Brand new Tracker 175 having holes cut in it before sale. 2024

pursuitfishing reply :

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.

TOXIC reply :

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?

volzfan59 reply :

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.

On 10/23/2018 at 2:12 AM, 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?

pursuitfishing reply :

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?

WCWV reply :

I've never heard of such a thing.

I believe I would have to reconsider that deal.

slonezp reply :

Seems a bit Bush League. Even for Tracker

KansasBassin reply :

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, 2018 by KansasBassin
I can't figure out pics...hold on

Goldstar225 reply :

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.

Crappiebasser reply :

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

Dwight Hottle reply :

On 10/23/2018 at 7:27 AM, slonezp said:

Seems a bit Bush League. Even for Tracker

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

Russ E reply :

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

gimruis reply :

On 10/23/2018 at 11:13 PM, 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

tander reply :

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

pursuitfishing reply :

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

On 10/23/2018 at 10:46 AM, 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.

On 10/23/2018 at 9:16 AM, 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.HEICFetching info...

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

Goldstar225 reply :

On 10/23/2018 at 11:13 PM, 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.

J Francho reply :

On 10/24/2018 at 7:59 AM, pursuitfishing said:

This seems bonkers.

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

pursuitfishing reply :

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.

J Francho reply :

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.

slonezp reply :

On 10/25/2018 at 1:23 AM, 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.

jbrew73 reply :

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

J Francho reply :

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.

Krux5506 reply :

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?

JLBBass reply :

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!!!

12poundbass reply :

On 10/24/2018 at 7:20 AM, gimruis said:

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

What's the issue with using wood?

pursuitfishing reply :

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.

WCWV reply :

The transport company has cargo insurance, they should be held responsible.

volzfan59 reply :

Warner has the contract to haul all BPS merchandise and Tracker Boats. Sometimes they hire out jobs to subcontractors, but it's pretty rare. Not that it matters.

BigAngus752 reply :

On 10/26/2018 at 12:30 AM, pursuitfishing said:

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.

@ that boat.

Thanks again for the all the input.

I'm with @tander and @Goldstar225 on this one. You are right that the shipping company caused the damage and the dealer has apparently corrected the problem in the manner required by the manufacturer....HOWEVER....you are buying a brand new boat and it should be PERFECT if you are paying new boat price. I would demand it be perfect. If you are satisfied with the repairs as dictated by Tracker then you should negotiate a significant reduction in price because it's not perfect. That is only fair and appropriate. If you pay full price for this "repaired" boat you are being taken advantage of.

I wish I was closer to you so I could help in person. I enjoy this kind of negotiation. "I don't have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills"...

KansasBassin reply :

You can see how it has moved a little. I think when I first got it I was tightening it down too hard on the trailer. It hasn't moved or shifted any since.

slonezp reply :

On 10/28/2018 at 6:33 AM, KansasBassin said:

You can see how it has moved a little. I think when I first got it I was tightening it down too hard on the trailer. It hasn't moved or shifted any since.

That would bother me. Worrying about water intrusion.

tracker01 reply :

If the dealer gave me a discount it would still bother me. I would pass on that one.

Gundog reply :

Fortunately the OP didn't order the boat and pay ahead of time. Not sure what the protocol would be if this problem showed up on an ordered boat. Could you turn down a boat with the same problem the OP saw? Wonder what the legal obligations would be on the part of BPS or Tracker?

WRB reply :

Poor design disapline when you need to cut holes to get to nuts and bolts.

Ford made a car in the 50's that you had to loosen the motor mounts to replace the oil filter. Airplanes have several access doors covers to service parts, now your Tracker has 2.

Tom

pursuitfishing reply :

On 10/28/2018 at 8:09 AM, slonezp said:

That would bother me. Worrying about water intrusion.

Agreed. Wouldn't the water just drain out when you remove the plug though?

On 10/28/2018 at 6:33 AM, KansasBassin said:

You can see how it has moved a little. I think when I first got it I was tightening it down too hard on the trailer. It hasn't moved or shifted any since.

Thanks for getting that posted up. That would bother me, but doesn't seem to have caused you any issues?

KansasBassin reply :

No issues whatsoever. Boat has never drained water once while removing the plug.

Remember folks when I got this it was absolutely perfect. I got a little aggressive on the clamp down and then driving it down bumpy gravel roads probably did this. I have checked numerous times and it is structurally sound.

296

Brand new Tracker 175 having holes cut in it before sale. 2024

related Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic