Jets, Flatbottoms, suggestions?

[Dustin07]

I'm liking this tracker more and more:

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/?boat=3270

I'm looking for something that can double as a fishing boat, and a duck hunting boat. something I can work the tidal flats and the lakes with. Any suggestions over the tracker?

Are there any Washington based boat manufacturers you'd recommend that make something similar to this?

I'm looking at the Lowe Roughneck as well.

[Bodofish]

Lowe makes some nice ones too. In fact most of the boat mfgs make a similar model. Make sure it's welded for durability. Ditch the 75 and put a 90 jet on it. It's no good on the river with a prop.

[Dustin07]

Yes I do want a jet for lots of reasons, but that does drive up the cost quite a bit. I haven't developed a budget yet, but I know it will be less than $20k for a new one. I'm hoping to be under $15k. still working out the details in my head.

I'd love to find a WA-state manufacturer of a good welded flat bottom though.

that tracker fully loaded with 60hp prop is under $15k.

i'm not sure what it would cost if i wanted to go jet, or just no motor at all.

[Bodofish]

A jet should be no more expensive, except for the bigger engine, than a prop. Merc, Evenrude and Yam make jet models, you don't have to buy the pump and put it on your OB anymore.

[spindog]

one problem with the Tracker, no local dealers the last time I checked. I would think there would be alot of
nice used boats for sale with the economy in the toilet. Good boats, good deals, forced to sell.
Lowe is a good boat, very similar.

[G-Man]

Wooldridge, as much as I dislike the folks who run the company, make a good boat in the style you are looking for. They are just one of many local manufacturers along with Raider, Hewescraft, Almar and Duckworth, to name a few. I second the suggestion of looking for a used boat. A good welded hull will outlast a motor, so you may find a nice platform on which to hang a new motor. And you never know, one may just find a boat that's good to go, motor and all.

[Dustin07]

Thanks guys, G I'm checking out that list you sent. I'm definitely game for a used boat, just learning the basics through the websites to see whats available and see whats the differences in them.

[Blackmouth]

Craigslist Dustin. With this economy you should see some decent deals for what you are looking for. Also, don't be afraid to go tiller. It'll make a boat feel a lot bigger when you have no console in it....

[wolverine]

Just say no to Tracker. Lowe's are not that much more money and you get a heavier gauge boat thats welded and more durable. The NW builders will probably be 40-50% more for a boat that will not perform a bit better than the Lowe. Of course if you have money to burn and are in to labels.

[Dex]

I got a Lowe in 2008 and love it. I looked a numerous different brands while shopping for a boat and Lowe seen to have the biggest bang for my buck. There are several good manufactures out with some great product, but for what I needed and at good price Lowe fit the bill.

As others have stated there are allot of good boats for sale these days. I was on criagslist a few hours ago and found several at great prices. Hope you find what your looking for.

ND

[Bodofish]

My advice no matter what brand you decide to buy. Unless you have the ready cash to warranty everything on the boat I would stick with buying a new boat covered with a good warranty and a dealer to stand behind it. I've seen many guy's go out and buy that first boat they got a great deal on, only to find there are many things to fix. They spend more time working on it in the back yard instead of floating on the water, fishing. An outboard is a very expensive piece of equipment. If you are a very experienced boater and good mechanic and you know all the little pit falls of buying a used boat then by all means buy a used boat. If not, get the warranty.

[fishing collector]

If you are going to run in the flats remember that a jet intake will suck up everything ...I had one and had lots of trouble with seaweed getting sucked up in the jet. I was always cleaning the intake. Do your homework, Steve

[medic1]

I read your thread and since I am bored tonight here are my thoughts. Hope it helps.

I was in your shoes two years ago and let me share a few things that I learned during my process.

1. Know exactly what you want and don't let anyone talk you out of it. If you want a prop, get a prop. If you want a jet get a jet. Only you know how you are going to use the boat. Also look into getting both a prop and jet lower unit. I run a jet from july until the end of duck season and the prop during springer season. The combination of the loss of power and increased fuel usage of the jet make the prop pay for itself in a short amount of time. By the way, it is only 4 bolts holding the jet on.

If you are willing to get a prop check out a prop tunnel hull

2. Do not by a riveted boat. Buy a welded hull and the thickest that you can get. If you buy a quality hull it will out last the motor.

3. 4 strokes are great, but heavy. And if you decide that you want a jet stay away from them.

4. A longer boat will plane quicker. 18 the shortest on a river I would get with a jet

Now for my thoughts on your selection. A 54 inch wide boat will feel like a canoe. It will be very "tipy". My brother has a 1654 tracker and it can be scary with the two of us in it, even on flat water. His next boat will be a 1660. Where and what kind of fishing do you do? That Tracker is really only set up for bass/crappie fishing. While you could salmon fish out of it, it would not be optimal. There is a reason that most of the fishing boats that are built in the Northwest are either open tiller boats or front windshield with an open back.

On the topic of tiller boats, they are number one in my book for a river boat. When I bought my boat I wanted a center console, and I bought one. Now that I have to replace the throttle box, I decided to convert to a tiller and I love it. The boat feels bigger and more open. I would also get the biggest motor your hull is rated for, remember that you loose 30% of the rated hp with a jet.

As far as a list of boat manufactures to look at here you go:

SeaArk- check out the tunnel hulls. These boats are rare in the NW but I have seen them in person and they are sweet, run real shallow with a prop
Woolridge- specifically the alaskan. They also run a tunnel on some of their boats. The tunnel works well on jets too.
Fishrite- very wide, stable boats. A 21' is wider than a 23' Alumaweld
Alumaweld- the 6 degree supervee rides like a caddy. The sportjets in the Stryker is pretty sweet too.
Northriver- Great open boat design. Poor business practices ;)

For what it is worth I bought a 1986 Alumaweld Flat Bottom center console that I found on Craigslist for $8500. It came with a 1986 150hp merc 2 stroke jet and a 8hp kicker but the trailer needed work. I am currently into the $11,000. That includes an 80lb thrust Minn Kota Terrova, lowrance x125(craigslist), $150 in steel to fix the trailer, and I replaced the floor, purely for looks. I plan to repower the big outboard with a 150 Optimax jet, a Yamaha T8 kicker and a lowrance hds 5 graph and I will still be under $20K and it will be spread out over a couple of years.

Here are some boats to fuel your search
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1582809125.html
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1582770558.html This looks a lot like mine
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/boa/1580492461.html Good looking set up
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1575658123.html
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1573142607.html Great set up.
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/boa/1585188037.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/grg/boa/1583508908.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/boa/1583470390.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/boa/1583238160.html This looks clean but also looks under powered
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/boa/1582501344.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/boa/1580295588.html Benches take up room but the storage is great
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/boa/1578273651.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/boa/1576315010.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/boa/1575865092.html

If you have any questions let us know. And post pics when you decide to buy.

[Dustin07]

Thanks for the feedback again- I still have not made any decisions, and who knows.. maybe that in itself is the decision. I may be looking at this wrong. When my father in law tried to talk me out of spending the money on a boat (he has two) because people don't use them often enough, I told him that i went boating 40+ times last year. He replied with "good point, 40 times and you don't own a boat, why would you buy one?" LOL... OK, touche old man! so at my disposal I have his 15FT smoker craft with 70oB, 12ft sea nymph with 9.9merc, 20FT lund with 5.0L IB and 25hp ob, and a 10ft alum with electric trolling motor. I don't own any of them, but they are all 'family' boats so I use them a lot.

i've started keeping a log too. So far this year I've recorded 7 trips. 2 in duck/layout boats, 1 in the 10ft boat, 1 in the 12ft boat, 1 in the lund, one in my buddies 15ft arima, and none in the smoker craft. I'll keep the log going to see if it paints a picture for me.


hard to say. I know that the father in law and my dad would prefer I don't buy a boat if they have already done it, they like to see me use their boats, but at the same time I feel uncomfortable using someone elses stuff all the time! but still, I suppose it helps because I pay for maintenance and can buy gas, light bulbs, pumps, etc.