tracker v 18 questions

[spider0983]

Anyone own or fished off a tracker v 18?

I'm looking to upgrade my tracker pt 175.  The boat is a great starter boat, but I'm looking for an aluminum bass boat with a LOT more stability.  My pt 175 tends to rock when you move around the boat- almost got thrown off a couple times when my partner moves from one side to the other.

I've looked at glass hulls after seeing the stratos add for their XT lineup comparing the stability of their boats to aluminum mod v hulls.  

Just curious if the V 18 stability is much better than the mod V's--if the gunnels almost hit the water when two guys stand on them.

Thanks.

[Olebiker]

I fished out of one earlier this year and found it to be no more stable than a regular Bass Tracker.  You have a lot more freeboard with the V18, but it is still a lightweight, aluminum boat and it gets blown around a lot in the wind.

Rick Clunn used one in a tournament earlier this year, so I guess it must not be too bad.  It is a noticeably smoother ride in rough water than my Tracker.

[Wayne P.]

There is no substitute for beam width. The heavier the anglers are the more beam width is needed for lateral stability.

[Long Mike]

I replaced my '89 Pro 17 with an '04 TV-18. The difference is night and day. Not only is the TV-18 longer, it's almost two feet wider. The difference in stability is amazing. My fishing buddy and I both tip the scales at well over two hundred pounds. We can each move about the boat with minimal disturbance to the other. The primary reason I replaced my Pro 17 was due to it's lateral instability. At this point I feel I made a very wise decision.

Further, the modified deep-V hull on the TV-18 is another reason I opted for the boat. It handles rough water extremely well. I'm no speed demon, but even at 45 mph, I have no fear of potential spinal, kidney damage resulting from pounding over the water. The boat doesn't pound over the water, it cuts through it. Yet another reason why I feel I made a wise decision.

[Bigs]

Aluminum boats in general are not stable imo. I own 2 and have been on others and none are stable and they get blown around in the wind. I just bought my 2004 pro v 16 a month ago and Im already selling it. I hate it. Me and the guys I fish with are all 220 pounds plus and when someone moves I go flying across the deck. Plus when I get in a nice spot and Im fishing, I constanlty have to buzz the trolling motor. I end up goin in circles. I see the guys 200 feet away from me in their 19 foot fiberglass boats and they dont move an inch hardly. An 18 foot isnt gonna be that much more stable then a 16 cuz they are both still extremely light. I personally wouldnt ever waste my money again on an aluminum boat or anything less then 19 feet. Just my 2 cents.