pursuitfishing Posted October 22, 2018 Posted October 22, 2018 I'm looking at purchasing a new Tracker 175 txw Tournament edition. Walked on the lot of my local dealer and found what seems to be an issue. Hoping folks here can chime in with some thoughts. Here's the situation. The tie down loops on the back of the boat are bolted through the hull. I noticed two 4-5" holes cut in the back casting deck. The dealer said the tie down loops were over tightened causing the rubber gasket to be smashed and not seal properly, so they have to cut holes in the deck to access the nuts and tighten them down correctly. My concern is having holes cut in the deck of a brand new boat. Granted, they cover the holes with a piece of aluminum and seal it up. thoughts on this situation and having a brand new boat cut on? I'm not sure if this should be a deal breaker, or why tracker doesn't weld on those tie down rings. Quote
Super User TOXIC Posted October 22, 2018 Super User Posted October 22, 2018 If it bothers you (it would me) I would get another boat from the dealers stock or have him order another one that has not been cut open. Surely he has more than 1 new model on the lot? 1 Quote
volzfan59 Posted October 22, 2018 Posted October 22, 2018 If you take the boat, get it in writing that the repairs (including the deck and carpeting/ vinyl) are covered under the factory warranty. Those boats have a lifetime warranty on the deck if I remember correctly. I agree with "Toxic" however. 7 hours ago, TOXIC said: If it bothers you (it would me) I would get another boat from the dealers stock or have him order another one that has not been cut open. Surely he has more than 1 new model on the lot? 2 Quote
pursuitfishing Posted October 22, 2018 Author Posted October 22, 2018 Thanks for the quick replies, folks. Anyone with a Tracker had their tie down loops come loose or require work? If so, how were the nuts accessed? Quote
WCWV Posted October 22, 2018 Posted October 22, 2018 I've never heard of such a thing. I believe I would have to reconsider that deal. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted October 22, 2018 Super User Posted October 22, 2018 Seems a bit Bush League. Even for Tracker Quote
KansasBassin Posted October 23, 2018 Posted October 23, 2018 (edited) I attached a pic of the tie downs on the back of my 2018 175TXW. I am not super thrilled that the bolts are moving a little already. They still seem very structurally sound. Only complaint on the new boat though! IMG_1376.jpg.HEIC Edited October 23, 2018 by KansasBassin I can't figure out pics...hold on Quote
Goldstar225 Posted October 23, 2018 Posted October 23, 2018 If I understand correctly this is a new, not used boat. If that is the case, I would refuse the boat and get one that hasn't been cut on or insist on a substantial price reduction. 1 1 Quote
Crappiebasser Posted October 23, 2018 Posted October 23, 2018 Why can't they take the deck off? It's just plywood screwed to aluminum cross braces. Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted October 23, 2018 Super User Posted October 23, 2018 15 hours ago, slonezp said: Seems a bit Bush League. Even for Tracker X2 Totally unacceptable. Run away from that dealer as fast as you can. 1 Quote
Russ E Posted October 23, 2018 Posted October 23, 2018 I would not even consider buying from that dealer. If that is what they do to a new boat, who knows what they would do if you had to bring it in for warranty work Quote
Super User gim Posted October 23, 2018 Super User Posted October 23, 2018 8 hours ago, Crappiebasser said: Why can't they take the deck off? It's just plywood screwed to aluminum cross braces. Are they still making those things with wood? C'mon Tracker Quote
tander Posted October 23, 2018 Posted October 23, 2018 I wouldn't accept a boat that has been chopped unless it was a mighty good price. 1 Quote
pursuitfishing Posted October 23, 2018 Author Posted October 23, 2018 Thanks for the replies. From what I could see the decks are now aluminum. Opening all the compartments, I couldn't find any wood. 21 hours ago, Goldstar225 said: If I understand correctly this is a new, not used boat. If that is the case, I would refuse the boat and get one that hasn't been cut on or insist on a substantial price reduction. Yes. New boat. The section they access has been foam filled. I called Tracker, they said no notices have been issued, but they did say if you had to access the nuts on the tie downs that one would have to cut holes. This seems bonkers. 22 hours ago, KansasBassin said: I attached a pic of the tie downs on the back of my 2018 175TXW. I am not super thrilled that the bolts are moving a little already. They still seem very structurally sound. Only complaint on the new boat though! IMG_1376.jpg.HEIC Can't access that pic. I would very much like to see what you are dealing with. Quote
Goldstar225 Posted October 24, 2018 Posted October 24, 2018 22 hours ago, Crappiebasser said: Why can't they take the deck off? It's just plywood screwed to aluminum cross braces. The rear deck has been aluminum, at least as far back as 1987. Front deck is wood. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted October 24, 2018 Super User Posted October 24, 2018 15 hours ago, pursuitfishing said: This seems bonkers. Because it is. I wouldn't set foot in this dealer aver again. Quote
pursuitfishing Posted October 24, 2018 Author Posted October 24, 2018 Thanks guys. I definitely get the point. So, If someone needed to access the tie down nuts because, say, one came loose. Does anyone know of a way to access them without cutting holes in the boat? I'm starting to wonder if this is a Tracker design flaw that the dealer is getting stuck fixing. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted October 24, 2018 Super User Posted October 24, 2018 It's the kind of design shortcut to save on the bottom line. That's why they cost less than similar sized boats from other builders. 1 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted October 25, 2018 Super User Posted October 25, 2018 7 hours ago, J Francho said: It's the kind of design shortcut to save on the bottom line. That's why they cost less than similar sized boats from other builders. Quote
jbrew73 Posted October 25, 2018 Posted October 25, 2018 Unless they sponsor this site. Then it’s ok to save money. 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted October 25, 2018 Super User Posted October 25, 2018 I didn't say it was a bad thing, but it's simply the truth. Tracker is supposed to be a turnkey boat. Just put some gas in it, put in the plug, and go. The issue with the holes in the deck says more about the dealer than it does about Tracker. 2 Quote
Krux5506 Posted October 25, 2018 Posted October 25, 2018 I'm gonna have to go ahead and say NO, I wouldn't go through with that deal. Sorry to be a buzz kill but if you got the money for a brand new boat then why settle for something like that? Quote
JLBBass Posted October 25, 2018 Posted October 25, 2018 Oh hell no!? I would NEVER buy a brand new boat that they had to cut holes in it to fix a manufacturer problem from the get go! NO WAY!!! Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted October 25, 2018 Global Moderator Posted October 25, 2018 On 10/23/2018 at 7:20 PM, gimruis said: Are they still making those things with wood? C'mon Tracker What's the issue with using wood? Quote
pursuitfishing Posted October 25, 2018 Author Posted October 25, 2018 Found out a little more information yesterday. So what happened was the shipping company used the loops to tie the boat down during shipping. They over tightened the straps and bent the crap out of the tie down loops. My take after learning that, is it's not really a Tracker build or assembly issue. Maybe a slight design issue, but to J Franko's point, the design makes sense for cost. The dealer was directed by Tracker on the fix, so it's not the dealer doing something terrible either. I actually called Tracker, they confirmed the cut holes would be the only way to access and replace the damaged tie down loops. So I'm not judging/bashing the dealer, and I'm not judging/bashing Tracker. However, if my boat shows up with damaged loops, I will likely ask for a different boat. Though I did see the finished repairs and everything looked fine on that boat. Thanks again for the all the input. 1 Quote
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