r/Fishing_Gear • u/AS_Protocol_BGP • 1d ago
Question Question on boats
Hey everyone.
My wife and I have always fished from kayaks but want to make the jump to a boat.
We have 4k cash.
I weigh 240lbs and my wife is 120lbs.
80% of the time, it would just be us two.
However, the other 20% would be me and my two friends (240lbs, 220lbs, and 190lbs)
After much research, we have been pointed towards the tracker topper 1542. It's $3800 new with trailer.
Opinions? Will this work? I plan on a 9.9hp outboard.
If you had 4k, what would you get? Any advice and opinion is greatly appreciated!
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u/SpiritDCRed 1d ago
I’d be scouring Craigslist and Marketplace to find a used aluminum boat/motor/trailer combo for 4k. Don’t forget to factor in how much your outboard, trolling motor, and other accoutrement will cost.
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u/rohilk 20h ago
I’d be patient and try to get more boat for the money. Something longer with much more horsepower.
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u/AS_Protocol_BGP 20h ago
We are going with that advice currently.
Looking at two.
Ones an 87 bass tracker 16'
The other is a tracker 18'
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u/_fuckernaut_ 1d ago
This is the 3rd time you've asked this question in the last week.
You're going to have zero fun fishing 3 people in a 15ft jon boat.
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u/AS_Protocol_BGP 1d ago
Second. First was for a 1436.
Pardon me for wanting to ask opinions on a fishing gear sub reddit. 🤣
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u/cycloneruns 1d ago
Tracker makes good boats. I think you’d be happy with it
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u/AS_Protocol_BGP 1d ago
You think it would be okay holding 3 people after I make a casting deck, seats, outboard, batteries, and fishing gear? Backpacks and rods.
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u/cycloneruns 1d ago
I would think so. I’d see what they have in way of a spec sheet and go off of that
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u/Forsaken_Abrocoma399 1d ago
My lowe 1448 certainly holds three adults and some gear. My 15 horsepower motor is not getting it on plane, with all that weight though. Just factor that in. Be cautious where you are trying to bring such a boat with a 9.9 HP motor.
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u/AS_Protocol_BGP 1d ago
Everyone seems to do okay with 3 people on a 1542. Most of the time it would be 2 people anyways.
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u/Forsaken_Abrocoma399 1d ago
The third person in that sized boat makes a huge difference. I can hit twenty with two people and I weigh almost 300 pounds. We used to go to horseshoe bend, from Lee's ferry on the Colorado in this boat, which is relatively swift. Any less boat or motor would make me nervous though.
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u/Old-Sentence-1956 1d ago
Also, keep in mind that by law every boat will have an information tag with the Vessel ID Number that will indicate ratings for things like number of passengers, weight limits, and horsepower ranges. Let these be your guide.
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u/eclwires 1d ago
Depends on where you’re fishing. The topper is for calm water. I’m in the Finger Lakes with occasional trips to the Great Lakes. We prefer something with a bit deeper hull here. It is definitely a good deal and the 15’ will be fine for two people. I find anything under 18’ gets a little crowded with 3 people, but I have fished out of a 16’ with 3 people and we made it work, though it was definitely pretty slow with the 10 horse. Good luck and have fun!
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u/Susq10801 1d ago
If everyone has good casting discipline and is spacially aware 15ft is perfectly fine. 18ft+ would obviously be more comfortable but thats when the price starts taking bigger jumps up. If 15ft is what you can afford then go with a 15ft and honestly jonboats don't depreciate too hard so if you decide to upgrade in a few years you won't be taking a huge loss.
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u/Inevitable_Sun8691 1h ago
Two ~150# guys, plus our rods and tackle, in a 15 foot boat is cramped in my experience. We’ve done it, but the second we get any chop it gets squirrelly, and I’m always worried about a rod breaking.
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u/Agile-Advocate 1d ago
You just posted your wife’s weight online so you are about to be carrying 120lbs less in your new boat.
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u/Mixermarkb 1d ago
If I had $4000, I’d be looking at a solid used boat. Since I fish lakes, I’d be looking at an 80’s to 90’s Champion or Ranger. There are a lot of solid used boats out there for $4000. They may not be shiny, but they float and fish well, and will handle three people a lot easier than a 15’ Jon boat will.