When looking for an affordable, good quality fishing boat, one can never go wrong with Tracker’s bass boats. Tracker offers users a ready-to-fish boat with a motor, fishfinder, trolling motor, and trailer all included in one package.
The durability of a boat depends on the material and the construction. Tracker is well-known for its construction but are bass Tracker boats all aluminum?
This post will discuss why many boaters prefer aluminum and if all Tracker bass boats are made of aluminum.
Why Aluminum?
Believe it or not, aluminum is quite suitable for boats. Not only is it strong, but it’s also lightweight and is easy to weld. In addition, some aluminum alloys are resistant to corrosion in both fresh and salt waters.
Boaters prefer aluminum as it can hold against impact, unlike fiberglass, which can crack at high impact. With aluminum boats, the most you’ll get is a dent.
Aluminum hulls also offer boaters a comfortable journey at sea. Aluminum does creak when at sea, neither do they have any unpleasant smell.
Not only are these boats environmentally friendly, as aluminum can be wholly recycled, but they also don’t fuel fires (unlike wood).
Are Bass Tracker Boats All Aluminum
To answer your question, yes, Tracker bass boats are all made of aluminum. Tracker boats are made of 5052 H34 marine alloy, which is aluminum combined with 2.5 percent magnesium, 0.25 percent chromium, and a small number of other metals like iron, silicon, copper manganese.
The best part about this alloy is that it is easy to mold into the required shapes and is easy to weld. This particular alloy is also resistant to corrosion, making it an excellent choice for boat construction.
On some of the larger Tracker boats, you might find a ¾-inch 7-ply marine grade plywood deck on top of the aluminum support.
All tracker hulls are welded, with no rivets or any other type of hardware. The hull seams, bulkheads, stringer, transom, and gunnels are all welded together to form one sturdy singular unit.
Moreover, Tracker is the only fishing boat manufacturer that uses a robotic welder to bind the stringers and transoms. Compared to traditional welding methods, this produces more consistent welding and gives an overall more robust and durable hull.
Tracker also uses laser precision to fabricate aluminum parts for its boats. The whole process is automated and requires little human supervision.
Given how all the parts are cut so accurately, each part fits more tightly, which makes it easy to weld and ensures consistency in all the products.
Construction Process
Here I’m going to use the Mod V boat series to explain how Tracker constructs its durable boats.
- At first, the stringer system is robotically welded.
- Then it is hydraulically pressed and welded into the hull.
- The box-beam transom is also robotically welded.
- Then is welded to the hull and stringer system to provide more outboard support.
- The Keel extrusion is welded into place. It helps eliminate pressure from areas where the hull sections meet.
- To increase the longevity and rigidity of the hull, longitudinal half-rounded aluminum supports are welded. These also ensure a higher performance.
- Next, the side supports are welded into place.
- Lastly, the transverse bulkheads are welded into place.
And there you have the basic structure of your Tracker boat. This process does vary a little depending on the model, but the general process is similar, more or less.
Diamond Coat
Another remarkable thing about Tracker’s boats is the Diamond coat, a multi-layer powder coat finish. In comparison to traditional paints, the Diamond coat is three times harder, four times thicker, and the color can last twenty times longer.
Additionally, it’s also quite environmentally friendly. Only 60 percent of traditional paint adheres to the boat. The remaining percentage is released into the environment. On the other hand, with the powder coat, 90 percent is applied onto the boats, while the remaining is used later.
To ensure the paint adheres to the boat properly, Tracker uses an unconventional yet remarkable process:
- First, the assembled hull/stringer/transom unit is auto-washed in five stages to ensure the paint can adhere properly to the boat.
- Then it is robotically coated with the colored powder.
- Technicians coat any areas that have been missed by the robot.
- The unit then enters a curing oven so that the powder coat can bind to the aluminum surface at a molecular level.
- Lastly, a clear coat is applied to provide protection from UV rays while also giving a glorious shine to the boat.
Tracker’s Best Bass Boat
If you’re looking for a durable and affordable bass boat, the Bass Tracker Classic XL is a good option to look into.
With the maximum person capacity of three people, this boat is perfect for peaceful fishing trips. Not only does it come with a life-time hull warranty, but the aluminum propeller on the motor is performance-tested, so you’ll have no issues.
You have ample space on this boat to store all your fishing gear as there is aft deck storage as well as under-seat storage.
The Minn Kota Edge 12V trolling motor has foot-control and comes with a thru-bolted motor mount to ensure durability.
If you don’t like noisy rides, then you’ll be pleased to hear that expanding foam is injected into the hull cavities to reduce noise. Additionally, it helps stiffen the hull and improved flotation.
Safety will not be a concern as this boat comes with a motor-stop safety lanyard, or a kill cord, and a fire extinguisher as well.
If you wish to enjoy quiet fishing trips with a friend or two, then the Bass Tracker Classic XL is a perfect option for you.
Conclusion
So, are bass Tracker boats all aluminum?
Yes, they are. As I discussed in this post, aluminum is one of the best-suited materials for boats. Not only is it strong and lightweight, but some of its alloys are also resistant to corrosion.
Tracker, in particular, uses a specific alloy of aluminum that is easy to mold and corrosion-resistant. Moreover, the precise construction process combined with durable materials ensures the quality of Tracker boats. They are strong, durable, and provide the best performance.
