Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Will be mooring on a 100 acre private lake that has a no wake rule, but have access to 220 acre lake that it spills into, just have to trailer it to another boat ramp to make that happen. Primarily the wife and I, but will host the grandson (soon to be 3) and Daughter/Son in law once or twice a month. Looking mostly for FISHING, but as grandson gets older, can see where tubing would be in the picture. Can do that on the adjacent 220 acre lake, or jump over to Lake Sam Rayburn which is only 30 to 40 minutes away. Torn between the Tracker Bass Buggy 18, with 60HP Merc and the Tracker Fishing Barge 20, with a 90 HP. Does anyone have thoughts/experience with the two, willing to share your ideas? Also, I have a trailer from a 2005 Fisher Liberty 18 that I owned. Liberty had a length of 18' 7". The bass buggy 18 a little over 19', and the Fishin' Barge 20 is little under 22'. I'm wondering if the existing Fisher Trailer that I have, would be compatible with either boat. I think Fisher was made by Tracker. Thanks for any input, and for listening to me ramble.

Jim

Welcome
I'm a new guy too. Kinda in the same "boat"
Will be following the opinions.

You might want to see if the trailer can have the tongue moved forward to where the bigger boat will fit. They're adjustable. If so, I'd go with the bigger boat.
If the trailer's not long enough, go with the 18 footer and the largest motor it's rated for.
Look up, and the 3 year old's going to be a big kid and wanting to be a tuber, and a little more horses than 60 is best.

I don't have the kid tubing issue just me and spouse unit. We would be content with the 18/60 but I do wonder about the 20 with a 75. More space would be awesome. Also, If I decide to go with the higher priced 20ft I'm definitely looking at some other brands particularly the Reata 20 but any brand of 20 may be out of my price range. Will be hitting the boat show in San Antonio in a few days.

You mention Rayburn,, thats a big place. I think if you were going to be on it alot I think I would consider the 20. As far as the smaller bodies go, from what I understand you would really want to do a "by the book" break in on the motor before puttering around all day at idle, just from what I've read.

What is the difference in the price of the 18 w/60hp vs. 20 w/90hp?

Most knee jerk reactions (including mine) would be the 20 footer.

Regardless, here is my prediction.....

1- You will get the 18 and use it 98% of the time on your home lake for the first 2 years.

2 - Grandson wants to tube so you trailer over to the other lake a couple of times in years 2 and 3.

3 - Mid-way through year 3, you decide the 18 fits your home lake perfectly but may need a little more HP for the tube. Since you love the boat so much and don't want to trade it in, you decide to get a jet ski to pull the tube and let the kids have fun while you anchor, listen to music, and sip cold ones. Now you are on the 220 acre lake with the boat and the jet ski. While having fun, you start thinking in the back of your mind that you don't like to trailer two toys so you secretly attempt to start justifying moving to and actually living on a larger lake.

4 - In year 4, you try Rayburn out with the 18 and find out you need a bigger boat (maybe a 20 - 22' with 150hp).

5 - In year 5, you have now determined you must have a bigger boat because you like "tooning" so much and it attracts friends and family 20 times a year (not 2-3 times a year). You are now convinced you need a 22'-26' tri-toon with a minimum of 200hp.

6 - In year 6, you secretly start going to boat shows and dealers all while looking at lake front property (by yourself because you are afraid to mention this to your wife).

7 - In year 7, you find out your wife has had the same thoughts as you and within 3 months, you buy a bigger boat and move to a bigger home lake.

My point in saying all of this is? When the time comes, they will give you a great trade-in on your seven year old 18' Bass Buggy because toons hold their value very well.

TexHorn....welcome to the club.

As far as tubing goes, we have a Tracker Party Barge 22 with a 60hp Bigfoot.
Trimmed properly, on a good day, I can get 16 MPH on GPS.
With the Bass Buddy 18/60, you may see 20 MPH. That should be plenty of speed to start out tubing.
The older your grandson gets and the more people you have riding, you will be better off with the 90hp.

I've been to BP a few times and sat on the 18. You say 4 adults and a kid maybe twice a month. Seems like that might be a little crowded to me on an 18.. and I'm sure first thing he will want to do in a few years is bring a buddy.

Fishing on an 18'er with 5 people is tough. Unless you have room outside the play pen at the bow it will be aggravating. Even then, I don't like to fish with more then 3 others with mine.

From My experience the bigger boat and the ninety!

You will have to be conservative on the little lake but have the boat for Rayburn and a few people and I'll see out there this summer!

We stay at Powell park for the summer every year.