Need Help Lowe FM165 or Tracker pro v16

[LilDave]

I would like any opinions on the two. I have always owned ranger bass boats for 25 yrs and just to much upkeep. I am mainly looking to fish for crappie with this boat. I am looking at a lowe FM165 with a merc 60hp 4s bigfoot extra seats 55 lb tr spare etcfor $15500 new. Never been in a deep V would like opinions on the 2 boats is one better than other. or do they both handle ok . The only thing I am woried with lowe is livewell quality. Help guys gooing to purchase soon. Any info would be appreciated. Dave

 

[bryonthefly]

Re: Need Help Lowe FM165 or Tracker pro v16

I would like any opinions on the two. I have always owned ranger bass boats for 25 yrs and just to much upkeep. I am mainly looking to fish for crappie with this boat. I am looking at a lowe FM165 with a merc 60hp 4s bigfoot extra seats 55 lb tr spare etcfor $15500 new. Never been in a deep V would like opinions on the 2 boats is one better than other. or do they both handle ok . The only thing I am woried with lowe is livewell quality. Help guys gooing to purchase soon. Any info would be appreciated. Dave

I checked 'em both out pretty closely in late 2008 and bought the FM165. The Lowe has quite a bit more floor space due to the wider bottom and is noticeably more stable. The lowe was cheaper and better equipped also. About the only advantade that went to the tracker to me was the hull design made it a little faster on top end, but i took care of that when the dealer shot me a killer deal on the 75 Optimax upgrade. Now I have all the stability and 40+ mph top end fully loaded. Just guessing, I would think you would get 35 or better with that 60 loaded up with the right prop, which aint too bad. Good luck with your decision, they're both nice boats.

 

[RiverSound]

Re: Need Help Lowe FM165 or Tracker pro v16

I can't say much between the two but that a nice price your dealer gave you. I was talking with my dealer today about one that sounds identicle, extra seat and all, and the price they gave me was 2K more. Given there was about $500 in freebies "thrown in" but there still a bit of a gap there. I know if the the dealer gave me that price I wouldn't be sleeping on it right now... I'd own it. Not to highjack the thread but what do the other FM165 owners have to say about the prices??

 

[Tiggyboot]

Re: Need Help Lowe FM165 or Tracker pro v16

The live well works great. The auto feature is excellent for keeping the water fresh. The built in bait bucket is very handy too. No complaints there. As for the motor choice. The big foot is not the correct motor for this boat. Those motors are intended for pontoon boats. Your dealer is probably trying to clear some inventory. If you plan on doing allot of tubing or water sports, then it will be ok, otherwise, it's just extra weight. The tracker is a fine boat. I prefered the look of the Lowe. You can't go wrong with either.

 

[dahogman]

Re: Need Help Lowe FM165 or Tracker pro v16

I bought the 2008 Lowe FM 165 over the Tracker. I got the Mercury 60 hp 4 stroke EFI. I agree that the bigfoot is not designed for this boat. I found the construction and fit and finish was a little better in the Lowe. I also got a good deal at $15,000 I also experienced large price differences dealer to dealer. My Lowe was a awesome boat and I have no complaints about it. It could use a larger livewell with a pumpout feature though.

 

[stevtech]

Re: Need Help Lowe FM165 or Tracker pro v16

We bought the FM165 with 75 optimax, 4 seats, bimini, all the extras for 22K last summer. We bought it at Cabelas. Service has been great. It had a short in a harness, took it in, they thought they fixed it. Out on the lake it quit again. Trolling motor got us back. They put in a new harness and gave us a new chair. I put an hour meter on it and it has 21.5 hours on it now. Top speed with me and my wife is about 38mi/hr. We are very happy with it for fishing, tubing and riding around the lake. Most of my time is a 20min run and then 4 to 6 hours of fishing and or trolling. It handles the 2' chop we sometimes get just fine. I was looking for something used and smaller. Wife saw it in the show room and said "Thats what we gotta have". I went along because I know if I bought something used and it broke down on the other side of the lake I would have the longest paddle of my life listening to what I should have done. As it is she "blasted" Cabelas when we got back. She is happy with the 4th chair we had ordered but they just gave us for our trouble. She likes the ride, and being out on the lake with our two dogs. Extra fun when towing the grandson and his friend. It is a solid fishing platform.

 

[nuffsaid]

Re: Need Help Lowe FM165 or Tracker pro v16

I bought a FM165 from cabela's last year, it was a bank repo 2008 that couldn't have been used more than a couple of times. My boat only has the 50 hp two stroke, but the price was killer at 10,500.00. Overall, very happy with the boat, handles big waves well, has a nice ride. I did have to send it back this last winter to have it repainted as the paint was peeling on the hull. Covered under warranty except for me having to drive 500 miles each way to bring it back to Cabelas. Overall, nice fishing boat. Just mounted a 9.9 kicker and a downrigger and hope to get it out on the lake tomorrow, probably in the snow.