New Tracker Pro 16?

[IMPY03]

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/?boat=3109

worth the price brand new? I'm looking to get something bigger than my jon boat to take out to some of the bigger lakes and may be ready to finance after this summer and was wondering what you guys thought about this little sucker, I could also buy me a nice used tracker between 5k-7k(I would buy a decent used glass bass boat but I don't have the towing power on my vehicle needed for that type of weight).

[Wayne P.]

I was not aware of that boat when I got one in early December and it may have been my first choice. For my present boating needs, it is the perfect size if rigged with a 9.9HP. I got the PT170TX.

[IMPY03]

I was not aware of that boat when I got one in early December and it may have been my first choice. For my present boating needs, it is the perfect size if rigged with a 9.9HP. I got the PT170TX.

Sounds nice, I'm guessing you are rigging yours up for some serious small lake fishing? I just want something big enough so I can get out on Kerr resivoir so I can save some driving from going back and forth to Briery every time I head out ;D

[CFFF 1.5]

I was looking at those a couple of weeks ago and my thoughts are the 170 is a better deal and you get a better boat. The hull guage on the 160 isn't even .100 guage. In all honesty the boat looks very cheap.

[Tin]

Do more searching....

I got my 99 17' Pro Team in mint condition with all the fixings for 3k. And now I'm sure in todays world someone needs money and would part with something even better for around the same price.

You don't need to spend a lot to find something really really nice. You might have to drive a little and hunt more, but it will be worth it. Plus when you buy a used aluminum, putting a scratch or dent in it is no big deal and you don't loose sleep over it.

[Wayne P.]

CFFF 1.5 the new 16 model is .090 guage and the larger boats are 1.000. The Topper riveted jon boats are .043 and the Grizzly welded jon boats are 1.000.

A copy/paste note about another aluminum bass boat brand:

"Xpress Boats are constructed with quality .080-.125 gauge aluminum alloy."

The new model is plenty sturdy for its horsepower range.

Most of the older aluminum bass boats were .072 and that was considered heavy duty then. I had a couple by Fisher Marine in the 1970's that were that guage and they are still in service.

[stormrider]

I was not aware of that boat when I got one in early December and it may have been my first choice. For my present boating needs, it is the perfect size if rigged with a 9.9HP. I got the PT170TX.

have you used your boat yet? I am about to pull the trigger on the same one. I would really like to hear your initial imressions. it can be offline if you prefer

[stormrider]

I have been loking at this boat and it really is a nice boat. I am going to end up with the 170 just becaus ethe layout and storage better meets my needs. I think it is a great boat for the money.

I have been shopping around for a while and have looked at used, personally even though there are some killer deals I like the peace of mind going new, warrenty etc.

[Wayne P.]

stormrider, I am really pleased with the layout even though I don't NEED a boat that wide for my purposes. It got it because it was the largest one I could get rigged with a 9.9 HP motor. I chose that size motor because I fish two really good lakes with a 10HP max limit and I also fish a lot of electric only lakes. I have "been there, done that" with the larger, heavier, faster fiberglass bass boats on large bodies of water and tournaments.

I sold my fiberglass bass boat so I could purchase the 170 and have room in my garage. It suits my needs for a mid 60 age retired angler. I changed out the 12V bow motor to a 36V and added battery capacity and custom brackets for two 12V transom mount motors for electic only waters. I removed the 18 gal gas tank to make room for 6 batteries. I remove two batteries and put in a portable 3 gal gas tank for those gasoline allowed lakes.

As far as how the boat is factory rigged, there is barely room for the starting battery and a size 27 deep cycle battery. It takes some creative motions just to get them in. The storage areas are not water proof or even water resistant and some type of water proof container is needed for any items kept in those. It is kind of a negative if you have ever had a fiberglass rig or some of the other aluminum bass boat models.

It is definitely not a speed demon (haven't GPSed it yet, still doing the break-in) my guess is between 10 and 15 mph. There are two chances of getting on plane --- slim and none (which I expected). My 12' jon boat with a 12/24v trolling motor and 9.9 goes 25 mph with just me.

With its larger capacity, I can be confortable taking other anglers out as I get lots of requests for small water guide service and just helping fishermen learn a body of water or a presentation.

When fishing, it is very stable and with the slight v-hull, it slides over stumps a lot better than my flat bottom jon boat.

The trolling motor wiring is 8 guage and I had 6 guage wires installed for the trolling motor and used the factory 8 guage for on/off switching of the two transom motors via solenoids.

The trailer does not have any side guides for easy drive-on loading so I purchased the roller type and installed them. Even the larger Tracker boat trailers do not have usable drive-on guides-the factory ones are pretty pathetic.

[stormrider]

stormrider, I am really pleased with the layout even though I don't NEED a boat that wide for my purposes. It got it because it was the largest one I could get rigged with a 9.9 HP motor. I chose that size motor because I fish two really good lakes with a 10HP max limit and I also fish a lot of electric only lakes. I have "been there, done that" with the larger, heavier, faster fiberglass bass boats on large bodies of water and tournaments.

I sold my fiberglass bass boat so I could purchase the 170 and have room in my garage. It suits my needs for a mid 60 age retired angler. I changed out the 12V bow motor to a 36V and added battery capacity and custom brackets for two 12V transom mount motors for electic only waters. I removed the 18 gal gas tank to make room for 6 batteries. I remove two batteries and put in a portable 3 gal gas tank for those gasoline allowed lakes.

As far as how the boat is factory rigged, there is barely room for the starting battery and a size 27 deep cycle battery. It takes some creative motions just to get them in. The storage areas are not water proof or even water resistant and some type of water proof container is needed for any items kept in those. It is kind of a negative if you have ever had a fiberglass rig or some of the other aluminum bass boat models.

It is definitely not a speed demon (haven't GPSed it yet, still doing the break-in) my guess is between 10 and 15 mph. There are two chances of getting on plane --- slim and none (which I expected). My 12' jon boat with a 12/24v trolling motor and 9.9 goes 25 mph with just me.

With its larger capacity, I can be confortable taking other anglers out as I get lots of requests for small water guide service and just helping fishermen learn a body of water or a presentation.

When fishing, it is very stable and with the slight v-hull, it slides over stumps a lot better than my flat bottom jon boat.

The trolling motor wiring is 8 guage and I had 6 guage wires installed for the trolling motor and used the factory 8 guage for on/off switching of the two transom motors via solenoids.

The trailer does not have any side guides for easy drive-on loading so I purchased the roller type and installed them. Even the larger Tracker boat trailers do not have usable drive-on guides-the factory ones are pretty pathetic.

Wayne,

Thanks for the reply. This will be my first "bass" boat. I have a 14 foot alumacraft "rowboat" with only a electric, and it certainly is fishable but when in Canada last year I fished out of a boat of similar design as the tracker and like the flat deck. My biggest issue is the storage limitations I have. The 170 will fit in the available area.

Also I am hoping that my wife will come out and lay in the sun as I fish. (hence the flat top, and size) She is not comfortable in the Alumacraft. Our seventeen year old is heading out and I am hoping to finally get some quiet / enjoyable time with the wife

I will be upgrading to the 40 horse 4 stroke, I think I like that engine better than dealing with the 50 2 stroke. I live very near the Susquehanna river and I need the engine for that application. I have been wondering about the electric motor as all the lakes near me are electric only, but even in Canada we got by all day on one battery.

I wonder if there is any way to make some of the compartments water resistant.

For the lakes that are electric only... how difficult is it to get the boat back on the trailer at the end of the day?

Do you think the downsides that you list will prevent you from still enjoying the boat 6 years from now?

thanks a lot for your input / advice I appreciate it

storm

[Wayne P.]

Some good questions.

Last year I had three boats, a 10' jon boat, a 12' jon boat and a fiberglass bass boat. The 170 is what I chose to downsize the inventory to one boat that will handle the waters I fish the most.

For loading up at electric only lakes, I just back the trailer in far enough to get all of the bunks submerged except about 2' at the front. Then I pull the boat onto the trailer with a rope (about 30' long) that I use for launching when fishing alone. After I get the boat aligned on the trailer, I hook up the wench strap and crank it on. If the body of water has a dock by the ramp (most don't) I guide the boat over the trailer from the dock and then wench it on the last few feet. I've done it hundreds of times and its no effort at all even when I used my fiberglass boat on electric only lakes.

Having the 170 will not hamper my fishing at all as I am not downsizing, I am basically middle sizing from what I had. The two jon boats have no storage at all so it is not a concern. My prospective is it is a large jon boat and not a small bass boat. My garage is a two car and up until about 6 months ago, I had two boats on trailers, an ATV on a trailer, and the 10' jon boat suspended from the ceiling. Once I sell the 12' jon boat, I'll have a lot more room (probably for more stuff).

There may be a way to put a raised place around the compartment edges to keep water from flowing in. I have not put any effort into that detail yet. I'll wait until I do a rainy day trip and see how much a bother it is. I already have some plastic storge boxes to protect what I don't want getting wet. Maybe some rubber gasket material like around automobile doors would work.

[Olebiker]

I was looking at those a couple of weeks ago and my thoughts are the 170 is a better deal and you get a better boat. The hull guage on the 160 isn't even .100 guage. In all honesty the boat looks very cheap.

The hull on my 1984 Bass Tracker Tournament TX is .092. This one is .090. My old boat has held up really well.

That being said, for that kind of money you could buy a much nicer used aluminum bass boat.

As for loading on electric only lakes - my boat is 17 feet and I have never had any trouble loading it and never have to get my feet wet doing it.  I do it just like Wayne P described.

[SnowBass23]

It sounds like you've weighed the pros and cons of why it's good for you.  If it were me, however I would really encourage you to check into some used boats.  I bought the Pro Team 175 last May.  Although I certainly love it (it's my first boat) I also realize after doing some more looking around that I could have gotten a whole lot more boat for what I paid, just by getting something a couple of years old.  

I'm not necessarily saying getting something bigger, but you might find something you like in that size range at one heck of a steal price.