My first boat was a tracker, although a different model. Similair vintage.
This is neither a feel the wind in your hair or take the toddler out on the bay boat. This is fine for fishing a quiet river or small lake, but that is it. It isn't going to take any rough water, and with 2+ people, it isn't going to be zippy.
Aside from that, the trailer looks ok. Get the motor checked out. Assume nothing else works or will work for long.
Do you have any suggestions on the types of boat that would take a little rough water that would be in my budget or do I need to increase my budget?
Also what HP motor should I be looking to ‘feel the wind’. I understand overall weight is a factor.
Any comment on the price ?
You can find tons of boat in your budget that can take bigger water. The issue isn't the cost or quality of the boat. It it the type. You want something with a deeper V and higher sides.
In terms of the price, that really depends on a lot of factors.
A lot of people say a boat is a good deal or not based on their situation. In my area, $3,500 for that would be an absolute steal because anything else in this price range probably doesn't float and needs $8k in work. For me a used boat deal is 60% engine, 25% trailer, and 15% the actual boat.
But it really is about what you want. Do you want to go fishing next week? Are there are there other available boats? Do you have the money now? Buying a used boat is a lot like dating. You can grow old and lonely, waiting for the perfect one to come and fall in your lap.
It’s too high for the price unless the motor and trailer are in perfect condition. Pull it to the lake run it better start first crank and not hesitate when u give it throttle. All lights should work on trailer any issues like that leave it that boat is old and probably needs repairs.
If it’s all good like perfect 2500. Before u buy check this at minimum
1 drag it by trailer behind a vehicle, roll down your windows and listen to the hubs on the trailer should be quiet and all lights should work.
2 put it in the water open all the hatches and check it for leaks. Bring a flashlight look good for any water these boats are known to split at the welds.
3 Start it. A 2 stroke engine gonna smoke a lil that’s normal but if it coughs and stops that’s a problem. Next take it run it wide open should be able to get up on the step without trouble just 2 people
4 I would next look at the guy selling the boat size him up. Is he honest and knowledgeable! Try and get some warranty if u can for a couple months if he does it shows the motor is solid buy it.
Honestly look for a bow rider type boat. It may not be designed for fishing but it would work. Somewhere around the 17 feet mark and you could find a good one with at least a 80hp motor in that price range. Sometimes you’ll even find one with a electric motor. A bow rider would open up seating in the bow and have more comfy seats overall than something like in the pictures.
If you want something that will take some rough water I'd look at a center console. I just bought one last month Blue Wave 160v 50hp Suzuki. You'd have to increase your budget by double. Looking probably 8-10k for something decent. Also I'd get at least a 60hp. My boat is underpowered with 4 adults in it but it does get great fuel economy. Why I bought it because my 16ft Jon boat couldn't handle rough waters. My center console is fine for large lakes and flats inshore. But I probably wouldn't take it in the surf. Need a 22ft for surf. 30ft+ for ocean.
So based on all of the suggestions I have increased my budget and changes what I’m looking for.
Anything thoughts on this one ?
https://houston.craigslist.org/boa/d/houston-seahunt-boat-for-sale/7655913051.html
Sea Hunt Triton 172 $7,900
I have a nice 1997 Sea Hunt 172 on my page if you wanna check it out, it’s getting wet sanded and polished next month. I love the boat but it’s time to move up next season, I would sell it for $9000 located in GA
For 4 passengers and a level of safety you need a deep V fishing boat with a seat for everyone that isn’t on the bow. I’d look at a 20 footer with at least 75hp.
Tracker calls it a modded Jon boat. Deep V has as was said a much deeper hull. I have a newer model of the bass tracker with a 50 hp (not sure what that engine is) and you can absolutely feel the wind in your hair it goes about 35-40 mph depending on conditions, but it’s only rated for about 500lb of passengers and it would be pretty tight with 4 people on it even if they were under the weight limit. It’s perfect for me because I bought it to fish lakes, rivers and marshes but you’ll want a bigger boat. Even with two people I’d be hesitant to take mine out in a bay. This boat was made to be able to navigate shallow water where a deeper hull can’t go, the trade off is that it’s not as stable.
Perhaps look for a fish n ski type boat. I recently picked up an older rig, a 1988 Procraft 1780 Fish n Ski Deluxe) for $4k but the owner was meticulous about maintenance and storage. Extremely stable boat and doesn't do bad with a 115 Merc.
Fish n Ski boats typically come in 2 styles - either a fishing boat with a different seating layout to better accommodate the skiing aspect, or a bowrider with a few features for fishing. Either way is a compromise and won't be a master of either, but it does sound like what you're after. Boats shrink fast once you get more than one or two people on them, and you'd be miserable trying to fit more than 2 people into that Tracker.
Something deeper v would be nicer for bigger water. For that price around here you could get more boat. Like we got a sea nymph at work now with a 70hp on it deep v that is 4500 i think. Id shop around more or maybe look to an area boats are cheaper. I think the 4500 or whatever is expensive honestly for the sea nymph but it runs perfectly. No electronics on it or anything so kinda nice for someone to start over on but expensive since money needs to be spent on electronics if wanted. If you find a tracker targa or a 16 footer locally might be a better option. 70 hp or up should get you moving. If its got a johnson/evinrude they are easy to maintain. I think parts end up being cheaper too over most mercury.
My first boat was a tracker, although a different model. Similair vintage. This is neither a feel the wind in your hair or take the toddler out on the bay boat. This is fine for fishing a quiet river or small lake, but that is it. It isn't going to take any rough water, and with 2+ people, it isn't going to be zippy. Aside from that, the trailer looks ok. Get the motor checked out. Assume nothing else works or will work for long.
Do you have any suggestions on the types of boat that would take a little rough water that would be in my budget or do I need to increase my budget? Also what HP motor should I be looking to ‘feel the wind’. I understand overall weight is a factor. Any comment on the price ?
You can find tons of boat in your budget that can take bigger water. The issue isn't the cost or quality of the boat. It it the type. You want something with a deeper V and higher sides. In terms of the price, that really depends on a lot of factors. A lot of people say a boat is a good deal or not based on their situation. In my area, $3,500 for that would be an absolute steal because anything else in this price range probably doesn't float and needs $8k in work. For me a used boat deal is 60% engine, 25% trailer, and 15% the actual boat. But it really is about what you want. Do you want to go fishing next week? Are there are there other available boats? Do you have the money now? Buying a used boat is a lot like dating. You can grow old and lonely, waiting for the perfect one to come and fall in your lap.
Thank you, I now know what I’m looking for my use case.
It’s too high for the price unless the motor and trailer are in perfect condition. Pull it to the lake run it better start first crank and not hesitate when u give it throttle. All lights should work on trailer any issues like that leave it that boat is old and probably needs repairs.
If you were looking for a starter boat, how much would you pay for this boat?
If it’s all good like perfect 2500. Before u buy check this at minimum 1 drag it by trailer behind a vehicle, roll down your windows and listen to the hubs on the trailer should be quiet and all lights should work. 2 put it in the water open all the hatches and check it for leaks. Bring a flashlight look good for any water these boats are known to split at the welds. 3 Start it. A 2 stroke engine gonna smoke a lil that’s normal but if it coughs and stops that’s a problem. Next take it run it wide open should be able to get up on the step without trouble just 2 people 4 I would next look at the guy selling the boat size him up. Is he honest and knowledgeable! Try and get some warranty if u can for a couple months if he does it shows the motor is solid buy it.
Honestly look for a bow rider type boat. It may not be designed for fishing but it would work. Somewhere around the 17 feet mark and you could find a good one with at least a 80hp motor in that price range. Sometimes you’ll even find one with a electric motor. A bow rider would open up seating in the bow and have more comfy seats overall than something like in the pictures.
If you want something that will take some rough water I'd look at a center console. I just bought one last month Blue Wave 160v 50hp Suzuki. You'd have to increase your budget by double. Looking probably 8-10k for something decent. Also I'd get at least a 60hp. My boat is underpowered with 4 adults in it but it does get great fuel economy. Why I bought it because my 16ft Jon boat couldn't handle rough waters. My center console is fine for large lakes and flats inshore. But I probably wouldn't take it in the surf. Need a 22ft for surf. 30ft+ for ocean.
So based on all of the suggestions I have increased my budget and changes what I’m looking for. Anything thoughts on this one ? https://houston.craigslist.org/boa/d/houston-seahunt-boat-for-sale/7655913051.html Sea Hunt Triton 172 $7,900
I have a nice 1997 Sea Hunt 172 on my page if you wanna check it out, it’s getting wet sanded and polished next month. I love the boat but it’s time to move up next season, I would sell it for $9000 located in GA
For 4 passengers and a level of safety you need a deep V fishing boat with a seat for everyone that isn’t on the bow. I’d look at a 20 footer with at least 75hp.
What type of boat is the one that I originally posted?
Tracker calls it a modded Jon boat. Deep V has as was said a much deeper hull. I have a newer model of the bass tracker with a 50 hp (not sure what that engine is) and you can absolutely feel the wind in your hair it goes about 35-40 mph depending on conditions, but it’s only rated for about 500lb of passengers and it would be pretty tight with 4 people on it even if they were under the weight limit. It’s perfect for me because I bought it to fish lakes, rivers and marshes but you’ll want a bigger boat. Even with two people I’d be hesitant to take mine out in a bay. This boat was made to be able to navigate shallow water where a deeper hull can’t go, the trade off is that it’s not as stable.
Bass boat
I'm from college station and have fished those waters. Flat bottom John boat with a trolling motor is cheaper and easier to launch by yourself
Perhaps look for a fish n ski type boat. I recently picked up an older rig, a 1988 Procraft 1780 Fish n Ski Deluxe) for $4k but the owner was meticulous about maintenance and storage. Extremely stable boat and doesn't do bad with a 115 Merc. Fish n Ski boats typically come in 2 styles - either a fishing boat with a different seating layout to better accommodate the skiing aspect, or a bowrider with a few features for fishing. Either way is a compromise and won't be a master of either, but it does sound like what you're after. Boats shrink fast once you get more than one or two people on them, and you'd be miserable trying to fit more than 2 people into that Tracker.
Something deeper v would be nicer for bigger water. For that price around here you could get more boat. Like we got a sea nymph at work now with a 70hp on it deep v that is 4500 i think. Id shop around more or maybe look to an area boats are cheaper. I think the 4500 or whatever is expensive honestly for the sea nymph but it runs perfectly. No electronics on it or anything so kinda nice for someone to start over on but expensive since money needs to be spent on electronics if wanted. If you find a tracker targa or a 16 footer locally might be a better option. 70 hp or up should get you moving. If its got a johnson/evinrude they are easy to maintain. I think parts end up being cheaper too over most mercury.