Aluminum Bass Boat - First Boat

[Cincycreech]

Looking to purchase my first boat and looking for some general direction on where I should land. I would like to stay around 15k and plan on buying around mid winter when prices drop. 

 

Purpose - 

Mainly for fishing Bass & Crappie

Possible small local tournaments

Lake list if familiar (Brookville Lake - Caesers Creek Lake - Some trolling motor only lakes) As of now I don't plan on big water

Would like a boat that my son could jump off of and swim if wanted. Probably wouldn't pull a tube.

3 Person boat would be fine

Garage is 24ft Deep & 9ft Wide

 

Some of the recommendations I have received is the Tracker 175 txw or something similar. My question is with going that route am I under powered at only having a small Mercury 60 or even the Mercury 75?

 

Any direction would be great.

[Captain Phil]

Aluminum bass boats make sense in today's world.  With new fiberglass bass boats starting in the 40K range and gas prices rising, things are getting out of hand. My buddy just bought a new Skeeter and it cost him over 50K.  I talked him down from buying a 70K boat.

 

I've had dozens of boats in my life both fiberglass and aluminum.  Currently, I'm fishing out of a Ranger aluminum RT178 with a 75 Merc 4 stroke.  I've owned fiberglass Rangers, Skeeters and an 80 mph Gambler.   I've owned aluminum Trackers, Star Crafts and a Lowe Roughneck.  Aluminum boats have the advantage of being lighter and needing less power and fuel.  The only serious drawback is how they ride in rough water.  They don't need big engines to perform well.  My 16' Lowe Rough Neck was plenty fast with a 60 Merc four stroke.  If I had powered it with a 40 instead, it most likely wouldn't have made a big difference.   Does anyone need to run 60 mph plus to catch fish?  In my opinion unless you're on a tournament trail, owning a fast bass boat is a separate hobby than fishing for bass.  It's a boat ramp ego thing, not a must have fishing tool.

[Cincycreech]

26 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

Aluminum bass boats make sense in today's world.  With new fiberglass bass boats starting in the 40K range and gas prices rising, things are getting out of hand. My buddy just bought a new Skeeter and it cost him over 50K.  I talked him down from buying a 70K boat.

 

I've had dozens of boats in my life both fiberglass and aluminum.  Currently, I'm fishing out of a Ranger aluminum RT178 with a 75 Merc 4 stroke.  I've owned fiberglass Rangers, Skeeters and an 80 mph Gambler.   I've owned aluminum Trackers, Star Crafts and a Lowe Roughneck.  Aluminum boats have the advantage of being lighter and needing less power and fuel.  The only serious drawback is how they ride in rough water.  They don't need big engines to perform well.  My 16' Lowe Rough Neck was plenty fast with a 60 Merc four stroke.  If I had powered it with a 40 instead, it most likely wouldn't have made a big difference.   Does anyone need to run 60 mph plus to catch fish?  In my opinion unless you're on a tournament trail, owning a fast bass boat is a separate hobby than fishing for bass.  It's a boat ramp ego thing, not a must have fishing tool.

 

 

Appreciate the info. My Brother in Law fishes big tournaments and has a new Skeeter with a 250 decked out. There is a need for him, not so much for me other than getting out on the water. Regarding being light and getting blown around easier, I am assuming power poles might be a good solution? 

[Catt]

The Tracker you listed is 22k, for 15k are you talking used?

 

If you're worried about rough ride Xpress Hyper Lift is your answer.

 

 

[Cincycreech]

10 minutes ago, Catt said:

The Tracker you listed is 22k, for 15k are you talking used?

 

If you're worried about rough ride Xpress Hyper Lift is your answer.

 

 

Yeap, I will just end up buying a used one is what I am looking for.

[Captain Phil]

I purchased a used Tracker Pontoon Boat some time back.  It was ten years old when I bought it and it was a  decent boat for the money.  It had a few small electrical problems that were caused by corrosion at the wires and switches. The engine was a 40 HP Mercury 4 stroke and it ran like new.  I wouldn't be afraid to buy a used Tracker as long as it was well maintained.  Lots of these boats are bought by retirees that hardly used them. 

[Goldstar225]

I have a tracker PT190.  I primarily chose it over the 175 for the extra storage (30% larger front lockers) and the fact that I often fish with three people in my boat (Me, son & grandson).  If it were not for that The 175 would have fully served my needs.  With the 115 HP over the 60 HP I gained 12-15 MPH.  Sounds like a lot but not really.  For a 10 mile run 35 MPH will take 17 minutes vs. 12 minutes at 50 MPH.  Important in a tournament, not so much in a days fishing unless you make really long runs.  Oh, and the Tracker revolution hull is well designed for choppy water and small waves

(don't ask about 3 footers, I haven't been and won't be on the water then). 

[Bruce424]

crestliner storm 16 or 17. i have the 16 and can do everything u wanted to do

[TnRiver46]

On 6/23/2021 at 12:32 PM, Captain Phil said:

I purchased a used Tracker Pontoon Boat some time back.  It was ten years old when I bought it and it was a  decent boat for the money.  It had a few small electrical problems that were caused by corrosion at the wires and switches. The engine was a 40 HP Mercury 4 stroke and it ran like new.  I wouldn't be afraid to buy a used Tracker as long as it was well maintained.  Lots of these boats are bought by retirees that hardly used them. 

If you didn’t have some corrosion on your wires/connections in Florida, then they weren’t hooked up to power! It’s a little humid down there ? 

[newbiedmv]

21 hours ago, Bruce424 said:

crestliner storm 16 or 17. i have the 16 and can do everything u wanted to do

I have s Crestliner 17'. Good boat good motor, 50hp merc 2 stroke, horrible everything else. Including the trailer

A bit heavy and sometimes too long to load at reservoirs. I would rather have a 15'roughneck with a turboprop and put in storage in it.