First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

[shark1998]

Gentlemen,

I am a first time Boat buyer and am looking for some expert advice from this forum community. The boat that I have chosen is the 2011 Tracker Pro Guide V-175 SC with a 90 HP XL Optimax engine. I have been doing my research on this particular boat for over six months, but since I am a novice boater and this is my first purchase I would like to know if any one here has any tips or recommendations for some of the questions that I have below.


The specs are these:

Package Weight ? 2368 Lbs.
Package Length ? 18? 2?
Boat Length ? 16? 11?


1) My engine is a two stroke 90 HP Mercury motor. The brochure and dealers have stated that the engine will mix the oil with the fuel. With your experience, how often do I need to refill the oil reservoir?

Some people I have spoken to have stated that they actually still mix the oil and fuel in the tank. I am not sure if this is the best approach with this engine.

2) My state (VA) requires that trailers weighing 3000 Lbs or more to have brakes. I am below that with the dry weight of the boat and trailer. But, am assuming that wet and loaded with gear that I may be approaching 3000 Lbs. Should I get the trailer equipped with brakes or not? My towing vehicle (2011 Nissan Xterra X) has a GVW of 4354 with a wheel base of 106.3? so I am leaning towards getting brakes just in case.

3) EZ Lube Hubs for trailer ? I have done my due diligence but am getting some mixed opinions on these. Mainly, with the optional brakes on the trailer that I may be at risk of damaging the braking system if the grease leaks. What are your opinions on this?

4) Long trips ? I plan on driving between VA and TN maybe twice a year (700 Mile trip one way) how often should I check the wheels and what should I be checking for? Are there any spare parts or tools that I should be bringing along just in case?

5) On major highways, are vehicles with trailers required to stop at weigh stations?

I know these may be novice/ dumb questions ? but I would really appreciate any feedback.

I appreciate any comments back ?

 

[rrhodes]

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

1.) You are buying new so I would just keep the oil reservoir topped off. Once the warranty is up and if you want to then you can always disable the oil injection and mix it yourself...

2.) Get the brakes.

3.) Dunno, Never heard anything like that but I have not used the system myself.

4.) Check Tire Pressure and the rest depends on which bearings you go with.

5.) Not in my state...

6.) There are no dumb questions...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

Generally an outboard burns a pint of oil per six gallons, although with engines that mix it, it seems like less. Don't know why or if that's good, or even true. Just keep an eye on it, and carry oil. Suggest you buy it in bulk and carry a smaller container. Many marine stores sell it cheap if you bring your own container.

I don't think I'd bother with brakes. There is a recent discussion on this in the trailer section. But maybe for mountain roads. See how you do without them. Other than your trips to TN, is most of your trailering short-haul?

On a new trailer you don't have to "check the wheels" any more than you do your car. be sure your tires are inflated (they take a lot more than car tires). Be sure you have a spare, tire iron and jack (your car's jack might work). Some people carry spare hubs but I wouldn't, especially with a new trailer.

You don't have to stop at weigh stations.

have fun and welcome to iboats!

 

[lncoop]

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

1) Let the motor mix the oil for you. People who mix it themselves have disabled the oil injection system because they're afraid it will fail on them. That's a valid concern sometimes, but not on a brand spankin' new Opti.
2) Definitely add brakes.
3) Pretty much any hub is fine if properly maintained. The inverse is also true of course. Don't overthink that one.
4) Assuming proper maintenance (you seem the type who will keep up with that) all you need to do is feel the hubs when you stop. If they're hot to the touch you got a problem partner. If not, onward.
5) No. At least not the size you'll be pulling.

Good luck with the Tracker. Welcome to iboats. Don't be a stranger.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

I won't rehash the response above since they are all correct. However, I will re-emphasize the brakes. You're an admitted novice pulling a boat and you are right around the do-I-or-don't-I threshold for the brakes being required. DO IT! Toss on the likelihood that you'll be towing through the mountains of Virginia and Tennessee and it's a no brainer. That boat package will push your little Xterra around going down the mountains and struggle going up it. I pull my 16.5ft Alumacraft Navigator (90hp Suzuki 4-stroke) which has about the same weight as your package with a Ford Ranger (SOHC 4.0L v6) with a similar engine to your DOHC 4.0L v6 engine. I definitely have to tow in 3rd gear going up the tiny hills in northern Minnesota. Your Xterra is going to labor going up any foothills or mountains. You better also make sure that you've got a tow package in that thing that includes a transmission cooler and hopefully upgraded front brakes - even with trailer brakes. Not trying to scare you but prepare you...

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

first off if your buying new go for a 4 stroke the oil injected engines are nice for awhile but its still a 2 stroke...
2 strokes like to be annoying and loud 4 strokes are quieter
with oil injection i have first hand expierience with it clogging up and frying the hell out of the motor that is why people still mix oil in there gas which leads me to the 2nd thing most those 2 strokes designed to run on 50:1 if your oil injecter is mixing it and you are, guess what its now 25:1 and will clog your exhust and foul your plugs.

to be honest having brakes on a trailer that is 2600 dry not sure if they would be that much of a help or 1 more thing to have to deal with.

i use bearing buddies on my surge brakes i dont worry about grease getting into them, you can either do bearings once a year to be safe or get bearing buddies and do them once every few years to be safe. also if you get aluminum wheels they wont look pretty the grease tends to fly over the out side of the rim, but would you rather be stuck on the highway with pretty rims or have no issues with slightly greasy rims?

depending on the tires how often you want to stop if you got radials like 202/75/d14 you should be fine to run 3 or 4 hours if not longer at speeds of 60 mph with out a worry how ever the smaller tires have less surface which means the heat up more to which you might want to stop every 2-3 hours [rest area, food break, shopping spree] to check them and if there too hot to hold your hand on you should let em cool. also check your hubs even on the bigger axles if its hot, either no grease or the hub was put on to tight causing friction. with bearing buddies just keep a grease gun at hand and every couple months top em off.

weigh stations are for commercial vehicals for anything over 10k i think, e/i semi's, larger box trucks, and even f 550's if there hualing work trailers.

as noted by captain caveman if your vehical is equipt with an overdrive off button or 3rd gear use those, think my 95 f 150 is only supose to hual 500 lbs with overdrive on my dad blow his tranny pulling a camper with a suburban cause he didn't know that little pleice of info

as for tools to keep on hand while going on long trips, some sort of jack the stock one from your suv will work as long as its not junk like half of them are a half inch breaker bar and socket to match your lug bolts and a handgun of some sort for safty up in dem hills [or maybe thats just me].

 

[shark1998]

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

Thank you all for your comments.

I made the purchase. I have looked for months for a used boat similar to what I wanted but they are just not available (I consider this a good thing, must be that the owners are very happy with their purchases).

The only down side is that the trailer doesn't have brakes. Tracker Marine is 10 - 12 weeks behind in manufacturing (I guess the economy is improving). Is there a potential for upgrading the trailer with brakes even though the trailer didn't come with them?

I also went with a 4 stroke 115HP Mercury outboard instead of the two stroke. I talked to three Mercury technicians and all stated that the four stroke is much better with fuel economy as well as maintenance. They were of the opinion that the newer 4 strokes have almost the same get up and go as the 2 stroke. The getup was a small concern of mine just in case I decide I want to tow the kids behind the boat in ski's.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

I think you'll be real happy with your purchase. The Optimax is a great motor, and I would have tried to talk you into it, but the 4 strokes are nice too. Enjoy the boat, and when it comes in, lets see some pictures.

On the issue of brakes, they can always be added later, for a cost. Any reputable trailer shop should be able to set you up with a quote.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

Understand that the GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) on the Nissan is NOT the tow rating. That is the maximum all up weight (passengers, fuel and gear) the Nissan can weigh. Subtract the tongue weight of the trailer when loaded. You need a spare tire. Do yourself a favor and have the trailer fitted with brakes. You need a set of wheel bears that are packed and ready to go. You need to do some on-line study to learn how to replace wheel bearings on the road. You need a lug wrench for the trailer wheels. Chances are they are not the same size as the Nissan. You are not required to stop at weigh stations. Your engine mixes oil with fuel at a variable ratio but for calculation purposes, the engine should use one pint of oil for every 6 gallons of fuel which translates to a pretty standard 50:1 ratio. Keep at least one quart of oil on board and monitor oil level before every trip. We shouldn't have to remind you that an engine without oil will put a serious dent in your wallet. It takes one minute to check oil level and less than that to top it off. No room for excuses with that very minor task.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

You're at like half the tow rating of the Xterra. Add brakes if you'd like (contact a local RV shop for help with this) but they aren't necessary. Xterra's are beasts.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: First time boat buyer looking for expert advice

glad to see you went with a 4 stroke and my uncle has a 50 horse evinrude 4 stroke and he has no problem towing me and i weigh in at lil over 200. i wouldn't consider the get up and go differnt as that changes with hull type, style, and pitch of your prop. happy boating