Easy question

[Nice_Bass]

Thinking about a 175 Pro Team by tracker.

Any pros or cons you all want to throw out there for me?

aside from a smaller livewell (16 gal), seems like i could still compete in tourneys.  Let me know if anyone has any feed back positive or negative.  Thanks.

[cart7t]

Good question.  That's a toughie.  Got me stumped. 

[Fishes in trees]

Stuff to consider:

A - It is a Tracker.  For just a little more money you can get a Lowe or a Express or a

   Triton Aluminum.  All 3 of which are heavier, sturdier boats  IMO.

B - It is a Tracker - so your customizing options will be limited. With the standard 50,   

  it is a little underpowered, or depending on your point of view, it is a lot

  underpowered.  What is the max HP you can hang on that boat?  My 18' Lowe

  has a 100 hp 4 stroke and often I feel like it I'm underpowered.  That

  feeling is tempered by knowing that I bought all the hp I could afford at the time.

  When my boat is fully loaded, it is doggy getting on plane.  The Tracker 175 is only

  5" shorter and it comes stock with a 50.  How is it going to perform with another

  person (or two) and a full tank of gas and gear on board?

C - Trolling motor issues.  The standard 46 lb thrust, 12 volt trolling motor, it is

   definitely underpowered.  I've got a 74 lb thrust 24 volt Maxxum on my boat

   and there are lots of times I wish I had more power.  You can aways dial it

   down to go slow, but when you are trying to hang on a point in the wind,

   there is no substitute for trolling motor power.

On a positive note - the trailer comes with a swing away tongue - that is a positive feature.  The storage on the boat is laid out better than on my boat.  I haven't fished out of a Tracker for a long time, so I can't speak to trim/ finish issues.

From a tournament perspective, that boat is underpowered.  Almost anybody who wants to beat you to a spot will be able to.  Also with that boat, you will be able to get shallow, shallower than most guys with fiberglass will want to get.  When you get shallow, sooner or later you will get stuck.  Does that boat have enough trolling motor to get you unstuck?  I don't know.  I would think that a push pole would be a necessary option.

Basically, IMO the gas engine horsepower issue is something I could live with.  The 12 volt trolling motor will drive you crazy.  If there is no way to upgrade to a big (70 lb thrust or bigger) 24 volt trolling motor, I wouldn't get it.

I hope this helps.

[fishfordollars]

BPS is known for under powering their boats. They do it to keep the price down. If you purchase one with a 40 or 50 that is rated for a 90 you will never be happy with the performance. Very little you can do other than re-powering to get it where it needs to be. Will be hard to sell if it is underpowered.

Good luck.

[NBR]

Always buy the maximum motor specified for your boat.

[Nice_Bass]

All makes sense and thank you again for the input.

Just checked into it and to upgrade to the 90 is about another 2k. Seems well worth it in the long and short run.

also, both lowe and tracker 17 models have the same width, beam is wider on the tracker. About a 5 pound difference between boats, Max hp on the lowe is a 75. I tell you what, the tracker is just sounding good. That, and my lady says she thinks the tracker is prettier. I guess there it is.

I hope now i can just get it bumped to a 24v higher thrust tm, and life will be good.

[slonezp]

Always buy the maximum motor specified for your boat.

The Legend Alpha 211 hull is rated for "unlimited" hp

[TommyBass]

Tracker gets down played alot, but when it comes down to it, they make a sturdy and very fishable boat.  Great storage, comparable room, hp ratings, etc.  Just make sure you get the bigger engine. 

You may also check out G3... they sell alot of very good boats in the aluminum bracket at pretty reasonable prices.

[Glenn]

A lot of us started out with aluminum boats, myself included, and did very well in tournaments.

I had an aluminum smokercraft that literally fell apart at the seams!  Sure wish I had bought a Tracker instead! 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I'll throw another vote out there for Tracker.  Motor issues are not a big deal to me as I fish electric only lakes. I have a 16ft Tracker Jon that has been nothing but good to me.

I agree with the 90hp on the 175 Tracker.  I have fished on both Burley and Jimzee's 185 Trackers with the 90 and it went plenty fast enough for me.

I think you will be very pleased with it.

PS: Get the 24v TM

[Nice_Bass]

I may end up putting the 75 optimax on instead of a 90elpto...pros or cons?