boostr

So your boat cover didn't come from boatcovers.com.

Those are nice covers, and I would need a quality one also because it will be sitting in my driveway for a while, and its cheaper than paying for storage. Do you have to buy the straps separate? This cover will be used for storage and travel. can you travel with the post installed? Can't see prices. I guess I would have to Email them.

Anybody know a site where they sell reasonably priced travel cover for a Stratos?

Well, bit the bullet... This is my New to me, first ever boat. 2007 Stratos 176XT. Has all the options I wanted, and got it for Less than the NADA low estimate.

The Boat Chimp got me.

I spent 4 hours with this guy. Me checking the boat, him just doing what I asked. He's only selling it because he bought a Basscat Pantera. He does his own maintenance, and he's particular about everything. Got a good vibe from him. It being a composite construction, and no wood is a plus too.

No, thus is a different one. It's this one. Checked it out, the seller did everything I asked without hesitation. He even filled up his hull with water to show me that the bilge worked.

I'll will have to be extra vigilant inspecting this boat. He said he's the second owner, and that the first owner was an older gentleman who didn't use it alot. He doesnt have maintenance records because he does it himself.

Has anyone looked at a boat they were interested in buying, did the basic inspections, everthing works, but couldn't do a test drive due to Ice or draw down? What do you do if it's the boat you want? Do you make an agreement not to put money in hand till after ice out or normal pool

It seems like they engineered it to work well with low HP motors. I can always repower it later on with a 75 hp.

It was a couple of grand. The boat is nice. Then again, it being that old issues probably would arise.

It's the model that Stratos built to compete with 17ft tins. So if you were on a tin budget you could get a glass boat in the $12,000 price range. They only maxed out at 75hp. This one happens to have a 50. the owner says it maxes at 30mph. I'm not gonna go tournament fishing. This would be my first boat, something for me and my 6 year old son can fish together in.

Anybody have or had one? Looking at one this weekend. Boat comes with a Mercury 50, 1 Talon, helm and bow upgraded *Garmin electronics, look like 7" units, and 80# trolling motor.

That was my thinking. My CU actually does give out loans for boats that old. I was looking into a boat loan (it's actually a recreation vehicle loan) with my Credit Union (not that I couldn't pay cash, we just rather use that amount of cash for emergencies), and with a int rate at 4.7% you cant beat it. . The problem is they go by the NADA to give out the loan. Maybe I should of checked for a personal loan, but I think the interest rate was higher. So to make a long story longer I didn't end up getting it. It's Ok though, because now I'm looking at a nice 2007 Stratos 176XT

LOL, I didn't even see that. Guy tried to be funny for 75 dollars. That's a $75 bass by the way. The next day they busted 5 more people. Seems to be a hot spot. To tell you the truth, I see plenty of non licensed anglers or what I think are non licensed anglers. Even folks keeping their catch even when the sign say C&R only.

My first of the year The one time I didn't have my fishing license

Bought a used boat that was in such good shape for it's age plus it had some options you were looking for? Buuuuut, they were asking over the NADA value, and you bought it for the asking price. I'm in this delima . I'm looking at a 94 Tracker Pro Deep V17. It's owned by an elderly man who cant use it anymore. He is well known in this area for setting up fishing derbies for kids and such. The town even named a park after him, and he is the original owner. It comes with a Tracker by Mercury Pro Series 40 Oil Injected, and a Mercury 9.9 kicker. The hull is pristine except for a little scratch on the bottom. The deck is solid with no soft spots, the transom is solid with no soft spots. All electronics work. Carpet is in great condition. All the hatches are clean. Comes with 2 electric down riggers' all the safety equipment that the Coast Guard requires. This boat has been garage kept all its life by the owner. It didn't get used for the past 5 years. In order to sell it a friend of mine who is a friend of the old man' and a BASS angler took the boat to get serviced by a mechanic he takes his boat to. The seller spent $1200 to get it running again, including 3 new batteries, and new wheels and tires for the trailer. The motor has 130lbs of compression on all cylinders, and the Kicker has 100lbs.. Opinions please. To add, my friend is selling the boat for the owner, and as a favor he is holding off other buyers boat for so I can mull over it for a couple of days, and this was Sunday.

I'm glad I came across this scam thru this forum before, which totally helped me out. Even if it wasn't a scam, that would of been way to much work for me to even bother getting that boat. It wouldn't of been a deal anymore with all the logistics involved. I'm still hunting. See if I can find a treasure like @WIGuide did. I see a few out there, but they are asking some crazy money especially the R series from the early 90s.

This one did have a phone #, and Email. It was supposedly in Philadelphia maybe a 1.5 hr drive dependent on traffic. The registration on the boat showed North Carolina, and that's when I started thinking scam, but thought to myself you never know.

Oh yeah, definetly a scam. I seen somebody else on here questioning the same thing a while back. Here the response from the Email I sent earlier. harry jens 5:58 PM (2 hours ago) to me Hi, This boat has absolutely no problems and the interior is like new, no accidents.All power and optional equipments are working perfectly. The boat is with me in Helena,MT at the shipping company warehouse, inspected and ready to be delivered to its buyer with all the documents, this company will help me with the shipping and payment process. I am letting it go with shipping and handling included. Because I work a lot and I don't have free time, I am not able to close the deal myself and I want to use a professional third party company to handle the sale. This way we are both protected. Let me know if you're interested and if you have questions. Thank You

Great tips, I'm still waiting on his response. I'm gonna have to ask him if he has the titles and what not. I'm also looking at a 2012 Tracker Targa V18. The guy is asking $7500. It has a Mercury 150 4S, Minnkota 70# trolling motor on it, some nice electronics and bimini top.... Heres the issue it has som damage on the port side above the water line right below the gunwal. looks like he got Tboned or rubbed a dock real hard. He mentioned he still used it that way for a while.The damage doesn't look horendous, it's right below the gunwal. It looks repairable. He also mentioned it might need an alternator, and some brakes eventually. You guys think that's too much work for that price, or don't even mess with it.

Was looking around for a used boat, and came across a white 2004 18' Tracker Avalanche, all aluminum with a Mercury 150 XR6(like the one below except it has a single console), a Minnkota 70# wireless trolling motor, looks like it still has the origina electronics at the console and bow. The way the guy expains it its excellent condition, runs great, always garage kept, and he's getting rid of it because of medical reasons. The pictures look great. He was asking 6500.00 for it, which is below NADA value if it is in great shape. So I contact this guy and it took a day to respond. He tells me it's still for sale, and he dropped it to 4,000.00 the lowest he will go. I emailed him back today asking why he dropped the price, and if there is something wrong with the boat. I'm still waiting for a response. This place is about 2 and half hours away, and I don't feel like going down there and find out it's B.S. So what do you guys think?

Took a step to being a real man... Just got my New Jersey boating license... Now all I need is a boat...

Heard next year they are coming out with a new model... Can't wait to see it.

You can also try a RAM Mounts Tuff Claw with a Dog bone. http://www.rammount.com/products/tough-claw I used it on a Tin and attached it to the Gunnel. Worked great.