I have been looking for a new boat for some time now, and I think I finally found what I have been looking for. I am looking at the Tracker Grizzly 1654 AWL modified v-hull boat without a motor. I have a 35hp evinrude that I am planning on taking off my old 14'6" aluminum boat. Does anyone on here have one of these boats or have any of you fished out of one of these boats. I am planning on extending the front and back deck and putting in a livewell in the back deck. I am also planning on decking out the floor of the boat and putting in a SC from my old boat. I can get this boat brand new from Bass Pro with a trailer for less than 4K. Is this a pretty good deal or should I look for something else. The problem I am having finding a boat locally is I don't need a trailer all I want the boat for is the boat I have all the other parts needed for this boat. What do you guys think. This boat look like it would be pretty easy to modify. Here is a link to the boat http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/specs.cfm?boat=2877

I believe a member on here that goes by Craw has one of these boats.  He has his fixed up real nice.  I haven't seen him on here in a while though.  Shoot him a PM.

Why not look at the 1654 SC; it's already decked, has a live well, and console for $4,634 which is what you'll pay by the time you mod the other.

That's a great boat. I have a Tracker Grizzly 1548 long AWL. I bought the bare boat and built my own floor, reinforced the casting deck with another carpeted deck, wired and breakered it, added lights, fish finder, trolling motor deck.

I haven't had any trouble. I have had a number of offers to buy it. I live in an area where many lakes are restricted to 9.9 hp. Although, I fish several unlimted HP lakes more so I've since upgraded the motor to a 15 hp.

Buy it, you'll love it. Tricking it out is a lot of fun. I plan on upgrading to a larger jon in the not too distant future.  

Why not look at the 1654 SC; it's already decked, has a live well, and console for $4,634 which is what you'll pay by the time you mod the other.

Yeah I see what you are saying but you also have to remember to add $945 to that price for the trailer.  And I enjoy doing this kind of work, it makes you feel good when you get it done.  With the Trailer I'm looking at $5582 compared to $3832 for the 1654 AWL. That is a difference of $1750. I already have the console all I have to do is find a way to remove it from my boat and connect it to this boat, but that shouldn't be that hard. So the only cost I'm looking at is wood, carpet, livewell, wiring, possible new trolling motor, and Time.  Then this will make my boat my boat nobody else will have the same boat, because my mods will be mine. I just don't see all that costing more than the price of the 1654 SC plus I would still want to carpet, possible new trolling motor, and extend the front deck.  

I still have to talk to my dad anyway to see if he wants to go in halves on the boat and take the outboard off his old boat. We'll have to see what happens.

Micropterus - how stable is your boat? I would like to have a pretty stable boat. Are you able to get up on a plane with the 15hp, if so how fast to you run GPS.

Thanks in Advance.

My boat is very stable.  I'm 300 pounds and I've pulled myself from the water up over the side and still had a lot of free board.   I have no problems standing on the edges of the floor hauling fish (or kids) over the side.  Stable as can be.  I don't take it on really big waters, but I've taken it into smaller tidal rivers with tug and barge traffic and it will easily handle the wake they put out.  

The boat would not plane on 9.9 HP.  But I was restricted by law to <10 HP on some of the lakes I intended to fish.  But I ended up fishing unrestricted lakes and creeks more so I decided to up to 15 HP with electric start.  The boat WILL plane on 15 HP.  I don't carry a GPS when I fish since I'm familiar with all the waters I fish.   So I don't know how fast I'm going.   But I'm guessing I'm hitting at least 20 mph.  

My boat has been perfectly adequate ont he waters I fish.  When I fish an electric only lake, I take the motor off and throw on a trolling motor and two batteries.  

I have a 1648 Grizzly, I did the floor (used aluminum), extended the front deck, added a livewell to mine. So far I have been satisfied with mine. I just wish I could use a larger hp motor! A 35 would make yours run great. I use an 18hp (we are limited to 20 hp, some 9.9 hp, on alot of small lakes here) and it goes about 22 mph.

One word of advice, definately get a trollling motor around 55 lb thrust. I had a 40 on it, just was not enough. I now have a 55lb Minn Kota and it is worlds better.

I have a 55# thrust Minn Kota Power Drive on my 1548 and it moves the boat with authority, even in wind.

My 1548MV Sea Ark with a 25HP Johnson will GPS 24 to 26 MPH.

My 1548MV Sea Ark with a 25HP Johnson will GPS 24 to 26 MPH.

That is nice! What did the boat cost if you don't mind?