Thoughts on Tracker Tundra...

[Thad Fineran]

I am looking at these boats and wanted to get some thoughts/opinions on the package...anyone seen or own, or even heard of anything regarding the new Tracker Tundra?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Thad Fineran

[sammy]

seen 2 in person and think the quality control is terrible, aluminum welds or something looked like it was assembled in a high school shop class.

if you want a fiberglass ride, buy a fiberglass boat.

[Crest1eye]

Following that logic, yes, if you want a glass ride, get a glass boat. If you want an all welded aluminum boat, go look at Ranger's Cherokee line, Crestliner, or Fisher or any other all wleded boat. Then compare then to the Tracker. Dont just take any opinion here. The tundra is neat with the stamped contours, and it is ground breaking, but like the light bulb, after a few years the first version is obsolete and even crappy, compaired to modern times. Ya, the Tundra is a nice boat, but I too thought the welds and QC were a little sloppy. But then the price is right. For my money, Ranger or Crestliner build a much better boat at this time. Caviat emptor, compare and be smart and you'll get the boat you love

[rock2me]

I concur with the previous posts. Not only poor looking quality control put middle to poor pieces.

If I had more money I would have went with a Warrior with the tiller system. Wow, would that be nice! As money was the limiting factor, I chose a Crestliner. I would have taken a Lund or Alumacraft but they couldn't get to the price/feature I wanted.

Good Luck!

[Lead Bouncer]

Tracker.........not a company I would do business with any more. Customer service is poor. Quality is less than desired. To me, Tracker is just plain junk. As the previous posts relate, look elsewhere for a good all welded boat.
Let Tracker go out of business.....for the good of all of their unsuspecting customers.
(just my opinion)
-LB

[MAGNA19]

tracker boats also makes fisher boats,so fisher line is out of the picture as a good boat!

for them going out of buisness,i dont think it will happen unless no one in the u.s buys a boat from them for a few years,which i dont see that happening in the near future.

the tundra i havent seen yet,but i would wait a few years before i buy one,but hey i wont buy a tracker again anyway.lifetime warranty boesnt mean squat if they cant fix anything right to begin with!!look at there past track record of bad repairs and there bbb record,which doesnt look good!

[Wayne]

Stay away, a friend of mine has one and it not only looks bad its literally falling apart at the seams. Also the boat dos'nt perform anywhere close to what Tracker claims. To Trackers credit, at least there giving him a new boat. I agree if you want a boat that rides and looks like glass, buy a glass boat. If you want aluminum buy a Lund,Alumacraft or Crestliner. They may cost more but you get what you pay for.

[john mannerino]

Check out Monark boats,they have a great line of welded boats at a great price. I have done tourneys for 2 years out of mine without 1 problem. John

[Raven]

You wanna have some fun? Consider this...Tracker sells as many if not more boats than Lund...not including Fisher. If you add in Fisher, they win hands down. With that in mind consider this...the complaints on this board for Tracker boats is miniscule compared to Crestliner and especially Lund. I watch this page daily. People moaning about leaks in their Lunds are numerous. Hardly ever see Tracker complaints only the Yahoos who'll tell you about their neighbors, mother-in-laws boyfriend who had a Tracker...bla...bla...bla. Go to Bass Pro and look one over..I am sure you'll like it. I plan to buy one in the spring.
You'll find that there are guys who haunt these pages who can't understand that anyone could buy a boat as good as their overpriced Lund for less money...some of them actually own a boat....

[Tom P]

Then don't buy anything from Bass Pro Shops. It's a Johnny Morris company. He owns both. Plus others

[MAGNA19]

raven:
this is from a tracker owner,i have owned 2 of them,the second a magna19.the same as a targa series,and i will tell you what,the boat usnt bad,but there customer service sucks the big one!!there warranty work is on the same calibre,except worse.they did a good job on my boat,its going to cost me about 2-3 grand to fix it right.i have seen a few other peoples boats who have had/have problems with there boats,and will not buy another tracker.me,i will not buy another one either!

you want to see afew pictures of there work!

[Raven]

I too am a Tracker owner...not a Tundra tho. I think the problem you describe is a dealer problem and maybe not a customer service problem...if that is true isn't it unfair to condemn the company? I bought an extended service contract from a company I suspect is owned by Tracker..it's in Missouri and it is called MBE or Marine Breakdown Protection...I am thrilled with their service. I paid $700.00 for a 4 year contract and they've paid out over $2800.00 (promptly)for repairs on the motor...not a dime's worth of repairs on the boat in 3 years! No leaks, no problems at all. If you have a problem and haven't called the factory...you should...

[MAGNA19]

the problem wasnt with the dealer i dealt with,it was the factory where they are made in bolivar,mo.i personally took the boat there to be worked on,and personally picked it up also.that was over 4000 miles.they,the people who make the boats did the work,and botched it.i still have a leaking rivet,and its one they put in!and supposedly they checked it,yea,right!i have a limited lifetime warranty on the deck,against rot,well,its rotting,and they wont replace it.

this is the last tracker i will ever own!!

friends dont let friends own trackers!!

[chadk66]

Who cares how many boats tracker sells. 90% are runnin around down south on little bass fishin lakes. I fished Sakakawea all summer and I think I might have seen two tracker boats. As a general rule, people that fish big water won't go near their aluminum boats and the fiberglass boats for some reason or another aren't taking off up here either. The lone dealer in Bismarck a few years ago quit selling them and I believe there was a dealer in Dickinson but I don't believe he is selling them either. Tracker may make a decent pond boat but they won't hold up in the bigger water. I hate to even get involved with these types of discussions but I guess I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. A few years ago I had the displeasure of spending a day on Mille Lacs in a buddies 18' Magna full windshield unit. There were 3 footers out there and I have never been in a boat that size that beat the crap out of you like that one did. I absolutely hurt by the end of the day. And we weren't even running hard at all in comparison to what I can run 4 footers in my Crestliner. I might also add that the boat after a years fishing looked like a ten year old boat and this guy takes care of his stuff. But I hate to talk bad about other boats because some people like their boats and thats alright. But don't try to convince us that you can compare Tracker's aluminum line to a Lund or a Crestliner at any price because we aren't buying it. We've been around too long to know better.

[Raven]

Are you kidding.?.."The lone dealer in Bismarck a few years ago quit selling them and I believe there was a dealer in Dickinson but I don't believe he is selling them either"
You are commenting about some little Southern lakes...who gives a ##### what happens in Bismark?...Is that next to B.F. Egypt?
We have lots of Trackers on Wisconsin and Illinois lakes...big lakes.
Check the posts on this page about leaking Crestliners...ha ha ...twice the price and holds twice as much water?
You are typical of guys who made a big mistake...spent too much money for a boat and can't stand the fact that someone bought a one for a lot less, is happy with it, can go as fast as you, and probably catches more fish! More customers and fewer complaints on this board...check it out!

[Another Fisher owner]

Raven, it is great you have not neede any warranty work on your Tracker. I hope it stays that way. If you talk to people who have actually had their boats repaired by the factory, you will find one common thread. The quality of the work is downright incredably poor. I have had mine at the factory for repairs and can attest to it. I personally know of a person whose boat was sent back to Tracker ( a Fisher) and it came back in worse shape, with more damage than it left with. With regard to Fisher dealers, we have had three of the four dealers stop carrying the product in the past year. That speaks volumes about the situation.

[MAGNA19]

chad,my boat goes on lake ontario in 2-8ft waves,if the fish are there,im there!!

the boat will handle 2-4's no problem,been there,done that quite a few times.ive seen only a few trackers there,magna/targa series boat and a pro series,and a pontoon boat in 1-3's,i guess not brave enough to venture out in it.

tracker sells quite a few boats,but the service after the sale,ie warranty work leave a lot to be desired!!trust me,my boat will never go back to be butchered on again,not while i still own it!!

im not going to start a spitting match with anyone who has/wants/going to want a tracker,but pictures speak lowder than words!and i have quite a few of them!!

[Jim Carroll]

C'mon Chad you should know better. Your Tracker dealers in ND are:

1. Dale's Motorsports, Jamestown
2. Halverson's Marine, Devils Lake
3. Glinz Motorsports, Bottineau

And to all the Tundra bashers above. Your comments are, well, silly is a kind word. I know I have spent more time in a Tundra than any of you. And I can tell you that in flat water or rough conditions that hull will perform atleast as well or better than any other 18' aluminum boat on the market. It is a very fast, dry, comfortable boat in my opinion.

[Raven]

Jim...It's funny how these dealers will bash any Tracker product cause' they know that side by side comparisons, Tracker will win out most of the time. That's why the Bass Pro Shop was sold out of the Tundra in May. The darn things were back ordered till January.
Most boats are basically good. I was impressed by a brand new Princecraft I saw last week but the ##### thing was over 25 grand. I can't justify in my mind, that kinda cost.I looked at the Tundra three or four times and I can't find a flaw in it.

[Fisher Owner]

Jim ,
No one is disputing your experience riding in a Tundra. In fact, some of the comments were not relating to the boats, but the lack of committment/followthrough/quality of the factory service given. I would not characterize these as "silly" nor "bashing" ,but would spend some time talking with owners of Tracker products that required being sent back to the factory. It will be sobering experience, at best.

[Fisher Owner]

"...Jim...It's funny how these dealers will bash any Tracker product cause' they know that side by side comparisons..."

Raven,

You are jumping to the conslusion that we are Dealers of other boats. I am merely a boat owner, no more, no less. Although a side by side comparison of boats does allow an inventory of what is or is not on a boat, it doesn't address the non-visable aspects, like ride quality, how materials and construction methods hold up over time, and factory service (not just a promised warranty-but how the company actually treats customers and the amount of hassle they must endure).
If you are looking for a boat with the most number of items/options per dollar, I'm sure you will find Tracker at the top of the list. If you value more than that, you have to look deeper and consider more aspects of the purchase/ownership experience.

[chadk66]

I think you guys took most of what I said out of context. However, I will stand by my theory that 90% of the boats tracker builds don't make a venture north. So were not dealing with a big a majority that you are referring to. Also, don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing tracker. They make a fine boat for the price. They are made for the budget minded fisherman and that's alright. We need someone to fill that spot in the marketplace. But you don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that you get what you pay for. It isn't economically feasible to put $15,000 into a boat and sell it for $12000. You get $12000 worth of stuff for $15000. I didn't necessarily mean that just because the weekend I spent in a 18'Targa was horrible to me that it wasn't just fine for the owner. And your right he didn't spend $20000 on the boat. But that's his choice. I choose to go a different route and have more boat. That's my choice. But it's rather absurd that you would try to sell us that a tracker aluminum boat is a better quality boat than a Lund or a Crestliner. As for the Tundra, I can't speak a word for the boat. Haven't seen one. But there have been a couple posts this summer on here asking for on the water opinions from Tundra Owners. I don't believe either post got an answer. Either there are no Tundra Owners or they aren't talkin. When the boat was released that's all that was talked about on this board so I know there was a lot of interest. It appears to have died. Hopefully not because I do feel it opened up a new frontier in the fishing world.

[economics 101]

Chad 66
You are trusting aren't you? Did you ever stop to think that both companies put $7,000.00 into their hulls? Then one charges $15,000 and the other $20,000. If you believe that there is a big difference in production costs between a tracker and a crestliner then you are truly the ultimate consumer! And no I don't own any brand of boat.

[Raven]

It is no different than my business...you give a better price to the company that buys the most product. Tracker outsells most other boat companies...that statement does not convey quality in and of itself...but Tracker, by the admission of many Lund Crestliner and Alumacraft owners, have with the Tundra,the most revolutionary advancement in hull design. Now think about what that means....more volume, better prices due to volume, the cash to design innovatively, Bass Pro and other volume dealers etc. etc. results in more value for the $.
I can understand the frustration of manufacturers trying to sell yesterdays' technology at higher prices...they'll say anything to discourage the prospective Tracker buyer....that's business.
As I said earlier....check the number of postings on this board about "leaking Trackers" compared to "leaking (any other brand) boats"
there's no comparison! Based upon units sold by Tracker...it should be 2 to 1...it's not. I am just a satisfied Tracker owner...not a dealer.

[Dave in Mpls]

Your reasoning is flawed. You need to look at the percentage of people on the board that actually own a Tracker boat before you can say how great they are, based upon the lack of negatives you hear about them. Based upon a weighted average of the boat owners on the board, you hear more negatives about boats manufactured by Tracker, and The Marine Group in general, than by others.

[CVX 182-150 efi owner]

This is for post 22. Look how a Crestliner is put together under the floor compared to tracker. That is why I got a crestliner instead of a cheaply made tracker. Crestliners hull is made like a battleship, not bent into place by some machine like tracker. Go see for yourself.

[MAGNA19]

a 1993 tracker magna19 with a 90 hp evinrude and a 8 HP merc kicker

[TLY]

Where did the Tundra go in this thread? Wait til it gets boring this winter.

Consider that there are less than 100 Tundra's on the face of this earth how can so many people be experts? The answer is generalizations of 'old' product and prejudice. The original thread of course invited this. Do not wish for something, you may get it.

I am one satisfied 'old product' owner, have never set foot in a Tundra but just joining the crowd.

TLY

[Raven]

Dave ...sorry, you statiscics are what's really flawed. You cannot prove what you say. I am on this board almost every day and I can attest to the fact that Lunds are probably the most complained about boat and I'd guess that Crestliner comes a close second but like you, I can't prove that...just my observation. Please don't tell me that Lunds are more complained about because they sell more boats than Tracker...cause that aint' true either...

[FJH1]

I'd argue that there are a whole lot more people on this board who run Lunds and Crestliners as opposed to Trackers. We should take a poll using the new "poll" feature on this board to see exactly what the breakdown of boats is.

Best Regards,

FJH

[statistics]

Raven,

Dave was simply trying to point out that this board has boat ownership populations that are different than the general overall population. Posters on this board are more apt to own aluminum boats from Lund , Crestliner, Alumicraft, than they are by Tracker. (even thought overall, Tracker is by far, the largest producer of aluminum boats). I speak of the types of boats represented as we have had the opportunity for posters to list the rigs they own. (there are also far more Rangers here than their total production percentages would suggest )
So when you say that Crestliners are the most complained about aluminum boat, it makes sense, since they outnumber tracker boats here by a wide margin (perhaps a factor of 5 to 8:1).
The otehr "unseen" factor, not taken into consideration, is the Tracker boat owners, knowing they do not have a "high cost" rig (no disrespect to them) tend not to post their problems for fear of retorts by the guys with the very expensive boats, who will sometimes come back with unsettling comments based on prejudices. So Tracker faults go unnoticed or unposted in some instances.
In summary, I don't think the number of posts on problems has any relevance with respect to the frequency of problems occuring in the real world. The only way to really compare is to obtain the actual data on the number of repairs and related satisfaction /dissatisfaction from each manufacturer. Of course we know these are either unavailable or interpreted in such a manner that is looks favorable to each manufacturer.
What we need is an organization that all warranty info passes through and statistical analysies would be done and posted publically. J>D> Powers company is beginning such a site. This kind of information made public would be a great motivator for all companies to build better products.Sorry about the long post.

[Paul]

What is it about statictics you don't understand? Dave is trying to point out (correctly, I may add) that the number of negative posts about a brand doesn't mean anything without taking into account the number of people running brand X and brand Y. Based on your logic, I should be running a Fiat as a tow vehicle because I hear many negatives about Chevy, Ford, Dodge, etc, but NOT ONE about Fiats.

[EB]

As long as we are beating this into the ground I figured I'd add one more twist. Another consideration is that many Tracker owners are first time boat buyers (first boat I ever owned was a Tracker) and really don't realize that there are problems with their setup due to lack of experience. But when these folks get some experience under their belts and move to a more recognized top end product (Lund, Ranger, Warrior, etc) their level of experience and expectation cause them to pay alot more attention to their rigs. And this attention to detail and higher level of expectaion cause them to gripe more (I do) about things that go wrong. My .02!

[Raven]

Hey EB...nice try but I don't think so. How about first time buyers having little cash and the boat means more to them so they are more inclined to complain, and since the Tracker boats are so well built they don't have to complain...huh? How bout that scenario?
As far as more folks on this board having boats other than Tracker and as one earlier post said..."most of the Trackers are in the South"....where do you guys get your demographics? Off the back Cheerios' boxes?
The fact is....Trackers outsell any other boats (I can prove that)
Tracker complaints ON THIS BOARD(by the owners of Trackers...not a brother-in-law of a friend who knew someone who had a ride in a Tracker)are MUCH less numerous than Lunds or Crestliners....check it out. Now all you die hard, "I bought a more expensive, so it HAS to be better boat", guys, get busy and start posting lotsa' bad stuff about Trackers...cause' Lund complaints are more numerous and you gotta' even it up
By the way, don't think that folks who can't afford a "Good" boat buy Trackers...I own my own, very successful electronics business and like to pay cash for my toys...that's why I love my Tracker...and it probably catches as many fish as your boat does!

[Raven]

What is it about statiscics that YOU don't understand Ralph? Since when have Fiats sold more cars in the US market than Ford or the rest?
I will spell it out for you...TRACKERS OUTSELL ALL OTHER BOATS and FEWER PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM (as opposed to Lunds and Crestliners)ON WALLEYE CENTRAL...that's all no more, bottom line. Don't confuse the issue with phony demographics and discussions about Italian cars.

[Walleyeeater]

I would hate to ride in your boat if your computer cost more. Also what is your "proof"?

[statistics]

The reason posters are more apt to have these boats than Trackers is because of a term called "demographics" That happens to be just the way it is. Looks the poll on boat ownership right now and you will see what I mean.

[Math Teacher]

The comment about Fiats was right on, you have overlooked the point being made. If no one on Walleye Central has Boat "X" , there will be no complaints about them. If few people, relative to the others on Walleye Central have Trackers, there wil be correspondingly fewer posts regarding problems, etc. Tracker boats are definitely a minority here at Walleye Central (despite them outselling all others easily overall). So the greater number of problem posts with Crestliner/Lund/other does not infer or suggest Tracker has fewer problems.

An example of this would be going to a family doctor in a town that is composed primarily of one or two ethnic backgrounds. If you look in the waiting room and see the vast majority of the patients are from these groups, it does not infer these ethnic groups have more visits to the doctor, it just reflects the localized community breakdown demographically.It also does not mean persons from other ethnic groups are any more or less healthy.

[Schnauzer]

I’ve just read through all the posts. One thing is very clear: Raven REALLY likes Trackers and he has 'proof' they are the best, most numerous boat on the market. The original post was looking for input on the Tracker Tundra (what do people like and dislike about them). I recently bought a boat but it wasn’t a Tracker Tundra so I can't help in that department.

[Wayne]

This is true the original post is about the Tundra! See my reply #6 I believe. The Tundra has numerous problems as do most all Tracker boats. Trackers are inexpensive cheaply made boats, your not paying for the quality of a Crestliner or Lund etc. Your not comparing apples to apples. I believe what another poster pointed out "people who buy Trackers are more than likly first time buyers" heck they can be bought out of a mail order catalog!Bottom line the Tundra is having problems!!!!!

[EricCO]

What about glass Targa's. They don't seem to cheap and look pretty nice. I've never been in one though.

[JimStolpa]

Wow...am I getting tired of this thread. They're good...They're not. I don't think anyone here is really going to change anyone else's opinion. EricCO since you asked...I own a 98 Targa 2000. I really like it, but I will agree that it a perfectly made boat. The console is somewhat cheap, the carpet is just OK, the locker cylinders are not adequate on the center storage door. The seat hinges are skimpy. What I will say is that the boat basics have been great. Hull no problems, no electrical problems, handles fine and I got a lot of boat for the money. I just have to live with a few things or upgrade them myself. The minor things are quite small in comparison to positives. But that is just my boat...they're all unique. Hey..do you think the car web-sites argue over the same stuff? My Ford is better than your Chevy. Kind of pointless.

My $.02

Jim

[Todd_NE]

Thad asked for opinions on the Tracker Tundra and this turned into a boat bashing thread?

A lot of people on this thread oughta be ashamed. We have a habit on this board of pummeling products. Sometimes because we have a legitimately bad experience, sometimes because of an illegitimate bad experience, sometimes because we are beating chests about our sponsor's products. WHATEVER.

A lot of disservice is done to fine products on this board. If you want to tee off on something, email someone once in awhile, if an email isn't here, ask for it.

I'll be jumped because I run a Fisher boat. You know what, I don't run it cuz I have a sponsorship, I run it cuz I like it. But it steams me when I see Fisher/Tracker ran down on here because they make a fine product, but not a product that satisfies everyone 100% of the time. They aren't trying to build the BEST Boat at any price. But at least I'll say I am sponsored when I make a post. My brother wanted the "best & biggest walleye aluminum boat made" and he knows zilch about fishing but has an itch and a thick wallet. I pointed him to the Lund 2025, Fisher doesn't have anything like that. Jeez, I'm a real traitor huh. The goal of any sponsored angler, angler, or friend should be to help someone get a boat they'll be happy with.

If, for example, someone asks me what is the best boat to get for $7,000. I ask them questions - how, what, where, they fish etc. I don't blindly say a new 16' Fisher cuz that's the most new boat my company has for the money. Maybe a used ProV or FishHawk or ProSelect or Magna or Fisher 186 from the guy or neighbor down the street is the way to go. Maybe they do want a new Lund Rebel with a 25 horse and galvanized trailer with good electronics. I'm amazed how much we assume from a few sentences here sometimes.

The byproduct of all this is a lot of consumers are unduly negatively influenced at times.

Thad - The Tundra is a breakthrough in the marine industry. The whole concept is to produce a boat with the handling characteristics of fiberglass with the durability of aluminum - the best of both worlds. I, like some of the thoughtful threads here, do believe they can improve the layout and finish work, but I applaud Tracker for taking a chance and can't wait to see the second and third generation model of this boat in the years ahead.

Tracker/Fisher/Nitro/ProCraft/Astro IS the number selling boat brand in the United States, but I'll certainly agree Lund in my part of the world dominates the serious walleye fisherman market, but I sure see Crestliner, Fisher, Tracker, Warrior, Ranger, YarCrafts, etc too. In many areas the DEALER is why people buy boats, not the brand anyway. I think almost every boat is pretty good right now. Get what you can afford and desire and don't look back.

Buy a boat because it fits your budget, your fishing style, and buy it from a dealer you like and trust. If it's a used boat, fish in it with the owner, then shake hands and enjoy.

If anybody needs to thump their chest about boat brand, well...

Peace and sorry for the tall soapbox.

Todd

[Kdog]

I have a MonArk 17ft dual console walleye boat and can honestly say i havent had one problem with it in 4 years that ive had her.I fish local walleye tourneys and Erie every so often and dont baby her either.Im almost at 50 times out this year,hopefully a few fall trips to Erie outta Huron will put me over the 50 mark.Its not a Ranger or Lund just a good all around welded aluminum boat.Would buy another in a heartbeat.TightLines,Kdog

[WalleyeBri]

To Todd and Jim-

Horray for you guys!!!

Someone finally got it right in this thread...

I am new to this board and was starting to think all people wanted to do was bash each other!!!

We all share a love for the same thing...can't we all just get along and have some fun??


-wishin' I was fishin' instead of postin'...

[MAGNA19]

well,to tell you something,i used to stand up for tracker till they screwed me royally,to the tune of over $2000+ yes 2 grand is what its going to take to fix the problems they caused in there warranty repairs.i will not let them,correction,wont let them touch my boat again!if there boat building skills are on the same calibre as there repair facility,the factory,ill let you put 2+2 together.a lifetime warranty dont mean squat if they cant fix them right,or in a reasonable amount of time.there are some waiting 2-6 months for there boat to be fixed,and when they get it back its worse than when it went out.just do a search on the major boat webboards and see the problems people have with tracker marine.

im sure the tundra is possibly a good boat,but time will tell,it is the 1st year out,so the unwitting buyers of them are the test subjects,or guinea pigs.

time will tell!!

[TLY]

At least you mention Tundra. Thats more than most. You mention a 2k problem. Mine was much more severe and with dealer help it all worked out. I may sound boring on these posts but the dealer is everything.

TLY

[MAGNA19]

my origional dealer dropped the tracker line,and the dealer who took it over told me to deal with the factory directly,which i did,and never will again.the dealer is out of it.he seen it before it went out,and after and asked me who did it,when i told him,his jaw dropped,he couldnt believe it.

[Todd_NE]

Eric,

I love my Fisher, it's fantastic. It's the same as a Targa 1900, but it's built in the ProCraft plant in Tennessee (Targa's are manufactured in Missouri). There are a few upgrades on the Fisher over the Tracker (carpet is one). Are there things I'd change on my boat, you bet. That's also why companies listen to their customers and customer/pro's.

I, like a lot of guys who have ridden in a zillion boats, can name flaws WITH EVERY SINGLE BOAT AND BRAND - PERIOD. You'ld cringe with a personal story I have about a leading alternative boat brand, but I also know that was wayyy out of the norm for them. But you'll never see me post that negative info here, all I would do is a disservice to those who have good thoughts of this product and 99% deservedly so. Plus, I hurt the people selling the boats retail, used, and the guys in plant making the boat with PRIDE.

Boat companies are incredibly competitive. Think of all the brands and options available. You reallllly think they are out to screw people? If you think so, see if you can name every boat out there that is "serious angler level" or just name 'em all... Good luck.

We'll have to meet at Big Mac sometime Eric. You can show where all the western Neb hogs are.

Yet again, I got sucked into not talking about the Tundra. Sorry Thad.

Todd

[Burnt]

Guest user
Sep-26-01, 10:24 PM (CST)





"..... I love my Fisher, it's fantastic. It's the same as a Targa
I, like a lot of guys who have ridden in a zillion boats, can name flaws WITH EVERY SINGLE BOAT AND
BRAND - PERIOD. You'ld cringe with a personal story I have about a leading alternative boat brand,
but I also know that was wayyy out of the norm for them. But you'll never see me post that negative
info here, all I would do is a disservice to those who have good thoughts of this product and 99%
deservedly so. Plus, I hurt the people selling the boats retail, used, and the guys in plant making the
boat with PRIDE. ...."


Todd,

I agree with your attitude regarding a particular boat being a lemon. How the company takes care of it though, IS important. Tracker/Fisher did not answer the dealers initial contact for 5 weeks, agreed on a replacement and after 3 months of waiting, found they shuffled the paperwork, thought it was taken care of , as it sat idle. They then changed their minds on the replacement and after another 5 months of haggleing , all the way up to the Presidents office--it got done. Then the replacement boat sent was defective and had to be returned.

This is not a case of a single "lemon " boat--this is a serious problem within the infra structure of the company, something others should know of before spending their money. Bitter, yes. Foolish enough to get involved with this company again--NO!!!!

[SUPERTROLLER]

The truth here is that while Tracker may indeed sell more boats than some other manufacturers, Do they sell more boats to those of us that pursue walleye as our main fish? I am pretty sure they do NOT. Look at the polls as to favorite brand of boat and the numbers tell the real story. If we wanted Crappie boats, we'd buy Crappie boats. If we wanted B*$$ boats, we'd buy a B*$$ boat. When Tracker makes a boat the has the features we want at a price we're willing to pay they will sell boats to knowledgeable walleye fishermen. Until then, you can buy them.

[Dave in Mpls]

Raven-

We walleye fisherman are a pretty slow bunch. Can you explain that whole Tracker/demographics thing again?

Thanks

[walker]

Wayne. What are the numerous problems you have first hand knowledge about? I own one and though it is not perfect, it is indeed the best aluminum boat for ride in rough water. There is lots of good storage to include the side rod lockers, though I do not care for the covers. The biggest problem is the weld dimples as I call them. This is a matter of appearence only. They do not compromise the integrity of the hull or its performance, which is excellent. Look at Crestliners early welded boats. They are there also.I am not knocking Crestliner.I believe the current TUNDRA is a family fish first then recreate type boat, like the sportfish or tyee.

[Raven]

Y'know Dave...I cant answer your question but I was questioning the demographics thing myself. Someone said that the reason there were lotsa' Lund and Crestliner complaints about leaking boats and popped rivets on this page in spite of the fact that Tracker probably outsells those guys 2:1 was because all Tracker owners were in the South and were not posting on this board....well I questioned that assumption and asked ...why? Don't Tracker owners have computers? Doesn't this page show up on Southern computers? Can't Tracker owners type?
I guess another assumption was that Tracker owners buy Bass boats and for some reason, you can't fish for Walleyes out of Bass Boats...(gee...am I violating some law by doing that?)
Tracker makes Walleye boats also. I don't know.
All I do know is that the Tracker guys seem to be happy enough with their boats and don't have too much to complain about...I know that my 4 year old Tracker doesn't have a loose rivet or any leaks and I pound the poop out of it every weekend (if possible)withe a stout 70 horse motor that runs WOT ...all the time!
I get my shorts in a knot when I get that "My boat has to be better than yours because it costs more" attitude.

[Dave in Mpls]

I'm somewhat surprised myself. I knew it was gonna be low, but not that low.

Also, my post wasn't meant to be as cynical as it appears in black and white - that's one problem with the internet...it's hard to diagnose the tone. Anyhow, my appologies.

Have a good weekend. I think I'm outta here!

Regards

[Box]

Heh! :)

While I don't post that much anymore, I have been here since this MB was getting 3 or 4 new posts per DAY. In the [long ago] past I did both some bashing and some getting bashed. It sure is easy to tell who the newer members are. ;)

I hope you all enjoy your boats, I know I enjoy mine. The big one is going for a seasonal rest, and the little 12' Camo Sea King is getting ready for action!

Happy hunting and good fishing, and thanks for the entertainment in this thread... hehe...

-Box

[Jake]

Ever hear of Genmar?
I think maybe they might have the edge on Tracker for buying in volume. 17 boat companies and counting. Like it or not Genmar is now the 600lb Gorilla that gets the best prices on it's material purchases.

[Trade-in]

How many used Lunds do you see at a Tracker dealer that were traded in on a Tracker? Any? Ever?
How many Trackers do you see that were traded in to buy a Lund?
Many, many.
Why is that?

[MAGNA19]

so here is what it comes down to,do you buy a boat from a company who has sold more than the next?or do you buy one from a company who has the better customer sadisfaction?or from one who has the better price?or on the opinion os someone who owns one,or has had a problem with the selling company?

weigh your options carefully,its your hard earned money you will be spending,or well,some of it,but the bank will give you what you are short.

look at each company as a whole,go to your local bbb and check them out.see if they have any unresolved complaints/lawsuits pending.

my other suggestion is wait a while for tracker to prove there tundra,this is the 1st year for it,never buy the 1st year boat,wait till it has been out a few yrs for it to be proven.

talk to the owner of a tundra in person,not on the net.ask him questions,look at the boat carefully,then look at the competitions boat of equal calibre.

[Raven]

Simply for the same reason that you see more Chevys at Cadillac dealers than vice-versa. because guys like you are deluded into thinking that (like I said earlier) ...ready guys?...."My boat must be better than yours because I paid too much for it"...[God I love that phrase!]...The Raven!
P.S. if you're on the Chippewa flowage on Oct 10th...look for a Tracker Bass boat full of -->WALLEYES<----<*}}}}<<

[Andy]

I was there at Sturgeon Bay when Gary Parsons and Keith Kavajecz first got the boat to demo and make the marketing video for it;(at Dale Strochiens place)very nice by the way,not the boat, Dales place.When I pulled up in the parking lot with my Lund 2025 PRO V,Parsons said "once you drive this boat you'll never buy another Lund". Well, when we got to the launch later that night,they were pulling out the Tundra from it's maiden voyage. Apparently the boat did not meet up to there expectations. By the way, I love my Lund,it is my second one. The only reason I sold my 1775 Pro V is because I got tiered of people asking me to buy it. Good luck!!

[andy]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I did own a Tracker Pro V 17, the transom split from the hull, never again.

[HEY!]

Since you own the boat I was looking for. did Crestliner actually quit making the cvx182?

[Joe Minn]

The Targa glass boats are no better. The one my partner had you could poke your finger thru the fiberglass in several places around the inside of the gunnels. The throttle controls actually pulled out of the fiberglass it was so weak. The livewells leak so bad your bildge pump will run non-stop. On the positive side the Targa 2000 is one of the best riding boats I've ever been in in rough water. However there quality is the joke of the industry. Worst carpet and upholstry I've ever seen. I saw a new Targa aluminum boat, still in the dealers showfloor that had rust marks all over the carpet. After closer inspection, Tracker did'nt even use stainless steel screws to hold the floor in. The screw heads were all rusted on a new boat causing big rust spots on the gray carpet. Come on Tracker! I don't want to bash Tracker, but buyers beware.

[Gary Parsons]

In reply to your post Andy, You are right, we were disappointed that the boat did not go 68 miles per hour with our GPS only 58. But that was with a 175 hp engine. The factory was estimating a higher speed, but when we rigged and loaded the boat for walleye fishing 58 is what we got. Think about it...58 mph is still a bunch faster than any other deep-vee boat with a 175. As far as the rest of the boat performance, you must have not been listening very closely as we were very impressed with the rough water ride, handling, and dryness of this boat. I felt that it was the nicest overall ride of any 18 footer that I'd been in. Andy I remember when you drove in and I'm sorry that you took some rib-poking the wrong way. Lunds are great boats, I've been in many...but please in the future do not misrepresent me on walleye-central. We were there testing the final prototype, nothing more and nothing less...the boat had a lot of great characteristics and a few things we wanted changed- which the factory immediately did. Reality is that for a pre-consumer production boat it was awesome. Andy, to put things in proper prospective, you know how rough it was, I don't think that you would have wanted Keith to have drove your brand new Lund with the orders to "See if you can break it" like he did that Tundra. Respectfully, Gary Parsons

[Jim Carroll]

Well, Joe where do we start....

How about this

"On the positive side the Targa 2000 is one of the best riding boats I've ever been in in rough water."

You got that right Joe! Unfortunately the rest of your post is #####... Poke your finger through the fiberglass? ROTFLMAO...

If there is a better tournament walleye boat on the PLANET than a Targa 2000 I haven't had the pleasure of riding in it...and I have been in most. Just my humble opinion. :)

[Andy]

Dear Gary,I enjoy a good rib poking as much as the next guy. The gentleman asked about the boat and that was my impression when we briefly discussed it,very briefly.So my apoligies to you and Keith.As any wise consumer knows,it is always a good idea to let the product go through growing pains.By the way,you and Keith do a great job in Midwest Outdoors.

[Joe]

I don't know about some of you guys but I'm tired of browsing this page and seeing a message from Sept 10!

[Joe Minn]

Yes Jim C you could poke your finger thru the fiberglass on the inside of the gunnels. There was like air pockets or bubbles thru-out the entire boat. The boat was sent back and repaired, then sold for another brand. Yes as I stated it was a nice riding good performing boat. It in my opinion is just very poor quality! They need to also look at using better grades of carpet and vinyl etc. If you look at most one year old Targas you would swear they were ten years old. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, I was only stating the facts.

[bob oh]

That's easy, don't read it.

[Al]

Raven:
Last spring, I was in search of a new rig. I could have purchased whatever aluminum rig I desired. I looked at them all, and talked to actual owners. I pretty much got the same response by some found right on this thread. Quality, durability, customer service, repairs are all questionable. This is from owners, not brother in laws, third cousin twice removed. Some even laughed when asked if they'd buy another for big water. I bought a Lund and haven't been disappointed.

Maybe the Tundra is the turning corner for Tracker. Maybe it's the new deal. But I wasn't about to let them make me and my hard earned dollars one of their test monkeys. I will tell you that as a consumer, who has no sponsor, I was not impressed by the side by side as you claim all should be. The carpet is lower grade, the edge finish of the carpeting is not like the higher end boats, the latches I saw at Bass Pro in Michigan were loose and falling out(in all their boats Nitro too). All of this was observed from outside observation. If they don't pay much more attention to that stuff...as a guy with a check in his pocket, I wondered what they do to the inside...or is that what they don't do.

I've had the "pleasure" of riding in their center console bass boat. Not a bad ride, but the console shakes horribly and team boat owner griped all day because he can't find the prop to get it out of the hole, yet turn efficiently on top end. This boat rattled worse than the next door bed at a cheap motel. His boat was a bloated pig, and quite scary in swells where agility is most needed. This was a 2001 model. If I were him, I would have pulled the plug on it. One more thing, for supposedly being so fast, we had lots of Tritons and Skeeters and even Rangers passing us. What is it that they try to sell these boats on ?

You might pass off your sales pitch to the unsuspecting buyer. God knows there are plenty of them that like that "low payment" with "golly gee a whole 25HP included". I don't think your message is flying with the majority of seasoned guys you'll find here. Not to say Tracker doesn't fill a niche...but I just don't find it all that common on the lower great lakes. You guys may have different observations, but for the waters I fish, which are big, I see very very few of these boats......and Bass Pro Michigan ain't that far away.

One more thing...anyone who thinks that selling out of your first run of boats means something ......has another thing coming. Either they made very few...or they made some and sold them too cheap. Both are poor business practices...which again wouldn't shock me out of these guys. Heck, remember when they advertised the heck out of the Targa when it was introduced, and their top guys were still fishing out of aluminum because they didn't have them ready yet?

[Al]

In some parts of Missouri, Lifetime Warranty may mean it'll take a lifetime to make it right?

[MAGNA19]

so what everyone is saying tracker boats,well,all of them suck?well,then they do,if that is what you all think.but look at it this way,all the components in a tracker,ie,motor,wiring,trolling motor,steering,and such is the same as in your ranger,triton,lund,and other names.

there customer service isnt up to par,but look at the # of baots they sell,the nitro line,the targa line,the pro team,and so on.the result of the unscientific poll is that maybe a few people voted more than once.

sure,tracker does make deep v's,and the tundra,but look at it this way,i take mine out in 2-8 ft waves and its a 1993 tracker.its still together.sure i have had my share of warranty problems,1 problem,but they sort of fixed it,we wont get into it right now.but hey im still fishing out of it,downriggers and planer boards too.

the tundra has only been out for what less than a year,all the bugs have to be worked out of it.but not like the other brands,no new lines in how long,the ame old boat from when it was 1st made.it is a inovation,no other manufacturer makes a stamped formed hull yet,do they?

[Cangl]

Old dogs had better learn new tricks, or get spanked. Have you ever seen or heard of a fishing picture with an angler claiming " Why I caught this here fish on a 21ft #$#$#$ boat! That fish would have liked to have knocked the metal flake plum off that darn boat!"
I don't think so! I'll draw up that cartoon for anyone that really beleives that. x)

[T-Mac]

Look back to the start of this thread. You will see nothing said by anyone claiming to be a Lund owner until after post #8 which was your post, Raven. This is the post where you put a big bash on Lunds.

Then retaliation started.
You were the one who got the Lund owners yapping.
And, now you are accusing Lund owners of "doing anything".
Well, what they are doing is reacting to your un-solicited bashing of their boat brand.

Up until your post bashing Lund, the question that was initially asked, was being answered, both pro and con.

[Raven]

Youy are right...and do you know why? Because it always seems that the Lund guys are the folks that are envious that someone was able to buy a boat that fishes as well, looks as good, runs as fast and pleases it's owner as well as the boat they paid WAY TOO MUCH for!

[SDBear]

Raven, I am curious as to your hostility towards Lund owners? It seems that way. You must have that disease "proud to be poor" or something along that line. No, I get your point. "I spent less, and I can do what you can do." Fine. That is great! Good for you. Well, Ill tell you that not every Lund owner is a snob, and not every Lund owner or Tracker owner has the time to think as you do.

[GEEEZE......!]

Raven,


First you bash Lund and their owners. Then you "excuse" your behavior based on responses from the Lund owners. Now you want us to "understand" your motivations are a result of responses by those Lund owners. To me, it seems as if you want it both ways. You wish to be able to cast the first stone, yet be able to chastise others for responding to your attacks.

Lund owners are proud of their boats . Tracker owners are proud of their boats. This certainly doesn't mean eith of them are wrong for feeling that way. Everyone has his or her reasons for their opinions, however they are based. Take it easy , guy.

[Andy]

He has a very good point! That is why there are so many boat manufactures out there and fortunately we live in a country where we can make a choice. At heart and soul we are all Americans and we are all fishermen, but most importantly, we are all "AMERICAN FISHERMEN".

[perchjerker]

I pretty much stayed out of this one. I just bought a Crestliner, so that makes me biased a bit...

But Geezer and Andy got it right!!!

It's been a fun thread to follow, though!!!

[Adman]

Hey Raven,

Ralph who?

Just wondering........R

[SamF]

I have owned a tracker, lund, and crestliner, all in the past 3 years. One season in each boat. I also have the receipts to prove that. None of the boats gave me any problems at all. The tracker was far less and accordingly was not as well equipped but was still a decent boat. I have heard many negative things about Trackers but did not experience any problems myself. In my opinion, you get what you pay for. A tracker is more of an economy boat but will get the job done. The lunds and crestliners are of higher quality but they cost more. It all depends on what fits your budget.
In the walleye game, it's safe to assume that tracker does not sell as many boats as genmar. For overall freshwater fishing though, Trackers sell a ton of boats. I live in Pa. and can tell you that they are everywhere, at every lake and river. the people out here don't seem to want to spend the big bucks so the Trackers sell like hot cakes. No matter where I fish out here, the trackers out number everything else probably 10 to 1 but as I said, it's because they are so affordable.
By the way, I liked my Tracker, really liked my Lund, but my Crestliner is beyond competition!

[Raven]

What...? You guys don't read these pages? I am reacting to the constant downing of "Other than Lund" posts...especially Tracker. I don't care if you want to go to sea in a wash tub...let me buy what I want to and be proud of my purchase. Are most Lund owners snobs? You ##### right they are! Just look at the postings. (You'll find them in between the complaints about their loose rivets). As far as being "proud to be poor" is concerned...I would bet I could buy and sell the clown who posted that...I pay cash for my boats...including the Alumacraft I traded in for my Tracker....(LOL)

[Big Dave]

Hey guys, how many Trackers do you see in serious Northern Walleye waters where heavy weather can be a serious issue. Trackers fit the profile of Southern, light air, Bass fishermen. Trackers are basically flimsy rigs--and anyone who spends any time around big water fishing knows this as a fact. So cut out the statistical hype where none of you have a workable database. Go fish Walleyes on big, dangerous water and you will get the answer that you seek.

[Richard M]

I like your balanced well thought out reply. I would guess that not many of the posters can claim a lot
of experience with more than one brand of boat. So often we criticize with out enough first hand
information to back up our opinions. In the last 9 years I've owned 11 boats made by Smoker
Craft, Lund, Ranger and Fisher. Each boat had its good features. I can say that cost doesn't always
guarantee quality. But I know in some purchases when I'm unsure of what features are important I'll
pay more in hopes that I'm buying higher quality. I think that is maybe human nature and we are
reassured by not having cut corners because of price.
And maybe I'm just full of hot air!! LOL
Rich

[Bob]

I sell Tracker, Or Marine Groupe Boats. It is all the same? I as A Salesman, would not Buy Any Tracker Prodt. But the Money Is Good for Cheap Junk .After 15 yrs. Off SElling Tracker - I Owen A Lund.

[MAGNA19]

how many do you see?

well,i fish lake ontario in my tracker,from march to oct,sometimes nov,in 0-8 ft waves for salmon,and my boat is a1993.i guess that blows your theory out of the water,huh!

granted i see a few on the lake fishing right with me,buti also see very few lunds,and other brands.

[annoyed]

Your a moron if you think all boats cost the same to build. Look at the amount of aluminum used, what is thickness? What about the carpet quality? Seat Quality? blah, blah, blah.

[HAL]

I bought a 2000 18 ft. Targa all welded boat and love it. It handles 3 ft. waves with no problem at a careful 20 mph. The ride is smooth and dry. In 4 to 5 footers I have to go slower and If I'm not carefull I'll get wet. I did have to take the boat in for warranty and I was'nt happy.But the fixed my minor problems. I agree some of the rigging was chinsy.But the integrity of the boat and its handeling and performance are above board for an aluminum boat. Better than Alumacrap craft I used to own one. The bow had splits about 3 ft long by the time I sold it for dirt cheap.On the other hand, I did abuse it more than the newer boat I have now. But then again alumacraft uses thinner aluminum.
I saw tundra, and could'nt believe that it was aluminum. I bet it would ride as nice as a glass boat. Due to it's contours.But for the price I think you could manage to buy a glass boat or pretty close and I think the weight would be about the same.