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I'm thinking about getting an older (1989), riveted tracker to use in ponds and rivers. But I keep hearing about the rivets leaking over time and all kinds of problems getting them to stop leaking. So would one assume that all these boats are going to leak, it's just a matter of time? Or do they hold up pretty good, just a few problem boats keep getting talked about?
I have two friends who have Trackers and they both leak.
I had one - a fairly new one. I believe it may have been the last year they made rivetted trackers, and it eventually started to leak. I called a certified tracker service center and I was told it was a very common problem, that is why they went to the all-weld. If you have the time and know-how (Which I didn't) they can be sealed, but will eventually start to leak again. Mine never leaked so much the bilge wouldn't keep up. Just a slow annoying leak - eventually convinced me to get a new boat.
Guess that's why the used ones are so cheap. Think I'll steer clear. I do like the set-up of the panfish with the stick stearing up at the front seat. Seems like a good idea to me.
i have a 2001 tracker proteam and i have not had anyproblems witht he boat leaking. it has been a very dependable boat have not had to do anything untill last fall. the all welded hulls are very good.
They do eventually leak but the repair is not all that bad. I had the leaking rivets replaced with stainless steel bolts and it cured the problem. The main issue is getting to the leaky ones and that requires removing decks. As in another post when mine leaked it was never so bad that the bilge could not efficiently remove the water.
Recently my 02 Grizzley Jon Boat had a terrible leak (purchased used). The problem was as me and my buddy would get up front to crank I would take on some serious water. I took it to Stokleys Marine in Nicholasville and they fixed it under warranty...Ralph and the guys there are top notch for sure!:D . The problem they found was the bow tie down loop was not lined up from the factory with the holes that had been drilled so when we put 400lbs up front this caused the tie down loop to be under water.....I chalk it up to mass produced boats nothing more.
They had filled the boat up with water during the troubleshooting process and watched for leaks but the welds were tight. So I'm good to go...