesn’t say much for my computer skills.

[jaimeastin]

12 hours ago, Bisk1tSnGraV said:

Is it okay with you if I share your YouTube on my Facebook Group?  There are a lot of guys there who would love this information.

Of course it is

7 hours ago, Bolar said:

 

 I figured that's how the hoses where hooked up, glad to actually see it.  Can you still lock the rear storage OK with the window seal?  Nice idea.

Yes you can.  Especially if you only cover the under and upper edge.  My pictures many not show it, but this covers the sharp edges as it is filled over the edge topand bottom

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

Hey Jaime … quick question as you have been under the hood more than most.  How are electronics wired to the batteries?  Do they feed off of the cranking battery or is it the trolling battery.  Thanks.

[conceptmachine]

Fellas, anyone here regret getting this boat so far?  just wanting to know overall satisfaction.

another situation I don't understand.

The 170 says 4 person or 555lbs.

this one says 3 person or 555 lbs.

why is this?  it' s still the same weight isn't that the main goal, not to go over the 555 lbs?

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, Bisk1tSnGraV said:

Hey Jaime … quick question as you have been under the hood more than most.  How are electronics wired to the batteries?  Do they feed off of the cranking battery or is it the trolling battery.  Thanks.

Don't have first hand experience for this particular rig, industry standard see trolling motors as stand alone unit on the battery(s) and all accessories run off the cranker.

 

A-Jay

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

Just now, A-Jay said:

Don't have first hand experience for this particular rig, industry standard see trolling motors as stand alone unit on the battery(s) and all accessories run off the cranker.

 

A-Jay

Thanks … that was my thought as well.

[ratman]

Just mounted charger in battery compartment on port side as far forward as i could get it.Looks like a good spot to me.Drilled holes and used stainless screws.

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

2 minutes ago, ratman said:

Just mounted charger in battery compartment on port side as far forward as i could get it.Looks like a good spot to me.Drilled holes and used stainless screws.

Which charger did you end up going with?

[jaimeastin]

2 hours ago, Bisk1tSnGraV said:

Hey Jaime … quick question as you have been under the hood more than most.  How are electronics wired to the batteries?  Do they feed off of the cranking battery or is it the trolling battery.  Thanks.

They feed off of the cranking battery... which brings me to a minor dilemma for me...  I am going to put a third battery in my boat, no doubt. 

1. I wanted to setup a parallel 12v for the trolling motor so that I will have tons of trolling time, but I will have to buy a new battery. 
2. If I just put the one I have in there (Grp 27year and half old battery), I can just have it available as a spare.  IF the trolling motor or the starter die, I can just hook up the spare to get me trolling again, or get me started. 
3. My third option is to just move all electronics to the third battery and not have it draining the starter battery.  This way, push come to shove, I can move things around if I have to. 

I know that some people say the fish finder will not work well with the trolling motor, but I hate to be comfortable using electronics all day/night and then I cant start the boat!  I would love to move the electronics and trolling motor to a 12v parallel set up.  This way, I will have a ton of power and the starter batter is separate.  Decisions...

Don't even get me started on the gas tank... is it enough?!  LOL!  I plan to take some extra just in case... At least until I run the boat around and get a feel for it.

1 hour ago, ratman said:

Just mounted charger in battery compartment on port side as far forward as i could get it.Looks like a good spot to me.Drilled holes and used stainless screws.

That is where I initially mounted mine, in the battery compartment against the wall that separates it from the storage compartment.  It seemed to be fine... But I don't want to create some kind of danger zone... This is after I read the precautions I chickened out until I can get some more information.  I am thinking about putting it in the storage compartment, which I do not want to do.  I am also thinking of mounting it to the stern... Not really mounting, just propping it up.  I is mounted on a board with equal circumference around it. 

[A-Jay]

6 hours ago, jaimeastin said:

They feed off of the cranking battery... which brings me to a minor dilemma for me...  I am going to put a third battery in my boat, no doubt. 

1. I wanted to setup a parallel 12v for the trolling motor so that I will have tons of trolling time, but I will have to buy a new battery. 
2. If I just put the one I have in there (Grp 27year and half old battery), I can just have it available as a spare.  IF the trolling motor or the starter die, I can just hook up the spare to get me trolling again, or get me started. 
3. My third option is to just move all electronics to the third battery and not have it draining the starter battery.  This way, push come to shove, I can move things around if I have to. 

I know that some people say the fish finder will not work well with the trolling motor, but I hate to be comfortable using electronics all day/night and then I cant start the boat!  I would love to move the electronics and trolling motor to a 12v parallel set up.  This way, I will have a ton of power and the starter batter is separate.  Decisions...

Don't even get me started on the gas tank... is it enough?!  LOL!  I plan to take some extra just in case... At least until I run the boat around and get a feel for it.

Regardless of how many batteries you decide to go with, having them all  (including the cranker) connected to and getting juice from your installed battery charger is a solid plan. 

Additionally, this product can offer peace of mind as well. 

https://no.co/products/power/jumpstarters

A-Jay

 

[jaimeastin]

2 hours ago, conceptmachine said:

Fellas, anyone here regret getting this boat so far?  just wanting to know overall satisfaction.

another situation I don't understand.

The 170 says 4 person or 555lbs.

this one says 3 person or 555 lbs.

why is this?  it' s still the same weight isn't that the main goal, not to go over the 555 lbs?

I think they seating layout is the issue... Still boggles my mind.  I will do 4 people if I take an adult and couple kids or something. On the heritage  label, they have the sticker that says 3 people with two sitting in the seat and the 3rd sitting in the area in from of the passenger seat. 

 

I planed to put some kind of step/set in the middle.  then I thought about just make it a step/console as I do not plan to make my boat a ferry :O).  Finally I just said, they can sit on a cooler  or the floor in front of the passenger.:).

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Regardless of how many batteries you decide to go with, having them all  (including the cranker) connected to and getting juice from your installer battery charger is a solid plan. 

Additionally, this product can offer peace of mind as well. 

https://no.co/products/power/jumpstarters

A-Jay

 

Bravo!  A jump starter would be just what  I need on the cranker...

 

Curious question for you now... Can you jump start a cranking battery from another battery?