Tracker 2018 Heritage/2019 Classic edition boat

[jbuchanan]

58 minutes ago, Linker hunter said:

For those of you who got that two bank charger for 68 bucks from Walmart ,I did get approved for that 25 rebate. So make sure you do that online . Didn’t think I would cause fine print said no discount ,buuuut I got it sooo 43 benjamins total lol wait I don’t know what Benjamin’s are so I better say dollars ??

Thanks for heads up. I just purchased one myself this morning

[Bolar]

I just popped the hub caps to grease the bearings.   They use Lucas Red and Tacky (which I read in their brochure).  There was quite a bit in there but it took some more before it started to push out.   I'm using marine grease now which will replace that.   

 

One cap was a little lose on the wheel.  There are three nubs on the rim that hold the cap on.   I took a rubber mallet and lightly tapped a couple edges of the cap and popped it back on.   It seems pretty secure now.   I also checked the lug nuts while I was there and they were all fine .   

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

11 hours ago, jbuchanan said:

Thanks for heads up. I just purchased one myself this morning

Good information … I got mine delivered earlier this week and need to submit that rebate.  Thanks!

[ratman]

I used charger twice,works great.Went fishing all day yesterday,at least 8 hours on trolling motor(not steady of course)plugged it in last night,cranking takes about 5 min to charge and trolling is done by morning.That works perfect for me.I think I got a lucky boat, caught at fish every time Ive been.Did not take any poles during break-in,pulled boat out water and had a catfish in spare tire.

[boostr]

23 hours ago, J Francho said:

US Coast Guard rules are what drive state laws.  Block lettering is not italicized, sans serif, with squared edges, meaning not bubble letters.  Spacing is the width of one letter, not including "I".  Contrasting color is also a USCG requirement.

Mine are italicized and I haven't had an issue. The only time Police from NJ and NY have come up to me was to check my fishing license, and never mentioned anything about the lettering.

[J Francho]

39 minutes ago, boostr said:

Mine are italicized and I haven't had an issue. The only time Police from NJ and NY have come up to me was to check my fishing license, and never mentioned anything about the lettering.

Does it matter if it hasn't been a problem for you?  That doesn't change the legality of the issue.  I once drove around undetected with an expired inspection sticker for 3 months.  I had forgotten it had expired, until I noticed I was the only one with a different color sticker.  Does that mean we can skip the inspection, or do whenever we feel like?  Think about it, *most* of the participants in this thread are going to be first time boat owner/operators.  Let's put them on the right path, instead of what's "good enough."

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Does it matter if it hasn't been a problem for you?  That doesn't change the legality of the issue.  I once drove around undetected with an expired inspection sticker for 3 months.  I had forgotten it had expired, until I noticed I was the only one with a different color sticker.  Does that mean we can skip the inspection, or do whenever we feel like?  Think about it, *most* of the participants in this thread are going to be first time boat owner/operators.  Let's put them on the right path, instead of what's "good enough."

Very nicely said.

[boostr]

11 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Does it matter if it hasn't been a problem for you?  That doesn't change the legality of the issue.  I once drove around undetected with an expired inspection sticker for 3 months.  I had forgotten it had expired, until I noticed I was the only one with a different color sticker.  Does that mean we can skip the inspection, or do whenever we feel like?  Think about it, *most* of the participants in this thread are going to be first time boat owner/operators.  Let's put them on the right path, instead of what's "good enough."

I'm not poopooing the rules, but this is what my boat came with when I bought it. Plus I didn't know there were rules about letter shape thought as long as its visible it was good.

[J Francho]

I've been warned that I should put my numbers on my boat so the rub rail would be in the middle of the numbers!  This was a vessel inspection for a USCG sticker, done on the trailer, so maybe they were being sticklers.

I have a Bullet, and the bow rake is steep, but I'm not moving them.  Mine appear as they do in the pic below.  Seems fine for me:

 

[boostr]

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I've been warned that I should put my numbers on my boat so the rub rail would be in the middle of the numbers!  This was a vessel inspection for a USCG sticker, done on the trailer, so maybe they were being sticklers.

I have a Bullet, and the bow rake is steep, but I'm not moving them.  Mine appear as they do in the pic below.  Seems fine for me:

 

I have the same type of lettering, Isn't that Italics. Have it in the same spot as well.

[J Francho]

It only looks that way because the surface is so steeply slanted.  Also, I think my letters may be bubble letter, too.  That's not my boat, just a reference pic from the googles.

[boostr]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

It only looks that way because the surface is so steeply slanted.  Also, I think my letters may be bubble letter, too.  That's not my boat, just a reference pic from the googles.

Oh, gotcha. I find it kind of silly that they wanted the rub rail to run through them. It's a rub rail it'll get rubbed as in the numbers will get rubbed off.

[J Francho]

Right?  It's confusing.  Black or brown letters on the aluminum above the orange stripe should be good.

[A-Jay]

 

Rather than simply slapping on the same old stuff, I kicked it up a notch and went with a couple of products from 3D Lettering for the numbers & registration tag.

Good so far.

A-Jay

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SI7SX6A/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PJBBFNG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[RenegadeBassin]

Since we are sharing registration number pictures... Had mine done by a local decal business and I suggest it if any of you have one nearby. Only cost $50 for numbers and install for me.

[jaimeastin]

Ratman catching a catfish in the spare tire is funny!

 

Finally got around to trying out the cover.  It's nice.  The boat is finished and now I am running three fish finders.  My wife wanted one.  I am using a third battery for all of my electronics.  I am really thinking about a larger gas tank or a second...

 

[Bolar]

New mod., sort of.  I could never get the straps for the batteries tight.  The roads around me are horrible and I know the batteries are bouncing around back there like a baby rattle.  I found some 1" ratcheting straps and replaced the ones that came with the boat.  They are long so I trimmed them with an old X-acto knife I heated up.  One less thing to worry about .

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077H7WBSZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

3 minutes ago, Bolar said:

New mod., sort of.  I could never get the straps for the batteries tight.  The roads around me are horrible and I know the batteries are bouncing around back there like a baby rattle.  I found some 1" ratcheting straps and replaced the ones that came with the boat.  They are long so I trimmed them with an old X-acto knife I heated up.  One less thing to worry about .

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077H7WBSZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

Same could almost be done with the fuel tank as well.

[Bolar]

I have an extra I will probably put on the gas tank.  I can get that one tight, it has a metal buckle. 

[Hexorb]

2 hours ago, jaimeastin said:

Ratman catching a catfish in the spare tire is funny!

 

Finally got around to trying out the cover.  It's nice.  The boat is finished and now I am running three fish finders.  My wife wanted one.  I am using a third battery for all of my electronics.  I am really thinking about a larger gas tank or a second...

Can you post some pictures of how you have your batteries setup? I went with the Minn Kota 3 bank charger and that thing is huge! Trying to figure out how Im going to set it up.

[ratman]

Anyone have a good trick for getting rid of water spots.They don't seem to wash off.

[jaimeastin]

50 minutes ago, ratman said:

Anyone have a good trick for getting rid of water spots.They don't seem to wash off.

Acetone.  When I was replacing the transducer with a block, I used acetone to clean the hull.  It cleaned just about Avery spot on there.  91% alcohol is good as well.  

 

Depending on what you are cleaning/preping, both acetone and alcohol have pros that they evoprate quickly.  Acetone leaves a slight residue, but you usually get that as you are whipping it up.  

 

As I said both can promote or prevent certain adhesives to bond.  Not an issue for what you are doing.  These are some of the best cleaners.  I use them when I prep some of my custom gun work.

[conceptmachine]

on aluminum, a weee bit of w-d40 on a micro fiber should take it right off.  at least that's What I use on my parts at work.  it will probably cause a slight discoloration because of the oil it it but if you wipe it with a clean dry microfiber it will dry up and look even.

[jaimeastin]

2 hours ago, Hexorb said:

Can you post some pictures of how you have your batteries setup? I went with the Minn Kota 3 bank charger and that thing is huge! Trying to figure out how Im going to set it up.

I will get some pics for you tonight.  I have the pro Mariner tripple bank 20plus. It's about 6 lbs.  I had mounted on the rear panel in the back of the hatch.  Currently I have it laying on the floor in the back.  It's on a board.  Both ways work.  It have it on the floor as the board keeps my battery box from moving.  

 

I am toying with ideas to creak the most room.  Now I am debating on adding more gas reaserve.  

[ratman]

1 hour ago, jaimeastin said:

I will get some pics for you tonight.  I have the pro Mariner tripple bank 20plus. It's about 6 lbs.  I had mounted on the rear panel in the back of the hatch.  Currently I have it laying on the floor in the back.  It's on a board.  Both ways work.  It have it on the floor as the board keeps my battery box from moving.  

 

I am toying with ideas to creak the most room.  Now I am debating on adding more gas reaserve.  

I just keep a 1 gal can for emergency in between transom and fuel tank.