Tracker Pro Team 175 TXW vs Crestliner VT 17 vs Lowe Stinger 175

[LoweStinger]

@J Francho I do understand what you are saying but You are comparing apples to oranges here though, Aluminum bass boats keep a high value because they are in more demand to the average weekend guy. In my area at least they are like gold around here if under 10K, soon as one comes up its gone and most of them are beat up.. 

[J Francho]

My 2005 18' Xpress H18 with a Mercury 115, upgraded Garmin electronics, blinker trim, HotFoot, air ride bike seats, etc. was $6500, FIVE YEARS AGO.  Please tell me why that Tracker is such a good deal?  It's a 15 year old, entry level boat, made by robots with thin aluminum.  They're a value packed starter boat.  The boat in the craigslist ad is overpriced.

[12poundbass]

I think the seller of the Tracker is trying to get his money back on what he paid for the TM and electronics several years ago. I don't know if boat add ons are like vehicle add ons but you don't get nearly as much back as you have invested into the extras. I do agree that the 75hp is a big plus and does add a little value since most are 50 or 60 but I'd say $6k maybe $6500 if fair. I wouldn't hesitate paying $6500 for it.

[J Francho]

Those graphs are almost 10 years old.

[12poundbass]

4 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Those graphs are almost 10 years old.

My point exactly. That's the only thing I can come up with for why it might be that much is because he's trying to get full retail back on old electronics. 

 

I have a small dealer by me who was trying to sell a '13 175TXW with a 24v on it only had a 50 on the back and he wanted $19k for it! You can buy a brand new one with a 60 and a 12v for just over $19k out the door. Needless to say it sat forever out at the road uncovered for almost a year. 

[LoweStinger]

I didn't mean to get a argument going here LOL 

[12poundbass]

1 minute ago, LoweStinger said:

I didn't mean to get a argument going here LOL 

Lol there's no argument, just a friendly debate/difference of opinions which both are good things from time to time. ?

[J Francho]

16 minutes ago, LoweStinger said:

I didn't mean to get a argument going here LOL 

 

14 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Lol there's no argument, just a friendly debate/difference of opinions which both are good things from time to time. ?

No argument, man.

 

Just friendly debate, and trying to help the OP get the best deal/right boat.

[All about da bass]

11 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Thanks again all!

 

What's your thoughts on this rig? Good deal? Not so much? I like that I wouldn't have to upgrade the trolling motor.

 

https://madison.craigslist.org/boa/d/2004-bass-tracker-pt-175/6550050801.html

 

Now, I have a really dumb question. Does boat color matter to fish? Meaning, in clearer water, are they more likely to be spooked by a brighter colored boat? I've read before that this can be the case, but I just don't know. And if so, is it more the color of the bottom of the boat that's actually in the water. or can the color outside the water affect it too (asking because this particular boat id red, but has silver hull).

Sweet ride man, I actually had one very similar to that one before I bought my fiberglass boat. It ran great and still going. I sold it to a friend of mine and he takes care of it and he still able to fish tournaments with it, no issues. Good trolling motor from what I can see and it's a good starter fish finder. That's the same one I had before I bough a few helix's. Good luck on your boat. Hope you get what you want.

[RUSS9999]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

My 2005 18' Xpress H18 with a Mercury 115, upgraded Garmin electronics, blinker trim, HotFoot, air ride bike seats, etc. was $6500, FIVE YEARS AGO.  Please tell me why that Tracker is such a good deal?  It's a 15 year old, entry level boat, made by robots with thin aluminum.  They're a value packed starter boat.  The boat in the craigslist ad is overpriced.

Here in north Mo. you would have given $8500 or more for the Xpress H18 and $6500 or less for the bullet 21XDC  The 2005 Tracker $7500 or more

[RUSS9999]

27 minutes ago, RUSS9999 said:

Here in north Mo. you would have given $8500 or more for the Xpress H18 and $6500 or less for the bullet 21XDC  The 2005 Tracker $7500 or more

Take the 115 off the H18 and put a 90 on it, then it would be $10,000

[J Francho]

Well, that doesn't make sense at all, but then again, I've never shopped for a boat in Missouri.  Why would a boat that has an underrated motor sell for more than one with the maximum.  Let alone, then sell for less than a much lower quality hull.  And why on earth would a high performance glass boat, with a hand built motor running at over 260 hp sell for even less than the Tracker.  None of this makes any sense in normal used boat market conditions.  Either there's some special circumstances, some excuse not revealed, you're pulling my chain, or you are just a huge fan of Tracker.  It's pretty easy to go up to any national used boat site and check out used prices.

[38 Super Fan]

4 hours ago, LoweStinger said:

@J Francho I do understand what you are saying but You are comparing apples to oranges here though, Aluminum bass boats keep a high value because they are in more demand to the average weekend guy. In my area at least they are like gold around here if under 10K, soon as one comes up its gone and most of them are beat up.. 

Tracker boats hold their value surprisingly well around here too. I was looking at an 06 Tracker 190 w115 Merc locally for $11k several months ago. Heck, it wasn't even in very good shape. But that's pretty much the going rate on them around here.

 

You can get a way better deal on a used glass boat. (here anyway) I ended up giving $11k for an 04 Skeeter 190 that was in excellent shape with low hours.

[RUSS9999]

46 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Well, that doesn't make sense at all, but then again, I've never shopped for a boat in Missouri.  Why would a boat that has an underrated motor sell for more than one with the maximum.  Let alone, then sell for less than a much lower quality hull.  And why on earth would a high performance glass boat, with a hand built motor running at over 260 hp sell for even less than the Tracker.  None of this makes any sense in normal used boat market conditions.  Either there's some special circumstances, some excuse not revealed, you're pulling my chain, or you are just a huge fan of Tracker.  It's pretty easy to go up to any national used boat site and check out used prices.

 North Mo. has a lot of little lakes that or 10hp, one that is 90ph. That H18 is gold with a 90 on it. With the 115 they would take 115 off the hood and but 90 on it and hope they didn't get a 200$ fine. Anything with a 60 to 90hp is what they all are looking for. No I am not a Tracker fane, did have a flat bottom 83 Tracker Tx with a 75 that I sold for $4400 ''not much of a boat'' now have a Lowe 180W with a 90 that I made a 2 day trip for

[J Francho]

3 minutes ago, RUSS9999 said:

 North Mo. has a lot of little lakes that or 10hp, one that is 90ph. That H18 is gold with a 90 on it. With the 115 they would take 115 off the hood and but 90 on it and hope they didn't get a 200$ fine. Anything with a 60 to 90hp is what they all are looking for. No I am not a Tracker fane, did have a flat bottom 83 Tracker Tx with a 75 that I sold for $4400 ''not much of a boat'' now have a Lowe 180W with a 90 that I made a 2 day trip for

I knew there were mitigating/hidden circumstances.  Keep in mind, the OP is in Wisconsin and doesn't have these restrictions.  Please tailor your responses and advice accordingly.  Holding back pertinent info doesn't make your advice better, and clouds the thread with advice that may not apply.

11 minutes ago, 38 Super Fan said:

You can get a way better deal on a used glass boat. (here anyway) I ended up giving $11k for an 04 Skeeter 190 that was in excellent shape with low hours.

 

A lot times, southern glass boats sell a little cheaper because the impression is they're used year round, and well, in the sun all day.  That's why my Bullet was so cheap.  It was a Memphis boat.

[RUSS9999]

25 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I knew there were mitigating/hidden circumstances.  Keep in mind, the OP is in Wisconsin and doesn't have these restrictions.  Please tailor your responses and advice accordingly.  Holding back pertinent info doesn't make your advice better, and clouds the thread with advice that may not apply.

 

A lot times, southern glass boats sell a little cheaper because the impression is they're used year round, and well, in the sun all day.  That's why my Bullet was so cheap.  It was a Memphis boat.

Sorry, guess I was of no help. In South Mo it would be different. The Bullet would bring a lot more and The X18 would need a 150 on it and so would my Lowe 180W. So yes I don't know if $8000 is to much for the 2005 Tracker where he is at. 

[J Francho]

15 minutes ago, RUSS9999 said:

Sorry, guess I was of no help.

A lot of people look and don't comment on these types of threads.  Maybe some people in your area caught a tidbit they can use.

[Further North]

19 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

So, regarding that 2004 Tracker I posted in my last post, in this article it mentions that the 75HP outboard is pretty heavy (375lbs).

 

http://www.trackerboats.com/pressroommedia/pdfs/215_bwblightfantastic.pdf

 

From the article:

 

On the other hand, the OptiMax 75 is a heavy outboard, and when it’s on the transom of a light hull such as the PT175, it tends to make the boat sit a lot more bow-high when the trolling motor is down — and to be quite trim sensitive when the boat is running at speed. One tick too much on the trim switch and the bow begins porpoising.

 

You think this is really a big deal? Looking at the pic in the article, does the bow seem higher than usual with the trolling motor down?

 

Thanks again guys. I know I'm being a headache with all these questions. 

 

 

If I had to pick between that Tracker and the Crestliner Fish Hawks you were looking at last week, I'd pick the Crestliners every time.

 

More versatile for the water I fish, which is a lot like the water you fish, I am guessing...since we are only a couple hours apart.

 

...if that Opti 75 weights that much...yeah, that seems heavy to me.  A Suzki DF140 weighs 410...

 

...there's a 2011 Tracker just like that up in the Twin Cities for a grand more...so put me in the "overpriced" boat with @J Francho

 

Yeah, pun intended....

 

 

[Further North]

20 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Now, I have a really dumb question. Does boat color matter to fish? Meaning, in clearer water, are they more likely to be spooked by a brighter colored boat? I've read before that this can be the case, but I just don't know. And if so, is it more the color of the bottom of the boat that's actually in the water. or can the color outside the water affect it too (asking because this particular boat id red, but has silver hull).

Short answer: No.

[NorthernBasser]

A usual, great stuff guys. I love this place. Thanks.

 

I think I really need to figure out if I want a deep V or a mod V, and then go from there. 

[38 Super Fan]

6 hours ago, J Francho said:

A lot times, southern glass boats sell a little cheaper because the impression is they're used year round, and well, in the sun all day.  That's why my Bullet was so cheap.  It was a Memphis boat.

Don't sell yourself short, you've gotta be a pretty smart shopper. I've looked at quite a few Bullets for sale, and it's rare to find a cheap one.

[NorthernBasser]

3 hours ago, Further North said:

If I had to pick between that Tracker and the Crestliner Fish Hawks you were looking at last week, I'd pick the Crestliners every time.

 

More versatile for the water I fish, which is a lot like the water you fish, I am guessing...since we are only a couple hours apart.

 

 

 

Yeah, I think the one (or 2) things that I like about the mod V is the more flush casting decks, and the fact that I can get in shallower water with ease.

 

But I'm totally aware of the pro's for the deeper V's as well. 

 

My head is spinnnnning.

[J Francho]

11 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

My head is spinnnnning.

I'm with you.  My budget is a little bigger than yours, and I'm so tempted to go with a another "bass boat" even though what I really need is a deep-v with an open cockpit and front deck.  I want to fish typical largemouth bass slakes, Great Lakes and Oneida smallmouth, as well as get back to trolling for trout and salmon occasionally.  That calls for a deep-v, but man, $40-50K can get you a sweet bass boat.

[LoweStinger]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

I'm so tempted to go with a another "bass boat" even though what I really need is a deep-v with an open cockpit and front deck.  

You need a Lund Pro-V Bass boat then, has the best of both worlds !

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, LoweStinger said:

You need a Lund Pro-V Bass boat then, has the best of both worlds !

It's a little out of my range.  I also feel like I want to get one that fits our limited HP/length (10/17') lakes as well.  That allows a huge budget for Electronics, kicker TM, bow TM, shallow anchors, etc.  I can't seem to outfit a Pro-V Bass 1875 for less than $60.