On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 23:43:34 -0400, "lupowell" wrote:

I'm thinking of buying a Tracker Pro 16. Will be selling or trading my eight
year old 17' Sea Pro center console. At my age (71) I'm wanting something
with a shallower draft and more suited to inland lakes and rivers in North
Florida.

Anyone here have any experience with that boat?

The Pro 16 is probably the quintessential entry level bass boat ever
produced in the United States. I swear, every fisherman at one time
or another has owned a Pro 16 - either as their very first bass boat
or as a spare boat for local pond jumping. I owned one at one time
for pete's sake. :)

When they were first produced, they were rather cheap - thin skinned,
not the highest quality decking, generally under powered, the seats
were cheap, but they floated and a lot of today's bass fishermen
started off with them. Eventually, Tracker got it's act together on
aluminum boats in general and the quality went up correspondingly.

The new ones I've seen are nicely appointed and decent quality. I
haven't run one in years, but I've seen quite a few of them on local
lakes and when chatting at the launch ramp, the guys who own them like
them.

I'm ten years younger than you - the only thing I'd be concerned about
it stability - the Pro 16 isn't that stable laterally because it's not
as wide as it's bigger cousin the Pro 175 (70" vs 89"). I don't know
about you, but I can trip over my own feet - it's just something to
think about.

Don't expect to find a used one that looks like it's in showroom
condition - the aluminum is .090 vs the .100 of the Pro 175. Seems
like a minor thing, but it does make a difference. A little pounding
and that aluminum starts to show it's wear.

If you just looking for something to kick around in to get out and
fish the ponds and small lakes, it's exactly what it is - a
base/entry, no frills, you get what you pay for bass boat.

One last comment - if it were me, I'd opt for the Pro Team 175. It's
about twice the price, but it's also twice the boat - much more
stable, more options (including power) and just as easy to handle.