jabntx. At least that gauge problem is in our favor! It always shows less gas than we actually have.

I like the looks of the tracker v-18.
I did alot of research on this a year or so ago...just before i bought my current boat.
I narrowed my search down to the following:
Tracker -v18
Fisher
Alumacraft
The tracker was cheaper, but I liked the layout of the other two better and they both had more deck space. In the end, the Alumacraft was twice the boat and had the best layout/deck design. I also considered fisher, lowe, landau?, triton, xpress and G3.
Non of the others had the deck layout that I was looking for or they were way to $$pricy. I ended up getting a used 18ft Cajun that was 7 years old for half the price of any of those aluminum riggs...but I still dream about the Alumacraft 18ft layout...man that thing is wide.
Good luck and remember, when you are looking for a boat. You will spend 90% of your time on the front deck so make your purchase decision carefully. Carry a measuring tape with you and write down the front deck width and length for each boat you are considering. Also measure the rod storage width and depth. You might be surprised how small some of these are (LOWE!) As for the rear deck...I spend 1% of my time on the back deck and that is just to take a quick wiz. I don't care how much space is back there. Stick with Aluminum decking. and PinTail, sorry, the alumacraft does NOT have wood in the deck.
Final note: G3's are too $$, Lowe needs about another foot of depth to the rod boxes, and someone over at Xpress needs to fire the person designing the deck layouts on the 18ft rigs.
Look at the alumacraft and the fisher before you decide. You will not be sorry.
fOul_hOOk

Thanks for all the input on the boats!

I have looked at them all now and I just keep thinking the xpress is the one for me.

Thanks,

Greg

Xpress are also good boats. I looked at them real hard and they are nice. Some of the reasons I went with the Tracker TV-18 are:
- Previous experience with Tracker (11 years).
- All-welded hull.
- Deep-V hull design. Got tired of getting wet and beat up with the mod-V designs.
- Very stable hull for fishing. Not at all "tippy" like my last boat, TX-17.
- Large front deck layout. Fishes 2 very well.
- Great 3-across seating layout.
- Length 18'3, Width 7'5 beam.
- Runs great with 115, rated for 150.
- Price was right. The best boat is the one you can afford to buy and use.

Some "cons":
- No dual console option.
- Low grade standard depth finder.
- Minimum trolling motor (consider upgrade).
- Molded console design feels a little cheap.
- Front storage is not "dry".

Jerry you still pushing those alumacraft boats ha ha.sorry i could not be there for the whole show.I did make it to pull a couple back on monday.Tell steve to get in touch I want to check out those rod holders.Let me know if one of you want that cooler and i need to get on the lake with steve.My boat is up at joes so that means i need a ride lets hook up one day.First time to be with out my boat in two years and im not doing well.

My 2 cents worth,
I've got an '03 Tracker TV-18, 115 Merc, upgraded TM to 67#. Had it almost a year now, bought it from Waypoint Marine in New Braunfels, had break in check done here in Austin. Been real pleased with it so far. Handles the chop well (& dry), top speed right at 50. LOTS of storage, more so than than any other 18' aluminum boat I looked at. Price was reasonable too. Still need a rod organizer and a graph up front. Overall, pleased with the boat, no problems to date. Email if further info needed.

------------------
Garland

Shelbydog
Get you a Eagle 320. Bass pro has em on sale for $149.00. Iv'e got one up front on my TV-18. Works great!
Allen

ehlersad, shelbydog,
sounds like we all have the same boat.
I sure wish now that I had put the 67# trolling motor on mine, but the salesman talked me out of it at the time. I'm thinking of buying the Eagle 320 and putting it on the console. Then moving the 'Bird to the bow. Do ya'll prefer the better unit on the console or bow?

I put the better unit on the bow. I am going to replace that Hummingbird as soon as I can! Looking at the new 480.
jabntx..I think the only difference is mine is a Mercury 115HP four Stroke...Sweet!
shelbydog. I didn't upgrade the trolling motor either. Wish I had!

Ah, 115 4-stroke. Now that is sweet.

Popper, before you buy, consider all the options. Sounds like you're sold on aluminum, and that's good. There are many good ones out there, and the posts here point that out. Alumicraft is an excellent boat, for example. The only thing that turned me off Xpress and Tracker was the quality of finish on the welding. Just not quite there, bulgy, unground and uneven welds, spoke volumes about attention to detail. Besides, honestly, after years of experience with tin boats, I strongly recommend a manufacturer that rivets rather than welds. It is every bit as strong and watertight, but more flexible and there is no stress weak spots placed on the aluminum from the weld itself.

I shopped my b__t off and finally settled on a 16'8" Polar Kraft Kodiak, made by Godfrey Marine out of Indiana. Dual console, fishing decks, 2 livewells, 55lb MK, 90 HP Yammie, Lowrance, all bells & whistles, under $ 16K. Granted, mine is a deep v, but the've received good reviews on their bass boats as well. Dollar for dollar, it was the best deal out there, and I am really happy with it. Cost more than a Tracker, for sure, but reasonable.

Just another guy's perspective, happy shopping, it is such a blast to buy a new boat!

I have been dealing with West Boats for years. You can not go wrong with an Xpress. The people at West Boats will take such great care of you....Jigfish

I recently purchased a 17'6" aluminum Bass Tracker and need to replace the right cast aluminum transom brace-right side as you look from bow ,(front of boat towards rear-left as you are sitting in the driver's seat facing forward. The cast aluminum nose is loose as well. Is there a better way/more secure method than to just use pop-rivets? Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. Hull Identification is BUJ21117J596. Can be reached via cell ph one at 325-513-8068. Also does anyone have a good solution to installing vertical rod n useless. Thanks for responding.

You want the Xpress. The Hyperlift series hull has a running pad,like a glass boat,and metal decks.

I have a 2004 H-51 with a 90 yamaha. It has been a great boat. The only gripe I have for the H-series boats is the layout and storage space. Of course, that is corrected with the X-series. They just cost a little more. For a 17' tin boat, it rides incredibly well with the Hyperlift hull.

+1 on FZ1. I have owned 2 other brands of tin boats, roughly the same size, and there is no comparison to the Xpress Hyperlift hulls. Don't get confused with the hydrodynamic or HD and the XP Xpress boats. They are not padded and ride similar to a flat bottom. The H and the X series have the Hyperlift.