Looking into new boat purchase

[Harry Jenkins]

Ok, I am beginning to research a boat purchase. This is not something I am taking lightly as it will most likely cost me many years of honey-do

 

[Bill McElroy]

If I were making that same decision,..I'd go with the TV-18 with a 75 Merc. It's the best bass boat on the market for that price range,...I've riden and fished out of one and I currently run a 901. If I were to get out of tournament fishing on big water and could get by with less boat and motor,..I'd have a TV-18 or an Avalanche hands down....you'll want the biggest/widest/most HP you can afford right from the get go,......there are a BUNCH of TV-18 owners here and i'm sure they'll agree...it's a gem!!

Good luck and have fun shopping,..you're doing yourself a GREAT favor by asking and shopping early,...an educated shopper will more than likely be a happy one,....and I gaurantee you'll be happy with an Avalanche or a TV-18!!..

Best of luck!!

Mac

 

[Marke Cicero]

Well, I am one of the many extremely satisfied TV-18 owners on the board. You will LOVE this boat.... Do a search on this board for TV-18 and you will find countless posts. Also search for "Marke", "MOfish", "AndyZ", "Bruce". We all have the TV-18 and cannot say enough good things about if. Hands down the BEST Aluminum bass boat in Trackers line-up.



Good luck,



Marke

 

[Mark Hofman]

I'll sign on as a member this time so that you can get to my photos easily.

 

[TrepMan]

Thundercat - What a COOL Handle!! - You say staying under $14k is that out the door price, because that changes things dramaticaly. You need to figure in Freight, Rigging and Tax - Plus all those EXTRA's you want installed up front.



From Tracker's site www.trackermarine.com, Rigging is a standard $295 for a aluminium boat and $395 for glass. Frieght depends on how far you are from, I see NJ in your profile so $550 - $650 depending on which boat you choose. So right there you've added about $1000 to your price. Now Tax here is 7% so on a $12000 boat your talking $840. So a $12,000 boat out the door with out plates and any extra's will cost you $13,840.



So a $14,000 will costs you basically $16,000 plus options. Things from my perspective (have a PC 175 with a 40 Merc) that are must haves on any new boat:



- Spare tire and mount - about $100

- On-board charger - about $100

- Travel cover - about $350 or FREE if you time it right with Tracker's deals

- Tracker or Mercury extended warranty - Depends on length of time and coverage.



Good luck in your search and welcome aboard!



My personal choice would also be the TV 18! With the 75 Tracker shows 40-42mph top end. I know that that is pushing it WOT and more comfortable cruising speed in the low-mid 30's. The 700lx is a great boat, fished in Rich Stern's and LOTS of space even with a Dual Console (for 2 people, not 3) and with a 90 will push that 700 up to 46-49mph. So if more speed is the factor for the same price the 700lx is a better deal.



Hope this helped a little - Trep

 

[Bruce Yeaton]

Count me in. Can't say much more than everyone else has already said. For the money you can't go wrong with this boat!! I suggest the 90HP or bigger depending on the water you fish.

 

[Mark Hofman]

Bob, I was in BPS-Springfield two weekends ago and they were offering it (2002 model). The only change I noticed was in the steering wheel, the color of the carpet and the side graphics.



I am keeping a closer eye on those through-hull fittings in the transmom because of what happened to you. I don't live near saltwater, so I don't think corrosion is going to be as much of a potential problem for me. But I'm glad you brought it to our attention.

 

[TrepMan]

Hey Bob - Would this corrosion effect non-painted hulls or fittings? THinking of down the line taking by PC 175 into florida or bay fishing. I know I ran painted Jon Boats for years in TX bays with no problems what soever, but not one as fancy as my 175 (tiller'd motor and basic electronics with zero carpet.

 

[Steven Atwell]

I would recommend taking that entire year you are talking about, and learning everything you can about boats/motors/trailers. That way you can search around for used boats at dealers near you and know what to look for and test, while avoiding the freight of a tracker. Buying a used Mercedez is better than buying a new Civic, so if you learned, questioned, and tested like a fanatic, then you could come away with a top level boat but at your price range. Like you said, get in as many as you can. I recomend a glass boat, it's got the room and the stability.



BUT I have fished out of a TV18, and it was a really slick boat. If you were to buy one of those used, if even a year old, it would put you well into your price range.

 

[Steven Atwell]

Oh yeah, and THUNDERCATS HO!!

 

[Mark Hofman]

Bob:



When you made your repairs, what did you do to prevent the same problem from reoccurring in the future?

 

[Harry Jenkins]

Wow! You guys are great. I will definitely be taking the whole year to research, learn, test and oogle. I finally found and joined recently (yesterday paid my 1st dues) a local B.A.S.S. club that had an opening for a non-boater. The guys have everything from 16' aluminums to Avalanches to 9 Series Nitros. In the next year I should get a lot of on the water experience with the various makes and models to help me make my decision. I will admit that I am leaning towards glass...I have to add in the "Oooh! Aaaah!" factor...and I will also scout some used boats.



As I come across any more questions I will be sure to post them here. Thanks again, you guys are great.

 

[Jamey G]

I like glass boats too...



Jamey

 

[TrepMan]

I've never had a Glass boat, but I am basically a LAZY person so I LOVE that while the Glass owners are whiping down and cleaning their fancy boats i'm already home with the Tracker in the garage and having a beer!



Oh, and my current tow vehicle won't tow a Glass boat LOL

 

[Marke Cicero]

Thundercat,



Trust me, the TV-18 has PLENTY of "Oooooh! Aaaaah" factor...LOL



Bob,

I had the tv-18 in Saltwater last weekend in Maine. I'll keep an eye on the transom. I hope it doesn't corrode because the Striper wasn't worth it. Two days and Zero fish.



Thanks,



Marke

 

[Mark Hofman]

Bob:



Yeah, I dislike the fact that they didn't prime the hull before painting it, too. The paint on my boat is coming off the tops of the gunwales (gunnels?) up front where I rest my feet, but so far that's the only spot. I noticed the fiber washers on the transom.



In a sick, sort of twisted way, I'm glad this happened so that you could share your experience with the rest of us.



It would be great if we could put our boats side by side so I could see all of the differences between 1999 and 2001. There are a number of obvious ones (more screws, thicker transom, welded stern corners on the '01) but it would be interesting to see if there's a difference in the through hull fittings. I doubt it, but it WOULD be interesting to look.



I was in the garage last night and gave everything on the back end a really good look, hoping that all would still look like new (and it did). Your experience gives me one more maintenance item to follow-through on. Thanks!



Thundercat - you want "Oooh, aaaahhh"? Try a 3 second holeshot and durn near 60 mph in an aluminum boat turning an aluminum prop! I was on Table Rock Lake over the July 4th weekend and launched at the Chateau Hotel ramp. Their marina worker gave me a good look-over and commented how sharp the TV-18 looked. "I'll bet it does okay with that 150." "Yeah, I said. I'll get out of the NO WAKE zone and romp on it so you can see." I cleared that bouy, hit the throttle hard and the boat felt like it would come out of the water like a Polaris missle! When I came back later to load, he smiled REALLY big. "Nice boat."

 

[Andrew Zuber]

You got it MO!

The fishability is great...

The "looks and comments" can be even better!



another satisfied TV-18 owner

(sure wish I had MO's motor)



az

 

[Mark Hofman]

Yeah, as far as power to weight ratio and bang for buck, it's hard to beat the TV-18 with a 150. I don't know what the Avalanche weighs, and with a 150 I know it will crack 60.



Maybe I rigged it this way because I miss the first new car I ever bought: a 1990 Plymouth Laser RS turbocharged 2.0 Liter with a 5-speed. That rice rocket would out-perform a Mustang 5.0 once the turbo kicked in. I had it up around 130 once. It was still gaining speed before I ran out of straight and visible road. Because spent a year on the dealer's lot, it only cost me $11,500 NEW ! I kept it for ten years, put 97,000 miles on it, and sold it for two grand after the turbo finally seized. Not a bad return on the money, eh?

 

[Mark Hofman]

Sorry, that should have been $16K, not $11K. If it were $11K, that would have been a REAL deal!