Advice Needed - First Time Boat Owner

[TobbyT]

Guys, I need your advice.  I'm getting ready to purchase my first real bass boat.  I fish small lakes (200 acres or less).  I fish mostly with my dad who is 85 years old.  He loves to fish as much as I do.  I looking for a boat that is stable in the water, east to load and unload and has good rod storage.  I need to keep the deck clear to keep Dad from tripping.

I'm looking at the Tracker 175TXW.  Also, I'm looking at getting the smaller 50HP Mercury.  The salesmen tell me the 50HP is too small for this boat. I don't completely trust salesmen !! 

You guys have been there and done that...  You I trust !!   Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Nutt]

Trust your salesman on the motor this time.  Get the biggest motor you can on the boat, or at least the one they are recommending.  You don't have to go as fast as the bigger motor will go, but you sure don't want to be under powered.

[Frdtrtnfx4]

A 50hp would be underpowered for this boat. I had one with the 60hp and it was a dog getting out of the hole with 2 people and a full livewell. I couldn't imagine a 50hp.

[Polaris425]

I agree. Go as big as you can. If you ever have to sell the boat, a smaller motor will hurt resale.

[Bud Kennedy]

Toby, I agree on the bigger motor completely.  I further suggest that upgrading the trolling motor to a 24V system is a very worth while investment.  It not only will add to resale value it will provide a better performance overall and will be able to handle the boat for an entire day.  Good luck on your selection.

[moparguy]

I have a Tracker V-16 and I went with the largest engine that was possible which was a 90 HP and I am glad that I did. I do have a 9.9 kicker on it so that makes it a little heavier in the rear so I am sure that hurts a little. I also upgraded the trolling motor from the 42# to a 55# but wish I would have went to a 80#. That is my 2 cents about it but you might not want to believe me since I am a salesman.


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[TobbyT]

Thank You all for your advice.  Bigger motor it is and I'll definitely look into the 24 volt trolling motor too.

[Major_Kong]

I sell Trackers.  It's better to have too much, than not enough.  You'll burn more fuel running wide open with a smaller engine, than you would at half speed with a larger one.

Also look at the 195TXW.  9" wider at the beam.  Larger fishing deck and more stable.

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[Lipripper]

Hello Tobby and welcome to Ultimate Bass. My fishing Buddy has a 2014 175 Pro Team TXW with a 60 HP and it works great with that boat. We don't fish any TX so not worried about the hole shot speed and since most of the lakes y'all fish are 200 acres or less it might be OK for what you need. The only thing he didn't do was upgrade the TM and now he is going to do that. It's a very stable boat and should serve you and your dad well. Like everyone said go with the biggest motor you can afford.

[Oldfart9999]

Go with the 60hp the package comes with you'll be happier. If you need to you can re prop it and a Stingray stabilizer, the Stingray will help with the hole shop, they work.
Rodney

[RogerS]

I just got my new 175txw. With 2 (full sized ) adults, the 60hp gets her up on plane pretty fast and I can cruise @ about 32 mph. I would think that would be just about perfect for a 200 acre lake. I think a 50hp would be underpowered for 2 large adults and a full livewell, but that's jmo, as I haven't actually used a 50hp txw. I'm using the standard trolling motor and haven't had any issues with it doing what I need it to do. Awesome boat, I think you and your dad will be very happy with it.

[SunkenLunker]

I've got the 2012 175 TXW with the 60Hp.  For what it's worth, I only have one regret in that I didn't upgrade to the 75Hp motor.....  The 60 Pushes it around just fine when it's just me in the boat.  Add another adult, and some more gear, and it's a real dog getting out of the hole.  Something else to consider is that you might not always fish the smaller lakes.  Like someone else said, it's better to have too much vs. too little.

[gatorglenn]

Tobby, I have a 60hp on an 06 175TX. My year is 3" shorter in length. And 6 inches smaller in width. But I run a stainless steel prop four blade trophy sport. With me and my wife,  a lot of fishing gear. I have a 3 inch jack plate on the back. But actually where I have the motor set is about where it would be between the second and third hole on the transom. With that said I have about 2-1/2 second hole shot and 37 miles an hour. A friend of mine has one that is the same size of the one you're looking at and his gets around 35 mph. I do fish lakes that small sometimes, as well as larger. And the 60 is just fine for me. With a 75 hp you have an additional hundred pounds of weight back there on the transom. It makes the boat set a little deeper in the water in the back and to me it's not as stable. But I will tell you that resell value is much better with the 75. So for each individual person different needs are different. The 60s drinks so little gas that I got tired of trying to keep fresh fuel in a 21 gallon tank. Took it out and put a 6 gallon in it. So the fuel cost will be lower, less weight, less weight with the motor. Means that you could actually add power pole or talon to the back and still not be over your transom rated weight. So for me the 60 runs the boat very good you can look online and see some testing done with this boat and a 60. And make up your own mind. The 50 is a deturned 60. So I really wouldn't go that route. The 75 is a whole Other class of engine. Everything about it is just more expensive in my humble opinion. And for only 3 to 4 mph on top end speed. It really isn't worth it. No one can tell me that they can actually feel that much difference in the speed. Hole shot well yes.


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[TobbyT]

Thank You all again for some wonderful information.  I'll take some time and reread this thread, watch some Youtube and  !!  I've got a lot to think about.

[Oldfart9999]

You can always take your time, run the boat for a while then see what you want to upgrade, if you haven't  had a boat before asking questions and see what you want to get out of the boat is better done over a bit of time. The one thing I would do is go with the standard motor which is the 60hp.
Rodney

[Pondprowlers]

i just bought a 2016  175txw and 2 things i wish i did, that i told myself i would be fine without -

24v trolling motor
75hp motor

bought mine with the 60 and stock 12v setup. upgraded to 24v on my dime instead of wrapping in the finance and cost about 1k.

the 60 is fine but now i want faster. I will deal with it for now but deff wish i would have ordered a 75. otherwise the rest of the boat is great! i do alot of smaller forest preserve lakes and larger lakes now with zero complaints.