new to boating, got a question

[tgranthamfd]

Hi Gang, I am not actually a boat owner, just yet. Just had a few questions about one I am looking at. I have found, what I believe to be a good deal on a 1985 Tracker TX 17 Tournament. Question is; are there any factory flaws to be on the lookout for with this boat? The add says it has a 85 Merc. 4 cylender with new plugs,and impeller, a fresh consol rewire, and a new blade style fuse pannel wired in. Also has arreated live well and a front mount trolling motor with new batteries, 4 new seats, and fresh bearing service done on the trailer. Said it is not much to look at but is lake ready, as is, just needs new carpet and hatch covers to be perfect. Let me know what you guys think, factory flaws, as well.

Thanks
Terry

 

[tgranthamfd]

Re: new to boating, got a question

Forgot to add that the 85 motor was a 50hp.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: new to boating, got a question

Factory flaws, not much.

Previous owner flaws, more than likely.

The worst things that could be wrong with it is the decking and transom might be rotted and the floatation foam might be waterlogged. These would be from the previous owner neglecting to keep the boat covered and sheltered from the elements. It'll be water damage from ice and snow.

The hull may or may not leak, but leaks are easy to fix in aluminum boats.

When you go to look at the boat, get up in it and walk around to check for soft spots in the decking. If the decking is soft then you will have to replace it and that's when you'll find out if the foam is waterlogged or not.

 

[tgranthamfd]

Re: new to boating, got a question

jigngrub, Thanks for the pointers. I should know something by the end of the weekend. Only thing that sets off a red flag, for me, is the amount of work the guy has done to it. Might not be a big deal. A coworker says that some of the eairly Trackers are kind of short at the transium, letting big waves come over the back. He didn't know when or if this issue was corrected.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: new to boating, got a question

jigngrub, Thanks for the pointers. I should know something by the end of the weekend. Only thing that sets off a red flag, for me, is the amount of work the guy has done to it. Might not be a big deal. A coworker says that some of the eairly Trackers are kind of short at the transium, letting big waves come over the back. He didn't know when or if this issue was corrected.

Short on the transom? You mean they were 15" transoms designed for short shaft engines? Otherwise there may not have been a splash well which is nothing more than a catch tray to catch water that comes over the transom and returns it to the outside.

On both they are easily recognized. A 20" is approximately 20" if you drop a plumb bob from the top of the transom where the engine hangs down to the level of the hull.....like you put a yardstick under the hull, parallel to it sticking out the rear and drop the bob to that level.

How you handle the boat has an impact on that. If you are stern heavy and from a planing speed put the engine in N, then the following water (wave) can/can attempt to, come in over the transom. Most boats have this concern. On my boat to stop it, if I come off plane fast, I wait a few seconds till the following wave is just behind the boat then give it some throttle, essentially moving out from the wave and it settles smoothly, then idle on to where I was going, or shut her down, whichever.

Mark