I'm looking at purchasing a new Tracker 175 txw Tournament edition. Walked on the lot of my local dealer and found what seems to be an issue. Hoping folks here can chime in with some thoughts.

 

Here's the situation. The tie down loops on the back of the boat are bolted through the hull. I noticed two 4-5" holes cut in the back casting deck. The dealer said the tie down loops were over tightened causing the rubber gasket to be smashed and not seal properly, so they have to cut holes in the deck to access the nuts and tighten them down correctly.

 

My concern is having holes cut in the deck of a brand new boat. Granted, they cover the holes with a piece of aluminum and seal it up.

 

thoughts on this situation and having a brand new boat cut on? I'm not sure if this should be a deal breaker, or why tracker doesn't weld on those tie down rings.

If it bothers you (it would me) I would get another boat from the dealers stock or have him order another one that has not been cut open.  Surely he has more than 1 new model on the lot?  

If you take the boat, get it in writing that the repairs (including the deck and carpeting/ vinyl) are covered under the factory warranty. Those boats have a lifetime warranty on the deck if I remember correctly. I agree with "Toxic"  however.

7 hours ago, TOXIC said:

If it bothers you (it would me) I would get another boat from the dealers stock or have him order another one that has not been cut open.  Surely he has more than 1 new model on the lot?  

 

Thanks for the quick replies, folks. Anyone with a Tracker had their tie down loops come loose or require work? If so, how were the nuts accessed?

I've never heard of such a thing. 

I believe I would have to reconsider that deal.

Seems a bit Bush League. Even for Tracker

I attached a pic of the tie downs on the back of my 2018 175TXW. I am not super thrilled that the bolts are moving a little already. They still seem very structurally sound. Only complaint on the new boat though! 

 

IMG_1376.jpg.HEIC

Edited October 23, 20187 yr by KansasBassin
I can't figure out pics...hold on

If I understand correctly this is a new, not used boat.  If that is the case, I would refuse the boat and get one that hasn't been cut on or insist on a substantial price reduction.

Why can't they take the deck off? It's just plywood screwed to aluminum cross braces.

15 hours ago, slonezp said:

Seems a bit Bush League. Even for Tracker

X2 Totally unacceptable. Run away from that dealer as fast as you can.  

I would not even consider buying from that dealer. If that is what they do to a new boat, who knows what they would do if you had to bring it in for warranty work

8 hours ago, Crappiebasser said:

Why can't they take the deck off? It's just plywood screwed to aluminum cross braces.

Are they still making those things with wood?  C'mon Tracker

I wouldn't accept a boat that has been chopped unless it was a mighty good price.

Thanks for the replies. From what I could see the decks are now aluminum. Opening all the compartments, I couldn't find any wood.

21 hours ago, Goldstar225 said:

If I understand correctly this is a new, not used boat.  If that is the case, I would refuse the boat and get one that hasn't been cut on or insist on a substantial price reduction.

Yes. New boat. The section they access has been foam filled. I called Tracker, they said no notices have been issued, but they did say if you had to access the nuts on the tie downs that one would have to cut holes.

 

This seems bonkers.

22 hours ago, KansasBassin said:

I attached a pic of the tie downs on the back of my 2018 175TXW. I am not super thrilled that the bolts are moving a little already. They still seem very structurally sound. Only complaint on the new boat though! 

 

IMG_1376.jpg.HEIC

Can't access that pic. I would very much like to see what you are dealing with.

22 hours ago, Crappiebasser said:

Why can't they take the deck off? It's just plywood screwed to aluminum cross braces.

The rear deck has been aluminum, at least as far back as 1987.  Front deck is wood.

15 hours ago, pursuitfishing said:

This seems bonkers.

Because it is.  I wouldn't set foot in this dealer aver again.

Thanks guys. I definitely get the point. So, If someone needed to access the tie down nuts because, say, one came loose. Does anyone know of a way to access them without cutting holes in the boat?

 

I'm starting to wonder if this is a Tracker design flaw that the dealer is getting stuck fixing.

It's the kind of design shortcut to save on the bottom line.  That's why they cost less than similar sized boats from other builders.

7 hours ago, J Francho said:

It's the kind of design shortcut to save on the bottom line.  That's why they cost less than similar sized boats from other builders.

Unless they sponsor this site.  Then it’s ok to save money.

I didn't say it was a bad thing, but it's simply the truth.  Tracker is supposed to be a turnkey boat.  Just put some gas in it, put in the plug, and go.  The issue with the holes in the deck says more about the dealer than it does about Tracker.

I'm gonna have to go ahead and say NO, I wouldn't go through with that deal. Sorry to be a buzz kill but if you got the money for a brand new boat then why settle for something like that?

Oh hell no!? I would NEVER buy a brand new boat that they had to cut holes in it to fix a manufacturer problem from the get go! NO WAY!!!

On 10/23/2018 at 7:20 PM, gimruis said:

Are they still making those things with wood?  C'mon Tracker

What's the issue with using wood?

Found out a little more information yesterday. So what happened was the shipping company used the loops to tie the boat down during shipping. They over tightened the straps and bent the crap out of the tie down loops.

 

My take after learning that, is it's not really a Tracker build or assembly issue. Maybe a slight design issue, but to J Franko's point, the design makes sense for cost. The dealer was directed by Tracker on the fix, so it's not the dealer doing something terrible either.

 

I actually called Tracker, they confirmed the cut holes would be the only way to access and replace the damaged tie down loops.

 

So I'm not judging/bashing the dealer, and I'm not judging/bashing Tracker. However, if my boat shows up with damaged loops, I will likely ask for a different boat. Though I did see the finished repairs and everything looked fine on that boat.

 

Thanks again for the all the input.