New boat dilema...HELP

[Steven Atwell]

I have really been looking at buying a new NX750. It seems to have the size I want, and the features I want. I also figured, that while paying a little more overall, my financing rate would be better, and I'd have the benefit of customer service with an established chain, the Tracker/BassPro dealership, and of course the boat would be totally untoached by anyone else.



I've looked at used boats, but none are in the shape I am looking for, ie new or close to it. After reading all of these posts, it's hard to go ahead with a new purchase, it seems the opinion of Bass Pro and Tracker service is rather low. Any good advice from those who have bought new, those who have bought used, including other common brands? I'm in Melbourne, FL so if anyone has a line on a boat or two, I'd appreciate it also.

 

[Pierre Voisine]

Steven,



you will get good and bad for any manufacturer. From this site, most of the comments are great. You will have to make a decision based on your situation, but I can tell you that you'd be hard pressed to find a boat as decked out (tournament extras) as the NX750. It has everything you need.



Pierre

 

[Mark Hofman]

You've done your research on boats, now you need to spend some time doing research on the dealer who will sell you your boat. Bass Pro is only one of many dealers who sell the Tracker/Nitro line of boats.



Here locally, I could by a Nitro from either the BPS Warehouse in St. Charles, or from the Fishin' Hole, a private dealer. The Fishin' Hole does all of the service and warranty work for boats bought there or from the BPS store. And they are EXCELLENT at it.



Find a dealer who really wants your business, who doesn't give you a line of B.S. and who stands by what they sell. Get referrals and references. Talk to other owners in your area. I am convinced that, if you choose the right dealer, your customer service issues will not be the nightmare you're imagining. The dealership makes or breaks it.

 

[Texas Transplant]

Agreed. I did most of my shopping at BPS, that way I could look over a wider range of boats. Then I went to a local dealer that had been in business for quite a long time. They had a decent inventory, and their attention to detail on most matters, including warranty, have been very acceptable.

 

[Russ Charles]

I bought my 882 in April of 01 from BPS in Orlando and have nothing but praise for them. There were no suprises and they delivered the boat to the front door of the store, exactly when they said they would, full of fuel, and ready to go in all respects. Later I had a couple of minor warranty issues which were handled promptly and to my complete satisfaction.



Russ

 

[Russ Charles]

Steven, Talk to Joel at 407-563-5180 (there is probably an 800 number, but I don't know what it is). I just called, and he will be working tomorrow 1:00PM to 10:00PM.



Russ

 

[Mark Hofman]

Steven:



This is just my opinion, but Tracker Marine markets their boats with a standard outboard - usually one step up from the minimum h.p. required to run the boat acceptably. They don't max out the h.p., which means that a bargain shopper (who doesn't know any better) buys the standard package thinking it's a "deal".



I learned doing my research that you want to buy a boat that is at the max h.p., or one step down, to maintain a comparable resale value. I don't know how NADA bases their resale values, but if its anything like real estate, the values are based on what boats have historically sold for. Since most Trackers/Nitros will not have the max h.p. on the back end, the value will be lower.



Again, this is just my opinion, based on uncollaborated information and not a heck of a lot of statistical research to quote. I wonder what how a minimally powered Triton, Ranger or Stratos would fare on the used boat market. Most of those guys max out the motor.

 

[Steven Atwell]

Ah yes, good point. As well, the higher rated Nitros that do have a higher resale value are likely the higher priced boats which also typically have the near max HP motor. So you think that it is not a reflection of quality (or that NADA is showing Nitros as poorly made boats)? Thanks, steve

 

[Tony Payne]

I only have a couple of comments, and that is on the NX750 itself.



That was my first "new" boat purchase as well, and the Wife and I quickly outgrew it. It was impossible to take more than the 2 of us out in it comfortably. Lord help us if we both wanted to stand/sit together on the same end of the boat to fish!



We were also not very impressed with the way it handled in rough water. (Battling the pleasure boaters.)



When we bought it, we had the exact same thoughts vs. the Tritons.



If I have a point to make, it would be to consider two things:

1. Think about how you intend to use the boat, number of people you intend to take with you and the bodies of water you intend to fish.

2. After you thought thru that, think about those same things in a year-2 years.



I am not knocking the NX750 - it is/was a great boat for the money. Just if you decide after a year or two you need something bigger, it may hit you in the resale more than you bargained for.



Now that we have the 901, I can safely say "we wont need a bigger boat for a few years", And I wish I could have figured that out the first time.



Just things to think about.



--sim

 

[Mark Hofman]

Sim is right. That's a good explanation of why I bought a TV-18 rather than a fiberglass boat. It fits my fishing style, number of fishing friens, and the bodies of water I fish much better than a glass boat would. My wife said, "One new boat, that's it. Make sure it's what you want and need." I took that same position when it came to choosing the motor size. No upgrades later on, so go with the biggest, baddest motor we could afford.



Steve, as far as resale goes, yes. I think the resale value is based as much on the size of the motor (thinking that the purchaser of a used boat also wants the biggest bang for his buck and will look for bigger outboards over smaller ones) as it does on the condition of the used boat itself. Those two factors are usually ignored in discussions about resale value and quality.



Two years ago, I bought several used firearms from a guy who still had the original documents, the original boxes, who wiped the guns down with oil once a month and hardly ever fired them. I paid top dollar for those guns because I knew how they had been cared for. With used boats, its hard to know the service history, whether it was stored and winterized correctly, etc. Just that uncertainty throws the value amount all over the place.



I don't think the NADA value is a reflection of the overall quality of the product as much as it is an indicator of what people are willing to pay for a used boat. Since Tracker Marine has less than a stellar reputation among boaters, people may not be willing to pay as much for used Trackers or Nitros - even though the specific boat you are considering may be absolutely first rate!



I guess what I'm saying is that the resale value has more factors in it than just the quality of the boat leaving the factory.