1st time boat purchase

[BamaHawgHunter]

Hello all,

     Within the next month or so I am looking to purchase my 1st boat. I've been looking at several different aluminum boats. Tracker 175 TXW, Triton VT 17 and Xpress SV18. All with 60 h.p. ELPT 4-stroke motor. Any input such as likes/dislikes advantages/disadvantages, riding and handling etc.. on any or all models would be greatly appreicated in helping me to make a decision. Thanks

[BamaHawgHunter]

No advice or suggestions on any of the boats ?  

[Brian_Reeves]

Xpress is one of my favorite hulls for a jon boat.  I tested one of their SV boats..the 16 and loved it.  I'd gun for the Xpress.  I'm not much of a fan of Tracker and I no nothing about triton aluminum boats.

[BamaHawgHunter]

Thanks Brian for the reply. Im trying to get as much info on my research of these boats before buying as possible. So could you tell me in a little more detail as to why you are not a fan of Tracker ?  

[brgbassmaster]

i have a tracker pro 17 and love it its a lightweight aluminum bass boat gets great gas mileage havent had a problem with it yet. love it.

[Brian_Reeves]

Really, there isn't a problem with the tracker line of boats.  I'm just supersticious.  I had one flip on me a few years back in some rough water and kinda dread getting back on a tracker.  It was a pretty close call.

I'd say that the Xpress boats are a little more stable though.  Those things FEEL like a bass boat...not a powered hunk of metal.  It's hard to explain, but I love Xpress.  

[b@ssman]

Bama I purchased a used Xpress H51 about a month ago and have nothing but great things to say about it.  The hyper lift hulls provide a great ride even in choppy water.  It is a very dry ride. Good luck with your search.

[Gatorbassman]

I fish out of a Triton 186 Sport Aluminum with a 90hp motor. It is a solid boat It's built like a tank.

But I have heard bad things about the Triton VT series. The main complaint has been the welds. I took a close look at them at the Bassmasters Classic Expo and I would have to agree. The welds are crap. Fivebasslimit was with me and he is a welder. He said that if one of his employees made welds like that he would fire them.

As for the other boats. The Express is your best bet. It is way more stable than the Tracker.

[SnowBass23]

HawgHunter,

I am several weeks into my first bass boat, which is the Pro Team 175 TXW you mentioned.  Although I don't really have any specific pros/cons I have discovered a couple of things along the way.  

First off, I searched around on a lot of different models.  Triton, G3, Xpress, Lowe, and even the similar priced Stratos.  I had gotten myself hooked on the layout of the PT 175 and when I looked into the other boats I just couldn't find one that was similarly equipped for the same price range.  The layout on most of the other boats just wasn't what I wanted.

With that in mind, get what has as much storage space as possible.  However much storage you think is enough right now, trust me it won't be.  When you first bring that beautiful baby home and you start putting your junk--uhm, GEAR into it, it will fill up fast!  

Also, anything you can do wrong, you probably will in the beginning.  This was the factor that made me steer clear of the fiberglass boats altogether.  I've been around boats for a while now, so I wouldn't consider myself completely inexperienced.  However, there's always times when I'm just not thinking and end up bumping into a stump, or scraping it on the trailer at a weird angle when trailering in the wind, etc etc etc.  If it CAN go wrong, it WILL, and probably in the beggining.  So, get used to the idea that your gorgeous new rig is going to have signs of lovin'.  

Aside from that, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask, and good luck!

[BamaHawgHunter]

Thanks guys for the replies and for the major info on the triton vt.  I've talked to several other people and they too have said to stay away from the vt series.  Looks like after all my research and info I have collected from others and on here from ya'll I'm gonna focus on the Xpress. Thanks for the help and input!

[Bassyak]

I have an '02 Tracker Pro Team 175 with a 60HP Mercury and 42lb thrust Motorguide and I've really enjoyed it thus far.  I don't typically take it out on really big lakes that often ('cause there aren't that many around here) but you can get a little wet sometimes when the chop or swell is big or when crossing another boat's wake.  The only other things that I don't like about it are the design of the rod locker (you have to move your rods on deck to open the locker and it narrows down quite a bit at the end making it difficult to get rods in and out sometimes) and the trolling motor battery that came with the boat (that I have since replaced with an Optima and had nothing but trouble-free performance).  All in all a good starter boat for the price, especially with the galvanized trailer with the swing-away tongue (without which I couldn't store it in my garage).

One thing to remember with a new boat--always check the drain plug before you back down the ramp.  Nothing makes your heart leap into your throat faster than seeing water coming up through the vent holes in the deck of your boat after you just parked the truck and trailer 200 yds away from the boat launch.  A bass boat holds a remarkable amount of lake water and it takes awhile for it to all drain out into the parking lot after you managed to get it back on the trailer in the nick of time.  Just a helpful hint from someone who's gone through it--twice.

[senile1]

There was another thread regarding problems with the TS-17 aluminum from Triton.  Though you were considering the VT series, it still makes one a little wary of Triton aluminums.   (See below.)  

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1209620531