Tracker TX 17 dented bow - can it be fixed?

[Cacti]

Hi everyone,

Long time reader but never signed up because I never had a boat, just wanted one. I decided to buy a boat now and found a 1993 Bass Tracker Tournament TX17 for $2900. The motor and boat are in great shape, except for a dent in the bow where another boat hit it. The owner thinks that it will take $1000 to fix it, but also says it's not affecting the boat in the way it runs, nor does it leak. There were 3 popped rivets high on the port side that were fixed with stainless bolts. I'm posting a couple photos of the damage. Do you think that this can be fixed and if so, does $1000 seem accurate? Also, would this affect the way the boat runs since it's so far up the bow?

Thanks!

 

[classiccat]

IMHO...I'd keep looking Cacti. Besides the pricetag being borderline nutty (spring = seller's market), it's difficult to say how much the hull is distorted/twisted from the impact.

 

[fhhuber]

That far up... the bend at the rub rail shouldn't have any effect on how the hull cuts through the water.

But... I want a pic of the other side from a similar angle...

Did it cause a kink right as the fore-deck ends that has warped the whole hull? THAT would make the boat steer funny and could have compromised the hull strength vs handling rough water.

I'd pass it up. You won't know all that is wrong until you pull off the fore-deck.

No... I don't think $1000 will pay for a professional repair.

 

[fishin98]

My Opinion.....pass on it...The damage is going to cost more in time and money than it's worth..23 year old boat with big time damage...$2900...Maybe if the price was $900.

 

[Cacti]

Thanks guys, much appreciated! fhhuber, here is the only photo from the other side, but regardless, it sounds like it isn't worth the trouble unless the price was much much lower and make this a project boat.

 

[Cacti]

On a side note, in Arizona, people seem to be pretty proud of their bass boats. There are many I see that appear to be way overpriced. Like classiccat said, must the spring market.