Any Tracker Tundra reports?

[John]

I know we are still iced up here in the north but has anybody bought one down south. We would like to here some results.

[PWaldow123]

I too am interested!!! God that is a nice looking boat!!!!!

[walldiddy]

i heard that the little video they made of the tudra with the two guys flying across the water took them five boats just to make the video because it keep falling apart (the hull would break at the molded parts) and that they could not even get coast guard aproved to sell the boat also if you think about it when you mold some thing like aliunum it will get thinner and thinner till it breaks and to me it means WEAK its a great idea just needs to be pefected a little more before i would spend my hard earned money on it. Iwas looking at it till i decided there was to many unanswered questions so i bought a 2025 lund can't wate till its in!!!

[Gary Parsons]

I was one of the two guys in the boat. Three days of hard running on Green Bay in November of 2000. The boat held up unbelievably well considering the tremendous pounding we gave it. I don't know where you heard those rumors or where you got your info about weak boats but your whole thread is false. You almost sound like a Lund Dealer to me. GP

[John]

That a boy Gary tell it like it is. Thats what we need is more honest answers not b.s. I think it is a great idea. I really looked at the boat at the show. Iam looking at getting a new boat next year and would like to know if they are going to make any changes to it. Like alot better rod storage. thanks. Also good luck this year.

[MR.Pike]

Ha Ha ,,,Walldiddy. You've just found out that hearsay isn't worth much on this board !! LOL
If your not posting first hand info,,,,don't bother. Thanks Gary. I too am interested in how these new hulls will change things in the aluminum market, aint technology great!




<;{{{{{<<( Mr.Pike

[FJH1]

Thanks Gary, I'd rather hear it from the horses mouth rather than the horses-neighbors-brother-in-laws-friends mouth.

Best Regards,

FJH

[John B]

Get real...that company pays this guy thousands...what do you think he would say. Wait till real customers buy them. Not that I'm calling GP a liar...how would I know. but the real feedback comes from real customers spending real money.

[RMB]

Gary, Is a redesign for the gunwales/rod storage compartments forthcoming by chance? I love the boat design, but am not real keen on the way the gunnels are laid out and was just wondering as I am shopping around for a new rig. The other consideration is getting in and out of the boat for kids and the likes of my dad. Also, will there be a similar boat coming out in the Fischer line up. Maybe I'm mistaken, but doesn't Fischer own Tracker? Any knowledge of these items would be appreciated. Thanks!

[FJH1]

I put more faith in someones word, in this case Gary Parsons, than I do in "I heard that they went through x# of boats in a photo shoot". If word were to get out that they actually did go through x# of boats in a photo shoot Mr. Parsons would have more to lose by not being truthful. Just my opinion. I do agree with you in that the real results will come once the masses start running this boat.

Best Regards,

FJH

[walldiddy]

why haven't any of us actually seen one on the water yet then? I am passing on info from a x tracker sales man thats all maybe he was just pissed off but thats what he said. I like the idea behind the boat and even considered to buy the boat but they could not even tell me when they could get there hands on one all they had was a model. so my info is not here say but like i said he might have been blowing somke up my asss!!!!!!!

[Gary Parsons]

Thanks for the positive comments. As for the "he's paid thousands" guy, the only reply I have is that I'm telling the truth, we did not go thru 5 boats, we did not crack hulls, etc. My first responsibility is to the fishermen... if I do not report the truth to you guys about what really happens on the water you'll eventually find out... you won't catch fish! How long do you think that I would last as a Pro Fisherman? Not long. I've been in the tournament game and in position to be sponsored for 17 years. Enough on that subject except that maybe there would be more guys who would be willing to help with questions if they were not constantly being put in the light of ohh he's a Pro and gets paid so anything he has to say must be bull. I watch all the questions on this site and could answer so many, but don't because I hate being called a liar. I've talked to many of the guys who spend 150 plus days on the water a year and they all say the same thing. As to answers about the Tundra. I have to agree that I'm not totally in love with the round gunnels, but had no problems mounting rod holders and didn't find them all that slippery upon entering and exiting. Center rod storage would be nice...I don't know if it will be in the Fisher line-up. I think future decisions will be based on consumer demand so keep those constructive comments coming. GP

[jegervais]

Search one out and see for yourself - I've seen a couple at boat shows and in the showrooms. The walk-thru windows were a real shabby install and in one of them the port console was loose. On one at a boat show, the paint on the trailer was peeling really bad. I do agree its a nice looking boat - but most (not all) Trackers I see on the water look pretty sad after a couple of seasons, time will tell on this one too I suppose.

-John

[RMB]

Thanks for the answers Gary. Sorry you have to wade through knee deep crap to answer a couple of simple questions. I wish there wasn't so much ridicule here. This site could be so much more of a learning experience here if folks like yourself were able to speak freely without all the accusations. Good luck on the water this season.

[mossboss]

I don't have any information on the boat but would like to address what Gary said. I too have often kept my fingers off the key board because of all the, ah, Ok I'll say it BULL****! on this board. Example, I posted with a little electrical problem I was having and just wanted to know if anyone had any advice. In two hours it was on page 2 and the next day on 3. I moved it to the top and again in a few hours it was on the next page. I looked at the other post and most were boat bashing, I heard from my brother-in-law's uncle, this dealer sucks, etc. WC is not the great message board site it use to be and I for one am looking for some other place to get some REAL information.

[steve(IL)]

" A compliment, like a critcism, is only as good as the person it comes from"

" The person who discovered the secret of fire was probably burned at the stake after he shared it "

Trailblazers have always had to endure negative comments. Have strength in your convictions and trust your own judgement(GP and KK could not have accomplished what they have w/o it).

[Gary Parsons]

I hear you MossBoss and I agree. GP

[Hawgeye]

Gary and Mossboss,

That is too bad that you feel this way. I have gotten so much positive information about rigging, products and information that I think this is the best site on the web. It seems that since I have been on this site over the last 2 years, the jerks that bash come and go. I have learned for the most part to just skip past the bashing and the idiots posts. Now and then it hits close to home and riles me up but it does keep things in perspective.

Gary, I have ridden in Trackers, never owned one, and find they are fine boats. I do like the layout of Lund for me better but feel that the Tracker is a quality brand boat. I have made no comments nor will on the Tundra until I see or ride in one. Heresay is basically useless. Difference of opinion and constructive criticism is one thing but some do overdue it. I am excited about the new technology and for a walleye fishermans sake, I hope it is as good as it sounds. Time will tell.

It is people like the two of you that help improve this place. Please stick with it. Scott does a great job and there is no better web page. Please try to look past the idiots and help with any positive information. People like you are a great resource. It helps us all and heck, maybe you can pick up some good pointers or information from some of us weekend warriors!

Good fishing!

[SDBear]

Gary, sounds like this gentleman pulled his information out of the air. How was the floor layout? Is it user friendly?
Scott.

[Gunga Din]

Gary,

Most of the users of this board are smart enough to overlook the crap that happens here and glean the good information. If you pro's could see that and overlook the trash like most of us do, then your contribution would go a long way to promote your careers and help us.

I watch Bass Pro Outdoors World and boast to my kids that I've talked to those guys on the Internet. I own P&K tackle products because of the names on the package. I also used to read the Pro Q&A board daily when Keith was posting, but when he quit I quit following it.

I also read with interest a post on here a year or so ago when you and Keith were fishing with Reef Runners and the show's narrator said they were Thundersticks or something like that. You can't pull that crap over the folks here, but I think it was Keith who stated that he was frustrated by that too. And that was fine for most of us.

So please post, contribute, and overlook the crap. The rest of us will back you guys up.

Regards,
Dennis from Utah

[gertzie]

I don't own the tundra but own the 18 targa every time i post something about tracker,it seems like the real tracker owners answer the questions and the lund owners and alumacraft owners have to do the bashing. What are you guy's affraid of. When somebody try's to bash a lund there are 3000 post that come back saying you are nuts if you think lund is that bad or alumacraft,or what ever,if you don't have anything good to say about somebody boat that they worked hard and paid alot of money for then shut the ##### up.You don't like it when somebody bashs your brand of boat so don't bash mine or the next guy's. We as fisherman owe it to yourself to respect other people thoughts and right to purchase what ever brand we want.

[Polish prince]

I guess if you don't know how to spell the word "wait" and spell it "wate"...you will believe any phony story about "disintegrating" Tundra boats. Where pray tell did you ever hear that they had to use 5 boats for the run? Facts please not B.S. flys best on this page!

[Hawg Tracker]

Y'know, these Lund dealers are shaking in their beer can boats. Once people see how revolutionary the Tundra is, Lund will have to drop their prices to compete. I love it!

[Saugeyer]

Amen to that brother. I personally use walleyecentral for 2 things. One is to see erie fishing reports and the other is to be humored by all the twitchy fingered jerk weeds that own PC's. I too used to be a fool that tried to answer someones questions they posted and I was attacked by jerks that have no positive input to this site. Then along comes a respected pro that adds their comments to a string and then all of a sudden everyone becomes politically correct for a few breif moments.
As for the Tundra, that sure is a cool looking boat. I saw one on Alum in Ohio last weekend. The guy was jigging off the front and his woman was laying out in the back in a bikini. Now that was one happy looking Tundra owner.
I shopped for a long long time and almost bought the Targa 18 but decided against it. Not because of quality. It was a little too "fishy" according to the better half. Gues what she fell in love with, the Lund Tyee 1850LE. I love owning this Lund but I have to say that every Tracker I see has a happy looking owner in it who didnt have to spend alot to fish.
Something to think about, when your fishing buddy does something you dont agree with you pat them on the back and go on. How about doing the same on this site with a total stranger.
Saugeyer

[Al]

Uh, Gary , if it is so great, why weren't you running one at the Detroit river? Not exactly big water so the shorter size can't really be the reason.

[Nofish]

Hey John B,

I have to disagree with you somewhat, and back up Gary Parsons, below.

I personally will not promote or get a sponsorship deal with any product I would not glady tell you, or anybody about. I will not use or promote anything that I do not like, or in the case of a boat, I can't control or feel safe in. There are many like me out there, our reputation and word are our livelyhood.

There are some, sall we say, shady deal chasers out there, but they come and go just as fast. For the most part there are many fine boats out there and every angler has to decide what boat fits them best. I will never bad mouth another brand or tell you the boat I run is better than brand x because.....I tell you the facts about how the boat 'neath my feet is built, and what I like about it. I will even tell you of any personal preferneces for change that I might like to see.

I also would like to point out, many anglers pay for their boats. I have paid for all my Rangers, and most brands before them. I have had a memo deals in the past with other brands, but I paid for them too. I dont like rigging a boat every year, so I ended up buying the program boats.

The fact is, my money is just as hard earned as anyone's. My sales choice has just as much impact to the boat company as anyone's.My boat shows up as a sale just as yours would.

Pro's, writers and guides are given "deals" as they are more highly visible, spend a considerable amount of time in the rigs and promote the product at shows, tourney and in print.

But I must also point out something on your point about popularity of a brand. How many of the boats in question are sold every day, and opinions from anyone that owns the boat in question, are very important.

I too value the opinion of anyone who responds to a question I have about a given boat. If a person owns the boat I ask about, That owners opinion matters to me, as much as a Pro's would.

Have fun.........R

[Nofish]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-15-01 AT 08:34PM (CST)[p]Edited due to a two fisted typing style by user :P

Hey Mossboss,

I would personally like to ask you to re consider your decision to go off into cyberland. You have been around this site for a spell, and have a lot to offer and gain.

Public whim is a funny thing, and some posts go unanswered. Some people don't reply as they just do not know. But why some threads go to over 40 and why some stop at 0 replies is an unknown situation.

I'd also like to point out, this type of thing (bashing) seems to happen every year towards ice out and open water. No topic is consistantly more volitile than boat brands and construction materials. I know that does not make it right, but that is the case.

Also, I'd like to point out , Walleye Central has been popping over 6 million hits for a few months, and there are more visitors here than ever. That opens a door for a lot of uninformed basher type people.

And, this year has not been as bad as some years prior were, when there were fewer people behind the hits. We work very hard to make this the place to go, every day, to see what's going on, or to talk with friends from all over the globe. But we cannot do it alone.

Many bashers go away after being denounced repeatedly. Many tuck in line and follow the rules of decorum as set forth by our regular visitors. We also have loose guidelines at the top of every page on the message boards for this reason.

Also, many do not take full advantage of the alert button at the bottom left hand of every post. If someone goes ballistic, or starts bashing, just click alert, then scroll down and click the box to send the alert and it goes to Scott.

I do not mean for someone to click alert everytime they disagree with an opinion. Use the Alert button when the names are starting to fly, and things generally get ugly. That is what the alert link is for.

Scott says it so well, "This is your site, your message boards, we just work here." We all truly mean that. Where else can you find so many up to the minute reports or timely help issues? For free?

Please re consider, alert us when someone has forgotten their medication (or needs some) and remember how many new people are here every day.

Have fun.............R

[EMPIRE MARINE]

Ok, I'm a TRACKER dealer who has a TUNDRA floor in front of me. I have seen six of these boats, been in the factory and I've seen lots of video. The biggest problem is the weld dimples. The boat I have, as luck would have it, is the worst example I have seen.I have not had it on the water yet. Maybe this week? I spoke with the TUNDRA quality control person last week. He called me for input.[TRACKER FIRST!] According to him, changes should bring about some positive results on the dimples and other models will be going into production. I like the interior with the exception of the rod locker covers and some minor items. I like center rod storage and the rep said there will be such models in the future. I have not seen any weak consoles, and in fact have been impressed with the fit and finish compared to some other Tracker product. Overall, fit and finish better on all Trackers over yr. 2000 models. Tracker has made a strong commitment to the TUNDRA and strechweld process. I can not see into the future and predict the success or failure of this project, but I beleive what I have seen suggests it will prevail. We need to be a little patient and constructive, rather than deragatory for the sake of hearing our own voices.

[Stan]

Empire,

I agree with what you said. Give it time, untill the on the water results come inover a reasonable period of time, refrain from all the nonsense.Just wait and see. (I am not a big Tracker fan myself, but have to give them credit for trying something new)
As far as the weld dimples, I have seen two or three of these hulls and the lines showing where the suporting member are welded to the skin of the hull, really do not appear any worse than those I have witnessed on Crestliners, Ranger Cherokees, and Fishers (including my own Fisher).
There are many different boat styles, construction methods, and manufacturers to assure each and every one of us that we get a boat that we like. Be thankfull for those options guys, and remember it ultimately benefits us all.

[Sparky]

I'll go with the give it time. I noticed the weld dimples on the Tundra at the Detroit boat shows. But, I've never failed to notice the rivets all over my boat either. I'm sure that they'll improve the dimple problem with time. The technology on the Tundra could lead to some very nice boats down the road. The idea of a fiberglass ride with aluminum durability, I love the idea.

Sparky

[EMPIRE MARINE]

By the way. The TUNDRA dude said 65 units have been put out there.

[Critic]

I have never been impressed with the quality of tracker boats fiberglass or aluminum.From what I saw at the sport shows my opinion has'nt changed with the new Tundra.Not only was there dimples evident in there welds,you could see every seam not to mention the waves.You could also scrape the paint of those areas with you fingernail.I would have to think that repair cost would be very expensive if you where to dent this boat verses a traditional aluminum boat.Appearance wise its a nice looking boat and its a great concept,I'm just not seeing the automotive quality you'ed expect.Why not just buy a glass boat if you want that look and ride.I'm not bashing,just calling it as I see it.I'm sure it will improve as this is new technology in the boating industry,somebody had to go first.I wish them good luck.

[jegervais]

Geez.... I'm sorry I can't help myself. I've been sittin' here reading all these posts and I can't help but wonder: Why is it if an individual responds to a question with either a criticism or a complaint or even a mildly negative observation, its construed as "bashing"? For cryin' out loud, go out and look at the stinkin' boat yourself. Ask for an opinion here and thats EXACTLY what you'll get - and nearly every bodies too.

Sure I know there is ALOT OF GREAT INFORMATION to be had here as well, but holey smokes bat-man, some of you walleye boys got thin skin. And Mr. Parsons, I think its realy neat that you monitor this board and contribute, but I have to ask you sir - Would you tell us if there was something wrong with this boat? Or if there was something you didn't like about it? Honestly? And just how would a criticism about this boat from you affect your sponsorship with Tracker Marine?

We've even got input from a dealer here as well - He claims not all is hunky-dory. Well guys, I don't think everything is hunky-dory with all Lunds, Rangers, Alumacrafts or pick what ever brand you want - they're all made by human hands. And we all make mistakes and have bad days. In the end, you normally get what you pay for. And so ya' know, I've owned a Tracker in the past. Its biggest problem was it "listed" to starboard all the time, even on plane with a passenger. But I'll tell you, the paint ain't peelin', there are no loose rivets, the hatches and consoles are still tight and the fit and finish are still in good shape on my '94 Lund. And it don't list.

-John

ps. go-head, have at it!

[Agreed]

Well said,Jegervais!

[P. Thomas]

If the new Tundra was a new boat manufactured by Lund or Crestliner you can bet that it would be hearlded as the greatest advance in Aluminum boat construction since they started to make boats out of metal. There is no history on how seaworthy the Tundra is other than Mr. Parsons post (he did test it and stated it performed to his satisfaction) yet without personal knowledge much criticism is being posted. If the posters are concerned with a smooth beautiful hull are they advocating glass hulls which don't have rivets and welds . To my knowledge there has not been a riveted boat built that you couldnt see the rivets or a welded hull that the welds were invisible. Lets all lighten up a bit.

[rob]

i own a tracker pro deep v 16 ft its a 1999 model over the two years ive owned it ive been on lake erie with it several times and fished it several hours in inland lakes on some rough water boat has held up great so far ,now i saw a tundra in detroit bass pro i thought it was a nice boat , as for the weld dimples this isnt such a problem in my opinion iam a welder and if two pieces of metal are welded in such a way there are no visible signs of it being welded on the back side there may not be any strength to the the welds ( the weld can pull away from the the metal no penetration) so the results in the welding process will produce some dimples ,if the surface were to be metal finished to grind or sand away the dimples then the metal would be much thinner in the area it was welded , i think the concept was to produce a light boat for its size that wouldnt require as big of motor as boats in the same size class and be cheaper to operate.

[Al]

Did you ever stop to think that if Lund and Crestliner did it, it would be news because they have a good reputation for building highly regarded hulls? Tracker has gotten a black eye along the way and can't shake it. It's not to say they make all junk, but they've pulled enough boners through the years that there remain a lot of skeptics, especially in the tournament realm of bass and walleye fishing. If they did not deserve the skepticism, then where did the market, or better yet, a lot of the fishermen go wrong? Their 911 bass boat is properly numbered. It shakes enough, you'll want to call 911. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I know they make some good hulls, but over the years, I've seen enough of their problems to be skeptical of anything new, they do.

[walker]

A great many of those posting should read the original question and forego throwing in their less the two cents worth as they have no personal experience with it and only wish to bash someting.

[Art/Co]

Walker, I agree

After all of these posts the original question was never answered nor was post#24 from Al asking why Mr. Parsons did not use the New Tundra on the Detroit River. Not bashing , just wondering about those two posts.