87 Bass tracker Tournament TX advice needed!!

[Basshound92]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum and happy to be here! Last year I obtained a 87 Bass Tracker Tournament TX which I'm stoked about because its the first boat I've ever owned(not considering canoes and kayaks). It came with a depth finder, trailer and 50lb trolling motor but no engine... reason why I'm posting. I've been out in a local pond just trolling around and I really like the boat but now that I'm ready to buy a engine for it and get to some real water I need some help. Not looking for my hand to be held I just need to be pointed in the right direction because none of my family or friends know enough to help and like I said... this is my first boat so I know NOTHING about this world. 

 

I'm in the used market. I know the boat is rated for a 90hp but here in NC I am having a hard time coming by a decent one or really a 90 at all because I would like to max out for what it's rated for. Through my troubles I've started to look for smaller engines but my big question is how small can I go before the engine is overloaded trying to push this 17' aluminium boat? I'm in a few facebook groups and I saw one guy with the exact same boat with a 40hp on his and I wanted to ask him how it pushes it but cant find it again. Also does anyone know if going over the rated hp creates issues with registration or legal issues? I see a ton of 115hp engines on craigslist and I'd totally do that but I don't want to violate anything. 

 

Thanks a lot for any responses guys, it's like pulling teeth to learn anything about this just by asking people I know.

 

[fishnkamp]

I would stay with a 75 hp to work well.  The standard package was probably a 50 and options ran a 75 and a 90.

 

[Goldstar225]

 I recently sold my 87 tracker tx17 that I fished out of for seven years.  It was equipped with a 70 HP Yamaha and the plate rated it at a max of 75 HP.  IMO a 50 HP or more will scoot the boat along on plane just fine.  With my Yamaha I would rarely use more than 2/3 throttle which put me at 26-28 MPH.  WOT  I would hit 36-37 MPH by GPS but I believe that was way below it's potential since the bottom of the hull had gone over hundreds of stumps in it's life time.

[Cory Doras]

2 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

I would stay with a 75 hp to work well.  The standard package was probably a 50 and options ran a 75 and a 90.

 

I agree 

[fishnkamp]

By the way, you said the boat had no motor. Does it have the steering control cables and the throttle control box still on the boat? If it has the throttle control box on the boat it will be cheaper to stay with that brand of used motor. Otherwise you will need a motor and controls.

 

I would start checking with all the bass boat dealers in your area to see what they may have, check Craigslist and even E Bay. My Mercury 75 HP 3 cyl motor came from a company in Rhode Island and they shipped it to MD. My dealer charged me about $300 to be the shipping destination, take it off the pallet and install it on my boat. I paid them a few hundred dollars more to reseal the trim tilt  cylinders that began leaking later and to replace a water pump and get everything working nice. It was well worth it to me since I had no idea when the motor had been service last.  It came from a salt water boat so I had the zincs replaced new plugs and a few other things.  I am still running that motor and it works great., Best of all I spent less than 1/2 of what a new motor would have cost.

 

I know you said you live in NC so check NC, SC and man there are more engines in Florida so you may have to do some looking but they are out there.

 

Check out Boat Trader. I did and came up with some rebuilt engines down in Florida. You could ship it up or take your boat down and have them do an install. They had a 2002 Yamaha 70 rebuilt with a warranty for $4200.  Look here:

 

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2002-yamaha-70-hp-102153088 

Here is his inventory page

http://www.boattrader.com/dealers/Outboards-Unlimited/2879864

[Basshound92]

4 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

By the way, you said the boat had no motor. Does it have the steering control cables and the throttle control box still on the boat? If it has the throttle control box on the boat it will be cheaper to stay with that brand of used motor. Otherwise you will need a motor and controls.

 

I would start checking with all the bass boat dealers in your area to see what they may have, check Craigslist and even E Bay. My Mercury 75 HP 3 cyl motor came from a company in Rhode Island and they shipped it to MD. My dealer charged me about $300 to be the shipping destination, take it off the pallet and install it on my boat. I paid them a few hundred dollars more to reseal the trim tilt  cylinders that began leaking later and to replace a water pump and get everything working nice. It was well worth it to me since I had no idea when the motor had been service last.  It came from a salt water boat so I had the zincs replaced new plugs and a few other things.  I am still running that motor and it works great., Best of all I spent less than 1/2 of what a new motor would have cost.

 

I know you said you live in NC so check NC, SC and man there are more engines in Florida so you may have to do some looking but they are out there.

 

Check out Boat Trader. I did and came up with some rebuilt engines down in Florida. You could ship it up or take your boat down and have them do an install. They had a 2002 Yamaha 70 rebuilt with a warranty for $4200.  Look here:

 

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2002-yamaha-70-hp-102153088 

Here is his inventory page

http://www.boattrader.com/dealers/Outboards-Unlimited/2879864

Wow, good info man I really appreciate the help. I think my best and most comfortable route will be to order a rebuilt online. I just feel like people are snaky enough, I don't want to buy something I don't know much about on top of that. 

 

Thanks!

You asked about controls. The steering controls are there I believe but no throttle controls. The guy I got the boat from took the motor off and put it on another boat he bought and I can only assume he took the controls with it. The boat is currently stored at my old mans house since I live in a townhouse and work on the road through the week. I'll be with the boat this weekend

[Jig Man]

Just don't over power.  Insurance and liability would be major concerns in this day and age.

[fishnkamp]

Well then a place like I shared with you in Florida that rebuilds them and also has controls as well as offers installation might be your best option.  Besides it might make a great short vacation. Trailer it down, have it installed and test run it in one of the local waters. Oh by the way make sure you get a fishing license and take some rods. LOL  You may go down for an engine and come home having caught your lifetime personal best bass.

 

[Munkin]

I had a 2002 17' Tracker and the max rating was 75hp. Putting on something bigger is not recommended as it voids insurance, etc. I ran a 75 Merc EFI and could hit 45mph which is decent. Having ridden in other Trackers I would not go below 50hp.

 

Allen

[Troy85]

I had a 70 on a similar boat, It was good out of the hole and would top out about high 30's.  I was pleased with the overall performance.

[Castaways Delaware]

I had the same model and year for my first boat.  Mine came with a 45hp Mercury motor and it ran around great at just under 30mph.  I remember thinking it was a great motor for me to start, because it was faster than anything I had ever had prior (electric motors and canoes) but not so fast that I was overwhelmed.  

[Basshound92]

Ended up ordering a rebuilt Johnson 90 from Outboards Unlimited. Thanks for the help guys! 

[fishnkamp]

That is cool. I had a conversation with that guy.  He should take care of you very well.