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I was out looking at some boats today, and I went to look at the tracker crappie pro, then I went and looked at the Lowe Stinger 175. I was wondering if there was any opinion on either of these...
Or if there's something yall suggest with all Weld wide boat with a 50 on it?
Thanks for the replys....
I, too, have been researching this, and both of them appear to be great boats. I have finally concluded I like the Lowe Stinger 175 better than the Tracker Crappie Pro for several reasons. First, the Lowe is all aluminum while the Tracker has wood decks. Second the Lowe is wider in the front & has 3 places to put the pedistal seats in the front, so you could fish 2 people in the front spider rigging without putting in extra pedistal holes and without being cramped and probably being easier to put up spider rigging rod holder mounts. Third, Tracker has a relationship with Mercury or may even be owned by Mercury while I think Lowe is still independent. This means that it is much easier to deal with Lowe if you want something other than a Mercury, but you can get a Mercury for a Lowe if you want. Fourth, I have had a Lowe duck hunting boat for 20 years that has been put through the mill, and it is still going. There are some other smaller reasons, but this is the main thought. Also SeaArk has a crappie boat that is pretty impressive. You might want to look at that, too. I think it is a new model that just came out this year.
Someone told me that the company that owns Ranger [Genweld] ?--bought out Lowe:confused:
I fish from a tracker stick steer boat that is about 6 years old. They have since upgraded this model to have more room and I think it is about a foot longer too. I think if I had it to do over again, I would stick with Tracker; unless Tony leaves Bradford marine in NLR. He gives adequate service plus the dept seems to be a little more professional than the other dealers in town.
I have also stated before that I would give Joe Mike a shot at Trader Bill's in Hot Springs. He sure did me right on a trailer for my toon boat.
All this said....I looked at the new Pro 175 in BPS when I recently went to Branson. I sure wished I was in better with Santa Clause this year. I had the new boat fever for a few weeks. But, I am over it now.
DP
I really like the Lowe Stinger the best, It was Really wide! But I dont have the $14,500 to get it....DP thanks for the info..I'll try and give him a call..
I have a 2006 Lowe Stinger and LOVE it. They are 100% owned by Brunswick (same folks that own Mercury, Motorguide, etc.). Tracker is owned by Tracker Marine Group owned by BPS folks, not Brunswick. You can't beat these new Mercury EFI Four-stroke motors ... perfect start, sips fumes, purrs like a kitten, etc. The boats are 100% aluminum, Tracker decks AND transom are wood. The upholstery is MUCH better in the Lowe. Take a serious look at them ... I bought mine for several hundred LESS than the Tracker at BPS and got some extras options as well.
i dont know much about the lowe but by the sounds of it its very impressive. i have looked at the trackers and did like the lay out of them Xpress also has a very good crappie boat and i think all alluminun but not sure but one thing is for sure defintely spend the few extra dollars and get the 4stroke you wont regret it im saving money now for a new 4 stoke for my bass boat fuel prices are outragious and i burn 8-10 gallons a trip
No one makes the PERFECT crappie boat!! That's the conclusion I came to several years ago. Having said that, Lowe is far and away my preference over Tracker.
I've also decide if you are going to fish for crappie in Arkansas, you need more than one boat. The Trackers and Lowes are too heavy for some of the places I go, but the boats that will fish those areas will not take big water or long hauls.
Boats and shotguns...you gotta have more than one!
Titleman
I have had both.Istill have my Lowe and love it ,Lowe is the way to go.
Not that I've ever stepped foot in one, but I really like the lowe stinger 175. One advantage that I prefer over the Pro Crappie...full size livewell and bait well up front as opposed to the smaller separated wells on the tracker.
Hello TJ.
I do the crappie thing until mid April and then focus on bass fishing. So, I was looking for a crappie/bass combo type boat. If you are looking for a straightout panfish boat my input may not be much help, but here goes.
I bought a Fisher boat two years ago and I am very pleased with my purchase. This boat has a very large front deck and lots and lots and LOTS of storage. The ride in rough water is super for an aluminum boat.
I live in central Ark if you would like to take a test spin I'll be glad to help. It is nothing in it for me......I just would like to encourage you to take a look.
I was ready to buy another boat and ran across this boat at the Marine Expo and stopped in my tracks when I saw it due to the large deck. The dealer encouraged me to come to Hot Springs for a test ride, which I did, and was sold.
It does have aluminum through-out the top side like you are looking for. BUT, they are owned by the Brunswick people which ties you to a Merc. I personally, would prefer a Yamaha or Suzuki, but I have been pleased to this point with the Mercery 90 HP. Just had a 70 HP Yamaha for about 12 years without ANY trouble and is definetly my top choice.
Anyway, whatever you decide, enjoy that new boat. Nothing like a new boat for someone that loves to fish and spends a lot of time on the water. :)
Here is a link to the Fisher Pro Hawk.
http://www.fisherboats.com/boat/index.cfm?boat=2122
I looked over the Pro Crappie and liked some things about it, and didn't like some things. There just isn't a perfect boat. I got a ProTeam 185 which has been a good multipurpose bass/crappie/whatever boat. Tracker is o.k. in my book.
Im not a tracker fan, although I dont have personal experience. I am just going on the input I have had from people who have owned them. I know they have improved as the years have gone by over the early years. Lowe is a good product. Have never hear a bad thing about them. If i wanted a pan fishing boat however Id go with this guy in the 17 foot version:
http://www.xpressboats.com/series/panfish/pan.html
I've never gone wrong with an Xpress.
Hey TJ, I have the 2002 17-1/2 tracker pro crappie with tracker 40 hp 2 stroke. It has been a very good boat, it rides very good in rough water,it's
heavy, trailers very good.
The thing I don't like most about it is, the front deck in not wide enough for
two people sitting side by side spider riging, which I got into after I got the boat. I've read in one the post that someone didn't like the smaller bait and live wells, shoot it's a crappie boat how big are the minnows they use, and I doubt that many fisherman fill there livewells very often.....hehe
The 40 hp 2 stroke will this boat about 30 to 31 mph, buy running wide open
will really suck up some fuel, I just run 1/2 throttle. What ever motor you get, do yourself a favor and get a 4 stroke and get the boat max-hp cause the 4 stroke is slow, BUT quiet and great on fuel.
As far as the wood in the tracker, it's marine wood and last a long long time,
I weight 315 lbs and I'm in the boat at least twice a week and have had not
one problem yet, knock on wood.
There's no one perfect boat, for the money I think I made a good choice.
Hope this helps you, I bought what I could afford.
spider rig man
I agree, there is no perfect boat. I have two and need at least two more fro some of the situations i would like to fish in.
It is so nice to have you guys to agree with. I wished my wife was as understanding as you all.
DP
I have a 2002 Tracker 175 with a Mercury 60 HP 4-Stroke. I added two more bases in the front of it so my daughter and I can spider-rig with it. Don't think I will ever own another 2- Stroke. As DP said, Tony at Bradford Marine is great to deal with.
Be sure you get the YAMAHA 50! Tracker I believe will be the better boat. I like my Lowe, but I think a tracker is made a little better.
One thing I forgot to mention. As I said before, both the Tracker Crappie Pro & the Lowe Stinger 175 are terrific boats, but I have seen this come up before on other threads, and even though the Tracker folks loved their boats & the Lowe folks loved theirs, I believe every single person I have read who had used both of them preferred the Lowe. I think that is significant. Of course there is an awful lot to be said for dealers who are easy to deal with and provide good service. Bottom line is I think I would go with the Lowe, but I don't think you would go wrong with either. My biggest question is that most of my crappie fishing is on oxbow lakes, and both of these boats are wide, and I wonder if I would have trouble getting between cypress trees or around snags, etc.
I have never fished the oxbow that you fish in but have fished Otter Lake and Dota Old River several times and I would not try to put my Tracker in either. I have a smaller stick steer for those lakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by blairarnold
you guys dont like war eagle thats built there in ark. that is the big seller in sc
Oh yeah, I like my Wareagle, but I wish i had gotten a wider one.Quote:
Originally Posted by swampy
I was looking at the same two boats last year. The BPS is just 4 miles away and there is no Lowe dealer in the vicinity. The Lowe dealers I called that were within a reasonable driving distance did not have a 175 in stock at the time or never returned my call. The BPS folks were great to work with. They were even willing to bring a boat by my house to make sure it fit in my garage before I purchased it. I ended up with a 2006 Tracker PC175/2005 Merc 50 hp 4 stroke for just over $13,000 and am very satisified with it. The boat is plenty fast enough for me (34 mph), quiet, rides good, and is good on gas. I did upgrade the depth finder and trolling motor after the purchase. There were no options for upgrading these items at the time of purchase.
Had I been able to look at the Lowe 175, I probably would have gone with that one as long as it had the swing away tongue on the trailer. I don't think you can go go wrong with either boat and it is a matter of personal preference.
war eagle boats are great. i prefer F&F myself. i think they are the best made aluminum boats made. the craftsmanship is like no other, they customize most of their boats to order. they are very smooth riding also. i have a 1648 camo vhull with a 60hp 2 stroke yamaha, and am more than satisfied in every aspect. i would check them out. they are located in Monticello, Ar along with war eagle and seark. also their price is hard to beatQuote:
Originally Posted by swampy
Just a thought? Would you build your own boat if you could? We have about 3 boat builder here in central AR that will build you what you want.
I had mine done that way in 1994. A weldbuilt 1452. I run a 40hp Yamaha tiller on the back.
About ready to build a new one. Wantin a 1660 with a Etech 60hp tiller on back. Rhino liner, big front deck with bait well and live well the way I want it.
I had an F&F bowfishing boat. (1756 with a 70 hp Yamahammer) and loved it. They build it from scratch exactly the way you want it. They have a general layout of a hull and you draw in what you want, where you want it and the size you want it. First class all the way. I have a War Eagle 1652 with a 25 hp Merc and it suits me just fine. The only reason I bought it was because I was wanting a boat right then and didn't feel like waiting for one to be built.
Well thanks for all the info, And my father-in-law really appreciates it...
He bought an 07 Tracker 17.5 crappie pro today. He also got a gps depth finder. He got the 50HP 4-Stroke..Hope to go fishing with him soon!
Thanks for all the input. Thats what makes this site so Great!
What is F & F? I haven't heard of them.
TJ, I don't think you'll be sorry. Tracker is fine.
F & F is a custom boat maker in Monticello Ar. If you can dream it, they can build it. I believe it only employees less than 10 people, but they do top notch work.Quote:
Originally Posted by blairarnold
That is right TJ. Tracker is just fine. JohnR can fall out of them with the best of 'em!!! :D I think Tracker needs to invest in a pull out ladder ...just in case John buy's another!Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnR
Hey... I wouldn't have fell out except for that plastic PVC rod-holder. :D How can I get one of them bobberwatcher-2000 models like you have??
I know just the place to get 'em. :D
Xpress
Ive got a friend who has a brother in law that worked for tracker for
sixteen years in their manufacturing plant. After that he moved accross
the highway and started working for lowe boats. He's getting ready to
retire and has no ax to grind with anybody, he worked in product
development in both plants. He recommends lowe, says it is build better
than tracker. the motor that comes with a lowe, yamaha.or whichever one it is also is better. thats what he says, just a thought.
If i were buying, i would buy a lowe.
john b.
Good information. Thanks for your input John.
GENMAR (Erwin Jacobs) sold Lowe, Crestliner, and Lund to Brunswick over a year ago. lBrunswick is the parent company of Mercury. All three companys can rig a boat for whatever kind of engine you want.Quote:
Originally Posted by frank lawhead
I too am looking at a new boat and what I found was for the money there isn't a better boat than the Xpress. In the next couple of weeks I will be purchasing a 18 footer w/ a 90 Yamaha. Price tag $13,500. These boats are built like abrahams tanks. A friend of mine has been to the factory to see thier operation. I know this is not one of the boats you are considering but I would look at them for sure. BE SURE that the dealer you pick is a reputable guy/gal. They can make your life miserable on warranty work if they just want to get you out the door with a new boat.
P.S they are all aluminum boats, trailers are galvanized.