tracker and alumweld

[Davis 103]

i am looking at buying another boat, does anyone know what the Bass Tracker "smooth ride hull" is all about?
I am looking at a 16' tracker and a 17' alumweld. does anyone have a preferance or experanince with these 2 boats?

Thanks

 

[RandyJ]

Re: Davis 103

Re: Davis 103

My cousin bought a nice basstracker with a 60 hp Mercury 4 cycle. Very nice and he's extremely proud of it. Well into his 2nd year with it and no problems other than paint came off where he spilled gas on it. The dealer repaired on warranty.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Davis 103

Re: Davis 103

Not saying Trackers are junk but they are bottom of the line.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Davis 103

Re: Davis 103

For comparison, Tracker is a Yugo, prettied up to look like a Buick.

An Alumaweld is a Mercedes, built tough like a tank.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Davis 103

Re: Davis 103

Comparing Tracker to Alumaweld is a little awkward. They're really aimed at two totally different segments.

Tracker, IMO, seems to be built and marketed toward first time, entry level boat buyers. I've known people who bought trackers, but they all seemed to upgrade to non-Tracker models with a few years and non of them considered upgrading to another Tracker. YMMV.

Grouse

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Davis 103

Re: Davis 103

Trackers also tend to be underpowered on purpose just to get the price at an attractive point for the first time buyer. Whatever you buy, whether new or used, check the MAX HP tag. You want about 70% of that number MINIMUM or more for acceptable performance with an average load. Anything less than that and you will will have a slug.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Davis 103

Re: Davis 103

Seen some Tracker boats with some pretty scary welds like transoms cracking before the boats are even sold so the Alumaweld is a no brainer here.

Tracker is so big because of they are in every Bass Pro catalog but they are enrtry level boats for sure.

 

[RandyJ]

Re: Davis 103

Re: Davis 103

I'm not exactly a boat connoisseur but I do know that tracker's are good looking boats and if you can get the job done for 1/2 price then that's the decent way to go. Most people I know who have boats use them only a few times a year. One reason I would never buy a new boat is that it depreciates like crazy and if I get a loan then I've got to have insurance and will end up with the boat costing me twice as much as if I paid cash for it. The other reason I won't have a new or expensive boat is that I don't have a decent place to keep one out of the weather. Without even a storage shed or garage I'm keeping my old junk boats that run great and are easy to maintain. For me, brands don't matter... reliability is the most important thing. When fishing... I've yet to see a fish that's going to outrun 5 horsepower on a 12 ft john boat. I have bought many boats for what many people's monthly payments are.... and the biggest fish I caught while fishing from an old antique with a 2 2/3 hp 1952 Martin. If you want to look pretty and impress everyone then go spent a fortune on a water rocket. Big fancy boats are just not necessary to catch fish. IMO, first time buyers should buy much less expensive old boats since most are going to use them like crazy the first year or so then it's going to get parked until it rots & rusts all the cables and corrodes all the electrical connections and the carbureators get gummed up.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Davis 103

Re: Davis 103

I'm not exactly a boat connoisseur but I do know that tracker's are good looking boats and if you can get the job done for 1/2 price then that's the decent way to go. Most people I know who have boats use them only a few times a year. One reason I would never buy a new boat is that it depreciates like crazy and if I get a loan then I've got to have insurance and will end up with the boat costing me twice as much as if I paid cash for it. The other reason I won't have a new or expensive boat is that I don't have a decent place to keep one out of the weather. Without even a storage shed or garage I'm keeping my old junk boats that run great and are easy to maintain. For me, brands don't matter... reliability is the most important thing. When fishing... I've yet to see a fish that's going to outrun 5 horsepower on a 12 ft john boat. I have bought many boats for what many people's monthly payments are.... and the biggest fish I caught while fishing from an old antique with a 2 2/3 hp 1952 Martin. If you want to look pretty and impress everyone then go spent a fortune on a water rocket. Big fancy boats are just not necessary to catch fish. IMO, first time buyers should buy much less expensive old boats since most are going to use them like crazy the first year or so then it's going to get parked until it rots & rusts all the cables and corrodes all the electrical connections and the carbureators get gummed up.

I totally disagree.

First time buyers should buy new boats, so I can buy them cheap in a year or two.


Actually, you are correct. 99% of first time buyers are inexperienced, don't know what they want, need, or how the boat will be used.

But many, in an attempt to have a good family experience, or to avoid bad water days, or...... for some other reason, decide to buy way too expensive of a boat the first time around.

Better to spend a few hundred to have someone check out a used boat for them, then spend a couple hundred having someone teach them how to take care of it and how to use it properly.


Chances are pretty good that they will either upgrade the boat in a year or two, or sell it off.

 

[mommicked]

Re: tracker and alumweld

I'm no expert but a friend has a Tracker w the smooth ride hull and it has more of a V bottom than most Jonboat type shallow v hulls and a somewhat smoother ride. However, all of these boats will beat the snot out of you if you go too fast for surface conditions. The are light and small and not made for real chop/ whitecaps or windy conditions. My buddy loves his. If you run any of them sensibly they all do a pretty good job as a lake or river fishing boat. Just slow down if it gets rough. Tracker seems to have more options or features than Alumacraft, but as said before Alumacrafts are very tough and take more abuse IMO

 

[3dees]

Re: tracker and alumweld

there are many happy Tracker owners out there, but I would go with the Alumacraft. just a better made boat. there are other brands to consider. G-3 and Xpress are great tins with padded hauls but are way more expensive than any other. I bought a Crestliner VT19 which is the same boat as the Triton. after 35 years of glass bassboats I'm pretty happy with this tin. aluminum boats are not meant to be out on lake Erie in 50mph winds. all will give you a harder ride in choppy water. also think about resale value. I paid about 2500.00 more for my boat than a equally equipted Tracker, but I think I will more than make that back if I ever sell.

 

[SteveRoss]

Re: tracker and alumweld

Sorry to interrupt the thread, but since it got off into riveted v.s. welded, I thought I'd ask a question. I have an all welded "Sea Ark" 1448.... Is that a bad boat compared to the riveted ones or other ones ??

 

[roscoe]

Re: tracker and alumweld

there are many happy Tracker owners out there, but I would go with the Alumacraft. just a better made boat. there are other brands to consider. G-3 and Xpress are great tins with padded hauls but are way more expensive than any other. I bought a Crestliner VT19 which is the same boat as the Triton. after 35 years of glass bassboats I'm pretty happy with this tin. aluminum boats are not meant to be out on lake Erie in 50mph winds. all will give you a harder ride in choppy water. also think about resale value. I paid about 2500.00 more for my boat than a equally equipted Tracker, but I think I will more than make that back if I ever sell.

Question was referring to Tracker and Alumaweld, not Alumacraft. Alumawelds are on par or above Alumacrafts in most models.

 

[roscoe]

Re: tracker and alumweld

Sorry to interrupt the thread, but since it got off into riveted v.s. welded, I thought I'd ask a question. I have an all welded "Sea Ark" 1448.... Is that a bad boat compared to the riveted ones or other ones ??

I don'r see where anyone compared welded to riveted, but to answer your question welded SeaArk is a decent boat, although your jon boat has nothing in common with the 2 boats in question.

 

[dave11]

Re: tracker and alumweld

I have a 16ft Alumaweld I had built for me four years ago. I included all the options I wanted on the boat. I have been boating for decades. I researched boats to the point my wife got tired of it and finally just said "Go ahead and order the damn thing." I bought it sight unseen from the closest dealer which was 1500 miles away. When I first saw it I was in love. Wonderful fit and finish. It is a very spartan boat so if you want something fancy, don't get an Alumaweld. If you want a good safe boat, get an Alumaweld. I have had it out the Jupiter, Florida inlet in 6ft+ waves. I have been in the Gulf several times in 5ft+ short chop. I wasn't happy to be out in that weather, but I wasn't worried about my safety either. You can certainly buy less expensive boats, and there are a lot of good boats out there. Starcraft is a good example of a decent reasonably priced boat. I still haven't found another boat I would prefer to have than the one I have. It is a boat I will always have.