I am buying a "real" bass boat this year and need the advice of experienced boat owners please. This decision seems like a no brainer to me, but perhaps you guys can clue me in to something I'm missing. I have shopped Nitro, Ranger, Stratos, and Tracker. Seen every boat I'm interested in in person, and weighed the options down to the minute detail. My price range is 22,000 dollars. The two that are in contention are below and once again the tracker seems like a no-brainer to me. Are there any inherant problems with aluminum that would make the stratos a clearly better choice.

2006 Tracker Avalanche. Formed aluminum that makes it look exactly like glass. Looks nothing like trackers other models.

18"2"

Aluminum transom

135 Mercury Optimax

24 volt Motor Guide 70lb thrust trolling motor

Dual console.

Dual aerated live wells, lockable rod lockers port and starboard, lockable gear lockers ice chest etc.

Bow electronics area with remote trim and tilt control.

2006 Stratos 285XL

18' 6"

90 Mercury Optimax

12 volt Minn Kota 40lb thrust trolling motor.

single console

Same live wells, lockers etc.

No built in provisions for bow electronics.

Looked at both boats carefully, locker hardware, seats, carpet etc looked better to me on the Tracker.

To me this seems like an easy decision with the motor and trolling motor options. Am I missing something? Thank you guys in advance for your replies. Needless to say I can't sleep I'm so excited.

One more thing,  the tracker max horsepower rating is 175, the Stratos is 150. so I guess that will also play a part in possible motor upgrades in the furure.  Thanks again guys.

I can't offer an opinion on either boat. I haven't owned or fished from either.

One piece of advice I would offer is to get the maxium horse power engine recommended for either boat. Tracker is famous for selling underpowered boats. I'm sure this will offend some but is common knowledge in this area. Not so sure about Stratos.

A friend of mine bought an Avalanche and I believe his has a 115 on it. He tells me it is underpowered and is not very happy because the local Tracker dealer can't make it handle or perform properly. The problem may be the dealer(not sure). Insist on a test ride/drive in a boat exactly like you plan to purchase and see for yourself.

Whatever you decision, good luck............Al      The Tracker is a good looking boat.

Never had any dealings with those Formed hull trakers, so don't know how they perform and can't comment on them.  

I will say a Stratos 285XL with a 90 HP anything will be a 100% guaranteed disappointment.  I think it was a mistake when they dropped to HP rating on that hull from 175 HP to 150.   Don't get me wrong, that 285 is probably the best fishing platform on the water in 18' boats.  Storage and fishing room makes it seem much larger than it is, but once you get it loaded, you couldn't give it to me with a 90 HP motor if I had to use it.  Now, step that 285 up to a 150 OPTI and you'll have a fine ride or at least the 135 but not a 90.  Also don't care for the 12V 40 TM, needs a 24V 56 - 60.  

In that size boat of either one, I much prefer a single console over the dual.   Let the passenger ride in the wind.

Now, based on what you offered to chose from, I would lean toward the Tracker, simply because the 135 on it should give you reasonable performance after you get it loaded, where the Stratos won't.  With a 175 HP rating, I would still try hard to upgrade it to a 150.   Those new formed hull have only recently been on the market so I would do some serious homework on them before dropping that much money on the table.

Get the motor you want now, upgrading in the future will not be a viable option in the future, you will loose way too much money.

Where do you live $22,000 sounds awful high for that Stratos rigged like that. My buddy just bought a 201 pro xl with a 250, loaded for $33,000.  He had no trade, he sold his boat himself. I would shop around some more. I would go with the Stratos but with a 150 hp engine & a Minn Kota 24v 80lb thrust trolling motor any thing less & you will not be happy because it will not do the job. That is experience talking so take it for what it's worth.

You're wasting your money if you underpower your new rig like you appear to be about to do.  You're almost underpowering the Stratos by half.  If you can't afford to max horsepower a new boat you need to consider stepping down to a smaller size boat or to a used boat that has the correct HP motor on it.  You're going to be thoroughly disappointed in the performance and by the time you decide you shouldn't have scrimped on the engine HP when you bought it you'll take a bath on the trade-in when you go to upgrade.

Sorry to make everyone so mad about my lack of ability to "afford" anything. These two options that I have described are right from the dealers themselves. I did not say I want that boat but I want an inexpensive motor. These two boats are what the dealer is offering me. Thanks for all the help. You have at least given me the knowledge, albeit in a brutal way, that I need to upgrade to at least a 150. Thank you for that.

I'll make it easier for both me and you. I will spend the extra 4500.00 for a 150. Based on the new motors, with all the specs above the same, which would you reccomend.

Why would dealerships and salesman set up all their out the door boats this way?  Maybe I should not buy a boat at all.  You have me thinking that all these guys are purposely selling poor performing boats.  Examples of dealership out the door boats I looked at, and the motors that were on them.

Ranger175vs   Max horsepower 130   motor on boat  90

Nitro 591  Max horsepower 200  motor on boat 135

Nitro 482  Max horsepower 150  motor on boat 90

Stratos 275 and 285 XL max horsepower 150  motors on both boats 90

Traker Avalanche Max horsepower 175  motor on boat 135

Chug are these dealers giving you the suggested retail price? Beat these guys up a little bit and make a deal you can live with. For 22 grand I'd be telling him to put a 150 Yamaha on the back of that Stratos and a Minn Kota 70 on the front so we can make a deal. Telling them you've been shopping online, call around, work these guys. That's alot of money. Tell them you won't settle for an underpowered ride. Dealers in the northern half of the country are buried in 2006 bass boats and winters coming. You could get a list of every Stratos dealer in the country and start contacting them. Tell them the model, accessories, hp etc and the price you are willing to pay. Someone will do it and you can walk into your local dealer and say don't make me drive to timbucktoo to get my boat. If they can do it so can you. You work hard for you money, make the dealer work hard to get it away from you.

Chug are these dealers giving you the suggested retail price? Beat these guys up a little bit and make a deal you can live with. For 22 grand I'd be telling him to put a 150 Yamaha on the back of that Stratos and a Minn Kota 70 on the front so we can make a deal. Telling them you've been shopping online, call around, work these guys. That's alot of money. Tell them you won't settle for an underpowered ride. Dealers in the northern half of the country are buried in 2006 bass boats and winters coming. You could get a list of every Stratos dealer in the country and start contacting them. Tell them the model, accessories, hp etc and the price you are willing to pay. Someone will do it and you can walk into your local dealer and say don't make me drive to timbucktoo to get my boat. If they can do it so can you. You work hard for you money, make the dealer work hard to get it away from you.

 Yeah Madhouse,  Stratos is suggested retail,  both nitro and tracker are those nationwide set no haggle prices that they won't stray from.  I did not know that you could haggle boats the same as cars.  Thanks for the info.  I should be a valuable customer as well because I'm going to put ten thousand down and only finance for five instead of ten.  Do you think they will bend.  Also, I edited my last post to include the dealer motor packages I have been dealing with here in Maryland.

Chug you have done your homework on various packages and retail prices. Now the strategy is to walk in and tell them what you want and the price you are willing to pay for it end of story. If they say they can't do it simply tell them that someone is going to get this 22 thousand dollars this week and it appears that it isn't going to be you. Leave your cell phone number and inform them that your offer is good until you find what you are looking for elsewhere. I just did this will a new vehicle last week. Made four phone calls and informed them of my offer. Three dubbed around and tried to work me over. Number four said yes and I drove there and made the deal. While out fishing the next day each of the other three called to say that low and behold they could meet my price after all. I told each of them that they had ample opportunity to sell me a car but that the deal was done. Right now somebody is hungry to sell you the boat you want at your price.

Chug Bug,

What are you going to use your boat for? Bass fishing? or racing to fish for bass?

No offense guys, but perhaps the man just wants a darn nice boat wthout breaking his budget. Are the options he mentions not worth while for a bass fishing boat?

Bass fishing is what it is, Bass Fishing! Tournaments and contests are another issue. Racing to a spot is the name of the game, in some cases.

Chug Bug,

I would buy what pleased me and have a good time with it. I, like you, started out over a year ago looking at bass boats. My wife got involved and wanted to go along and she wanted a pontoon boat. I like to go fast and in the end I wound up with a Regal 2120 260hp deck boat, which I dearly love 8-)...The bottom line is, I ended up happy yet unfullfilled. Tomorrow I am going to look at a $1000 fishing boat with a 9.9hp outboard and if I get that boat I will be just as happy with it as I would be a $22,000 Bass Boat.

Buy what you like and what you can afford and enjoy it. No one here is going to cough up the extra money it takes for you to get what they think you should have. It's your money and your happiness, enjoy your new boat on your own terms. The guys here bring up valid points from their experiences but in the end you have to live with what you bought. If you don't need to spend an extra $4500 for a motor to be happy then why do it? If it takes you an extra 10 minutes to get to a fishing spot then that is the way it is. It's not like you are fightin' "The High Seas" is it? There is no money riding on getting "there" faster is there?

Some of what I am saying here is "tongue in cheek" and I don't mean to be insulting to the people that have taken time to respond to your question, but the bottom line is that you get what makes you happy, suits your needs and makes you happy.

Buy what makes you happy and enjoy it. That is what bass fishing and boating is all about.

Take care and enjoy your new boat. Invest the $4500 in other things that the Bait Monkey will try to help you out with.

I guess the reason for the advise on maximizing your horsepower would be the same advice I'd give someone buying a sportscar but is trying to scrimp by putting the smallest possible engine they make in it.

What's the point?

My reasoning stems from having run an underpowered boat before plus 30 + years of bass boating experience.  After spending the kind of money he's going to be spending, there are obviously going to be expectations from the rig.  Being doggy and a gas sucker shouldn't be one of them.  Running a boat with an undersized engine results in more gas burnt than if the max horsepower engine were on it. You're having to run that smaller engine at higher throttle settings to get the boat to do what it wants, hence, more gas burned.  After he's realized he needs to upgrade it's already too late, he'll eat thousands when he goes to trade in.

Does he want truth, honesty and solid advice from people that have been there before and have experience or just a cheerleading squad?  

BTW, those manufacturer packages, with grossly underpowered motors on the back are teasers to get you in the door. Will the boat run with the stated engine?  Of course.  Will it run efficiently and will the boats total performance be realized?  Of course not.  

BTW, if all this is is about the fishing, why not just buy an 18 ft. johnboat, slap some plywood and carpet on it and drop a 60hp motor on the back.  He'll save thousands.  Believe me, there's a pride in ownership in a new bassboat and ripping off some 60 + mph runs down the lake is exhilarating.  

If the man has $22,000 to spend he is not going to get what many think is the ultimate Bass Boat.

The bottom line is that he gets his Ultimate Bass Boat! Maybe a few years down the road he'll look back and say "Hey, these guys were right!" OR  he will look back and say "Hey, I really screwed up and blew umpteen thousand dollars on some boat that I grew to hate just so I could fish!"

It's all in your perspective.

Tom has a point about buying what you like. He may be a bit off with his thinking that everyone has a need for speed mentality. Chug is talking about comparing two boats, some of the guys are warning about buying a boat with an outboard way below the max hp rating and being disappointed, I'm talking about trying to maximize every cent of the $22,000 through tough negotiations. The bottom line is that everyone on here seems generally concerned about Chug getting a fair deal on a well equipt boat and that to me is pretty cool. Back to the original question with no oration: The Tracker.

Didn't mean to sound so brutal, you asked an opinion, I just gave you mine. I've own bunches of bass boats over the years. Small boats with small motors, go together. Big boats with small motors are nothing but an investment in disappointment. Many years ago I bought a 15 ProCraft with a 55 hp motor (boat rated for an 80) because I thought that was all I could afford. Tried the boat out and thougth the 55 was just fine. Got on plane ok and ran about 33 mph. Then I got all my tackle, full tank of gas, and two people over 200 pounds, boat barely got on plane. A few months later I happen to come across a deal on a two year older 115 that I was able to sell my 55 for almost enough to buy the 115. Totally different boat and loved it then, pure junk till then. That was my one and only under powered boat. For the past 20 years, every boat since then has either been powered to the max or over powered (something you can't do in a lot of states).

So, if you don't mind strugling to get your loaded boat on plan and riding down the lake like your in an overloaded barge, settle for the smaller motors.  One note, if you have a rather large passenger, you may have to ask them to step to the front of the boat to get on plane.

As I stated earlier, for my personal use, I would not have a single rig you listed. Been there, done that and seen too many others that have made the same mistake. The boat's take a horrible beating when you try to sell or trade them because with those small motors on the back, not many people want them. I would never recommend under powering a boat by more than 10 - 15%, and don't recommend under powering one at all. That's not for the speed, that's for the load handling ability.

Chug Bug I did not mean to offend you & I am sorry if I did. I have had bass boats since 1974 & made the same mistake you are thinking about making on my 1st. one. It's not about speed it's about RESALE & PREFORMANCE.  I have a Ranger 185vs that I run about 4000rpm which gets most of the boat out of the water & I get my best fuel consumption. If I had a 90 on it, it would be a plow & with todays fuel prices I would hardly be able to use it. I will also tell you to get the bigger trolling motor as I said in my earlier post. You are going to need it to pull that boat around. especially in a little wind or current. I know $22000 is a lot of money & I agree with madhouse that if you shop you will find one close to that if not on it. As I said before my buddy told them $33,000 for it & they said no way but a week later they called him & said ok. Those dealers are trying to fit you in at retail. Play hardball & shop around for sure because the boating season is about over & they know it. In another month they will be  having all kind of sales.

Thanks for all the help you guys, and I certainly did not want to draw lines of division between members.  I am not looking to fish any tournaments.  I belonged to B.A.S.S in the 90's and have fished my share of local events as a non-boater.  Do I want a correctly horsepowered motor?  yes.  Do I need to race to an area that is 85% no wake zone idling anyway? no.  Cart I understand the advise you are giving me, I do not want a cheerleading squad.  I currently have a 64 impala ss with a built 383, so I understand a little bit about mechanical things and performance.  Tom Bass,  thank you for encouraging me to get into whats right for "me".  Madhouse, thanks for giving me the demand what I want pep-talk.  The only place that this advise has gotten me now,  is that I know I'm going to mull over this for another month, because yes I want to be happy.  For me, I can see no reason to spend 45.000-75.000 for a Ranger V commanche with a 300 on it for fishing by myself.  Yes going fast would be awesome.  Once a week I go out with my partner on his 22 ft. Mako with a 250 on it.  Going fast is fun. but not that important to me.  On the other hand, I don't want to operate a rig that is so vastly underpowered that the handling makes it difficult to pilot.  NONE of these dealers tried to get me to upgrade the motor on any of these boats.  So I guess my final question is why would they attempt to sell boats with inadequate motors.  Thanks again guys.

Chug, I really can't advise you on which of those 2 boats would be the better deal. You're sorta comparing apples to oranges, aluminum vs. fiberglass.  I'm going to point you towards fiberglass almost everytime except in certain circumstances (lake size, tow vehicle size, etc.)

Question.  Have you driven either of those boats in the setup you're thinking about buying.  avalanche with the 135 and the stratos with the 90?  I wouldn't be spending a dime until you have.  You need to get on the water with those boats and drive and decide (Champions motto I know).  Until then you're merely guessing whether that boat will be what you want on the water.

Are you telling me that these dealerships will tow their boat to a nearby body of water and launch it for a test drive?  I am also still wondering why these dealerships want to get you out of the door with such underpowered motors?  Now boating doesn't seem so much fun.  The wind has certainly been taken out of my sails on this whole thing.  When I did question them about motor upgrades, alot of them said "No you don't need that, plus it'll take us 3 months to switch out and prep that motor.  I am thoroughly confused.  I am clear however, thanks to you guys, the higher hp the better.  Why even sell a boat that is not rated to the max on the coast guard tag?

Would you spend $20,000 on a new car without taking it for a test drive?

If these guys aren't willing to let you test drive a boat or put you in touch with a customer that has one of these boats that you can go out in I'd try finding a dealer that will.

As for why they're selling these so underpowered?  They're probably stocked with the boat and engine and are making a buck on them.  If you tell them to take the 90 off the stratos what are they going to do with it? Its close to the end of the boat buying season and these guys are trying to sell off inventory.  You have to be the smart consumer.  As an experienced boat owner I would never walk in asking about advertised deals on underpowered boats, in fact I'd walk in pretty much knowing what I want and would want the dealer to get down to brass tacks on working a deal with me.  Without that knowledge the salesman see's you as an inexperienced boater. Some will take advantage of that and push you into the package boat even though it's performance is subpar, how will you know anyway?  After you've owned it a year or two and are frustrated you wind up back at the dealer trading in for a bigger motor (at a loss for you).  You'll also pay for rigging, possible new throttle box, oil tank, gauges, prop, steering cable,.......... as you can see it's best to get the right motor on the boat in the beginning when you can work the best possible deal.  Waiting till later will cost you thousands.

I would say this.... go take some boats for a ride. If a dealer won't take you out, find another one. If you feel the need to push more power then ask for a motor upgrade. take it out on a windy day. They all feel good when the weather is good.

That said, I have been boating all of my 40 years and I can tell you this. The bigger the motor you put on your boat, the more fuel you will burn. Even if you are iding!!! A 200 HP will burn more fuel by the displacement of the motor. This is not rocket science. My V-8 car burns more fuel than the same car with a V-6. Ask anyone who runs on salt water and makes a 100 mile run into the gulf with similar boats and different rated motors. The extra horsepower could be a help in certain situations but is not mandatory.

I think that the point is that you are trying to get a good fishing rig at an affordable price. Only you can make that decision. It all depends on how fast you need to go. if you aren't fishing tournaments and serious ones at that then the decrease in horsepower can usually be made up by getting up 15 minutes earlier or lauching closer to where you will fish.

You will save on your motor if you don't need the biggest motor available. The prerigged electronics however is a major point. I would recommend that without reservation. This will save you money and heart ache later.

Some people on here are of the opinion that everyone here needs a top of the line rig maxed out with 300 HP and $4000 sonar/GPS ect. wish some of them would make some payments or put something down for me!!!! Maybe we can start a donate some dollars to our buddies in need forum... LOL

As cart7 says... make them work for the sale. They will most likely want to sell a boat and will bend over backwards if they sense that you are serious.

They sell them like that to get that payment low so people think they can now own a boat. As Cart7 said within a year they are back. Been there done that & did not get a "T" shirt. Also if it's going to take 3 months to change out a motor find another dealer as fast as you can. On this last boat I bought  they gave me that song & dance. I told them I'll see you later & all of a sudden they could do it in 2 days

Like my pappy always said about advise "A wise man seldom needs it, a fool seldom uses it, so don't waste your time giving it", sorry I got involved.

You asked for some "sound advice" and a number of members that appear to have many years combined experience gave theirs and you've only come back and ridiculed all those that didnt support what you've apparently already decided to do and praised the one that supports it. The bigger motors aren't all about horse power and speed, they're about torque and load handling abitlity.

You're the one that's going to be using it, you're the one that's going to be making those payments for the next whole bunch of years so you're the one that's going to have to decide on the boat you want to buy. Enjoy.

I din't think that  I ridiculed anybody. I am seriously taking more time to think about this now thanks to all the opinions offered.  The consensus appears to be a higher hp motor, and I think you are part of that consensus.  I will go back and read my posts, and if I ridiculed anyone I seriously apologize.  I take the advice on this forum seriously and is the reason I posted to begin with.  If I did not care what you guys thought of the matter I would have towed the Tracker home last Saturday.  Thanks again for all the advice.  I am a grown up, if I want a boat I will buy it.  I have chosen to use you as a sounding board, and am now holding off on the boat.  More thinking needs to be done.

Chug Bug, I don't believe it was the intent of anyone to insult you and I know I didn't mean too. We for the most part are trying to prevent you from making the same mistake we have already made by buying an underpowered boat. Underpowered boats are not like underpowered cars, just takes longer to get there. An underpowered boat will not plane properly and when loaded may not plane at all. They go down the lake with the bow bouncing up and down like a cork in a hurricane because they don't have the power to maintain an even keel.

Whatever you buy insist on a demonstration ride. It is the only way you will know how it handles. If the dealership doesn't want to take you he has a good reason. They are provided with demo boats by the manufacturer, but probably not with the smaller engines. They have a manufacturer suggested retail price and they will come down, usually several thousand minimum.

And no I'm not going to help with the payments. But I would like you to be happy with the boat you are making payments on. Good luck.......Sincerely...........Al