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Finally....getting ready to get back into a boat. A year seems like forever when you have the endless urge to fish. Still exploring my options. The wifey wants a an 18-20 ft pontoon...fun and comfortable....but SLOOOOOW and i am concerned about hauling it everywhere in a mid sized SUV (2009 Pathfinder). I am leaning towards a fish and ski, something like a Nitro 21" FS. Really just using that as an example, but with the amount of time on the water i prefer a bass style boat that i can still manage to to get couple of kids on and do some family stuff like skiing and what not and will not burn out my truck hauling it all over the place to satisfy my fishing addiction.
I know a lot of you on here have or had boats over the years. Any suggestions on models or thoughts on what i should stay away from? My cap on price is likely $15K, mostly cause i am coming in with cash and dont want to finance very much at all. Any feedback you guys have is appreciated.
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I'd be concerned about weight on both of those verse the tow vehicle (regardless of the tow ratings of your SUV)... Just me. I absolutely detest having more toy than truck. Been there done that maaaany years ago (mid 90s) with a enclosed toybox/F150. HATED going anywhere. Just a PITA. Then swapped to a F350 diesel and wanted to go somewhere all the time.
2013 Sun Tracker Fishing Barge 20 DLX package weight 3360. (22 foot pontoon)
2013 Nitro Z7 Sport and Fish package weight 3240. (20 footer)
2013 Tracker V-175 WT package weight 2790. (17 foot Deep-V)
I know all of those are new verse used just using them for weights.
I don't think I would want to tow mine with anything less than a full sized vehicle. But that is me. Not everyone would agree. Cornering, braking, how the package handles when it is windy out on the road, safety, etc.
If I had a mid sized SUV today and couldn't change that fact I would be looking at a tracker 175 TXW (package weight 2200). That choice is purely based on the tow vehicle and what Tom would do. Of course you are not going to be skiing with it. Tow a tube, but that is about it.
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To be honest with you I still have my bass boat, but honestly if you have a family I would highly recommend you don't go with one. Not enough room if you have more than 2 people. I am glad I found another center console. Great for fishing and also plenty of room for a family. Only problem with a boat that size is your vehicle.
I would recommend the boat like wolf4ever. It is great for fishing and has enough room for family if you want to take them out for the day. I belive the model of his boat is a Tracker V-175 WT. I was honestly thinking about buying one, but when I found another center console here in town I had to go with it. Your SUV should be able to tow it.
You might be able to find one around your price point depending on the options it has. I would call bass pro and see if they have any used or last years model.
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If you get a pontoon or don't want to haul it with the Pathfinder, Las Vegas Bay has dry storage for $60 a month.
24 hour access, security patrolled, gas, ice and bait.
Thats where my boat is and have not had any issues with vandalizing or theft.
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Great points guys, i do value your feedback. Luckily I have an alternate vehicle to use i just have to drive up to Reno and grab it from my dad. Its a 2003 Dodge 1500 Fullsize with some white trash modifications :-) He used it to pull his 21" toy hauler so i am sure its up to the task, just need to rebuild the tranny and we are good. He just picked up a new truck so i just need to ask a favor and should be good.
Having a choice in boats is a lot tougher then i thought it would be. If it were just for me...center console all the way because all I do is fish. Family will through a monkey wrench into though, i think Tom is one of the lucky ones that has a little one who loves to fish. Mine would be bored in 45 minutes and jumping off the boat.
So towing issues out of the way. What about manufactures? Any to avoid? I love tracker, my last boat was the TX17 Tournament. Did everything i needed it to, but i am for sure getting 100+ HP for cruising and for the most part its 75% fishing 25% family time just because no one wants to get out of bed at my hours :-)
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The only thing I am missing (other than a bigger motor) that I reallllly wanted on mine is a solid platform for the rear. The 175 combo boat version of mine has a awesome platform in the rear but not available for the 175 WT. All welded in/solid.
![[Image: Pro-Guide-V-175-Combo_img21224_900.jpg]](http://media.tmgcreative.com/2013/TRACKER_102013/Deep-V-Boats_132013/Pro-Guide-V-175-Combo_3500/Features-Options_1327196/Pro-Guide-V-175-Combo_img21224_900.jpg)
Madi likes to fish but during the hot summer months if fishing gets slow or it just gets too hot she will spend 3-4 hours in the water at a minimum. Just sucks not having a platform in the rear for her to sit on, etc. I run to the back and lift her out when she wants to come aboard. I can fish a cove all around and she will be behind the boat or off to the sides enjoying the water. Flippers, mask and snorkel gets plenty of use.
Plus she spots the bass for me [  ]
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Personally... Anything but Tracker would me my choice. There is a reason why they are so cheap compared to other manufactures. But I will have to say I have had zero issues with ours in 1.5 years of ownership. Works great. Nothing has ever broken. Only been to BPS twice. 20hr and 100hr Mercury engine maintenance. I am very picky though and take extreme care of it. It gets washed/wiped down every trip (either at the lake or at home), oil checked, never abused, always garaged, etc. When it comes time to sell mine will be the best one, by far, available [cool] (No I don't have plans on selling it, just saying.)
Do they work, yes. Could tons of things be built better/more solid yes.
There is absolutely no reason why my boat can't have a 150hp engine on it IMO (It really needs to have a 150, I feel it is under powered especially with the amount of crap I carry in it. The dual AGM group 31 batteries for the trolling motor added a 100lbs alone over the oem battery set-up). If Tracker wanted they could get it approved but then they would never sell another 18 foot Targa. All about different product lines and being able selling them.
One use to be able to get a optional 250 on the Nitro Z8 but they down graded the Z8 to a 225. Why? Because the Z9s stopped selling. Same thinking imo is why you can't get a 150 on the 175 WT.
Tin wise... I'd get a Lund. But you are going to pay. My dads big azz 1989 Lund Barron limited is still working great at nearly 25 years old. Better built product.
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boating advice from someone who owns a 4 stroke haha!
The Tracker is the closest type of boat you can have to owning a jon boat,here's my buddies 17' tracker
set up to fish 4 anglers..
For here its the best type of boat for the type of fishing we do..If you like to catch bream,The tracker is a Bream killing machine!
you can see Alfred's boat ok here..
![[Image: mqdefault.jpg?v=511cb1b8]](http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/k00qx5Q7VcY/mqdefault.jpg?v=511cb1b8) [#0066cc]1:17[/#0066cc]
[ul][li][url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k00qx5Q7VcY"] ![[Image: pixel-vfl3z5WfW.gif]](http://s.ytimg.com/yts/img/pixel-vfl3z5WfW.gif) [/url][/li][li][url "http://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=k00qx5Q7VcY&ns=1"] [/url][/li][li] [#0066cc][/#0066cc][/url][/li][/ul]
[url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k00qx5Q7VcY"]Alfred's Blue Gill 0.77lb[/url]
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I feel for you wolfs4evr. I have the v18 combo with the 150. I agree that your boat could hold a bigger motor. I put an extra battery on the boat so don't have to worry about being able to crank the motor after a long night but that adds weight. My boat still can get up and go but I feel your pain. Nothing worse when you bring a cooler and someone brings an extra.
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When I changed to group 31 AGM batteries (75lbs each) I knew I was going to feel it but it ended up being worse than I thought it would be. I lost 2-3mph alone on the top end due to their location semi up front between the driver and passenger. I can't get the bow up as high as I use to and trimming it is quite a bit more critical now. But... loss of speed or not I wouldn't change these big suckers out. I live on the TM and being able to run full speed (3.2 - 3.3mph) 6+ hours straight more or less and then moderate speeds for another 6+ hours all on the TM is worth the speed loss. I have TM battery power more or less no matter how hard I run them from sun up to sun down.
Last Friday when my brother in law went to the bow for a picture I lost almost 7mph in speed. lol Went from 39mph to 32 and change.
Before I added the bigger batteries Madi and I could cruise 42-43mph and now down to 39-40. The boat did handle a ton better not just top end speeds with the dual factory intersate TM batteries. A 50lb difference between those two and the AGMs I have in now. Oh well. It is more about fishing than getting to the spot fast and this boat fishes Mead very well IMO. If the wind is that high that I need a bigger boat for it I wouldn't be on the water in the first place.
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Tracker boats are known to be the "low end" of fishing boats. Yet after riding in Wolfs I can't say anything bad about it.
Lund makes a model identical to the one wolfs has but it is amazing the price difference. It is about double to triple the price of a tracker.
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I would be careful with Tracker boats and if you have another option, go with it. I owned a 2008 pro-guide V-16SC and it was a complete disaster. Bought it new and almost everything on the boat broke within the first few months. The live well system fell apart and had to be replaced, windshield cracked, lights wouldn't work, seats came apart, paint came off as soon as it hit the water and the worst part was the hull cracking. Over the course of 4 years the hull cracked over 15 times in different places under the livewell and keel. Tracker did their best to replace and repair everything but it was a lost cause. After almost sinking on 3 separate occasions, I threatened a lawsuit and got them to replace the boat. First time out in my new 2012 model and all the fittings blew off the livewell system... The boat is great to fish out of, when it's not sinking. This was not my first boat, always garaged kept and well maintained. Needless to say I would never buy another Tracker Marine product. On top of all this Bass Pro Shops welded up the last set of cracks after the boat was returned (7 of them) repainted it and sold it. So if anyone recently purchased a used 2008 Tracker V-16SC from Bass Pro Shops be warned that the boat has structural damage, aftermarket bracing under the bow (installed by Bass Pro), and fatigued aluminum.
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I think you should also decide if you want in outboard or an IO/Sterndrive configuration first before looking at specific models. And how important fishing items like a trolling motor, etc. are to you and your family.
A I/O will have a lot more flexibility for your family and water sports. And the right ones can make great fishing boats as well. But a swim platform and ladder makes life a lot more enjoyable when not fishing.
However, there are many many days I wish I had a fishing boat, or more of a fishing boat. I love mine (26.5 foot bowrider/wake/ski boat) and it is a dream on windy days - never worry about the lake being too rough). I mainly striper fish because I am not able to get the boat anywhere near shore to LM or SM fish effectively. And no way to ever mount a trolling motor - not to mention slowest speed possible is 5 MPH so no trolling either 
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[inline louv-a-troll.jpg]
Problem solved, now go troll.
[url "http://www.nevadastriperclub.org/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=160"]http://www.nevadastriperclub.org/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=160[/url]
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Now I can truly say I have seen everything Come to think of it, I am considering replacing some of my plantation shutters at home... hmmm...
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My first boat was a rubber blow up type that my wife and I Used for a few years. I upgraded to 14 foot gregor aluminum with a 5 hp brigs and stratton 4 stroke, I then up graded to a new 06 Tracker pro guide v16. I recently paid it off. For me it has been a great boat. I had a couple minor issues with bilge motor and fish finder on my first trip out. BPS fixed it and I have not had any problems in the last 6 years. It works for me and my family. I took it to Gerry's Marine in Henderson for a check up a year ago. He did some basic maintenance on my Mercy 50hp elpto . He told me as long as I do the maintenance the motor it will run forever. The only thing I would have done different is buy the bigger motor I could have gone up to a 75hp. Its top speed is about 27mph with 2 and gear. With 4 adults and gear is about 12 mph. Its big enough to handle most wind, winds that pop up( get me out of the area quickly without dying) It has all the bells and whistles. It just not a Cadillac version but for me and my family it works. I am spoiled with a boat, fishing is not the same off the shore. I would go as big as you can afford. I love Pontoon' but they are slow and don't do well if the winds pick up quick.
Cacoon
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