2007 Tracker Pro Guide 17 SC Cracked Hull (3rd time)

[ThinIceWalker]

Hey guys,
This is my first post, and I hate to do it on a bad note, but I am running out of ideas on what to do. I purchased this boat Late summer of 07, shortly after the maiden voyage I noticed a crack in the hull. About half way down the passenger side, on the bottom part of the hull. Tracker took the boat back to the factory and fixed it. The following summer, 3 or 4 trips in the boat cracked again, same place, same crack shape. Tracker took the boat back a second time and repaired. All was good until 3 weeks ago, when I noticed the water in the boat again. Looked under the hull, and the crack was back. Same place, same shape, only this time right under it 2 new cracks also have appeared. I only have 2 months left on my warranty, and they want to repair for a 3rd time. I want a new hull, which I think I deserve. Next year when this cracks again, I will be out of warranty. And we all know what that means.

Can anyone offer any insight to what I can do? They seem like they have given up on me as a customer and want to do the bare minimum just to get me out of warranty.

Thanks.

[maxxum]

Give them back the keys and ask for your money back.

[vteye]

Does your state have a lemon law? Do you have your paperwork
from 2 prior cracks and repair work? I think filing under
lemon law or lawsuit is appropriate presuming you are original owner
and have your paperwork.

[grizzley]

If tracker wont remedy the problem, I think I'd contact the FTC, and see if they can help.

Unless you'r using the boat as an icebreaker, or hitting stumps or rocks at FT, a hull shouldn't crack like you'r stating.
I don't think I would want that boat.

And everyone talks about Chinese scrap !!!!!!

[ThinIceWalker]

I am the original owner. I haven't hit any rocks, stumps, ice bergs or anything like that.
The dealer ship I bought it at doesn't sell tracker any more, so now I am at a dealership I didn't buy the boat at. So they are just doing what Tracker head quarters is telling them.

In my State Lemon Laws doesn't apply to boats, motorcycles, rvs, only cars/trucks.

Grizzly - haven't thought of the FTC. Has anyone gone this route?

I was hoping since this was the third time Tracker was going to setup and do the right thing, but it seems the only want the easy and cheap way out.

[jeffbilodeau]

Exactly why we call them "Crackers". They have record of prior repairs and it's obvious that their repairs do not last. They have options. New boat, new hull, money.... Personally I would demand money back and buy a Lund or Alumacraft....but that's just my opinion.

[beeman]

You guy's are scarring me off Trackers as purchase. Have never heard of cracked LUND yet

[ohiojmj]

3x in the same place = poor weld repairs or structural issue with stringers/runners that are drving too much load into that area. They should be tearing the floor up and finding the root of the repeat cracking. You need this fixed and sold.

[ThinIceWalker]

I asked for a replacement, but that was not granted. I don't know how I make them do something they don't want to do. SOOOO at this point all I can do is document this here, and let all the perspective tracker buyers know what they are getting into.

I have had other boats before, and have never cracked them. I have done nothing extreme to make this boat crack. If you get lucky and your new tracker doesn't crack you are good, but if it does all you are going to get is a half hearted repair just to get you out of the warranty period.


Any tracker reps reading this? I would be curious to hear your side.

[REW]

thinice,
If you have a hull crack, you likely have an insufficient number of ribs and reinforcements behind the hull to keep it from cracking.

If it cracks a 2nd time, you can be sure that there is a design issue where further reinforcement needs to be added to the boat to prevent a recurrence.

Then, of course if it happens a 3rd time, there absolutely is a design problem where the hull needs to be significantly beefed up in the area of the crack.

The only way that a proper repair can be done with something like this is to strip the boat down to the bare hull, design, fabricate and add appropriate hull reinforcements, and then reinstall the flotation, and the rest of the interior.

--------
I would presume that later model boats have had the hull redesigned. I would call the tracker factory and ask to be connected to the head of engineering and share your situation with him and see if you can come up with an appropriate solution.

It might even be appropriate to clean out your boat, and take your boat over to the factory in Missouri, to leave it there and pick up a new hull when you are at the factory.

Simply call the factory, tell them when you expect to be at the factory and request that a new hull be available for your return trip.

Good luck
REW