I bought a brand new Tracker this summer and I’ve taken it out a handful of times...

...is it just me or do these things take a beating.

I’ve been SUPER careful with it and I’m still finding scratches...is there a way to buff these out?? I’d like to keep this thing looking nice.

I have a Tracker and my goal is to get as many scratches as I can. Casting causes scratching!

Banging Big Bass against the side of the boat causes scratches that are memorable and you can say look here this is what I did last week.

If you ain’t getting scratches you ain’t fishing where the bass are. It’s like casting, if you worry about if you will get your bait back, then that’s the right spot. Catch the fish first then worry about landing it.

You must have been on Fork. My boat gets a ding with every trip.

Ive got an Xpress with so many scratches it's hard to tell what color it is but you can run up on stumps and rocks without worrying.

Keep the inside nice. The outside, those are battle scars. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to keep up with them. Just accept them as something that happens to a bass boat and go back to fishing.

It don’t get scratched sittin on the trailer. Same way it won’t break down on it either.

Your boat is a tool for catching fish. It's good to take care of it, but don't be obsessive and let your concern for the condition of the boat interfere with enjoying your time on the water.

Thanks for the laughs and solid reply’s...

I mostly fish Texoma, Lake Bonham, and Ray Roberts. I am guilty of trying to get my boat in every nick and cranny I can find. But I am guilty of when I get home and I’m washing my boat and getting pissed off at the scratches. I guess I thought the exterior was built to withstand a few tree branches running along the side...

Maybe I’m too worried about keeping the resale value as high as possible.

O well.

If the scratches are not past the clear coat you can buff them out or wet sand them with 1200 grit paper. Finish with a polish and sealer or wax restorer. Several companies produce wax and restorers. Personally, after a big bull shark bit my boat I kind of stopped caring about how it looked on the outside.

Great take

I try to do my damnedest to keep my boat clean, shined, and mark free. But I know there's going to be a day or two when I couldn't help the situation. One thing I found is as stated above...keep the inside clean, compartments organized, and electronics working perfectly.


Also, I found that keeping your boat smooth it tends to take a little off the power of the scratch. It glides more than digs in. I may imagine this...but I've been over a stump or two where I thought for sure it would leave a mark and it didn't.