Goldstar225

You could buy a set of scales sold to folks who reload ammunition. Most balance beam types weight up to 505 grains (there are 7000 grains in a pound/ 437.5 in an ounce). Electronic versions are available but are $$$$.

Another thing that plays a role in private sales pricing. Locally a Tracker 175 with a 60 horse has the standard $16,995 price tag. Add to this the $800-$900 freight and prep fee plus sales tax of 8%. A buyer who puts down the 10% minimum (including the sales tax) owes over $17000.00 out the door. If he makes minimal payments over the next year, he still owes almost the new price on a 1 year old boat.

You may check at you Lowes hardware or harbor freight if you have one nearby. Those in my area carry some light duty utility trailers that should suit your needs.

Follow fishnkamp's advice. I won't beat up on you. I have a concern that I'll do the same thing. The four stroke on my new boat is so much quieter than my previous 2 stroke, I'm worried that I won't realize it's running when I load up. Establish a routine or ritual for launching/loading, don't get rushed and don't let anyone interfere.

I'm another who is using a Mustang with the hydrostatic inflator. If I'm in the boat alone it's always on me. I'm not as agile as I used to be and never was a great swimmer. I figure that if nothing else it'll speed the recovery of my body should I keel over dead and fall out of the boat!

I've been using a set of Wiley X for the past year. They have worked well for me with a progressive lens. No distortion and comfortable. With insurance I was only out a little over $100.00.

I never purchase the add ons. Those end up being almost pure profit for the dealer, In your example it totals $2,497.00. That's 25% added to the cost of the boat with little chance of needing any of the coverage.

I recently sold my 87 tracker tx17 that I fished out of for seven years. It was equipped with a 70 HP Yamaha and the plate rated it at a max of 75 HP. IMO a 50 HP or more will scoot the boat along on plane just fine. With my Yamaha I would rarely use more than 2/3 throttle which put me at 26-28 MPH. WOT I would hit 36-37 MPH by GPS but I believe that was way below it's potential since the bottom of the hull had gone over hundreds of stumps in it's life time.

Congratulations Don! You and your son are exactly the type of people that I hoped this boat would attract. It's a great buy and just the ticket to get a father and his son and /or daughter on the water. It may be the only boat you ever buy or may be one of many in your future. One thing is for sure, it's the beginning of memories being made and shared for you and your son.

To improve as a fisherman and break out of my "bank beater" habits. The more I study our quarry, the more I realize what I don't know.

Boat.

I can tell you that my son almost sank my truck once. I had him back my trailer in to load my boat. After the trailer was in the water he got out of the truck and I saw the back up lights were still on (automatic transmission)!!! I managed to get him back in the seat before it got expensive.

Since you insist on charging two batteries with one charger and that it be portable for other applications, I recommend that you get a two bank on board charger like the Minn Kota 210D. That's 10 amps per bank with two banks. Instead of mounting it in the boat, just use it as a portable. Replace the terminal ends with clips. This model shows to be available online for less than $120.00

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I would take your chosen worm to home depot or lowes and select from their O ring stock. They carry a wide variety of sizes and a box of fifty is cheap.

Congratulations!! I hope you get many years and thousands of hours of pleasure from it.

I was at my local Tracker dealer today getting a quote on a PT 190 and got a chance to look at one of the 40th anniversary boats. If I were going to be fishing smaller waters with just two on board I would probably jump on this boat. IMO it will kill 160 and 170 sales while it's available since is the size of the 170 but priced $2500.00 below the 160 and about $4000.00 below the 170.

You have several good choices. Dardanelle is one (Russellville). In the Hot Springs area there are several good lakes close by, Ouachita, Degray, Greeson, Hamilton, Catherine. Heber Springs has Greers Ferry lake with the added attraction of trout fishing in the Little Red river down stream from Greers Ferry Dam.

I picked this up at bass pro. Holds 7 3700 series boxes: http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-utility-box-carrier

'87 Tracker TX17 with an '86 70 HP Yamaha. Still runs like a top. Except for replacing the oil reservoir the motor's had only routine maintenance.

I spent a lot of time fishing out of a 14' X 36" jon boat. If I ever go back to a jon boat it will have a 48" bottom, minimum 14' but preferably 16'.

Hauled hay (square bales), planted, pruned, and picked tomatoes, caught chickens (20,000+ chickens per house, worst job I ever had). I did have a charge account at the western auto store when I was 11. Used my allowance money to make weekly payments.

I fish for relaxation. I doubt that I'll ever fish competitively simply because I suck at the catching part. I may beat the water up for 2 or 3 hours then lay my rod down, spin my seat around, grab a drink and snack, then gaze at nature around me for a while. I love being on the water at first light when all is peaceful and calm.

When I replaced the wood and carpet in my tracker I used epoxy resin from west marine. They recommended it as the best means to seal and protect the wood.

I had no problem fishing all day with my 14' jon boat using a trolling motor with less that 45# thrust and a single 27 series deep cycle battery.