SeaCrow Posted June 25, 2020 Posted June 25, 2020 Hi everyone. I'm trying to make a choice on a new boat and need advice/opinions based on experiences or issues you or someone you know have had. Whatever boat I get will have to be my last for quite awhile and I just would like to know if there's any problems with certain boats or outboards. The closest dealer to me is a Tracker dealership. Crestliner has one about an hour away and G3 almost 4 hours away. The G3 comes with a 115 Yamaha. I've read Yamaha uses or has used nylon gears which has caused motor failure. I know all makes have had their problems and you can get a lemon on any of them, I'm just trying to make a good choice. Thank you for your help. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted June 25, 2020 Super User Posted June 25, 2020 Avoid Evinrude, they just closed up shop. G3 and Skeeter are both owned by Yamaha. Yamaha has a good reputation as far as I know. Have never owned one. Crestliner is owned by Brunswick and will have a Mercury, also owned by Brunswick. Crestliners are made in the same plant as Lund, also owned by Brunswick. Key difference is Lunds are riveted and Crestliners are welded. Last 2 boats had Mercs and never dropped a dime on anything other than maintenance. 1 Quote
je1946 Posted June 25, 2020 Posted June 25, 2020 I've owned Lund boats all my life and I highly recommend them, zero issues. I've owned Mercury and Evinrudes, I'd go with a merc very few issues other than routine maintenance. Quote
Hower08 Posted June 26, 2020 Posted June 26, 2020 Tracker gets a bad rap. But with that said. I'm fishing out of an 01 pro team 165 with no issues other than regular maintenance. Theirs so many good affordable options for boats out there these days. Go with what is in your budget. And yes my boat is still on the original wood floors. Keeping a boat kept under roof when not in use is the key to a boat living a long happy life . My dad has a ranger aluminum bass and it's excellent. Great layout, truly dry storage, gets on plane in next to no time with the 115. He bought his before the buyout so I don't know how quality has changed with ranger but I'm sure something's have likely changed. Biggest factor for me would be dealer support/reputation. If you have to drive a little farther to purchase from a kick ass dealer then do it. Quote
Super User Spankey Posted June 26, 2020 Super User Posted June 26, 2020 I have not one complaint about my Tracker. 19 foot Pro Team, Had a 17 foot Pro Team prior. If I were to be looking for another Bass Boat. Most likely would be a Tracker. 1 Quote
Super User gim Posted June 26, 2020 Super User Posted June 26, 2020 I would not want to drive four hours for boat service should I need it. That would be a buzz kill of epic proportions. The one I use is about 25 minutes away from my house and even that is bothersome. 2 Quote
Hower08 Posted June 26, 2020 Posted June 26, 2020 45 minutes ago, gimruis said: I would not want to drive four hours for boat service should I need it. That would be a buzz kill of epic proportions. The one I use is about 25 minutes away from my house and even that is bothersome. I agree 4 hours would suck a big one. But 25 min? The only thing easier than that would be having them come to your house. If someone is buying a new boat dealer reputation NEEDS to be taken into consideration. Do you want to buy from dealer "A" the guy that just wants your money, or buy from dealer "B" the guy that will stand behind the customer when an issue shows up? We have dealer "A" 45 min from here and dealer "B" 1.5 hours away. Both dealers sell exact same brands. Guess which one gets the majority of the business on boat sales and service 1 Quote
SeaCrow Posted June 27, 2020 Author Posted June 27, 2020 I appreciate all the responses and info. Tracker here does a phenomenal business. People have been buying boats like crazy since they slacked off on the covid 19 quarantine. The Tracker 175 tf with the 75 hp Merc is more than likely what I'm going to go with. 4 hours for routine maintenance would suck. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted June 28, 2020 Super User Posted June 28, 2020 Over the years, I've owned 3 Tracker Marines, and I must say, none of them ever required an appreciable repair. Tracker is a great bang for the buck, but they're not my favorite aluminum hull. My preference in aluminum boats is Starcraft and Alumacraft. The biggest obstacle I encounter during boat trading, is the accompanying power-plant. As we all know, Mercury cleverly cornered the outboard market, which is the one motor brand I ambitiously avoid. Lost more money on black motors than all others mills combined. In any event, my favorite outboard motors are Yamaha and Honda. On our most recent boat purchase (last year), my wife & I rode from Florida to Kansas just to mate an Alumacraft with a Yamaha Roger Quote
Super User tcbass Posted June 28, 2020 Super User Posted June 28, 2020 On 6/24/2020 at 7:38 PM, slonezp said: Avoid Evinrude, they just closed up shop. G3 and Skeeter are both owned by Yamaha. Yamaha has a good reputation as far as I know. Have never owned one. Crestliner is owned by Brunswick and will have a Mercury, also owned by Brunswick. Crestliners are made in the same plant as Lund, also owned by Brunswick. Key difference is Lunds are riveted and Crestliners are welded. Last 2 boats had Mercs and never dropped a dime on anything other than maintenance. You mean Evinrude went out of business? Quote
Super User slonezp Posted June 28, 2020 Super User Posted June 28, 2020 9 minutes ago, tcbass said: You mean Evinrude went out of business? https://boatingindustry.com/news/2020/05/28/brp-exits-outboard-motor-business/ Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted June 28, 2020 BassResource.com Administrator Posted June 28, 2020 Yes, Evinrude is no more... https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/evinrude-closed-52720.html Quote
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