Opinions on the Following rigs, Please! 2024
eulerentinc reply :
Hey guys and gals. This is my first post on this forum. I wanted to see if i could get some info on a couple of different rigs i am looking at. The first one is a Triton TR-200. I like this boat for its length mainly as it will offer me more room. The second rig i am looking at is the Stratos 294 Pro XL. it is 19'6'' in length. Although a little shorter than the Triton i am assuming the price tag will be lower as well. I believe it starts in the 25000 range. I would like to stay in the 30 to 34K range. So like i said any info on either of these boats would be great. Opinions are welcome. The triton would come with a merc 225 and the Stratos would come with a E-TEC 200. thanks ahead of time for all the info. and by the way, the boat will be used on local lakes 99% of the time. Lakes Toho, Kissimmee, Conroy, Butler chain, etc. It may see Okeechobee once or twice a year. thanks again.
flechero reply :
I'm not familiar with either of those boats... sorry. Just wanted to welcome you to the forums!! Sit tight, I'm sure you'll get some good info from the gang.
cart7t reply :
They're both fine boats. Decide what you want in a bassboat and choose accordingly. Take each of them out for a test spin and put them through the paces. Don't spend all your time on the water running the boat, stop and mentally play out in your mind your methods of fishing and mannerisms and how the layout of each of the boats fits how you fish. Actually shut down, get up and think how fishing in that rig would be like. If you needed a rod is the compartment easy to open and convenient for you, how about getting something out of a storage box, what about livewells? When you're spending that kind of money you're making a longterm commitment, my personal preferences in a boat are going to be completely different than yours. Just know that most of the major brands are building fine boats that will last a long time. The engine manufacturers are doing the same, in the end it's in the details and that's for you to decide.
Good luck.
Grey Wolf reply :
WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Triton9 reply :
i have a triton Tr 21 and love it . i would get the triton over the stratos, i think tritons are nicer boats, but then again this is just my opinion, and your decision. i would get the triton, DEFINITELY! 
Chug Bug reply :
Quotei have a triton Tr 21 and love it . i would get the triton over the stratos, i think tritons are nicer boats, but then again this is just my opinion, and your decision. i would get the triton, DEFINITELY!
Please don't take this the wrong way, I am truly not being sacastic. I am interested in how you managed to pull that boat at age 14. Did you work a bunch of summers, or get help from the folks? What did you do?
cart7t reply :
QuoteQuotei have a triton Tr 21 and love it . i would get the triton over the stratos, i think tritons are nicer boats, but then again this is just my opinion, and your decision. i would get the triton, DEFINITELY!Please don't take this the wrong way, I am truly not being sacastic. I am interested in how you managed to pull that boat at age 14. Did you work a bunch of summers, or get help from the folks? What did you do?
In the state of Missouri, he not only couldn't drive the boat to the lake but he couldn't run it on the water without a Guardians presence. Not too mention, where does a 14 year old get the money to buy a $50,000 boat?
Catt reply :
I have driven/fished both boats and this is my comparison.
Design & Construction: Both rates excellent
Layout & Room: Above average (6 is no big deal)
Attention to detail: Both good
Rough water ride: Edge to the Stratos
Outboard: Evinrude E-TEC
eulerentinc reply :
Cart7, thanks for the web address. I will check it out.
So, Catt, you are basically saying that you would give your edge to the Stratos overall. Even with the shorter length you feel the stratos will ride better in rough water?
I appreciate the info folks this is what im looking for!!
bitman reply :
welcome to the forum man, i just went through the same thing but with a used boat and i ended up getting a Bass Cat Pantera II, they have some awesome customer service I guarantee you!
Man guys your hard on the kid, he talking about his Daddys boat Im sure.
DannyG
cravenfish reply :
I just fished a tourny out of a new 201Stratos with a Yamaha 250HPDI on it. That boat will fly. It took the rough water well and the layout and fishability of it was good. The guy who I fished with was on Stratos staff and told me he could sell that boat for around 23K and it would have the full factory warranty on it since it has never been registered. He is in NC if you want his name and # PM me. I'm not a big fan of the Triton boats and have fished from a few of them, best be left at that.
Catt reply :
What I'm gonna say will start an argument but here goes, anything over 18' is simply bragging. A smooth ride in rough water is accomplished by the driver not the boat plan and simple. I fish Toledo Bend out of an 18' Skeeter and if it's to ruff for an 18' a couple more feet will not help.
dizzy5868 reply :
I personnaly would take the Triton. The Mercury will out perform any Evirude. As for the boat, I would go for the longer length. It will handle better in rough water. The stratos is a fast boat but the Triton is no slouch. If your getting 70 mph out of either rig then your going fast enough. I have an 18' Tracker with a 150hp on it and I am hitting the low 80,s. It all depends where you are fishing and if you tournament fish on big water. Don't forget either of these boats will eat gas. Check the milage for each engine. I would say the Merc has better gas milage. The boat has to be comfortable for you, don't just but it on someone else's opinion. Every boat has it's flaws and drawbacks. Choose for your needs. Just my opinion.
Rob
cart7t reply :
An 18 ft bass tracker with a 150 doing a GPS 80mph?
Please enlighten us on this setup. I'd love to hear it.
Catt reply :
I fish in a friend of mine's 18' Skeeter ZX with a Yamaha Pro-V 150, it aint nowhere near 70, maybe you can help us out.
cravenfish reply :
Hey Cart, these guys got some fast boats w/150s on em. I run a Ranger 521 w/ Yamaha 250HPDI and it tops out at 73. I would have to sink it if I got passed by a 18' Tracker w/ a 150 on it ;D ;D ;D
Chug Bug reply :
Hey CART, when I said "pull a boat" I meant obtain it. After I typed it I knew everyone would think I meant towing it. ;D
Also, I guess I should have looked at Bass Tracker more closely. The brand new tr186 with a 175 I just ordered is expected to do low to mid sixties. 80MPH? :
roadwarrior reply :
Welcome aboard!
dizzy5868 reply :
Yes it is true gps 83 mph. I know it is hard to believe and many othes have doubted it. The boat is a 1989 Tracker TS1800. It is a glass boat. The motor is a Merc XR4 150 with the tuned exhaust port with a couple of other tweeks in it. I am turning a 28 pitch Trophy Plus. 1" below the pad. The boat is an animal. At 83mph I was turning 6200 rpm, just a little above the recomended rpms. About 400 to be exact. I only ran it that fast 3 times on flat water. Way too fast for an 18' boat. It chine walked all over. Now Usually cruise around 65-70 with lots of power left. The guy I bought this boat from was a speed freak. It's max'ed out on hp and then some.
Rob
Way2slow reply :
There's are people on S&F that would probably pay dearly for that Tracker, it has to be the fastest 18' Tracker on the planet with a 150 on it. I know guys barely getting that out of their STV's with more hp than that. I've had a lot of hotrod bass boats but have never even a 17' that would run even close to 80 with a 150. I did have a 15' ProCraft with a 200 Merc that would hit 80 but that's a long way from an 18' with a 150.
As for boat preferences, I'm partial to the Stratos. I've had several over the years and have liked them all. I still have two Stratos' one 17' set up for stripper fishing and one 18.5' I'm selling next spring, and a 20' Javelin made by Stratos. My next boat will probably be a Stratos also.
cart7t reply :
originally posted by dizzy5868
QuoteThe motor is a Merc XR4 150 with the tuned exhaust port with a couple of other tweeks in it.
By tweaks do you mean a 150 cowling on a 200 engine?
Anyway, I'll bet the S&F boys would definitely be interested in that. In fact, they'd probably be happy to run that thing and video it at the same time. I can see an Allison running a 150 doing 80, or a bullet but one of those old Tracker first generation fiberglass boats?? Hmmmm.. I'll have to see the video on this one.
dizzy5868 reply :
S&F is where I got alot of the info on this motor. The exhaust port was changed to the 41419 model, which is the same tuner for a 200, and the timing advance module has been removed and the max timing was set at 22 degres btdc.The gear ratio is 1.87:1 With all of these changes the motor is closer to a 175-185. Add in a high pitch prop, set the motor height, lighten the load and there you have it. I loose alot of water pressure when I am running this fast, sustained runs are'nt reccomended. S&F told me to get a bob's low water pickup for it but why bother. I don't plan on keeping the boat. I want a jet.
Rob
Way2slow reply :
Not to make a stink but I believe I would drop these claims, the more you try to explain how you are doing it, the more it makes someone that does know high performance motors and boats realize you don't really have a clue.
I don't think Allison or STV even makes a hull that will run in the 80's with 150/175 hp motor. To run 1" below the pad, you would need about 30 inches of total setback and a surfacing prop like a chopper, not a trophy. The exhaust tunner on a Merc has very little affect on the HP the motor makes, I know of guys who have run them where the tunner has broken loose and fallen into the mid section and never knew it. The exhaust ports you open are in the side of the cylinders and the motor has to be torn down and someone that knows what they are doing with a diegrinder grinds them higher and larger, they are not in the tunner or bottom of the motor. Timing advance is mechanical, not a module. The motor would self distruct if you tried to do away with the timing advance and lock it into one setting. The reason you read of people changing the "Ignition" module is to change or do away with the rev limiter built into them, not to change the timing.
I could continue but no need, hopefully you get the point. Plus, as cart7 stated, whe are getting way off the subject of the original post.
gatrboy53 reply :
the triton is a much better boat especially handling rough water
BillyBob reply :
Heres my 2 cents. :
Given that you only included in your choices those two boats, I'd pick the Stratos !
She's not a big water boat, but with the E-Tec she'll do. She's a fast, hot little, good on gas, 73ish runnin, rod locker ample, storage decent, basser. Wish the seats had springs but what the hey!, your young.
On the other hand, your TR200, is a cheap version of Tritons X series, right down to a cheap plastic devider in a sub-par livewell, you'll end up trading it! The seats seem to be on pedestals and rock back and forth. Hinges are sissyfied and I've seen brand new hulls with blemishes. Shame on Triton for building such a thing.
And by the way, case your thinking I'm Stratos struck, I own a Triton . I also apologize to any 200 owners for knocking your boat, but I have my opinion. The 225 PRO XS is the best on the market, but they all go POP! Two-cycle motors are designed by mother nature to be sloppy, they love to throw gas and oil all over themselves inside. But what they don't burn they throw into the water, and there in lies the rub :-/ The new badder versions are leaner, and require higher tolerances, and thats where the E gets the nod.
You can count on that as being a definite, possible, maybe! ;D
eulerentinc reply :
thanks for your 2 pennys billybob. After looking at the 294 Stratos last week that was ready to go, i was pretty much hooked. I am gonna schedule a wet test in the near future to see how it does on the water.
Triton9 reply :
sorry for the confusion guys, it is me and my dads boat, when i said that i have one i meant that that is the boat me and my dad fish in our tournament's in, it's not MY personal boat. but we do have a Tr 21 and we love it, its an awesome boat.
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