Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

[talex]

Hi all... my first post.
I have a problem I am hoping you guys experienced with bass boats can help me resolve. I purchased a 17' 2007 Fisher Avenger pro and it wound up being the wrong boat for me and the better 1/2 (was to deep for many of the spots we fish). We recently sold that boat and are looking at different ones. We have come down to 2 used boats. We are currently looking at a 2009 Lowe Stinger ST170 w/50HP 2 stroke on it and extended warranty for 10 years on the motor for $9800 with approx 10 hours on it. Which is a pretty good deal I think, but we also came across a 2007 Tracker Pro Team 170tx with a 25HP 4 stroke on it for $4800, the boat looks new and has been in the water once due to original buyers health, I heard it run with muffs and it started up just fine). I do not need super speed, just a good stable platform for still fishing in small to mid size lakes. The Stinger marketing make it sound very stable, but to look at both boats, they looks nearly identical other than the stinger seeming slightly larger for space on the inside. Both motors are same year as the boat, I do not think the Tracker has any warranty on the motor, both were full packages with trailer, lowe comes with a cover.

I cannot find any direct comparrison between the 2 and the price diff makes this a tough call for me which is why I am here.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

Having owned a Bass Tracker in the past, I lean toward the Pro Tracker... BUT! That 25hp is only half the rated horsepower and could easily leave you wanting, especially with more than one person aboard. Of course, you could always get the Tracker, trade the motor up to the 50hp mark and still come out dollars ahead.

Options... always options.

 

[talex]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

Having owned a Bass Tracker in the past, I lean toward the Pro Tracker... BUT! That 25hp is only half the rated horsepower and could easily leave you wanting, especially with more than one person aboard. Of course, you could always get the Tracker, trade the motor up to the 50hp mark and still come out dollars ahead.

Options... always options.

ya I know options.... I like the warranty idea and lean toward the new boat, but man... $4800...

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

ya I know options.... I like the warranty idea and lean toward the new boat, but man... $4800...

I would bet good money that it's being sold because it's underpowered and a dog. Given a heavy load, you might actually be struggling to maintain plane with that rig. Tracker has been selling an awful lot of marginally powered boats in the last few years.

I think you'll enjoy your new Lowe very much.

 

[raven7]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

I'd go for the Stinger with the 50 HP engine.

 

[talex]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

Looks like the Stinger wins out, guy called me with the tracker and said it might be sold, guy with the lowe just said he would go $9500... 10 years is a lifetime not to have to deal with the most expensive part of the boat and alot of piece of mind. I also called Lowe, got a nice person on the phone who said normally the warranty is for original owner only, but they might be able to make an exception given that the Lowe was purchased new in April '09. That would definately put the icing on the cake for me.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

Looks like the Stinger wins out, guy called me with the tracker and said it might be sold, guy with the lowe just said he would go $9500... 10 years is a lifetime not to have to deal with the most expensive part of the boat and alot of piece of mind. I also called Lowe, got a nice person on the phone who said normally the warranty is for original owner only, but they might be able to make an exception given that the Lowe was purchased new in April '09. That would definately put the icing on the cake for me.

Send pix once you take delivery!

 

[talex]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

pic...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

You didn't tell us the Lowes was red. I would have thrown my vote that way for sure then!! Cool boat.

 

[GeoHawk]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

You didn't tell us the Lowes was red. I would have thrown my vote that way for sure then!! Cool boat.

+1. I like the red too.

 

[talex]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

I don't care about the color... I also found out that there is not a 10 year warranty on the motor, it actually has a 6 year warranty on the boat, trailer and motor including electronics... even a better deal, glad I went with the Lowe...

 

[GeoHawk]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

Nice looking boat. You'll like the extra power over the Tracker boat too.

 

[talex]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

+1. I like the red too.

Do you like that Tracker in your pic? I just sold my 2007 Fisher Pro Avenger WT and had problems with it and picked the Lowe up.... Your looks the same as my Fisher.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

Excellent! Looks good! When is the maiden voyage?

 

[talex]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

Excellent! Looks good! When is the maiden voyage?

Most likely spring 2010

 

[GeoHawk]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

Do you like that Tracker in your pic? I just sold my 2007 Fisher Pro Avenger WT and had problems with it and picked the Lowe up.... Your looks the same as my Fisher.

I've only had it about a month and a half, but love it so far. The only compliant is that I wish it had more waterproof storage compartments.

My Pro Crappie that I had before the Targa is similar to the Lowe you just got. It was a great fishing boat, but I just needed something a little bigger now that my kids are bigger and wanting get out on the water too.

Most likely spring 2010

I'm getting ready to put mine away for the winter. Spring seems so far away right now.

 

[talex]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

I've only had it about a month and a half, but love it so far. The only compliant is that I wish it had more waterproof storage compartments.

My Pro Crappie that I had before the Targa is similar to the Lowe you just got. It was a great fishing boat, but I just needed something a little bigger now that my kids are bigger and wanting get out on the water too.



I'm getting ready to put mine away for the winter. Spring seems so far away right now.

I know it really sucks to have to wait, but at least the Lowe was already winterized( the seller showed me the reciept for it from the dealer). I loved my Fisher when everything worked, it was huge on the inside but I hated dealing with Tracker customer service which never fixed one thing... When I went to sell my Fisher I had 3 potential buyers bring up Tracker customer service and used that as a reason to lower my price, I could not argue with them that the warranty was useless. Anyways, the Lowe I just bought has as much if not more room on it than my Fisher did and it will traverse much lower water levels... I feel like I hit a home run, especially at the price... seller showed me reciept... purchased new May 23rd 2009 for almost $15k...

Bummer of a story though, guy bought the boat to get in some quality fishing time with him and his dad, they took it out twice and his dad passed away, he said it was just a reminder of all the time he was hoping to make up spending wth his Dad the next couple summers, thus the reason he sold it so cheap... that really sux and is kinda sad... but... well anyways...

Oh Spring do HURRY!

 

[GeoHawk]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

That is a sad story. But you got a practically new boat for a great price.

I guess I've been lucky that in the 9 years I've owned a Tracker I haven't had to call their customer service. I did have to call the Tracker boat service center (I don't know if or how they are different than the customer service people) in Springfield, MO when the anchor that Bass Pro installed a week earlier shot craps the first time I tried using it on the water. They told me to bring it in and they replaced it while I waited.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of problems did you have with your Fisher? I'm just wondering what's in store for me.

 

[talex]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

That is a sad story. But you got a practically new boat for a great price.

I guess I've been lucky that in the 9 years I've owned a Tracker I haven't had to call their customer service. I did have to call the Tracker boat service center (I don't know if or how they are different than the customer service people) in Springfield, MO when the anchor that Bass Pro installed a week earlier shot craps the first time I tried using it on the water. They told me to bring it in and they replaced it while I waited.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of problems did you have with your Fisher? I'm just wondering what's in store for me.

Well on my Fisher a bunch of paint flaked off the bottom and the nearest place was 2 hours away from me and I could not get a schedule down with the repair place to look at it, second problem I had was the counsel center window would never close properly no matter what setting as if the counsel was installed improperly aligned, then the passenger council got very spotty looking, like it was 20 years old in sopme places, new in others while the drivers side stayed looking new. The final problems we had with it was that it would take on water, not a ton, but I had to run the bilge every 1/2 hour to hour and it would pee between a minute to 5 minutes, none of this they would even look at. I spent $25k on that boat, so I expected it to be perfect the 1st year. Since Fisher is a company under tracker maybe they do better on their own brand boats, I do not know. I know every dealer for them in the area around Milwaukee dropped them or Vis-Versa including the dealer I bought my fisher from. My fisher looks identical from what I can tell of your Targa except it was a 17.5ft boat and I certainly hope yours lasts longer in good shape than mine did.

The Lowe seems very well built, but next spring will really tell the tale...

 

[GeoHawk]

Re: Tracker Pro Team TX 170 or Lowe Stinger ST170

Well on my Fisher a bunch of paint flaked off the bottom and the nearest place was 2 hours away from me and I could not get a schedule down with the repair place to look at it, second problem I had was the counsel center window would never close properly no matter what setting as if the counsel was installed improperly aligned, then the passenger council got very spotty looking, like it was 20 years old in sopme places, new in others while the drivers side stayed looking new. The final problems we had with it was that it would take on water, not a ton, but I had to run the bilge every 1/2 hour to hour and it would pee between a minute to 5 minutes, none of this they would even look at. I spent $25k on that boat, so I expected it to be perfect the 1st year. Since Fisher is a company under tracker maybe they do better on their own brand boats, I do not know. I know every dealer for them in the area around Milwaukee dropped them or Vis-Versa including the dealer I bought my fisher from. My fisher looks identical from what I can tell of your Targa except it was a 17.5ft boat and I certainly hope yours lasts longer in good shape than mine did.

The Lowe seems very well built, but next spring will really tell the tale...

That sucks. I wouldn't be happy either with that many problems from a new boat. Hope this one works out better for you. It's always dissapointing to spend a bunch of money on something only to feel like you have to get rid of it because of problems.