Battle of the Boats: Lund vs Tracker Boats
It’s official. Fishing makes you a better person, science says so. Before you can reap the health benefits of fishing, such as physical fitness, a sense of calmness, reduced stress and lower PTSD, you have to choose your vehicle. One popular option is Lund and Tracker Boats, but they’re locked deep in a battle for your boating dollars.
As the Battle of the Boats heats up, find out why what you choose to put in is so much more important than what you reel in. Keep reading and reel in the details!
Boat Basics
Before we ring the bell and send the manufacturers to their ring corners, let’s get some of the basics out of the way first.
There are several questions to ask yourself when you’re considering Lund or Tracker Boats. Pondering these may help you get further along on your buying journey and arm you with information to seek out from your dealer:
The Hull Story
This is as basic as it gets, so you’ll want to hear the “hull” deal.
One of the first choices you’re going to have to make is what kind of hull you want on your boat (that’s the bottom).
You can choose from:
- Deep V (choose this only if you’re offshore fishing in big waves. Know that you’re going to need a higher horsepower engine with it)
- Flat bottom (less horsepower required, and you can usually push it off yourself if you get grounded. You’ll lose some comfort quality to your ride as a tradeoff for less drag on the water)
- Bay and Semi-V (these cover a lot of bases and are suitable for both inshore and near-shore fishing. A potential super starter boat option)
There are also general questions to ask yourself too. Though they may seem frivolous or straightforward, they will have an impact on whether your chosen boat is an actual match or not:
- What type of water are you fishing in? If it’s salt, your boat needs to be able to withstand day after day of the corrosion that comes with saltwater.
- How many people do you want to carry? Think about more than just bodies – account for their rods, equipment, and carry-ons too.
- What type of accessories do you want? Certain makers make certain things available. If you get your heart set on that leather captain’s chair, but you make isn’t available with it, you’ll have to trade something off.
More Power Please
Don’t forget the power!
You need to get to where the fish are, and rowing won’t cut it long term.
Consider engines:
- Outboard
- Inboard
- Sterndrive
- Jet propulsion
Tracker Boats: Biggest Selling Points
It’s hard to beat the numbers.
According to Ozarks, Lund and Tracker boats are the number-one selling fishing boat in the country.
How about some selling points?
- Made in America
- 5-year warranty from bow to stern
- 3-year warranty on the factory-installed motor, fishfinder, and finish adhesion
- Assistance with transferring to the second owner (but really, why would you want to?)
- Limited lifetime structural and deck warranty
- One-piece mod V hull
- Robotic welding on stringers and transoms with a plasma cutter
- Diamond coat finish
Have we sold you yet?
See It, Sail It
If you can’t get to a boat dealer just yet or don’t want to tempt yourself, sometimes the next best thing is to check out Tracker Boat videos, made by boaters like yourself.
(You can always view videos on the Tracker and/or dealer sites, too, but independent/non-partisan videos will give you the full nitty-gritty without influence.)
Sail over to YouTube or your favourite media site and enter terms such as “Tracker Boat videos” into the search box.
If you already have your preferred model picked out, narrow your search even further with that search term, such as “Tracker 190 TX Test 2014.”
The Lay of the Lund
As you do your research on Tracker boats, one thing is going to come up. A lot.
It’s the word “Lund,” so get used to it.
Lund boats will come up often when you search for Tracker boats, and in many cases, it’s going to come down to a manner of opinion.
Very heated opinions on many boating forums, with people very passionate about their choices of boat struggling to convince you of the same.
Forums are an excellent place to get opinions, be sure to keep your head on straight – it can be easy to get persuaded by all the passionate proclamations about Tracker boats and Lunds!
Use the forums as a place to post questions, especially about particulars. Boat fanatics haunt these message boards and love to talk shop and show their expertise.
Loving Lund
Fans who are deeply in the Lund corner will tell you some of the following may contribute to their preference:
- Hulls designed with 5052 H 34 aluminum
- IPS, IPS2, and IP3 technology
- Composite fibreglass structure
- Injected closed-cell foam
- Fresh intake of oxygenated water from under the boat for the catch of the day
- Mounting systems for rod and cup holders, plus downrigger brackets
- Lots and lots of storage
By the way, reading testimonials from other boat buyers is always an excellent idea.
You can press the Ctrl+F keys and do a search for your preferred boat within the forum (such as “Tracker boats”) or see if the forum has its search box.
This filters out all the competing posts (unless that’s your thing) and lets you get an idea of the good, bad, and the ugly that people are saying about your potential dealer.
If you’re into accolades, you may be eager to learn that Lund Boats were honoured by admission into the Fishing Hall of Fame back in 2000.
Hit the Resale Market
If the price tags on brand new Lund and Tracker Boats stop you in your tracks, consider the resale market.
We’re not talking about buying a boat blind off the side of the road, but you can get outstanding deals on used Lund and Trackers boats just because someone else wants to upgrade or change his boat.
Remember, these boats are an investment for a reason. All of that high-quality construction means they’re built to last a long time, even if that goes past the original owner.
You benefit from a lower price and get your feet wet by getting a boat close to the boat of your dreams.
How to get your hands on your first starter boat?
Dealers are still an ideal option – many do strong business in resale/pre-owned boats.
You can usually search dealer inventories online and can narrow your choices by make, model, fuel type, engine type, and kilometres on the boat.
Of course, that’s just a start.
You can always keep your search full-on until you get the perfect partner for your fishing days, including colour and style.
A benefit of buying from a dealer’s pre-owned inventory is that there are usually many checks and balances that come with the boat transfers ownership, including full inspections, warranties, etc.
There may even be a buy-back period after you purchase the boat, though in most cases, you’ll hopefully enjoy smooth sailing!
Dealers will also be able to offer you boat loans and financing on your purchase. The boat may not be new, but it’ll be new to you!
Don’t Forget the Service!
One thing to explore as you check out Tracker or Lund Boats and the dealers that sell them is whether the dealer offers service, too.
Sure, it’s similar to your regular car or truck, where you don’t have to take your vehicle in for service at the same place you bought it, but why wouldn’t you?
Your dealer knows your particular model in and out and knows exactly what service you need.
Hear a little grind as you cut the engine?
Chances are, the dealer knows that noise all too well.
You may be able to get discounts from your dealer because you bought your boat there, anything from a free check-up to reduced “emergency” visits.
The dealer will have all the details on dry docking, too, should you ever want to pull the boat out for a while or when the fishing season comes to a close.
Get on the Right Track
One “shore” way to make sure you chose the right Lund or Tracker boat?
Talk to an expert.
That’s where we come in.
We breathe boats and would be happy to help you, no matter where you are on your boat buying journey.
We can help you if your a new buyer, repeat buyer, or even someone with bad credit and wants to relax on the water.
Take the first step by clicking here and sending us your question or comment.
On that same page, you can also subscribe to our newsletter and even chat with an online representative.
We hope to see you sailing soon!