Choosing a Boat

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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I bought a boat, motor, trailer package at the boat show in SLC in 2005. I got a 2004 16 foot Tracker Varga with a 2005 75 hp Merc Optimax (2-stroke). Maintenance over 8 years has consisted of replacing the drive belt (it broke on my first trip of 2012) and the spark plugs last fall when it got its annual winterization service. The water pump impeller has been replaced twice. The motor hours are near 650 hours with about 85% of that at trolling speed.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I don’t have a separate trolling motor as I don’t need one. I have a trolling plate on the motor and it will get me down to about 0.5 mph if needed and the Optimax will troll all day long with absolutely no ill effects – doesn’t load up, doesn’t smoke, and has very little fume smell.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I can fish 3 comfortably but 4 would be crowded. I run planner boards off a front mast and 2 Cannon electric down riggers. I’ve been caught in high winds on both Strawberry and Willard and never felt like I was in any real danger of swamping or sinking. But I was experiencing some white knuckles and mentally I was on full alert.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]The 18 foot version of my boat would be even better and would handle 4 people fishing. It also has 2 motor choices; 115 hp or 150 hp. Price new will depend on motor selection and will run between $23,600 to $28,400 plus any options you might want – down riggers, bimini top, kicker motor, etc. All the Tracker Deep V’s come with an electric trolling motor up front.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]If you want to check out all the Deep-V offerings from Tracker, go [/#800000][/font][url "http://www.trackerboats.com/deep-v-boats.cfm"][font "Comic Sans MS"][#000000]here[/#000000][/font][/url][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]. Now, only the 18 foot comes as a Targa. The rest are either a Guide series or a Pro-guide series.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 2]My State Farm insurance for the package runs $10.41 a month.[/size][/#800000][/font]
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