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Dec 30th, 2023
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 Bass Tracker?
#5845573
02/14/11 04:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 651
rajuncajun074
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 651 |
My hand me down bass boat went on her last trip the other day and kicked the bucket so I'm in the market for a new(ish) bass boat. I was looking at Bass Tracker's 175 TXW. I saw that they are having a deal for 2011 models for 2005 prices. I think it would be perfect for me because I river fish and hit the lakes and sometimes saltwater fish, and it fits my budget.
My question is if anyone owns or has any experience with these boats PLEASE let me know, reply or PM me with some info. I'm about 6'1" and 250lbs so I'm kinda worried if the boat is sturdy or if it wobbles a lot, is the front deck spacious enough? lot of questions. please help. thank you very much
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: Lucky Al]
#5846366
02/14/11 02:47 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,756
ssj3goten
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,756 |
I bought the pro 16 so smaller and less frills. I take my wife and two young kids on the boat with little issues with the sturdness of the boat. A few problems with the trailer as two winches have had to be replaced (warranty) and trolling motor plugs (warranty) the only thing I have paid for was water pump getting fixed.
I run it on rivers no issues, small lake no issues, bigger lakes typically no issues (table rock). I don't like it big wind/waves but overall it does the job.
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: ssj3goten]
#5846530
02/14/11 03:23 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 91
BeltonBasser
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 91 |
Have a Bass Tracker 175 and absolutely love it... Nice layout and does everything I want it to. Front deck is a bit tight, but can really be opened up by swapping out the standard pedestal seat with a butt seat. Perfect for lakes like Fayette, Gibbons and short runs in Conroe (less than 15 mph winds).
VERY easy to load/unload (there are threads of folks complaining about the challenges of loading Bass Tracker trailers, but I do it all by myself all the time and rarely miss the first attempt).
The other great thing about the 175 is that it fits in a standard garage (with the swivel tongue on the trailer). It is so light, I just roll it around in my driveway without any help at all. Get home, unhitch it, flip it around and shove it into the garage. Never going to do that with a fiberglass boat!
Found myself at Bass Pro yesterday and was surprised as well by the prices on 175's.. They truly have reduced them over the past year.
That being said, my experience with mine (all good) would dictate only one thing going forward... the motor. I have the Mercury 60hp 4-stroke... I honestly couldn't imagine getting anything less than the 60. I noticed the deal for $12,995 at Bass Pro was for the 50hp 2-stroke.
There are a couple fair deals on Craigslist at the moment, but for 40hp motors. Great motors, but won't get you from one end of a lake like Conroe to the other in any timely fashion. It's beyond a challenge with the 60hp.
The 60 seems perfect for an aluminum boat this size/weight. I tow the kiddos on tubes with no problems at all... don't even know they are back there.
You mentioned saltwater... I wouldn't get mine anywhere near the salt due to the trailer... Bass Tracker offers a galvanized trailer option. That would be the one option I would get if planning to run in saltwater.
Just my input...
"The hours a man spends while fishing are not deducted from those of his lifespan."- Unknown Author
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: BeltonBasser]
#5846662
02/14/11 03:50 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 260
Chad y
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 260 |
Burleson, Tx
Chad
2006 Legend LE21
Mercury 225 Optimax
Humminbird helix 12’s
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: BeltonBasser]
#5847770
02/14/11 08:15 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,756
ssj3goten
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,756 |
Have a Bass Tracker 175 and absolutely love it... Nice layout and does everything I want it to. Front deck is a bit tight, but can really be opened up by swapping out the standard pedestal seat with a butt seat. Perfect for lakes like Fayette, Gibbons and short runs in Conroe (less than 15 mph winds).
VERY easy to load/unload (there are threads of folks complaining about the challenges of loading Bass Tracker trailers, but I do it all by myself all the time and rarely miss the first attempt).
The other great thing about the 175 is that it fits in a standard garage (with the swivel tongue on the trailer). It is so light, I just roll it around in my driveway without any help at all. Get home, unhitch it, flip it around and shove it into the garage. Never going to do that with a fiberglass boat!
Found myself at Bass Pro yesterday and was surprised as well by the prices on 175's.. They truly have reduced them over the past year.
That being said, my experience with mine (all good) would dictate only one thing going forward... the motor. I have the Mercury 60hp 4-stroke... I honestly couldn't imagine getting anything less than the 60. I noticed the deal for $12,995 at Bass Pro was for the 50hp 2-stroke.
There are a couple fair deals on Craigslist at the moment, but for 40hp motors. Great motors, but won't get you from one end of a lake like Conroe to the other in any timely fashion. It's beyond a challenge with the 60hp.
The 60 seems perfect for an aluminum boat this size/weight. I tow the kiddos on tubes with no problems at all... don't even know they are back there.
You mentioned saltwater... I wouldn't get mine anywhere near the salt due to the trailer... Bass Tracker offers a galvanized trailer option. That would be the one option I would get if planning to run in saltwater.
Just my input...
Mine came with the galvashield on the trailer and run brackish water all the time no major rust or anything
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: ssj3goten]
#5847855
02/14/11 08:39 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 683
Bassen
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 683 |
I bought a brand new 175 in 2000. The boat was great. The Mercury 50 was the worst motor I have ever owned. I think they called it the big 50?( They only made it one year so I have herd)
The engine blew 3 time and was always the #2 piston.
I rebuilt it twice and when it burnt up the third time after investing 18,000.00 I sold it for 4000.00 and bought a 1992 Stratous and Knock ond wood, it has been my best boat ever!.
Get a bigger engine 60 or 70hp it is worth the extra money.
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: Bassen]
#5848067
02/14/11 09:27 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 343
BassHunterClark
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 343 |
I have a Pro 16 with a 30 Merc on it ! I love this boat !!!! I get a little wet in the high wind, but dont we all. For the small amount of money you will spend to get a new one, you cant't go wrong !!!!!
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: BassHunterClark]
#5848512
02/14/11 11:10 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 487
gatoreyes
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 487 |
I've had a 1988 and now a 2002 175, both purchased new, and have loved them. I agree with kgoy's reasons and would add low operating costs to his list. I burn less than 6 gallons on most trips and towing costs are lower. And with aluminium, a scratch is no big deal. By all means get the larger motor.
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: gatoreyes]
#5849210
02/15/11 01:54 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 674
Used Nitro
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 674 |
I had a 2004 PT165 purchased new at BPS Grapevine, first boat I ever owned.
When we picked the boat up the guy from BPS going over the boat with us noticed the directional arrow on the trolling motor wasn't working and didn't do anything about it and let me take it home like that, I didn't know any better till someone on the lake pointed it out to me. So a month old boat and I couldn't fish out of it for three weeks while the trolling motor was being repaired.
When the boat was about 3 years old the hull it started taking on water so fast you could n't fish out of it cause you would be constantly running the bilge pump. We found this out after dragging it to Tablerock lake in Missouri, so I didn't get to fish much on my vacation and when we got back the dealer shipped it back to the factory in Missouri, I could have dropped it off for them. Another 3 months with no boat to fish out of and after I did get the boat back from the factory, they pinched the drain hose from livewell and it would overflow and fill the boat with water and they broke the fuse block so I got to fix that and I probably should have let them fix that but I was tired of having them break stuff for me to discover out at the lake.
About the time it went out of warranty it started having wiring issues and didn't stop till removed all the quick connect plugs under the dash and made all the connections up direct.
I talked to alot of people that had trackers that never had an issue out of them but I'll never own another one.
My .02cents
I am going to buy one just to find out for myself. Half y'all lie like hell and the other half are full of chit.  , A great locally owned business www.bcfw.org Bass Club of Fort Worth
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: Used Nitro]
#5849365
02/15/11 02:28 AM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 44
uscgbassman
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 44 |
Awesome boats. Had mine for 5 years. PT 175 W/ 60hp Mercury 4 stroke. Nice boat for me as I too fish a variety of different waters, most of which are rocky. Personally, I have had no problems and would recommend them to anyone. Easy to trailer as well. Good luck.
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: uscgbassman]
#5849434
02/15/11 02:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 261
undercover
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 261 |
I had a 2008 175 TXW for 2 years with a 50hp on it before I graduated to a Basscat. My tracker was a good boat. I had a warranty issue with the throttle but other than that it was good to me. Very sturdy for a 17-18ft boat. I agree with swapping out the front seat for a butt seat as it did add a bunch of space. I do recommend upgrading the trolling motor. The 46lb thrust DID NOT get it done. I upgraded to a 70lb Maxuum Variable Speed and it made a huge difference. The boat will run about 32 mph and is pretty good on gas with the 50 but also wish that I would have opted up for the bigger outboard as well. Plenty of storage for gear too and it does fit nicely in the garage. Lightweight and easily towed with a V6. I would recommend this boat but upgrade where you can as it will only add a few bucks to your payment.
Last edited by undercover; 02/15/11 02:43 AM.
A weed don't thump it: Set the hook!!
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: undercover]
#5849943
02/15/11 05:01 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 147
FishinF00l
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 147 |
My buddy has a 175, and it is a great boat for the money. I have backseated with him on many occasions, and I am 6'5" 250lbs, and never felt like the boat was unstable. It's the perfect boat for him because he is pretty rough on everything, and that boat can stand up to his abuse and lack of maintenance.
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Re: Bass Tracker?
[Re: FishinF00l]
#5850166
02/15/11 11:07 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 837
_Scooter_
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 837 |
I have a 2010 Pro16 and love it- except for the motor. My 30hp Merc 4 stroke has been in and out of the shop with an oil leak. In fact it's in there now. I won't start complaining about the dealer service department until after I pick it up and test it out. The boat is awesome though-
Rock Bottom! 
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