1988 Tracker

[.dsaavedra.]

hey guys. my dad and i were just looking at a 1988 tracker. its a 17 foot aluminum boat with a 70hp mercury and a trailer. everything on it is 1988. the boat is in pretty darn good condition for being 20 years old, and the guy said that the motor runs fine, and so does the motorguide t-motor. working aerators and plenty of storage. two pedestal seats.

do you think that it is a good deal for $2500?

[JayDub]

If everything is good, and the motor runs, then yes.  BUT, make SURE you know that everything is good.  Meaning, go and inspect every little detail, from the floors by standing on them to see if they are rotten, inspecting the carpet, the transom (ESPECIALLY) to see if it's weak, and have him SHOW you that the motor runs fine.  If everything is good, then $2500 is a fair price IMO.

[Sam]

Dave,

May I suggest you and your dad invest some money and take the boat to the BPS/Tracker Service Center in your area and have them check it out.

Please have a compression check of the motor completed.

You may want new sparkplugs, a new water pump and make sure the lower unit's grease is fresh.  Have that motor "pee" a good stream to make sure the water pump is operating correctly.

Check out the batteries' power, too.  You may need new batteries, which I suggest you install just to avoid  problems.

And have them look at the trailer to be sure everything is OK, including the wheel bearing grease, axel and the tread on the tires.

See how to open the oil reservoir as a vacuum will be created when you use the motor so you may need some pliers to use to open the cap.

Be sure to get a good hitch put on your car or truck with the electrical connection installed, too.  And purchase a trailer lock from Wal-Mart to make sure no one can hook up to the trailer unless they remove the trailer hitch lock.

Check out the winch and make sure the hooks are OK and that all is OK with that set-up.

Remove the plastic containers in the rear compartments and check for damage.

Make sure the well pump and aerator work and that the lights are OK, too.  Check out the well's drainage system, too.

Have BPS check the steering so it is tight and safe.

Take a flashlight and look down each side compartment to see if there is any damage or lures caught in the boat so you can retrieve them and use them.  ;D\\

Any carpet damage?  BPS has some dynamite stuff to clean carpets soask them about it.  If you need the name let me know and I can give it to you.

Get the cost to have the boat "detailed" by the Tracker Service Center.  It will look like anew boat when you pick it up;

Purchase some "ears" so you can hook up the hose and run water through the motor to start it BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME and then when you get home to run the excess gas out of the motor.  The ears are at Wal-Mart, BPS and other marine stores.

When you go to start it, make sure the kill switch is off.  Otherwise, you will sit at the dock and try to figure out whyshe will not start.

A Tracker is a lot of fun and you can go places that others cannot due to the weight of their glass boats.

And you can easliy modify the Tracker by upgrading the trolling motor; replacing the glass fuses with a circuit breaker; installing some nice electronics; putting a stainless steel blade on the the prop; etc.

And then get bac on the Forum and ask us to help you name the boat.  Yes, you will have anickname for the boat.  Lets see, Dave's Dream Boat.  Hawg Hunter.  Lunker.  The Flying Duck.  Your mother's name. (Never a girlfriend's name as they will change too many times over the years)

I am sure the gang can come up with some suggestions for you and your dad.  ;D   ;D   ;D

[Sam]

P.S. $2,500 is a steal if the boat is in good condition.

Take that sucker and run.

Run Dave, Run!  

P.S.S. If  you and your dad do purchase that boat be sure you both take the Maryland Safe Boating Course and get your certificate.

[Grey Wolf]

Look for stress fractures in the hull , that's a very old boat.

[Jig Man]

Take time to visit NADAGUIDES.COM and check out the unit.  It may surprise you at the net value of that rig.  It won't show with that much motor.  You will have to look up the motors and add for the 70.

[fishfordollars]

Do not buy it without taking it out on the water. Keep it in the water for at least an hour and try to actually fish out of it. Ensure that everything works.

Pay the money and take it to a marine mechanic  to have it checked out. Looking good has very little to do with it. You need to know that everything works as it should. Pay attention to a compression test on the motor. It will not lie.

Good luck.

[.dsaavedra.]

ok guys thanks for the advice. i dont know if this guy would let us take it out on the water or take it to a mechanic before we buy it or not.

he has a pair of those ears that he will include with the boat.

the man said that if we buy it he will start the motor up for us...i thought that was weird. why not start i for us before we buy?

how much does it cost to take it to a tracker center and have it inspected?

[fishfordollars]

ok guys thanks for the advice. i dont know if this guy would let us take it out on the water or take it to a mechanic before we buy it or not.

he has a pair of those ears that he will include with the boat.

the man said that if we buy it he will start the motor up for us...i thought that was weird. why not start i for us before we buy?

how much does it cost to take it to a tracker center and have it inspected?

Do yourself a favor and stay away. If he refuses to let you have it checked and does not allow you to put it in the water. HE IS HIDIND SOMETHING. IMO.

[.dsaavedra.]

Do yourself a favor and stay away. If he refuses to let you have it checked and does not allow you to put it in the water. HE IS HIDIND SOMETHING. IMO.

yeah that is probably true.

i havent tried to see if i could take it out though.

if my dad and i are really interested, we will call him and see if we can take it for a spin.

[Grey Wolf]

N.A.D.A. LIST AVERAGE RETAIL 1320.00 WITH A 35 HP ENGINE.

[dave]

I bought a 1986 Glasssteam for $800.  Motor ran great when started.  But,  when I got out on the water,  it would only putt around.  It would not open up.  The carbs were gunked up enough to allow it to idle but,  that was all.  Never knew it until I had it on the water.

[.dsaavedra.]

N.A.D.A. LIST AVERAGE RETAIL 1320.00 WITH A 35 HP ENGINE.

n.a.d.a.

not a doubt about it?

[David P]

NADA is like Kelly Blue Book they price cars, trucks, boats, etc...

 I have two friends now who have both boat pre-1990 boats, and they have POURED money into their boats, with nothing to show. 3 weeks out of the month it's not operating. It's more stress the pleasure.

The guy sounds very shady as well, those aren't the kind of people you want to buy from.

[roadwarrior]

Do yourself a favor and stay away. If he refuses to let you have it checked and does not allow you to put it in the water. HE IS HIDIND SOMETHING. IMO.

That's certainly worth repeating!

Have you ever heard of anyone buying

a car before taking it for a test drive?

Why even consider a '88 boat without

a thorough check-up?

Not me!

8-)

[skunked_again]

ok guys thanks for the advice. i dont know if this guy would let us take it out on the water or take it to a mechanic before we buy it or not.

he has a pair of those ears that he will include with the boat.

the man said that if we buy it he will start the motor up for us...i thought that was weird. why not start i for us before we buy?

how much does it cost to take it to a tracker center and have it inspected?

if the boat cant be put on the water before you buy it id pass.

[skunked_again]

one last thing, im not sure that boat is rated for 70 hp. most of those boats were rated for 45 hp.

[Sam]

Hey Dave,

Can you and your dad swim?  

[fishfordollars]

Hey Dave,

Can you and your dad swim?

LMAO!  To the point!

[Olebiker]

one last thing, im not sure that boat is rated for 70 hp. most of those boats were rated for 45 hp.

My 1984 Bass Tracker Tournament TX is rated for 80 hp.

[flippin]

i bought a 97 for that sounds high to me