*********Update: I decided to not go. The boat has been sold to someone else. Thanks for everyone's input.**********
(I need to start heading over in a couple hours so please let me know what you think) I'm supposed to drive to Houston this afternoon from Austin to buy a 2012 Tracker 175 TWX with a 60 Mercury 4-stroke with a ulterra and Lowance Elite 9TI for 9000$. I think this is a good deal. However, the seller just showed me this photo that shows me a dent on the hand rail from Harvey. He says it doesn't cause any issues. Is this a problem(from a performance standpoint, I don't really care about whether a boat looks all shiny)? Is it fixable at home, if not how much would it cost? Lastly, what should I focus on when I inspect the boat. I figure that I can inspect the boat all right but I'm not experienced with motors. I appreciate all information, thank!
Take a very good look at the trailer, especially that port side/left side axle and hub assembly. Be sure to note how the boat rides on the trailer. Make sure there's no damage near the gas intake for the gas tank. Has to be quite a lot of force to make a dent like that, be sure to lake test and look closely at the hull. Trust your instincts/gut.
To my eyes (I'm not an insurance adjuster, but I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last year) the force came from above and is about the right width for a tree to have fallen from the Hurricane onto the boat while it was on the trailer.
Oh, ok; that is better if it happened on the water and not while the boat was on the trailer. The water would have displaced some of the force from the impact and the trailer would have not sustained damage.
Was he Tboned by another vessel? or hit a tree night fishing?
That was a serious hit to do that kind of damage... I have a Tracker and have bumped into cypress trees and even a bridge piling pretty hard and it never did anything CLOSE to that! Either he got hit right there by another boat or possibly had a tree fall on it. Either way glad you walked away from that!!
I wouldn’t purchase. Especially if you set up a time to go buy it and THEN he sent those pics. To me that implies he wasn’t up front about the damage when he listed.
i don't think a tree did that. it could have, but it seems it would have left scratches from the bark and stuff. looks to me like it hit straight on and was something smooth. I'd bet it was a boat.
Unless the price get's to the point of just too good to pass up, I'd pass. There might not be a problem now. But there probably will sometime later after the purchase.
What could have done that in the water. It's a big dent. My thoughts was a tree fell on it too. 3 stroke? Ask questions...always. Start it up in the yard while hooked up to a water hose. Let it run a while. Plan on changing the water pump and old fuel lines Bad gas in tank? And yes..check out the trailer axle,hubs,and tires. Spare tire? Lights etc. Good luck. Just remember....A boat is a hole in the water you always throw money in to!!
Texas Anglers Recognition Program TPWD Official Weigh Station,77563 Coastal Bend Weigh Team, Cert. Weigh Master USMC66'- www.troutsupport.com