TrackerG

Okay I have to correct myself...Front panel on my boat has switches to trim motor and live-well recirc. No switch for bilge pump. Sorry.

You might check the panel on front of boat where trolling motor plugs in (if it has one) mine has a switch up there to trim the motor and run the bilge pump.

I have the same Motorguide bowmount 46# motor on my 17 and 1/2 ft aluminum. What I did was install another 27 series up front and put in a battery selector switch. That way I can run one battery til its low, then switch over and know how much battery I have left. The switch has settings for battery #1, #2, both or neither.

I must say....I don't have a clue how to keep her interested....my wife (who is also my best friend) loves to fish more than I do!! Shes the main reason I bought a boat. And now we almost always go together. She is getting quite proficient at loading the boat!! mostly cuz she cant back a trailer up worth a darn!!! hehe

A good topic....A couple of comments I will add....I havent fallen out the the boat yet...and try to be careful not to. but I keep hearing stories of losing glasses in the water...and wallets getting wet...cell phones in the drink..... Why on earth would u carry these items on the boat? Before I even board the boat to unload in the water....my wallet, cell phone, and truck keys go into the glove box. I wear prescription glasses so i put the "chum" strap on my glasses. So far the only thing I have lost in the water is a few fish...(from not setting hook properly) and one $7 rappala crank bait. (line broke when I cast...dammit anyway) Im not OCD but im pretty careful about checking things before I launch.

If you want to check out some good info, go to mercurymarine.com. i looked up optimax ( i have a 115 optimax). Its the same motor from 75 HP up to 125 HP. same CID, same bore and stroke, same dry weight. There are some different gear ratios. a dealer told me the horsepower is mostly adjusted with tuning. at least on the Optimax. my boat is rated for 90 HP motor, but the guy who had it before had the dealer install the 115. The original 60 HP had a dry weight of about 250 pounds.

I am on my second Tracker. The only reason i got rid of first one was the little 40 hp Merc. just wasnt enough motor for me. I now have a 99 Pro deep V-17 with a 2003 Optimax 115. It'll do about 35 to 40 on a calm lake. plenty fast enough.... It works perfect for 2 people. 3 is okay. If we're trolling I put one person up front, 2 of in back and run a planer board on my side to keep lines apart. If you wanna see the setup check out pics in my thread. Trackers are fine by me..

I posted a few pics in another thread, then I saw this thread which seems more fitting. 99 Tracker Pro deep V17 with a 2004 Optimax 115 46# Motorguide Bow mount trolling motor Humminbird 323 on dash, 525 i added to bow both wired to one transducer with a selector switch I added another deep cycle battery up front with a selector to keep track of battery power This boat was a single console. I added the walk-thru windshield and built the dash and glove box. It'll do about 35 to 40 mph which is plenty fast enough for this boat!!

a couple more of the dash and glove box

I promised some pics of my boat. Bought it this spring and did a few modifications.

another pic of dash

also built the dash and glove box

I added a walk thru windshield to my single console Tracker

Just wondering how many Optimax owners out there? and opinions on the performance, fuel mileage, etc.

I also have a 115 optimax, great running motor. I did have one problem with it. some one had let the battery cable touch and it blew out the 100 amp fusible link from alternator to the starter relay. In researching this thru multiple conversations with mercury and a couple mechanics, I have been told that it is a very bad idea to parallel your trolling batteries and ur cranking battery. The alternator is designed to quick charge the cranking battery. Trolling batteries take a lower charge for a longer time. They told me the alternator will be overworked trying to charge trolling batteries. That particular alternator runs around $600. In an emergency, you can use your trolling battery to get you home, but not for extended length of time. I also looked into isolators but you dont need it for that motor. The mercury folks assured me that the alternator could handle several accessories....fishfinders, electric downriggers, stereo, etc. Here is another fact about that optimax OB. I have trolled with it all day to verify this. It charges the system at 6 or 700 rpms (low idle), wont load up like regular 2 strokes, and is very good on fuel. I have 2 trolling motor batteries also but i installed a battery selector switch so when one gets low, I just flip the switch and run on the other battery

Ive been checking this place out for a while. Thought I better introduce myself. I have a 99 Tracker Pro deep V-17 with a 115 Optimax. My wife and I fish mostly lakes and reservoirs in Southwest WY and NE Utah. I will post some pics later.

I was fortunate. We have an overhead crane in our shop at work.I left the boat trailer hooked to truck for stability, hooked hoist to tie-down rings on back of boat, raised ip enough for clearance and replaced both boards and the rollers. I could see the jack stands working.