Tracker Boats

I have decided to purchase a deep V Tracker Pro Guide V16, but am now considering the V165. Anyone have any good/bad experiences with either?

Just make sure it isn’t underpowered. Tracker are notorious for putting too small of an engine to hit a cheap price point. I think as long as you fish smaller water with it, it should work fine for you as long as the motor is big enough. Neighbor had a 18WT, he had a 150 on his and I think it was 19.25′ long. Standard motor was a 115. I doubt a 115 would plane out with 3 guys. His was OK.

Do your research on anything made by Tracker. I was in the market a couple of years ago and read some amazingly bad reviews on Tracker. I’m sure every company has their issues, but there were examples of factory issues that either they wouldn’t fix, or it was taking an entire season for them to take care of. Seams cracking. Wood rotting. You name it, they had the issue. I remember looking at one in Rogers Cabelas where you could visibly see a bow in one side of the bow that wasn’t on the other side. Great price point, but it scared me away.

As far as what mojo is talking about, I think all boat companies underpower their models to hit a better price point.

Alex Fox wrote:

As far as what mojo is talking about, I think all boat companies underpower their models to hit a better price point.

This is accurate but you can outfit it with a bigger outboard which you should almost always do.

When I bought a boat in 2015, I looked at Trackers. The model I was considering was about $4000 less than the Ranger or Crestliner I was looking at. But their service locations were farther away and they had less customizable options…far less. I can’t imagine that Tracker (or any boat maker) is still using wood, are they? With all the problems that people have had with wood in their floors or transoms you’d think it wouldn’t even be considered as a component anymore.

I only have one experience with tracker boats and its a buddy that has a new w19. It started and ran long enough to get it off the trailer on the maiden voyage then died in the marina before he could dock to get his truck parked. Couldn’t fire it after that. Dealer found the fuel line was pinched. Later he took the back deck apart to replace the under powered trolling motor with a 36v ulterra and found they had run a 3” screw through 1/8” of aluminum and then down through the livewell hose. Didn’t find it until he got it all back together and got it on the water to find a geyser in the bilge. He has put probably 8k in it in upgrades from pro-nav to new sonar to new ulterra to complete rewiring for the 36v circuit. He also found out you cannot fit series 31 batteries in it without serious mods to structure. Also the travel cover had ripped out on him 2 times while driving and has been replaced. He is having a new one custom made from a canvas shop and eating the cost of the new cover and the one that he bought with the boat. Other than those things, I believe he is happy with it.

I bought a used Targa and have been happy with it.

I have a 2002 Super Guide 16 and I like it. Its been a good solid boat and been very happy with it. Its been up to Minnesota lakes to the Mississippi River down here.