2004 Tracker Pro Team 185 w/75 hp 2 stroke Merc.

Looked at it today. It's in excellent shape and claimed to have low hours on it. There is a little sun fade to the upholstery (expected really) but far as I can tell it's pretty darn clean. Tires seem to advocate low use as they are in great shape. Couldn't find anything wrong with it really. They want $11,585 for it.

My personal feeling is it would be really worth that if it had a 90 on it. I don't know that I want to pay that much for a boat 4 seasons old with a 75 on it. You giys think this is fair price, a steal or keep looking? I'm not going to buy a "new" boat so don't suggest that route.

This takes a little extrapolation so bear with me.

The 04 unit is listed by NADA with a 50 hp and average retail is $7,340.

When you look up a 50 it is valued at $2,400.  A 75 is $3,190 so it is worth $790 more than the 50.

Add the $790 to the $7,340 and you have an average retail value of $8,130 which seems to me to be about $3,455 over priced.  That takes into consideration standard electronics, trolling motor and batteries.

This unit would have to be a real cherry to interest me as over priced as it is.

I think you can do better. Maybe the guy wants what he owes on it or something?

Thanks for the replies/opinions.  Right after I typed that I thought "I could buy a older 20' bass boat for less then that in decent shape".  I don't want this big of a boat anymore but as an example I found a really sweet 1994 Ragin Cajun 21' with a 200 Johnson Venom that was rebuilt last fall and this rig is in sweet, loaded condition for $9000/OBO.  Thats a lot of boat for $9K and you could probably get it for $8k.  So, no I wasn't going to pay $11k+ for a 04 Tracker Pro Team 185 with a 75 hp on it.  I may have considered making a reasonable offer if it had a 90 on it but unless he drops that price a lot I'm going to let it slide and keep looking. It really is a nice boat though.

I think part of the problem in the price is the guy has the boat at a local dealer on consignment so in order to get what he wants for it PLUS the consignment percentage it's got a high price on it.  When I talked to the salesman I asked if the price was at all negotiable and he asked what I had in mind.  I didn't say anything because I thought $8500 would be an insult.  After paying his consigment percentage the owner wouldn't be real happy with that kind of price I presume.

The owner may only be looking for something close to market value while the dealership has jacked up the price to make more money for themselves.

Normally, the consignment game is played where the boat owner decides the minimum he will take for the boat plus pay a fee (usually a few hundred dollars) to the dealer.  The dealer is then free to ask anything he chooses for the boat and pockets the fee plus all above the agreed on price with the owner.

Maybe I'll slide him the offer but I've heard that some of these dealers are asking 10% of sale as the consignment fee.  $200-$300 wouldn't be a big deterent but $850 or more could be.

Thanks for the replies/opinions. Right after I typed that I thought "I could buy a older 20' bass boat for less then that in decent shape".

My Father in Law has his Javelin up for sale

I wouldnt give $11,000 that for the Tracker new...... probably not if it had a 90 on it... Thats just me, everyone I have ever been in seemed kinda weakly built.

I wouldnt give $11,000 for the Tracker new w/ a 90.... I just am not impressed by them at all for the price compared to other boats.... G3,Triton, Express.

This is sitting right next to it, what do you think of this one?

http://www.bethelmarine.net/used_boat_detail.php?id=438&new_boats=0  

Good looking boat..I'd run it, if its reliable..even though I dont like the front deck setups on the older boats...But it will be 20 years old before you know it, so I think its still a little high after sales tax, but not like the tracker......I would buy it before the tracker.... Rebuilds depend on who did it and how they stand behind their work, that recent...How mand hours on it since?

I know you can buy 97-02 boats about the same as the 91 and up to about 12,000 depending on boat. I am about to buy a 98 z-commanche 19ft, 150 merc....for $8000, 2nd owner.Friend has it now, he bought it from an elderly man that bought in new......

My thing about buying boats,motorcycles,and autos.....I do my homework and patiently look for the best thing i can find at the best price....Never buy from a dealer,you just pay more..Always buy from an individual.. There are alot of 8-10 yr old boats that are like new on the market, prollie gonna be more with gas prices. big thing is how they were stored/used...

This is sitting right next to it, what do you think of this one?

http://www.bethelmarine.net/used_boat_detail.php?id=438&new_boats=0

NADA says Boat with custom cover $3,075

               motor                             1,100

                trailer                               310

Total                                             $4,590 average retail value

If you are patient, you can find a real good buy on a boat.

A good buy could be determined in how bad you want it too. If you are not planning on selling it for profit anytime soon, and you really like a boat you see and pay a few hundred over its worth, big deal, its your boat and it is what you wanted.

Here is what I did 3 years ago. I out grew my bass buggy and wanted a bigger boat. I looked and looked only to find the boats in my area cost more than I wanted to pay no matter what they were "worth". I went to look at a boat that the fella was asking $3500 for. It had ratty carpeting, a soft spot in the floor, rotten wood under the paddings, bad seats, crap electronics, and an underpowered trolling motor. But......it had a newly rebuilt 115 Mercury that runs like a champ, the transom was not bad at all, the live wells worked, all gauges worked and was overall mechanacally sound. I offered the guy the $2500 I could pay at the time. Used it that summer. Had all the bad wood, carpet, vinyl padding, troll motor, steering (anti feedback) and fishfinders replaced. I did everything myself that I could to save $$ and learned alot about the boat in the process. Now I have a great looking, great running 1988 fish and ski that I can afford to run because it is paid for!