Tahoe questions for current owners

[aguyindallas]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

Well, I spoke to soon about loose screws and such. We went out this past weekend. About 30 mins on the water, a bimini top screw and bracket came off. Luckily, they fell in the boat and I fixed it. Then...about 45 mins later another one...and this time it went over board. We decided to head back in. So, less than 8 hours total in the water with the boat and 2 screws rattled out.

The worst part....as I was cleaning it off after the couple ours we were out, I noticed a crack in the upper part of the hull. Its directly in line with were one of the screws that secures the bumper band (noob term) that goes around the boat.

I took it in to Tracker today to have them fix the speedo, crooked steering wheel, bimini top and the crack if they can get it done by Saturday. We will see how it goes.

I am sorely disappointed in the experience so far now. The frustrating thing is that the speedo and the wheel being crooked could have been addressed before I took delivery, I just didnt notice. The crack is what bothers be the most.

Oh well....sorry for the long post.

 

[roozterdvx]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

My first boat was a 2005 Q4S with 3.0 135hp I/O...

*never noticed any loose screws on anything factory installed
*the boat came without the bimini top installed and the dealer didn't have the time to install it before I took delivery, (I wanted the boat for the weekend and it being Thurs. afternoon, I agreed to take delivery and install myself. They offered to have one of their techs. come out to my house and install it after the weekend and I declined.) When I installed the brackets for the bimini, I laid everything out, predrilled the holes with a small drill bit, and put some 3M 5200 sealant/adhesive on each screw before installing it. The screws never backed out.
*the 135hp was never a problem, enough power for me, 46mph on gps with 2 adults and 3 kids + cooler, fishing tackle, towels, etc. got great mileage.
*I traded it in on a pontoon because my daughter felt claustrifobic and would get seasick, resulting in severe anxiety. We rented a pontoon for a day and she was absolutley fine, so we made the switch.
*paid $14995 for the boat in May of '05, traded in June of '06 at a different dealer and got $14000! The fact that Tahoe raised their price in '06 helped bump my trade-in value, so I didn't end up loosing my shirt.
*did quite a bit of shopping before purchasing and found that for the price, I couldn't duplicate that boat, even the Bayliner dealer wouldn't match the price of the Q4S with an 18' bowrider.
*my only complaints, the cockpit didn't drain very well. The boat was stored on the trailer in my yard, and after washing, even with the trailer tilted way up it would always hold some water. Also the bilge pump started blowing fuses after my first time out. I removed the motor cartridge and found loose fiberglass timings had worked their way down and stopped the impeller. Cleaned it out, tilted the trailer really high with a floor jack, and stuck a garden hose everywhere I could to wash out any more pieces. Cleaned out the bilge, and no more problem.

Good luck with your Tahoes.

BTW...When I purchased mine, I bought it from Travis Boating in Ft. Myers, before they got absorbed into the Bass Pro Shop. They were a full Tracker, Tahoe, Mako, Nitro, dealer and had a really good reputation in this area

 

[Ret USN CPO]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

This is a great thread, lots of good info here.

I am looking at getting a Tahoe Q6 FS. I looked at the Q4 and it seemed too small for our family. Any comments about the 4.3L 220hp engine? I've read a lot about the boat, the I/O, and am pretty sure this is the boat I want. I just want to be sure the 220hp is enough to pull a skier or two.

Thanks

 

[etransfer]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

This is a great thread, lots of good info here.

I am looking at getting a Tahoe Q6 FS. I looked at the Q4 and it seemed too small for our family. Any comments about the 4.3L 220hp engine? I've read a lot about the boat, the I/O, and am pretty sure this is the boat I want. I just want to be sure the 220hp is enough to pull a skier or two.

Thanks

I just got a 2008 Tahoe Q6 FS and the 4.3 220 is plenty of power. I've gone over 60 MPH with mine and the gas milage is awesome. The kids love the huge swim deck and the ride is really smooth.

As for pulling skiers I would recommend installing 60 lb smart tabs from www.nauticusinc.com and getting two new props. I would recommend a 19" four blade apollo SS for pulling and a 20" three blade SS enertia for cruising.

The 4 blade apollo is 100% required for pulling so get the dealer to throw this in with a spare prop wrench if you can.

If you don't want to spend money on the extra enertia a Hustler 21" works well for $79.00. Your RPMs will be a little low with the hustler until the motor lostens up because it's a cupped prop but you can cruise doing 45 MPH at 3800 RPMs with a full load which saves gas or you can open it up and do 55-60 at 4500 RPMs.

With the props above you'll be running about 4500 RPMs with a full load during break in.

After about 10 hours have the oil, filter and lower gear lube changed with AMS Marine Synthetic oil and marine lower unit lube. Using this will give you another 200 RPMs which you will need with these props plus there's no oil and lube better for your engine. After the engine gets lose you'll be at 4800 - 4900 RPMs which is perfect.

The book says to change the oil at 20 hours but I recommend 10. Mine was really dirty at 10 hours and had a bunch of metal bits which is normal for a new engine. I would order a case of AMS oil and change the oil and filter at 10 and 20 hours then annually after that or more often if you boat all year. At 10 and 20 hours you probably will have adjustments the dealer will need to do anyway so it's a good reason to bring it back to them.

Take out all the screws and use 5200 quick setting marine sealer on all of them so they stay tight. There's something about these boats that makes screws come lose. I also tightened all the bolts I could find as well and some were lose.

Finally, I've found that windex works magic for cleaning everything on the boat like black scuff marks or foot prints.


NOTE: For waxing and long term cleaning use BTS Protectant from http://www.btsproducts.com

 

[Ret USN CPO]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

Hey eTransfer, thanks for that info. Surely gathered quite a bit of useful info there.

Now I have come up with another question...

What is the construction of the Tahoes? Is it all fiberglass? or do they use some aluminum? or are they using wood?

Thanks

 

[Hashi]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

Hi,

First, I want to thank you for your many years of dedicated service of protecting our great nation and its people.

Tahoe boats are constructed of all-fiberglass hull. Even the stringer (backbone) is fiberglass. Alhtough in my Q7i I have a plywood shelf coated with gelcoat for the below deck storage. Some boats use wood which is susceptible to warping and rotting. They'll you you that they use wood because it flexes and absorbs shock much better than fiberglass...I think that's BS. Fiberglass is much stonger than pressure treated wood. Hope that helps.

Rich

 

[etransfer]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

Hey eTransfer, thanks for that info. Surely gathered quite a bit of useful info there.

Now I have come up with another question...

What is the construction of the Tahoes? Is it all fiberglass? or do they use some aluminum? or are they using wood?

Thanks

All fiberglass and that's why it's only 2800 LBs for a 21 foot boat.

I tell people it's like a go cart with an old dodge straight 6 engine.

It feels like a really light boat and goes like a rocket up to 50 MPH then has a max speed it will do but with the throttle wide open it keeps trying to
go faster just like the old dodge darts used to do with the straight 6.

FYI: I've been testing the enertia 20" prop and this thing is awesome.
I almost got sick when I ordered it because of the price but it has so much
bite and power I don't want to use another prop.

I can do 180s at 50 MPH and I only lose about 10 MPH on the turn
and with all the other props I'd go down to less then 20 MPH.

With the enertia prop I get on plane so fast the bow only goes up a foot or two.

I'm testing an apollo 19" this Saturday but this will be my last test because
I'm pretty happy with the enertia prop.

 

[brown_one]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

i just bought a 2006 195 deck boat. we have had it out 3 times now and love it. it has the 190hp 4.3. with the wife and 2 kids have had it up to 45. wife won't go any faster but the boat will. we bought this because we thought it was good boat that had what we both wanted. i can fish and there is room and containment for the kids. so far no problems after about 10 hrs on the water. this was a demo boat and had almost no use when we bought it.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

Welcome to iboats. Glad to hear you're enjoying your 195 deck boat!

 

[hazwild]

Re: Tahoe questions for current owners

Man I really want that cc215 with the o.b. bad glad you got and like your new boat.

I m with you my wife and i love this boat! Let me know when you get yours.Hopefully i will have mine next summer.