Now that I’m 73 years old, it is becoming harder and harder for me to get my 120+ pound Hobie Pro Angler on and off my Toyota Highlander - twice up and twice down every trip. It’s a wonderful fishing craft and I enjoy it thoroughly, but the ordeal before and after the fishing is kicking my behind.
So today I put an order in for a Tracker Classic XL bass boat. They are so back-ordered that I won’t get it until next Spring, but that gives me plenty of time to get other details in shape. Such as where to keep the thing. I have no place at my house to keep it except at the street curb, and that’s an open invitation to thieves. So I’ll need some storage facility, in a locked bay. I’ll now be able to take my wife for boat rides, my grandson out fishing, and also at last be able to repay the generous folks here who have taken me along on their boats.
Yes, I’ll be selling the Hobie, but not until I get or am about to get the Tracker. Stay tuned.
I’m happy for you, Rocky. I am very happy with having a boat now myself for the same reasons you mentioned. It sure makes a difference in my catch rate. From the bank I would catch one or two fish whereas now I sometimes get 15 or 20. Love it.
The 20’ 1" number is with the motor tilted back down. I may or may not have to undo the “transom saver” bar when I store it each time, but that’s a minor deal. Wife has already mentioned “Oh, Christmas storage!” and that’s partly why I have her blessing. If I try it and it doesn’t fit, I may have to opt for a longer unit, but that’s a ways off since I won’t even get the boat for almost a year.
Well, guess what. Got a call from Fred’s Marine and was told that another customer cancelled and I’ll get my boat this week.
Great. Just exactly when I can no longer get it on the water this year. And it caught me unprepared. I had to very quickly find and rent a storage unit (that alone will cost me more than $500 extra over the winter) and get a hitch installed on my Highlander. Getting the hitch turns out to be a problem, too. Can’t get an appointment for one until the 16th.
Fred’s is going to have to hold my boat a few extra days before I can tow it.
On the plus side, I’ll be able to take it out and do the multi-hour engine break-in as soon as Willard thaws and well before I’m tempted to fish while doing it. If you see a guy in a black Tracker Classic out there slowly droning around while wearing a snow suit, that’s Rocky!
Think of it this way - you’ve got all winter now to get your boat all ready for soft water once again. If you need to get it up here sooner rather later us know, we’d be happy to assist so you can get it stored before ice up.
That part wasn’t at all hard. I merely said that hefting my kayak atop the Highlander felt like an impending heart attack.
Oddly enough, the clincher was getting a storage unit. SWMBO said, “Oh, a place to put more holiday decorations!” (Ya jist never know wit wimmings, do ya?)
Congratulations. You are about to have a lot of good times ahead. I got my Tracker from Freds’ in 2015 and no problems at all. Okay there is a problem. I have to keep adding something.
Well, I am now officially a boat owner. Picked up the black beauty today at Fred’s. Put it in my storage unit and proceeded to take a lot of measurements for future installation of gadgets. DMV is running way behind on issuing registration numbers due to the 'vid, I’m told. So I can’t legally take it out until I get them. But that won’t stop me from ordering stuff and fussing about.
BTW if you own a Mercury, get their Vessel View Mobile. What an amazing device - tells you almost every engine condition from temps and RPM to fuel usage. Even links to the GPS in your phone or tablet to show maps!
Appreciate the suggestion, bow nut, but all this is being handled by Fred’s Marine because it’s a brand new boat. Fred’s will mail me the decals when they get the numbers from DMV. It’s no hardship at all.
**I like boat projects, I’m interested in the gadgets your going to install. With this nice weather you should be able to get some break in time on your motor some how even though registration is a stall.
Number one gadget was the Mercury Vessel View Mobile, but the dealer did that. I only had to link a device to it by Bluetooth. I had planned to use a 7" tablet for that, but there may not be quite enough room for one. A cell phone is the next option. Either one gives me GPS mapping.
miscellaneous stuff like a tongue lock, lure holder, and marker buoys.
Like almost every other Classic buyer, I’ll be upgrading the entry-level Lowrance finder, likely with either a 7" Lowrance Elite or Reveal with side imaging. And as soon as the factory batteries die, I’m going to get Ionic lithium ones. I already have a two-bank onboard charger installed. I’ll also get a handheld VHF radio and spare props for both motors.
I stopped in at Fred’s Marine Monday to see what they have. Got lots of help there and took home a catalog to finalize what I want. I expect to order one soon.
I am very happy with how I was treated at Fred’s Marine. My guy is Andrew and he was extremely helpful throughout the many months of ordering and waiting. Be prepared for a long wait; Covidiocy has really hit boat production hard. Fred’s hasn’t gotten a Tracker Pontoon boat in more than a year, as one example. If there had been a boat show this year, they would have been hurting for anything to show.
I got my Classic earlier than I planned only because somebody else canceled their order. Still haven’t gotten it wet - but soon! The first three hours of motor break-in will likely be done circling Willard. With me dressed like an Eskimo. LOL! At least the ramp will be empty for me to learn launch and landing.
With this nice weather you should be able to get some break in time on your motor some how even though registration is a stall.