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I am looking to buy a boat and I am stuck on what to do. I have narrowed down my choice between a 08 Sea Chaser 2600 and a new Tracker Targa WT18. I know, very different boats. For the record, the Ttacker has a 115 Merc Opti and the Chaser has twin Yam150s.
I will fish the Potomac, Chesapeake Bay, and some Atlantic (close in) near Va Beach and Nags Head....
Both can foot the bill and I need seating for my daughters (both meet that need as well).
I'm afraid that the Merc Opti will be a prob (friends say stay clear) and that the Chaser will keep my pockets empty paying for fuel and heaven forbid any repairs.
I really like the 2600 for all of the ego stuff (looks great), but I also want to be able to use her every week-why I consider the Tracker and I also have a 92 f150 that is in good shape, but might be over taxed pulling the 2600.
I've searched the boards and I'm still torn...wife is getting impatient w/me. Any suggestions?
I am looking to buy a boat and I am stuck on what to do. I have narrowed down my choice between a 08 Sea Chaser 2600 and a new Tracker Targa WT18. I know, very different boats. For the record, the Ttacker has a 115 Merc Opti and the Chaser has twin Yam150s.
I will fish the Potomac, Chesapeake Bay, and some Atlantic (close in) near Va Beach and Nags Head....
Both can foot the bill and I need seating for my daughters (both meet that need as well).
I'm afraid that the Merc Opti will be a prob (friends say stay clear) and that the Chaser will keep my pockets empty paying for fuel and heaven forbid any repairs.
I really like the 2600 for all of the ego stuff (looks great), but I also want to be able to use her every week-why I consider the Tracker and I also have a 92 f150 that is in good shape, but might be over taxed pulling the 2600.
I've searched the boards and I'm still torn...wife is getting impatient w/me. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Your 92 f150 cannot pull the 2600 safely. Unless you have the 351 dont even think of using your truck to pull that boat for any long distance. YOu may even have a hard time pulling it at all. THats an underpowered truck(providing you have the 5.0). YOu can get away with it if you have the 351.
Thanks guys! No-I'm not joking. I know that I can "get by" with the much smaller boat. Sure, it can't go places that the 2600 can, but the same applies for the 26'. That is where I got stuck. I'm a simple country boy and the Tracker is really my style, but I alo like shiny things. Think of it as a country guy who has loved his old trucks all of his life, but can now get the 'purdy sports car'.
I think you guys have helped put it in perspective for me though. I believe I need to stay with the Tracker... My wife is making me sell my Harley to get the boat, but I wont part (and can't afford) to buy a new truck as well. I should be true to myself and stay w/the Catfish and occasional Striper in the Bay. But man! That 26' sure would be nice. I guess a fella can dream..
Thanks all.
Oh yeah..I'm not looking at speed and all of that. I'm mainly looking at how versatile the boat will be. I can go more places (rivers, lakes, bay, ponds) in the Tracker than I could in the 26. I like all types of fishing,but I would mainly be in the Potomac and some of the small lakes around Washington DC. That is my focus...and some of the ego trip.
Last edited by bkferg; 01-28-2010 at 01:35 PM.
Reason: clarification
not trying to sound like a smartazz...but you realize there's a few other choices available?
what's the rough budget?
i don't think the tracker is going to be a very comfortable ride in the typical chesapeake chop. granted, i've never been on one, so it's just speculation on my part. i think you'd be better served by looking at something within your budget in the 21-23 range...single outboard.
not trying to sound like a smartazz...but you realize there's a few other choices available?
what's the rough budget?
i don't think the tracker is going to be a very comfortable ride in the typical chesapeake chop. granted, i've never been on one, so it's just speculation on my part. i think you'd be better served by looking at something within your budget in the 21-23 range...single outboard.
Not a problem. I know/realize that I sound crazy, but that is me. I would likely stay at $40k and under, but that is really dependant on the boat.
I have a 'repo' dealer near me and they have some choices in the range you suggested (I'm aware of the dangers in repos),but they are a little older '04 and such. I havent written any of them off, but I am likely to buy a new/newer boat that has a warranty. If I buy new, I will likely go smaller and keep the price around $25k.
Just curious, how did you arrive at those two boats? Given your budget, I can think of quite a few higher end boats (and mid-tier for that matter) that will save you a bunch of scratch (looking used). Once you decide what your needs are, ego put aside, making your choice will be much easier. This is the time of the year people are looking to upgrade/downgrade...usually a good time of the year to look at used boats. I would assume you'd be able to get a nice Mako, Grady, Whaler, etc. used in your price range with a lightly used engine. I've seen a lot of good deals out there, so do your homework and jump into the pool...
Good luck...
Dave
__________________ If you think education is expensive, try ignorance
..."Vegetarian - old Indian word for bad fisherman."
All good advice! I have seen the Maycrafts around A Few Dollars and Skifffs as well. i will keep looking into them.
Dave, you are so right. I believe in my heart that I will likely stay in the Potomac chasin catfish and the like for the most part, but I vacation in Nags Head every year and my in-laws live in Va Beach. Everytime we go to either place, I say how cool it would be to fish the bridge/tunnel there (we always see tons of boats) or my wife wants to go out while we are on vacation. Not far (land in sight), but just to catch a fewand head in. I'm nnot the guy (not yet) that you will hear talking about going 40 mi offshore for...
I have owned two much older boats (Wellcraft and Bayliner) that were on their last legs. I knew that when I bought them for a little more than pocket change and they broke down on me constantly. But I'm smitten! I have friends that own nice boats and I go out with them from time to time, but we want our own to go when and as often as we want.
I have seen some good prices on Triumphs 21/22 cc, but they went bankrupt and I have read a lot about hull issues. Kind of afraid of no company behind the boat, but I do like not waxing the hull!
I ahve looked at Makos new (204). I really like them, but I haven't seen many used in the 22/23 foot range which I think is my limit with my old truck.
Keep the info coming guys. This is really a big help.
Location: Los Angeles, FL.or Georgia, depends. In Fl now.
Posts: 5,979
I think you need to review the whole thing by yourself and think about what you are doing.
You will not use that boat enough for the fuel mileage to matter at all. You have winter to deal with. The weather will not let you go out every weekend. It tipically rains on weekends.
Sounds like you are Quantico or north if chasing cats. That area is pretty freshwater and not very rough, so the Tracker would be fine and the Sea Chaser overkill.
If you were fishing the Nice bridge area on out to the Bay, an 18' boat would work a lot of the time, but a 20-23' single outboard would be best. If you like fishing early or late in the season, consider a dual console with curtains, walk around with curtains and maybe a hard top, or Pilot House. All three will be warmer than a CC, even with a T-top and curtain package. Lots of dealers up there, but the selection is a little odd. Your best value up there might be a Key West, either the 186 or the 2020. Would work about anywhere you are looking. For trailer you are unfortunately looking at a roller model, the tide swing on the Potomac is too much to deal with a bunk trailer and so-so ramps.
I had two dealers I liked in the So. MD/Northern Neck. Newburg Marine on 301 just north of Nice Bridge had decent prices and good service. In VA I liked Jetts Marine in Reedville.
__________________ 2009 NauticStar 2200 Bay Tournament Edition with 175 hp Suzuki 4-stroke
Unless you are putting the 26 footer in a slip, you will probably get a heck of alot more use out of an 18 footer. I had a 22 and a 17 footer. it was more of a PIA to trailer and launch the 22 so it didn't get much use, it's gone now.
Thanks Shemstreet. You are right. I am just South of Quantico. I actually used Aquia Marina to keep my last boat (Wellcraft sold last year). We were right on Aquia Creek if you know the area. I agree with you on the boat selection. My truck is nice, but it has 150K on it and I don't want to have to replace it. Aquia Marina has some pretty long ramps and we only had one issue at low tide and that was my fault (stupid).
I see a 04 21' Key Largo w/200 Suzi and a 04 23' Palm Beach w/twin 115 Mercs (not familiar with either) at the repo lot as well as a 07 20' Angler that all look good and I could prob mmove w/the old Ford 4X4, but I'm still stuck.
JKBRAD, I have never heard of the "ProLite", but they look nice. I will look into them. I'm going to the Fredericksburg Boat Show in the am and maybe they will have a rep there.
So far, I am still kind of falling back on the Tracker as it would be the the easiest to move when I wanted to take it somewhere. I still really covet a CC for my personal desire.
I really appreciate all of the advice. Although I have owned a boat or two, they were terrible and I really didn't get to enjoy boating except through my buds who had reliable boats. I will likely get only one shot at this, so I want to make sure I am happy. I have bought and sold 4 different motorcycles in the last 5 years or so and my wife is fed up with that behavior, so it is time to settle.
The general theme of this thread seems to be "one boat won't do it all." While that's true, it seems your needs are basically to have a trailerable boat with fairly low draft but that can handle some low seas, plus is comfortable for your girls.
Sounds to me like a roughly 18-20 ft Scout, McKee, Sea Hunt (name your favorite brand and model here) would fit the bill. I am leaning on the smaller size boat because it seems trailerable and low draft is your preference over getting out on the bay during heavier seas.
Go to Sea Hunt's website and look at the Triton models. Go to Scoutboats.com and look at theirs too. I am not recommending those brands, but both will show respectable shallow draft boats, with the deadrise to handle more than a chop.
I live in Charlotte and needed a boat for local lakes (I fish, wife ski's, 3 kids do both), but also wanted something for close inshore at coast and even to hual to Lake Erie. I went with a Scout dual console (I really wanted the center console too...but remember, wife and 3 kids). And, its easily trailerable with my Expedition.
These boats will also be much easier to clean and more comfortable than the Tracker. Thats good for keeping the wife and girls happy.
Spend time on boattrader.com too if you haven't done so already. Get a better sense of what is out there than what local lots show.
Good luck
Last edited by Little Scout; 01-30-2010 at 08:56 AM.
Thanks Little Scout! You said it better than I did. I have looked at a lot of DCs as well. I have 6 daughters (3 of mine and 3 Foster). I never expect to take all of them out at one time, maybe 3 and the wife. Youare right, I'm not looking to be out in Katrina, but I have been in the Bay where I thought twice about the boat I was in.
I used to covet Scouts, there was a dealer near, but they closed shop. I like Sea Hunts and McKees as well, but I've only seen them online. I also didn't get to go to the Boat show today, as we got about 8 inches off snow and still falling (kids wouldnt let me go by myself in the pick-up).
I have been trolling kingrv.com looking at repos to see if I could find something in the 21/22 slot that looks nice and I will be exploring them more in person. I agree that there are many options out there that will be more stable than the Tracker in chop and I hope to find one that fits that bill.
Thanks for the advice. I will keep everyone posted on my choice!
I really liked the Pro Lite line, but the only dealers that actually carried them are in Florida or just as far north.
What to buy (Tracker vs Sea Chaser) 
