PP or Talon on Tracker 175TWX

SFL BassHunter · February 28, 2018, 09:21:44 AM

So I reached out to Tracker to find out about power poles or talon on the Tracker 175TWX because when the time comes, hopefully sooner than later I will be looking at that boat and other comparable boats.
My question specifically asked about Power Poles or Talons, and if they would void any warranty on the 175.
I then asked if the Mini Power Poles would void the warranty on the 175.

Their answer was...not really straight to the point.

"From the plant level, I have been informed that installs on this model are not recommended, as there is the potential for diminished performance or operating conditions you may encounter as a result. To install power poles is at your own risk.
Micro Power pole installs have had no reported concerns." Customer Service

What I gather out of that response is they can void the warranty if they want to, if you have issues.
So I followed up with another question in reference to the Micro Power Poles and I am waiting for a response. My follow up was, "To clarify because the micro power poles have had no reported concerns would those void the warranty on the 175?"

I'm guessing the answer is fluid. They won't give a real straight answer about warranty so they can determine it on a case by case basis. That kind of bothers me.
I want a yes or no.

The 175 being the top choice for me due to price and ease of acquisition, the above is disappointing. One of the main reasons I would want a new boat is for warranty purposes.
I'll have to ask the question to other manufacturers and see where each stands.

Anyways figured I would post this here in case anyone is looking at the Tracker 175 and is thinking about shallow water anchors for it.

***Update***
Got a response back from the same rep. Here is what was conveyed to me.

"I do not show Micro Power Poles listed as an option for the 175 TWX. With that being said, any after market products that are added to a boat my adversely affect the warranty for that area if damage or failure of that area is determined to be directly caused from said installation." Customer Service

Mike Cork · February 28, 2018, 09:27:33 AM

I would hope this is a good answer? Meaning that if the transom or some part of the back end of the boat failed and it couldn't be pinned on the shallow water anchor installation, then they would take care of it. However it might be bad in that they will try to pin it on the anchor system?

Not sure how to take that. Years back I cracked the hull on a Nitro, tracker marine was thorough in making sure it wasn't my fault but they did replace the entire boat in the end.

SFL BassHunter · February 28, 2018, 09:35:29 AM

Quote from: Mike Cork on February 28, 2018, 09:27:33 AM
I would hope this is a good answer? Meaning that if the transom or some part of the back end of the boat failed and it couldn't be pinned on the shallow water anchor installation, then they would take care of it. However it might be bad in that they will try to pin it on the anchor system?

Not sure how to take that. Years back I cracked the hull on a Nitro, tracker marine was thorough in making sure it wasn't my fault but they did replace the entire boat in the end.

Exactly my point Mike! You never know with how customer service is these days, and the lack thereof.
If they wanted to pin it on the anchor system they easily could.
I guess it could be good or bad.
I would hope that they wouldn't pull something and blame the anchor system if it's not that. But how do you prove it wasn't the anchor system lol.

Mike Cork · February 28, 2018, 09:39:58 AM

It's a big round about

Princeton_Man · February 28, 2018, 10:26:40 AM

I believe BassManRudy has Talons on his Tracker. I'm not certain if his is a 175 or 190. I'll see if I can get him to drop by and leave some info.

jfergus7 · February 28, 2018, 11:54:44 AM

I have seen some videos of the 175 with the PP mini and they love it. Install looked easy and didn't look like it could really do any damage. This is a great thread that I will be watching since I am probably picking up a 175 in next few days

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lipripper · February 28, 2018, 11:56:40 AM

Quote from: jfergus7 on February 28, 2018, 11:54:44 AM
I have seen some videos of the 175 with the PP mini and they love it. Install looked easy and didn't look like it could really do any damage. This is a great thread that I will be watching since I am probably picking up a 175 in next few days

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't forget to take lots of

to share with us.

SFL BassHunter · February 28, 2018, 12:43:57 PM

I've seen quite a few videos, some folks have full sized power poles, others have talon and I have seen the micro poles as well.
But they have installed them at their own risk according to bass tracker. Even if BPS (Tracker) installs them for you.

Quote from: jfergus7 on February 28, 2018, 11:54:44 AM
I have seen some videos of the 175 with the PP mini and they love it. Install looked easy and didn’t look like it could really do any damage. This is a great thread that I will be watching since I am probably picking up a 175 in next few days
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The micro power pole option is pretty good. Only down side is you have to poles sticking up 8 feet in the air when they aren't down.
There are also manual anchor systems that can be used, but I wouldn't want to go that route. The poles just take up space on the boat.

SFL BassHunter · February 28, 2018, 02:57:10 PM

Quote from: SFL BassHunter on February 28, 2018, 09:21:44 AM
***Update***
Got a response back from the same rep. Here is what was conveyed to me.

"I do not show Micro Power Poles listed as an option for the 175 TWX. With that being said, any after market products that are added to a boat my adversely affect the warranty for that area if damage or failure of that area is determined to be directly caused from said installation." Customer Service

Updated the original post with the above.
So Mike it looks like just as you mentioned it is one of those, "if we determine it's caused by the after market part then the warranty is void" deals.

Mike Cork · February 28, 2018, 03:15:07 PM

Hey at least they are honest about the big screw

They will only use it if needed

WTodd · February 28, 2018, 06:46:22 PM

I have a Lowe ST 175 and I installed 2 Talons.....love em

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SFL BassHunter · March 01, 2018, 05:43:59 AM

Quote from: WTodd on February 28, 2018, 06:46:22 PM
I have a Lowe ST 175 and I installed 2 Talons.....love em

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you know Lowe has the same policy as Tracker about anchors on their 175?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oldfart9999 · March 01, 2018, 06:36:57 AM

I would imagine Lowe has the same deal. I know a guy that has a 175 with an 8 foot PP, he's happy as a clam. When I was at BPS I was talking to a salesman while I was drooling over a 190, he said they recommend a jackplate to install the PP or Talon to, plus side, you should get an increase in speed.
Rodney

SFL BassHunter · March 01, 2018, 07:59:52 AM

Quote from: Oldfart9999 on March 01, 2018, 06:36:57 AM
I would imagine Lowe has the same deal. I know a guy that has a 175 with an 8 foot PP, he's happy as a clam. When I was at BPS I was talking to a salesman while I was drooling over a 190, he said they recommend a jackplate to install the PP or Talon to, plus side, you should get an increase in speed.
Rodney

Why would the PP or Talons increase the speed? Or is it the jackplate that does?

Princeton_Man · March 01, 2018, 08:01:14 AM

Quote from: Oldfart9999 on March 01, 2018, 06:36:57 AM
I would imagine Lowe has the same deal. I know a guy that has a 175 with an 8 foot PP, he's happy as a clam. When I was at BPS I was talking to a salesman while I was drooling over a 190, he said they recommend a jackplate to install the PP or Talon to, plus side, you should get an increase in speed.
Rodney

I would expect that if a sale depended on it, you could buy a Tracker with poles or Talons. I was thinking about suggesting a small jackplate. It would be mighty hard for any manufacturer to claim the jackplate voided the warranty or somehow damaged the hull.

If I were told PP or Talons would void my warranty, one response I might have to a statement like that would be "who the hell builds a bassboat that's not designed to be fitted with shallow water anchors?". As long as an installation is done properly by a professional, I doubt seriously it would cause any hull/transom failures and the manufacturer would have a mighty difficult time not covering something the wasn't directly associated to the installation.

All that said, I used to want shallow water anchors. Came real close a few times. Now, I think it's all about the Ultrex. It leaves the back of the boat open and more fishable. There's a TM on the bow anyway, so about the only added weight/bulk might be an extra battery.

Princeton_Man · March 01, 2018, 08:01:50 AM

Quote from: SFL BassHunter on March 01, 2018, 07:59:52 AM
Why would the PP or Talons increase the speed? Or is it the jackplate that does?

Jackplate might increase speed.... a little. Of course the added weight and drag created by the shallow water anchors may slow you down a few too.

3deez · March 01, 2018, 08:28:42 AM

PP's and/or Talon's will void the warranty on most tins. Crestliner will let you put anything on the PT series but not the VT series. VT 19 rated for 150. PT 18 rated for 150. guess it's because the PT's have heavier aluminum. Talon's are heavier than PP's and will cost you a mile or two in speed but don't take up any room for pumps. I don't think Micro's will last long on much more than a 16' boat.

Deadeye · March 01, 2018, 08:53:26 AM

Ranger offers 1 Power Pole on the Starboard side of their RT188.

They do not offer one for the RT178.

Same transom. same aluminum, bigger motor.

Seen a bunch of Trackers with PP on. But after your 5 yr warranty expires you can do whatever you want and it makes no difference anyway.

SFL BassHunter · March 01, 2018, 08:54:34 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on March 01, 2018, 08:01:14 AM

All that said, I used to want shallow water anchors. Came real close a few times. Now, I think it's all about the Ultrex. It leaves the back of the boat open and more fishable. There's a TM on the bow anyway, so about the only added weight/bulk might be an extra battery.

Ultrex is a good choice but in shallow water constantly having the TM running to keep you locked in on a spot I would think isn't the best for stealth.
In our canals it would be more useful though.
Does the boat spin around or does the spot lock keep the boat pointing in the direction you were in?

Quote from: 3deez on March 01, 2018, 08:28:42 AM
PP's and/or Talon's will void the warranty on most tins. Crestliner will let you put anything on the PT series but not the VT series. VT 19 rated for 150. PT 18 rated for 150. guess it's because the PT's have heavier aluminum. Talon's are heavier than PP's and will cost you a mile or two in speed but don't take up any room for pumps. I don't think Micro's will last long on much more than a 16' boat.

Yeah I would much rather have the full size ones than the micro. I'll have to look at Crestliner, they make some nice boats.

carp104 · March 02, 2018, 07:09:12 AM

You could always go the manual anchor pole route. They are not as convenient as the PP or Talons, but they are on the order of almost 10x less expensive, even for the nicer systems. I have two manual style anchor systems on my boat and love them. They have most definitely helped in many situations. May not be quite as good as a PP in super strong winds (although I've seen PP's fail to hold many times) but for the price difference I can live with it.

I use these guys: http://www.alienlabsusa.com/product/bottom-buster-shallow-water-anchor-system/

Oldfart9999 · March 02, 2018, 08:43:54 AM

Quote from: SFL BassHunter on March 01, 2018, 07:59:52 AM
Why would the PP or Talons increase the speed? Or is it the jackplate that does?

Jackplate, increase in speed isn't a guarantee but if the boat is set up right, prop etc, it should. I'm only telling you what the salesman said by the way.
Rodney

SFL BassHunter · March 02, 2018, 10:00:23 AM

Quote from: carp104 on March 02, 2018, 07:09:12 AM
You could always go the manual anchor pole route. They are not as convenient as the PP or Talons, but they are on the order of almost 10x less expensive, even for the nicer systems. I have two manual style anchor systems on my boat and love them. They have most definitely helped in many situations. May not be quite as good as a PP in super strong winds (although I've seen PP's fail to hold many times) but for the price difference I can live with it.

I use these guys: http://www.alienlabsusa.com/product/bottom-buster-shallow-water-anchor-system/

I've seen manual anchor systems and have used them.
Not really interested in that option unless I absolutely had no other choice.

WTodd · March 02, 2018, 01:27:28 PM

Quote from: SFL BassHunter on March 01, 2018, 05:43:59 AM
Do you know Lowe has the same policy as Tracker about anchors on their 175?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't think they do. Before I installed mine I spoke to a rep at the Lowe's factory and he said nothing about voiding the warranty.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SFL BassHunter · March 02, 2018, 01:31:19 PM

Ok thanks

Team KaRu · March 07, 2018, 04:57:56 PM

I installed the King Pin Panther System Poles on my Tracker 195. The PP mini won't hold it in place very well I was told. They work quite well. Does take a minute to push them down but If you are not moving every 10-15 minutes then these are not a problem at all. AND... saves a ton of money compared to the other models you mentioned. I actually installed one on the Bow and a couple on each side of the outboard with the brackets they have available. I did spend the extra couple bucks to get the longer poles, and they are easily stored as they come apart like "pool cue sticks".
Here is the link to their site to check out this product.http://www.kingpinanchors.com