First Bass Boat

Hi All,

I am looking to get my first real bass boat this coming spring. I am starting to do some research now to figure out exactly what I want. I currently have a 12' jon boat and love fishing from it, but nothing beats fishing from a real bass boat IMO.

I am looking for something on the smaller and inexpensive side like a 16-17ft aluminum bass boat. I have been looking heavy into the 2015 TRACKER Pro 170. Does anyone have any experience with that particular model or any other boat that is similar in specs. I haven't really decided whether I want to go new or used as long as I can finance it. The bass tracker is around 13-14k which I don't want to go any higher in price than that.

Also, it will probably spend a lot of its time on Lake Winnipesaukee. My gf has a lake house in Alton Bay and I do a lot of fishing there.

Thanks in advance.

That's going to be a rough ride on winni if I were spending that much I would buy a used ranger if you have the truck to pull it there is a lot of good bass boats don't get me wrong I have an Old ranger and I absolutely love it it's only Ranger for Me Winnie is no joke sometimes

I was also going to suggest looking for a 90's Ranger all kinds of solid boat that would be more suited to Winnie and not too big for the local ponds either

Hi All,

I am looking to get my first real bass boat this coming spring. I am starting to do some research now to figure out exactly what I want. I currently have a 12' jon boat and love fishing from it, but nothing beats fishing from a real bass boat IMO.

I am looking for something on the smaller and inexpensive side like a 16-17ft aluminum bass boat. I have been looking heavy into the 2015 TRACKER Pro 170. Does anyone have any experience with that particular model or any other boat that is similar in specs. I haven't really decided whether I want to go new or used as long as I can finance it. The bass tracker is around 13-
Also, it will probably spend a lot of its time on Lake Winnipesaukee. My gf has a lake house in Alton Bay and I do a lot of fishing there.

Thanks in advance.

whatever u do don't spend 14k on a bass tracker !! I made that mistake in 2004 and it was the worst purchase I ever made in my life . Sold it after one year and bought a skeeter with a 115 merc on it for 4k thy was ten times the boat than that tracker . Look for an older ranger or skeeter their the only boats that hold up over the years .

You'll be fine on Wini. When wind and wave picks up there is no bass boat to be comfortable. You don't go out with wind great than 15 MPH.

I would suggest you buying 5-6K fiberglass boat in 18 foot class. Put the rest money into electronics and power poles.

I made the mistake of buying a tracker pro 170 brand new a couple years ago. I ended up bringing back to bass pro shops in less than 3months and trading it in for a nitro Z7. The boat was way to small and got blown around in circles with any wind more than 8mph. Needless to say I lost around 4k in the trade in. They sticker price says 13k but after tax ,destination fee ect,ect its costs about 16k. They gave me 12k.

Several years ago I was in your position fished out of a 17' G3 tin rig. That was my upgrade from my 12'jon boat. I flip flopped between tin and glass and because of the smaller bodies of water I fished the tin rig was fine for Watuppa/long pond cape etc. but your talking Winni, that's a different animal just the mere boat traffic can cause havoc never mind Mother Nature. I would look for a gently used glass rig under 10g's there plenty around and asked guys you fish with someone always knows a buddy looking to off load a decent rig. I know Twitch will kill me for this but Rangers are not the only good boats out there. Lol! Good luck

I have a 2014 Tracker TXW 175 and it serves its purpose fine. Yes, it's pretty small for a big dude like me, but I wanted my first boat to be something inexpensive that I could beat up a bit. I'd never owned a boat before, not counting canoes and a kayak, so I expected some rookie mistakes and wanted something that could take a bit of a beating.

That of course didn't include crashing it into the rocks at Sampson Pond, but I guess if you're going to crash a boat into rocks it's better to do it in a Tracker. Haha.

Seriously, though, it's a solid starter boat, especially for smaller bodies of water. I've had it on Winni a few times, too, without issue, even on high wind days; but it's definitely not wise to take things for granted on a lake that big.

Anyway, I guess it all depends on experience and such. If you're familiar with bass boats, it's probably best to skip the Tracker. If you want an inexpensive, serviceable starter boat that can be treated a bit rougher, go with a Tracker.

I have a 2014 Tracker TXW 175 and it serves its purpose fine. Yes, it's pretty small for a big dude like me, but I wanted my first boat to be something inexpensive that I could beat up a bit. I'd never owned a boat before, not counting canoes and a kayak, so I expected some rookie mistakes and wanted something that could take a bit of a beating.

That of course didn't include crashing it into the rocks at Sampson Pond, but I guess if you're going to crash a boat into rocks it's better to do it in a Tracker. Haha.

Seriously, though, it's a solid starter boat, especially for smaller bodies of water. I've had it on Winni a few times, too, without issue, even on high wind days; but it's definitely not wise to take things for granted on a lake that big.

Anyway, I guess it all depends on experience and such. If you're familiar with bass boats, it's probably best to skip the Tracker. If you want an inexpensive, serviceable starter boat that can be treated a bit rougher, go with a Tracker.

I agree about those trackers being able to take some severe abuse, and that's the best thing about em. Any glass boat would have been totaled with a similar accident to sampsons

How does aluminum vs glass hold up over time?
Just finished modifying my jon boat & already want a bigger boat! haha!

Problem I have is no garage for storage in the winter.
Fish mostly small local lake/ponds so don't need 20' 225hp boat.
Aluminum looks like the way I might go?

How does aluminum vs glass hold up over time?
Just finished modifying my jon boat & already want a bigger boat! haha!

Problem I have is no garage for storage in the winter.
Fish mostly small local lake/ponds so don't need 20' 225hp boat.
Aluminum looks like the way I might go?

. 95 percent of aluminum bass boats 16 foot and over have plywood decks so their not really any better to leave outside than a glass boat . Also , any 18 foot glass boat with a 150 will access all the same lakes a tracker with a 50 horse will . Only aluminum boat worth having is like the one u have already ,a 12 foot john boat that u can drag around ...

BPS in foxboro has a 02 z6 nitro with a 50hp mercury.

That seems like its way under powered for a glass boat even if its onlt 16' ?

What you think?

Theres a beautiful javelin on craigslist with a 175 for $8300.Boat is in moultonborough and docked at winnie.Well worth a look.Also a 98 ranger for short money,like $3800.Worcester listing 3rd,4th or 5th page.

BPS in foxboro has a 02 z6 nitro with a 50hp mercury.

That seems like its way under powered for a glass boat even if its onlt 16' ?

What you think?

oh yea , way underpowered ! Gotta go 115 hp or better , a 90 horse will also do . And do yourself a favor and stay away from bass pro when purchasing a boat , but I will say their the best place to get a boat repowered . Bass pro gets the best pricing on mercurys , about 5k cheaper than anyone else and will Install for about $1100 .

BPS in foxboro has a 02 z6 nitro with a 50hp mercury.

That seems like its way under powered for a glass boat even if its onlt 16' ?

What you think?

02 nitro is ready for the graveyard soon !!lol