tracker targa new or used

[brtaylor34]

I'm considered purchasing my first boat and have been looking at the tracker targa's. I've done quite a bit of boating in my life just never owned one of my own. Mainly will be used for fishing but some cruising. I'm torn on whether to consider a used boat or a new one. There's one in my area (2004targa 17 wt) with a 115hp mercury salt water and an 8hp mercury kicker.
Says it's only been used a handfull of times. Asking price is $16,000. Is this a decent price? Any advice on buying new or used?

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

Re: tracker targa new or used

Considering a new Targa 17 WT with a 115 optimax would go for about 23k + tax without the kicker I think that would be a good deal. I would always bring a used boat to a mechanic to check it out before buying though.

 

[Nick32]

my tracker targa new

my tracker targa new

I just bought a Tracker Targa 17SC in July. It has a 2007 Mercury 75 four stroke EFI on it. Put it in water and on the dock over night and woke up in the morning and the boat was under about 2 feet of water in the back and nose was almost straight up. The olny thing stopping it from going down was the motor was touching bottom. Brought it back they had it a week and put a automatic Bilge pump in said it wouldnt happen again just rained alot witch it did. Took it out the next saturday and that auto bilge pump ran all day long! So I looked in the back and the 2 wet well drain holes sit under water about 2 inches. Water is constantly leaking into the boat and right there in front of the motor in the wet well, is the round black plastic cap that unscrews and you can reach down into the boat where the pump is. So in a sense the boat was sinking it self. So dealer took it back and tried to water tight and seal the cap. Got it back a week later still no change. Water still leaks in all day long. I got about 2 inches of clearence from water coming in over the back by the motor and thats with a 1/4 tank of gas. Three months later and I still havent heard anything. They say they are working on an answer. That was the major problem! I lost two rod tips putting my rods in the rod holders under deck, broke tips right off cause they got caught up in there on electric motor wires under deck. 80 dollar rods. Then I looked at one of the seats up front and the stitching on seat came completely out and seat is coming apart. Dealer told me its not there problem they are on my side its trackers job to fix it. Not sure what to do with this boat? Motor is Great love it.. This tracker is a problem boat from hell. asking $18995.00 for it i paid 15,000 after a $3000 rebate and down payment and it sank the next day!!!! You can probably tell what I think of Tracker BOATS, this was my first one!! I asked about the Lemon law and we dont have one in the state of maine for boats. I heard back from Tracker today they said they will only fix the well cap from not being water tight. Its normal they say for it to sit that low! Does anyone know how far above water line wet well drain are suppose to be?? As you can see in the pics my water line is at the top 2 bolts holding motor on. Drain holes are under water about 1 to 2 inches depending on how much gas is in boat and if im standing the the back.

 

[dabalone]

Re: tracker targa new or used

Nick32, I have a 2007 ProGuide v17 with a 115 optimax on it. With a full tank of gas and me standing on the rear deck I get a slight amount of water thru the drain holes. With 1/2 tank fuel the drain holes are an inch or more above the water line. My 115 opti weighs around 375 I think your four stroke is around 399, our motors are close to same weight. I think your boat is even rated for more hp than mine, something seems odd your boat sits that low and I can't imagine the boat being designed like that. Its called a splash well for a reason, its not meant to be under water.

I have had many problems with my Tracker and still having them. Porpoises terrible, you cannot run it wot trimmed up. Came delivered with a dent in the rail and scratches from shipping. Seat stitching came undone. It took two hands and a manly effort to stear the thing right. You could not load the boat on the trailer straight. I have to say Tracker has fixed all the problems except the porpoising with no cost to me, including replacing the steering with a hydraulic system and installing side bunks to the trailer, but, so far my boat has been away for the various repairs for around 10 weeks. Now the boat leaks and they just picked it up yesterday to ship it back to the factory, the welds all along the keel cracked and the boat was taking on water as fast as the bilge could pump it out. This time the dealer has had it in their service center for 4 weeks and Tracker will probably have it for 8 weeks if its even repairable. This boat is just over two years old and has only been used on lakes and the CA delta, roughest water it has seen is some wind chop and other boats wakes. Add it up, if tracker takes 8 weeks to get it back to me this time, the boat would have been in a shop waiting for or getting repairs with me not able to use it for close to six months since I took delivery of it.