2023 Targa v19 200hp owner here. While I don't disagree there are a few things I'd like to do differently if I was designing the Targa, luckily, they are all little things that I can do. Cutting a little window screening in a circle and then buying some stainless steel round vents the proper size to cover your chipmunk holes is a solution I will use to also keep mud-dobbers and wasps out of it as well. It's something I had to do on RV's I've owned as well. Cheap solution. Your spare bucket is to put the other bucket inside when you go buy live bait somewhere. Come to the boat and take the bait bucket with vent holes out, the water stays in the white bucket (no cross contamination) and you put the bait bucket in the live well. Throw the water out and store the white bucket. Your "flooding" Compartment in your center rod storage, buy a dry bag that fits it and put your first aid kit, a couple beach towels or whatever you want in it that you won't be using very often. Same for your flooding glove boxes. Newer design on my 2023 and don't have that issue but I do have a couple waterproof boxes that I keep my registration papers, insurance papers, fishing licenses, electronics cords for charging, etc. in and store in the glove box. As far as the fishfinders space, a ram 12" arm mount would let you mount a larger fishfinder right behind the 7 inch one. I know because I have a 106sv garmin and a 93sv garmin on my dash exactly like I'm talking about, one above the other and I can still see over the top out the windshield. Mounting the ram arm on the backside of the instrument panel is also an option. With the long 12" arm it gives you alot of flexibility of placement and angles to the drivers seat. They've upgrade the magnets in the doors on the bow storage compartments and they are very strong now. maybe you could get some of the new ones and install. Hope you are still enjoying your boat as much as I am enjoying mine. For the money, I'm thrilled with mine. A few DYI upgrades, a few things I needed to redesign and fix, a few screws tightened and I've got my dream/retirement boat that I get to use now when I can and will use most days in a few years when I retire. Hope some of my suggestions help on any of the problems you're still facing.
Being a boat owner, we need more people posting videos of their boat, showing what they like and don't like. I bought a Lowe FS 1700 and while I love the boat there are a couple things I don't like which is causing me to start considering my next boat. Tracker wasn't even on my radar until I saw this video. Thank you for your posting.
I agree. More honest reviews of boats is a good thing. Since Consumer Reports doesn’t exist for boats, UA-cam is the next best thing. Tracker has some fit and finish issues, but their boats are much more affordable than many brands and they’ve got a warranty that’s pretty hard to beat.
@@AnglingUploaded I think you mentioned it in your video every boat has their issues. with my 2021 Lowe FS 1700 the passenger seat broke twice, one in warranty once out of warranty. Keep up the great work
I bought a 2020 v18 Combo after looking at several other boats. At $11k cheaper than the equivalent Lund or Starcraft, I figured I'd take a chance. I figured for $11k I could re-engineer anything I didn't like. I'm happy to say that 3 summers of use, and only a couple of minor "what the Fks" later, I'm very happy with my boat. One issue that has affected many others, that I have rectified, is the welds at the bottom of the trailers winch post. Many have had them break apart. There is too much stress put on that post when winching the boat onto the trailer. I solved it by adding a gusset that braces it from the front to the trailer frame. Something I recommend all Targa owners look into. A great boat, especially considering the price! Tight Lines, everyone!
This is a great review. I bought my 2023 Targa V 18 about 18 months ago. The boat itself is super solid and love the layout. I bought every package they offered. Bimini top, tow package for a tuber, and a 9.9 kicker mother installed. With that being said my boat has been in the shop 7 different times for issues (currently has been in the shop for 3 weeks and probably 3 more). Multiple charging issues, they replaced the batteries a couple of times for bad cells and then finally all batteries were dead except deep cycle. Took it to the shop again and they had to pull all decking out and found that they had never hooked up the actual wires to either of the back batteries. They rubber trim around the outer edge of boat shrunk 10 inches, woven mat/carpet in the front is being replaced now. Love the boat but not impressed with all the issues I have had for buying a brand new boat.
Sorry to hear you've had significant issues with your Targa. I'd say that's totally unacceptable, especially considering how much you paid for the boat. Can you imagine if car manufacturers behaved this way?
So Agreed. The boat is setup perfect if only something wasnt broke everytime I take it out. I am hoping this time in the shop (still - going on 6 weeks) it will be like brand new and I will be a happy fisherman all over again. Sadly this boat cost just a few thousand less then my new GMC pickup. If my truck had been like this, no way I would still be dealing with it.
I have the same boat with same motor but 2022 model year and I bought it 9 months before you posted the video). Mine is red, and I got the combo version (since I am a family man ha ha). They fixed some of the issues you are talking about. Others not so much. They put the battery charging outlet on the outside. Which I love! They also changed up the glove box a little bit. There are now two glove compartments, one above and one below it. I want to upgrade my trolling motor as well. But I think instead of changing the motor you can buy the iPilot Bluetooth upgrade kit so you can get the spot lock. I'll eventually upgrade the fish finder at the helm or I will just put one at the bow. I'm not a serious enough fisherman that I need the best electronics that money can buy. I take pride in the ability to find fish just by looking at the environment and learning a new body of water over time since I'm not tournament fishing and hitting new bodies of water all the time. Worst case I have no shame and I'm willing to ask locals the best places to fish on new lakes and ask them to give me some GPS coordinates to try out. Great video my friend.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Yeah, the issues with the boat are a bit ridiculous, but I know that’s to be expected with a less expensive brand. Funny to call what I paid for the boat, “less expensive.” For me, it was an arm and a leg 😆. I like the idea of having the battery charging outlet on the outside. With my setup, my arm has to be a bit contorted when I’m out of the boat to plug in a power cord. My first priority will probably be getting a bow fish finder. I thought about upgrading the trolling motor, but you reminded me of the option of an add-on accessory that would give me spot-lock. Great idea, dude! I’ve actually been surprised with how happy I’ve been with the trolling motor, actually. If it had spot-lock, I’d definitely put a hold on buying something more expensive. Thanks for watching. Cheers! 🍻
I had a PowerDriveV2 on a previous boat with no spot lock or auto pilot....bought an iPilot head for it, came with a new remote. Best thing I ever added to that boat. Make sure it's 24 volt system. The new MinnKota iPilot head cost $450 in 2017.
I have a 2018 targa 18. Love the boat. My glove box is a different design and never has water been an issue in the glove box. One thing I do like in your boat compared to mine is the rear storage. Mine has a 48 gallon rear live well. It's the entire width of the back of the boat. I would much prefer a smaller live well with more dry storage. Thanks for the review, cheers
The rear storage is definitely a positive, but I’m surprised it doesn’t lock. I’m likely going to get a big Lakewood storage system and carry additional tackle trays in that. Glad you enjoyed the review. Happy New Year!
I have a 20 targa 19, I would say I learned to cover it at all times when not using it. Water gets into places you don't want. I have mine completely outfitted for salmon fishing just no kicker and it's been trusty trolling with the 200hp and ultrex for past two years.
Yeah, I don’t have it uncovered for more than a day and certainly not if it’s going to rain. Was shocked to find water pooling in areas I thought were watertight. Lesson learned. Glad to hear your boat is working well for you salmon fishing, though.
@shyman9023 I mean depends how you like to take care of your equipment. If you want your boxes full of water, wet leaves and debris all over, pollen in every spot possible. The tracker is not a water tight vessel on the inside.
Sure hope Tracker has changed the way they build boats and treat customers, had a 18ft WT purchased brand new, biggest pile of garbage ive ever owned, dealer and Tracker fixed nothing, typically it came back with more issues after it would go in for warranty work, hope they have changed the business model.
Thanks for the review. Now I know not to ever get one. A 6'3" 'rod locker' is inexcusable. So are storage compartment that fill up with water. Jesus, if they're not going to have them seal good, at least put drains in them, FFS!!
I have a 2011 Targa WT 18, have over 1000 hours on the motor and it has been a fantastic boat. Did have to upgrade the trolling motor to A Terova 80lbs thrust, and upgraded teh fish finders. The trailer only came with a single axle in 2011, that is the only issue I have. As heavy as the boat is it should have had a double axle trailer.
I prefer the dash layout of my 2017 V18 WT. I don't like the full width rear livewell so I capped off the water intake pipe to prevent water getting into the livewell giving me a huge dry storage box for tackle trays, bump board, tools etc. i also swapped out the 2 bank charger for a 30A-3 bank charger, upgraded to a Motorguide Xi5 and put in two Lowrance HDS Carbon 9's fully networked and an Elite 9Ti standalone at the rear for the person on the Scotty Electric downriggers. I also put a full remote 9.9 Merc Pro Kicker.
Dude, your boat sounds bad ass. I love how you’ve tricked it out for your style of fishing. The Targa is a great Swiss Army knife kind of boat. It can do a lot of different things for a lot of different species.
So with you on the WTF Tracker. The fit and finish on the tracker sucks. I chased them for 18 months with gauge failures, trailer issues and miscellaneous annoying issues. But the hull and handling and motor are awesome. I have the V20 which is an awesome big water boat.
Yep, most important is how well the hull is constructed. I can deal with the little, piddily fit and finish issues, especially when you consider how much more affordable Tracker boats are. The platform, handling, and Merc have been great. No complaints there.
This a great review. Even the WTF issues are brought to light. Currently considering a 2019 model that’s fully rigged and ready to go. I’ve looked at a couple of them now from 2015-2019 models. As with homes, prices are coming down on used and new boats for that matter. Lund and other manufacturers are slashing up to 15 grand off new boats.
I had owned a 2019 Targa 18 WT. Tracker has a long way to go for making Tracker boats worth the purchase. Mine spent more time in the shop than having it available for fishing. If anybody doesn't want problems,might be better off buying the aluminum Ranger,which is a better built boat from the same company. Tracker/Ranger same company. Buy the Ranger.
I wish the boat would have overboard drainage, looks like it all goes to the bilge. I do wish also a lot of those compartments would have gaskets on them to help keep water out.
Yeah, all the water drains to the bilge. What do you mean by overboard drainage? Gaskets in some compartments would possibly help. The glove box and compartment under the center rod storage that flood are particularly problematic. Shouldn’t have to drill holes for drainage in a new boat.
Very good info. Had noticed the same thing about water getting in everywhere when I looked at a v-18 at the dealer in their parking lot. Was wet in a bunch of the compartments that I thought would be dry. Did like the overall size though, seemed like a relatively solid boat minus the quirks.
Glad you found the video useful. Tracker boats definitely have their quirks, but the price point was doable and I thought an 18 foot Deep V would make for a versatile platform for how/where I fish.
Seals or drilling holes to let the water escape are certainly some remedies. Not sure why during the manufacturing process Tracker didn't think of these things. Shouldn't be issues on a $44,000 boat. Agree on the RAM mounts. That's the route I'll take.
Glad you liked the video and my Hamm’s sweatshirt. It’s an article of clothing that I’m going to wear until it disintegrates off my body, which I’m sure my wife will appreciate 😆. Thanks for watching!
So the horizontal tie down is there incase you have the kicker motor but not to secure it. The kicker mounting bracket will cover the vertical tie down.
@@AnglingUploaded no problem. Mine has the kicker is how I knew. Great review by the way. I love mine. That little hidden and utterly worthless compartment in in the rod holder? You can drill a small 1/4" to 5/16" hole in one of the corners to make a drain. Just be careful and only drill till you pop through.
Who the heck told you that other u bolt is to secure a kicker!!! When you put a kicker on it covers the vertical eye that you referred to as the boat tie down, the one you referred to as a secure point for the kicker is now the boat tie down, older targas need to install this if they put on a kicker as there is no tie down point after the kicker is installed. Please explain how you would secure a kicker with that eyelet
Commenting as i watch your video. Again think things through, the large storage container for tackle does not lock, unfortunate, but its because the standard locking mechanism has a swing arm to lock it, if you place the standard plano boxes on end in that storage area and they shift at all during transport or on the water the plano boxes will block the latch from opening. Beore you complain, think about why
Put it this way. What ever it is I'll be bass fishing when your scratching ice off the front window to see out. Best thing about Florida no ice. No snow. No cold Temps. Nothing but sunny ,warm( some hot as hell)days. Going to be in the mid 80's tomorrow.
I’ve really never had an issue with the fuel fill where it is. The cover took a little time figuring out, but isn’t an issue at all now. Roll it up like a burrito from stern to bow when removing. To put back on, start at the bow and unroll to the stern. Spare tire probably should be standard, though.
Awsome boat. Only thing that could make it better is if the motor was an Evenrude. Mercury would be my second choice. I own a mercury. I cant offord the Evenrude 🤣🤣
First off if youre happy with the hook fish finder you sir are not much of a fisherman, one of the main things to complain about is the fish finder as it's junk, get a ram mount, you can easily fit a 13” screen there
No, the ladder deploys easily and makes it much easier to get in the boat. If you fell overboard and your clothes were waterlogged, it’d be very difficult to re-enter.
The boat has held up well, but keep in mind, I’ve only had it since the fall of 2020. I also take very good care of my equipment, so I might not be the best person to ask. Not sure how the water gets in some of the compartments, but it’s an issue. Probably makes sense to drill some holes and keep your valuables in a dry bag. Obviously, shouldn’t be happening with a new boat.
@@AnglingUploaded I am not completely happy with my Tracker. I had the impression that the haul had a lifetime warranty. I’m the original owner and 8 year into owning the boat started to leak. After investigating I noticed three small cracks in the haul were they welded the interior supports the the haul. After 3 months of email with tracker boats and tracker boat not covering the repairs. I spent 5 thousand on welding repairs. The interior of the boat was all removed and the welding was repaired and all new floatation foam was returned . With the cost of new boat, I resided to repair and see if I can get a few more years out of it.🤞
My review of your review, brutal at best, awfully glad you are so impressed with the cup holders! Yes the cubby in the rod locker holds water but ya know, drill a hole!!! Yes the upper glove box gets water in it when it rains or you leave it outside with the the rodents. The fish finder is entry level junk as is that crap underpowered trolling motor that isn't strong enough in anything past a 20 mph wind and it has no spot lock or gps and the prop comes out of the water in anything more than 2 foot waves. Now real stuff thats a problem, the factory crank jack needs ti be replaced immediately as its far under strenghted for that boat, the winch stand needs a brace as they tend ti break off when hit by the boat. However, i am sure that all the other office type people buying their first boat may have gotten something of value from your review, for example the cup holders
You need to trademark "What the FU"!!! Killed me every time! lol! The worst thing about that boat: 6'3" bow rod storage? UGH!!! Useless unless all you do is vertical jig.
Glad I was able to give you a good laugh! 😆 No doubt the 6’ 3” bow rod storage is tight and not functional for most setups. I really only see it being useful for walleye rods for vertical jigging and trolling (telescopic). What the FU…!?!?
Those pushlights suck. If you bump them in the daylight you'll end up draining your battery and ruin your next fishing trip. Don't ask me how i know about that.
It’s frustrating for sure. Could be indicative of a culture of mediocrity at Tracker. Employees who don’t give a damn, usually don’t care about the products they make.
There’s a lot of great features on the Targa, my favorite probably being the Versa-Track, but like any boat, it’s got its idiosyncrasies. Tracker might not be the greatest in terms of fit and finish, but their boats are more affordable than most. Overall, I’ve been happy with the boat.
@@AnglingUploaded I agree, to a point, many boats, Lund included, have similar if not worse fit and finish. I have this boat, and I have family that have Lund and Alumacraft, my boat is just as well put together as theirs. It rides better, takes big waves better, and is more comfortable to fish out of. Another thing I like is that the cabin is deep, your hat is not going to get blown off as your cruise across the lake unlike similar boats where the top of your head is at the same level as the top of the Wind Screen. For the money, this boat can't be beat. (my opinion of course)
I think that tracker pulls the wool over buyers eyes because there warrenty coverage is wishy washy at best u spend this money on ur dream boat and they like other boat manufacturers jack us around im ashamed of the problems i see and hear about
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. Boats are WAY overpriced, especially when you consider the fit and finish issues. You’d never see these problems in new automobiles.
100% agree the issues I had during the first year owning my boat kept trying to get tracker to help but it was always you have to get the dealer to help and they kept saying sorry dk what to tell ya
The targa and all tracker boats seem like clown boats to me. The layout just doesnt make sense and the fit and finish is atrocious. And then they have their packages that you can't change. Like who the hell wants a non-spotlock trolling motor these days? Tracker boats are for families that take their boat out twice a year and fish for maybe 1 hour on that trip with bobbers and worms.
2023 Targa v19 200hp owner here. While I don't disagree there are a few things I'd like to do differently if I was designing the Targa, luckily, they are all little things that I can do. Cutting a little window screening in a circle and then buying some stainless steel round vents the proper size to cover your chipmunk holes is a solution I will use to also keep mud-dobbers and wasps out of it as well. It's something I had to do on RV's I've owned as well. Cheap solution. Your spare bucket is to put the other bucket inside when you go buy live bait somewhere. Come to the boat and take the bait bucket with vent holes out, the water stays in the white bucket (no cross contamination) and you put the bait bucket in the live well. Throw the water out and store the white bucket. Your "flooding" Compartment in your center rod storage, buy a dry bag that fits it and put your first aid kit, a couple beach towels or whatever you want in it that you won't be using very often. Same for your flooding glove boxes. Newer design on my 2023 and don't have that issue but I do have a couple waterproof boxes that I keep my registration papers, insurance papers, fishing licenses, electronics cords for charging, etc. in and store in the glove box. As far as the fishfinders space, a ram 12" arm mount would let you mount a larger fishfinder right behind the 7 inch one. I know because I have a 106sv garmin and a 93sv garmin on my dash exactly like I'm talking about, one above the other and I can still see over the top out the windshield. Mounting the ram arm on the backside of the instrument panel is also an option. With the long 12" arm it gives you alot of flexibility of placement and angles to the drivers seat. They've upgrade the magnets in the doors on the bow storage compartments and they are very strong now. maybe you could get some of the new ones and install. Hope you are still enjoying your boat as much as I am enjoying mine. For the money, I'm thrilled with mine. A few DYI upgrades, a few things I needed to redesign and fix, a few screws tightened and I've got my dream/retirement boat that I get to use now when I can and will use most days in a few years when I retire. Hope some of my suggestions help on any of the problems you're still facing.
This is an awesome comment. Thanks for sharing.
makes sense from an owner knows. BUTT still...trackers' design engineers must think before designing features.
Being a boat owner, we need more people posting videos of their boat, showing what they like and don't like. I bought a Lowe FS 1700 and while I love the boat there are a couple things I don't like which is causing me to start considering my next boat. Tracker wasn't even on my radar until I saw this video. Thank you for your posting.
I agree. More honest reviews of boats is a good thing. Since Consumer Reports doesn’t exist for boats, UA-cam is the next best thing. Tracker has some fit and finish issues, but their boats are much more affordable than many brands and they’ve got a warranty that’s pretty hard to beat.
@@AnglingUploaded I think you mentioned it in your video every boat has their issues. with my 2021 Lowe FS 1700 the passenger seat broke twice, one in warranty once out of warranty. Keep up the great work
I bought a 2020 v18 Combo after looking at several other boats. At $11k cheaper than the equivalent Lund or Starcraft, I figured I'd take a chance. I figured for $11k I could re-engineer anything I didn't like. I'm happy to say that 3 summers of use, and only a couple of minor "what the Fks" later, I'm very happy with my boat. One issue that has affected many others, that I have rectified, is the welds at the bottom of the trailers winch post. Many have had them break apart. There is too much stress put on that post when winching the boat onto the trailer. I solved it by adding a gusset that braces it from the front to the trailer frame. Something I recommend all Targa owners look into. A great boat, especially considering the price! Tight Lines, everyone!
The absolute best review ever. Honest, to the point, and comical.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the kind comments.
This is a great review. I bought my 2023 Targa V 18 about 18 months ago. The boat itself is super solid and love the layout. I bought every package they offered. Bimini top, tow package for a tuber, and a 9.9 kicker mother installed. With that being said my boat has been in the shop 7 different times for issues (currently has been in the shop for 3 weeks and probably 3 more). Multiple charging issues, they replaced the batteries a couple of times for bad cells and then finally all batteries were dead except deep cycle. Took it to the shop again and they had to pull all decking out and found that they had never hooked up the actual wires to either of the back batteries. They rubber trim around the outer edge of boat shrunk 10 inches, woven mat/carpet in the front is being replaced now. Love the boat but not impressed with all the issues I have had for buying a brand new boat.
Sorry to hear you've had significant issues with your Targa. I'd say that's totally unacceptable, especially considering how much you paid for the boat. Can you imagine if car manufacturers behaved this way?
So Agreed. The boat is setup perfect if only something wasnt broke everytime I take it out. I am hoping this time in the shop (still - going on 6 weeks) it will be like brand new and I will be a happy fisherman all over again. Sadly this boat cost just a few thousand less then my new GMC pickup. If my truck had been like this, no way I would still be dealing with it.
Oh shhht. Am looking for a tracker. Should I buy another brand?
thats fukn awful and ridiculous!!!!...stoopid Foolish tracker!
@@czealtamahawk1228 same here..i was considering targa also!
I have the same boat with same motor but 2022 model year and I bought it 9 months before you posted the video). Mine is red, and I got the combo version (since I am a family man ha ha). They fixed some of the issues you are talking about. Others not so much. They put the battery charging outlet on the outside. Which I love! They also changed up the glove box a little bit. There are now two glove compartments, one above and one below it. I want to upgrade my trolling motor as well. But I think instead of changing the motor you can buy the iPilot Bluetooth upgrade kit so you can get the spot lock. I'll eventually upgrade the fish finder at the helm or I will just put one at the bow. I'm not a serious enough fisherman that I need the best electronics that money can buy. I take pride in the ability to find fish just by looking at the environment and learning a new body of water over time since I'm not tournament fishing and hitting new bodies of water all the time. Worst case I have no shame and I'm willing to ask locals the best places to fish on new lakes and ask them to give me some GPS coordinates to try out. Great video my friend.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Yeah, the issues with the boat are a bit ridiculous, but I know that’s to be expected with a less expensive brand. Funny to call what I paid for the boat, “less expensive.” For me, it was an arm and a leg 😆. I like the idea of having the battery charging outlet on the outside. With my setup, my arm has to be a bit contorted when I’m out of the boat to plug in a power cord. My first priority will probably be getting a bow fish finder. I thought about upgrading the trolling motor, but you reminded me of the option of an add-on accessory that would give me spot-lock. Great idea, dude! I’ve actually been surprised with how happy I’ve been with the trolling motor, actually. If it had spot-lock, I’d definitely put a hold on buying something more expensive. Thanks for watching. Cheers! 🍻
I had a PowerDriveV2 on a previous boat with no spot lock or auto pilot....bought an iPilot head for it, came with a new remote. Best thing I ever added to that boat. Make sure it's 24 volt system. The new MinnKota iPilot head cost $450 in 2017.
@@Moondog9322they are now $520 but it's totally worth it
I have a 2018 targa 18. Love the boat. My glove box is a different design and never has water been an issue in the glove box. One thing I do like in your boat compared to mine is the rear storage. Mine has a 48 gallon rear live well. It's the entire width of the back of the boat. I would much prefer a smaller live well with more dry storage. Thanks for the review, cheers
The rear storage is definitely a positive, but I’m surprised it doesn’t lock. I’m likely going to get a big Lakewood storage system and carry additional tackle trays in that. Glad you enjoyed the review. Happy New Year!
The consensus here in Michigan is Tracker is a terrible manufacturer of aluminum boats.
I have a 20 targa 19, I would say I learned to cover it at all times when not using it. Water gets into places you don't want. I have mine completely outfitted for salmon fishing just no kicker and it's been trusty trolling with the 200hp and ultrex for past two years.
Yeah, I don’t have it uncovered for more than a day and certainly not if it’s going to rain. Was shocked to find water pooling in areas I thought were watertight. Lesson learned. Glad to hear your boat is working well for you salmon fishing, though.
A boat should not have issues being uncovered from the rain.
@shyman9023 I mean depends how you like to take care of your equipment. If you want your boxes full of water, wet leaves and debris all over, pollen in every spot possible. The tracker is not a water tight vessel on the inside.
@@Lt.Dan2.0 Not talking long term. When I fish on vacation, I don't cover it. At home it is parked in a garage.
Sure hope Tracker has changed the way they build boats and treat customers, had a 18ft WT purchased brand new, biggest pile of garbage ive ever owned, dealer and Tracker fixed nothing, typically it came back with more issues after it would go in for warranty work, hope they have changed the business model.
Sorry to hear you had this experience. Definitely not an okay situation.
The spare bucket is used with the minnow basket when purchasing bait
Ah, good to know. Thanks for passing along.
Thanks for the review. Now I know not to ever get one. A 6'3" 'rod locker' is inexcusable. So are storage compartment that fill up with water. Jesus, if they're not going to have them seal good, at least put drains in them, FFS!!
I just got a 2023 V19 combo tournament edition. 0 problems so far with water etc
I have a 2011 Targa WT 18, have over 1000 hours on the motor and it has been a fantastic boat. Did have to upgrade the trolling motor to A Terova 80lbs thrust, and upgraded teh fish finders. The trailer only came with a single axle in 2011, that is the only issue I have. As heavy as the boat is it should have had a double axle trailer.
Nice review. I also had a lot of WTF moments when I took delivery of my 2021 V-19.
Unfortunately, I think it’s an all too common occurrence for new boat owners.
I prefer the dash layout of my 2017 V18 WT. I don't like the full width rear livewell so I capped off the water intake pipe to prevent water getting into the livewell giving me a huge dry storage box for tackle trays, bump board, tools etc. i also swapped out the 2 bank charger for a 30A-3 bank charger, upgraded to a Motorguide Xi5 and put in two Lowrance HDS Carbon 9's fully networked and an Elite 9Ti standalone at the rear for the person on the Scotty Electric downriggers. I also put a full remote 9.9 Merc Pro Kicker.
Dude, your boat sounds bad ass. I love how you’ve tricked it out for your style of fishing. The Targa is a great Swiss Army knife kind of boat. It can do a lot of different things for a lot of different species.
So with you on the WTF Tracker. The fit and finish on the tracker sucks. I chased them for 18 months with gauge failures, trailer issues and miscellaneous annoying issues. But the hull and handling and motor are awesome. I have the V20 which is an awesome big water boat.
Yep, most important is how well the hull is constructed. I can deal with the little, piddily fit and finish issues, especially when you consider how much more affordable Tracker boats are. The platform, handling, and Merc have been great. No complaints there.
Nice review. Would have liked to see how the front is with the seat up there for bass fishing. Looks a little cramped.
Thanks. With a seat at the bow with one angler it’s not cramped, but with two anglers it would be.
This a great review. Even the WTF issues are brought to light. Currently considering a 2019 model that’s fully rigged and ready to go. I’ve looked at a couple of them now from 2015-2019 models. As with homes, prices are coming down on used and new boats for that matter. Lund and other manufacturers are slashing up to 15 grand off new boats.
I had owned a 2019 Targa 18 WT. Tracker has a long way to go for making Tracker boats worth the purchase. Mine spent more time in the shop than having it available for fishing. If anybody doesn't want problems,might be better off buying the aluminum Ranger,which is a better built boat from the same company. Tracker/Ranger same company. Buy the Ranger.
Love that you call everything for what it is.
There’s enough BS in the world. No need to add more, right?
I wish the boat would have overboard drainage, looks like it all goes to the bilge. I do wish also a lot of those compartments would have gaskets on them to help keep water out.
Yeah, all the water drains to the bilge. What do you mean by overboard drainage? Gaskets in some compartments would possibly help. The glove box and compartment under the center rod storage that flood are particularly problematic. Shouldn’t have to drill holes for drainage in a new boat.
Very good info. Had noticed the same thing about water getting in everywhere when I looked at a v-18 at the dealer in their parking lot. Was wet in a bunch of the compartments that I thought would be dry. Did like the overall size though, seemed like a relatively solid boat minus the quirks.
Glad you found the video useful. Tracker boats definitely have their quirks, but the price point was doable and I thought an 18 foot Deep V would make for a versatile platform for how/where I fish.
Great walk through. Just bought one and this was very helpful.
Glad you found the video useful.
I wonder if seals could be added to the compartments to make them waterproof? Ram mounts can help with the screen size issue some.
Seals or drilling holes to let the water escape are certainly some remedies. Not sure why during the manufacturing process Tracker didn't think of these things. Shouldn't be issues on a $44,000 boat. Agree on the RAM mounts. That's the route I'll take.
Great honest review. Like the Hamm’s sweatshirt.
Glad you liked the video and my Hamm’s sweatshirt. It’s an article of clothing that I’m going to wear until it disintegrates off my body, which I’m sure my wife will appreciate 😆. Thanks for watching!
I m have v19 TM. With 200pro xs. Good boats. For the money I’m happy. My friend get lund impac with 150 hp single axle trailer for much more money.
Yep, the price point on Trackers is more reasonable than many boat brands. It was probably the most significant factor in my purchase.
So the horizontal tie down is there incase you have the kicker motor but not to secure it. The kicker mounting bracket will cover the vertical tie down.
I guess I’m confused. What’s the point of the horizontal tie down then?
@@AnglingUploaded the horizontal tie down is what you would use for the transom strap if you had the kicker motor.
@@ryanskare6670 Ahh, got it. Thanks for clarifying.
@@AnglingUploaded no problem. Mine has the kicker is how I knew. Great review by the way. I love mine. That little hidden and utterly worthless compartment in in the rod holder? You can drill a small 1/4" to 5/16" hole in one of the corners to make a drain. Just be careful and only drill till you pop through.
@@ryanskare6670 I should probably do that with the glove compartment, too. 🙄
Who the heck told you that other u bolt is to secure a kicker!!! When you put a kicker on it covers the vertical eye that you referred to as the boat tie down, the one you referred to as a secure point for the kicker is now the boat tie down, older targas need to install this if they put on a kicker as there is no tie down point after the kicker is installed. Please explain how you would secure a kicker with that eyelet
Buying one this summer. Good info, on some areas I haven't thkught about.
Glad you found the video useful.
Great video, comic relief too, great job
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Commenting as i watch your video. Again think things through, the large storage container for tackle does not lock, unfortunate, but its because the standard locking mechanism has a swing arm to lock it, if you place the standard plano boxes on end in that storage area and they shift at all during transport or on the water the plano boxes will block the latch from opening. Beore you complain, think about why
I’m going to order one of these with the 200 hp. If you ordered yours again would you get the 9.9 kicker mtr?
If I had the extra money, I would have added a kicker. Eventually, I’ll get one, but I need to invest in graphs and upgrade the trolling motor first.
As soon as you said cold weather you lost me .
I'm in Florida. Lol.
Nice rig.
Thanks, John. It’s all relative, right? What’s cold in Florida? 60?
Put it this way.
What ever it is I'll be bass fishing when your scratching ice off the front window to see out.
Best thing about Florida no ice. No snow. No cold Temps. Nothing but sunny ,warm( some hot as hell)days.
Going to be in the mid 80's tomorrow.
the storage tray under the middle rod locker, I drilled a couple of drain holes in mine. What the F Tracker lol.
Indeed. What in the ever living F, Tracker. 😆
Thanks for reminding me. I did the right thing when buying a Lund.
3 things i noticed the fuel fill is on the right side all truck fill on the left side also fiquring out cover is hard...also no spare tire
I’ve really never had an issue with the fuel fill where it is. The cover took a little time figuring out, but isn’t an issue at all now. Roll it up like a burrito from stern to bow when removing. To put back on, start at the bow and unroll to the stern. Spare tire probably should be standard, though.
How shallow will it float . Can you use the trolling motor and float around in less than 2’ ?
You sound like Owen Wilson. I was waiting to hear you say "Wow"
Here, I'll say it, "Wow".
Awsome boat. Only thing that could make it better is if the motor was an Evenrude. Mercury would be my second choice. I own a mercury. I cant offord the Evenrude 🤣🤣
Evinrude’s are great motors. Kinda still in shock that they stopped making them.
Why would you want a motor from a manufacturer that went more or less out of business?
First off if youre happy with the hook fish finder you sir are not much of a fisherman, one of the main things to complain about is the fish finder as it's junk, get a ram mount, you can easily fit a 13” screen there
Sounds like you need a beer.
That ladder would be harder to reach up and unlatch than just grabbing the side of the boat.
No, the ladder deploys easily and makes it much easier to get in the boat. If you fell overboard and your clothes were waterlogged, it’d be very difficult to re-enter.
Looks like a great boat. Love the OBS Truck 👍🏾
Words can’t express the love I have for my truck. I’m sure, in time, I’ll feel the same way about my boat.
Wicked boat! Great walk through
Thanks! It’s got its little quirks, but overall, I’m really happy with it.
Hows this boat held up? Looking at maybe getting the same one. And how do those Compartments all get so much water in them?
The boat has held up well, but keep in mind, I’ve only had it since the fall of 2020. I also take very good care of my equipment, so I might not be the best person to ask. Not sure how the water gets in some of the compartments, but it’s an issue. Probably makes sense to drill some holes and keep your valuables in a dry bag. Obviously, shouldn’t be happening with a new boat.
Looking at getting a 2023/24 Targa
The hull thickness makes the boat a non-starter. .125 is just not strong enough.
Nice boat I have the older model WT 18. The boat is rock solid
Thanks, dude. Glad you’re happy with your Targa.
@@AnglingUploaded I am not completely happy with my Tracker. I had the impression that the haul had a lifetime warranty. I’m the original owner and 8 year into owning the boat started to leak. After investigating I noticed three small cracks in the haul were they welded the interior supports the the haul. After 3 months of email with tracker boats and tracker boat not covering the repairs. I spent 5 thousand on welding repairs. The interior of the boat was all removed and the welding was repaired and all new floatation foam was returned .
With the cost of new boat, I resided to repair and see if I can get a few more years out of it.🤞
My review of your review, brutal at best, awfully glad you are so impressed with the cup holders! Yes the cubby in the rod locker holds water but ya know, drill a hole!!! Yes the upper glove box gets water in it when it rains or you leave it outside with the the rodents. The fish finder is entry level junk as is that crap underpowered trolling motor that isn't strong enough in anything past a 20 mph wind and it has no spot lock or gps and the prop comes out of the water in anything more than 2 foot waves. Now real stuff thats a problem, the factory crank jack needs ti be replaced immediately as its far under strenghted for that boat, the winch stand needs a brace as they tend ti break off when hit by the boat. However, i am sure that all the other office type people buying their first boat may have gotten something of value from your review, for example the cup holders
The compartment in the rod locker, drill a hole in it!!!
You need to trademark "What the FU"!!! Killed me every time! lol! The worst thing about that boat: 6'3" bow rod storage? UGH!!! Useless unless all you do is vertical jig.
Glad I was able to give you a good laugh! 😆 No doubt the 6’ 3” bow rod storage is tight and not functional for most setups. I really only see it being useful for walleye rods for vertical jigging and trolling (telescopic). What the FU…!?!?
Great video!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I own a 19 I drilled two drains in the glovebox fixed that
Easy enough, I guess. Should never have to do that with a new boat, though, especially one over forty grand.
Great review man! I have a tracker 2072 and am very happy with it.
Thanks, dude! Glad you’re happy with your Tracker.
Bro not even 2025 yet
OMG! Best review EVER!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Entertaining and informative. 😂😂😂😂
Glad you enjoyed it!
The real question is what was Tim Hortons thinking
🤔
Thank you bro!!! But my problem is, firs i buy then i look for reviews!)
Me, too! 😂
What the top speed?
52 mph
I just got a 2023 v19. And they have my kicker on the other one. 🤷🏼♂️
I'm not shocked to hear this.
@@AnglingUploaded after looking at the placement, I don’t see how they could put it on the other one 🤷🏼♂️. It wouldn’t be able to trim up……
What is the break system of the trailer?
They’re surge brakes.
Those pushlights suck. If you bump them in the daylight you'll end up draining your battery and ruin your next fishing trip. Don't ask me how i know about that.
Anybody that wears a hamms hoodie knows what he’s talking about
No argument here.
holy crap the motor looks bigger than the boat!!!!
Maybe. It certainly costs more.
You could have washed it first !
It’s a fishing boat, not a luxury watercraft. Also, I’m not making a commercial for Tracker.
How shallow will it run
That’s a great question, but I haven’t run it very shallow yet, so I can’t give you a good answer.
BEAUTIFUL ❤
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Very nice boat 🚤
Thank you!
Their are some engineers that need to be fired.
It’s frustrating for sure. Could be indicative of a culture of mediocrity at Tracker. Employees who don’t give a damn, usually don’t care about the products they make.
Great review but the language was unnecessary. Do better.
Awesome video - Comical too .. You drink Hamms Beer - WTF !
Thanks, brother! Hamm’s gives me the nostalgic tinglies. Truth be told, I drink a hell of a lot more Coors Light.
@@AnglingUploaded too funny.
@@AnglingUploaded My fraternity always bought kegs of Hamm's beer. Funny how you will drink cheap booze on a limited budget.
The designer is an "alcoholic"? lol
No judgment.
Have you ever thought about washing your boat ?
You volunteering?
Who the hell uses rods that short. 6’3” WTF
Buy a Lowe, or save your money and get a Lund……
I’m just saying. For a new boat. It seems u don’t take very good care of it. Filthy
Are you offering to come over and clean it?
@@AnglingUploaded😂
Carp Tracker 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I like carp.
L should of had 250
Too much carpet for my taste.
Guess I’m never buying that thing! Tracker what the fu?
There’s a lot of great features on the Targa, my favorite probably being the Versa-Track, but like any boat, it’s got its idiosyncrasies. Tracker might not be the greatest in terms of fit and finish, but their boats are more affordable than most. Overall, I’ve been happy with the boat.
@@AnglingUploaded I agree, to a point, many boats, Lund included, have similar if not worse fit and finish. I have this boat, and I have family that have Lund and Alumacraft, my boat is just as well put together as theirs. It rides better, takes big waves better, and is more comfortable to fish out of. Another thing I like is that the cabin is deep, your hat is not going to get blown off as your cruise across the lake unlike similar boats where the top of your head is at the same level as the top of the Wind Screen. For the money, this boat can't be beat. (my opinion of course)
WTF🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
More wasteful materialism on display.
I bet you’re fun at parties.
Nice review, from mn here as well
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
All these boats just like ranger boats they dont give room for.these monster fishfinders, ram mounts is what everyone uses
Definitely seems like RAM is the way to go.
Put a 40,k boat in your back yard😂
those locks will keep 3 year olds out. don't leave your wallet in those.
I’m not sure they’d keep 3 year olds out.
I think that tracker pulls the wool over buyers eyes because there warrenty coverage is wishy washy at best u spend this money on ur dream boat and they like other boat manufacturers jack us around im ashamed of the problems i see and hear about
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. Boats are WAY overpriced, especially when you consider the fit and finish issues. You’d never see these problems in new automobiles.
100% agree the issues I had during the first year owning my boat kept trying to get tracker to help but it was always you have to get the dealer to help and they kept saying sorry dk what to tell ya
The targa and all tracker boats seem like clown boats to me. The layout just doesnt make sense and the fit and finish is atrocious. And then they have their packages that you can't change. Like who the hell wants a non-spotlock trolling motor these days? Tracker boats are for families that take their boat out twice a year and fish for maybe 1 hour on that trip with bobbers and worms.
Accurate!
So what boat do you own? Motor? It's probably a rowboat on a pond...
Kicker motor😂
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!