Re: best aluminum boat?
I will chime in on Tracker since you are interested in them. First you probably will not get much support in the forums for tracker boats, but I bought a new one recently. Its a pro guide 17 with a 115 optimax. I also looked at the Targa but liked the lower sides of the pro guide for less money, other than that they are very similar with the Targa being little wider, deeper and steeper deadrise. I also looked at some other brands and compared before buying.
I got the boat to get my sons and I out fishing. It will see multi uses also, lakes, river, delta with a little tube pulling now and then for the kids. So far I really like the boat, it is roomy for its length, and rides very good in choppy water. But I have had problems with a crappy steering system, tracker has replaced that already but with just another crappy steering system. Seems to be a couple very tight turns the cable makes getting back to the motor, they are now offering to replace it with Hydraulic steering. Another problem is porpoising at just around 4600 rpm and I have to throttle back at 5200 rpm because it gets a little scary. This leaves me without the performance the motor is capable of since its rated at 5750. As I speak Tracker is also working on a solution to the porpoising problem. I think it is overweighted at stern and light in the front, we will see. The boat wants to hug the left side of trailer when being pulled out of water and ride up on a fender well some, Tracker has authorized a custom trailer busness here to add side bunkers and correct that minor but irritating problem. Tracker so far is acknowledging and taking care of any problems.
To get a second opinion on the porpoising problem I have talked to another marine repair and setup busness. This place was recommended to me since they set up new boats with motors, jackplates etc., and also do the welding for repairs on alum boats. Including all the top brand names in alum boats.... you know the ones that cost about as much as a small house. I am taking my boat to their shop for an anaylisis of what is causing the porpoising and stiff steering and what they may recommend to fix it. In our conversation today he told me he has worked on the new tracker boats and the all welded hulls are solid with good welding. Again you probably will not get much support for Tracker boats, I believe they may desserve some of the hard knocks from the past but feel I got a very good bang for my buck compared to some of the other alum brands out there ... which can cost enormous amounts of money.