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So, I dont think I can have a totally neutral opinion because I have a Sun Tracker Fishing Barge 22 DLX with the 150 hp Merc. Not the XP3. I live on the second largest lake in my state, 20,600 acres with 560 miles of shore line. I fish a fair amount, thats what I bought it for and living on the lake makes use convenient. I did not go with the optioned "fishing package". Instead I went with other fish finders and trolling motor, since thats what I wanted to do with it mostly I figured thats where I needed to focus. I shopped and looked around and had a boat when I bought this one, not a pontoon and not a fishing boat, an old Sea Ray. I dont know if you have ever actually been on or around a Sun Tracker or not but I think you are selling them a little short. My lake can get rough. My boat handles relatively large waves fine. No issues with handling or stability on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday with a lot of chop and traffic, and in the summer on the most popular vacation lake in the state there is a LOT of traffic. I would not take it tuna fishing in the Outer Banks! But on a nice day I wouldnt hesitate to take it redfish fishing in the Pamlico Sound, or near shore seatrout fishing on Floridas Nature Cost! Not only is the quality of the seat material satisfactory but i think its quite nice! Stow More seats offer TWICE the storage as any other manufacture! No other maker is doing this and I love them! Under heavy rain while fishing, all my gear in the seats stay dry. Lots of storage for gear and tackle. The livewells work great and the lay out is WAY better than the Bennington, Avalon or Lund fishing boat floor plans. I can pull the pedestal seats from the front and back when its just me and less than 4 others fishing and have plenty of room to cast on docks while using the trolling motor like a bass boat or troll 8 rods with planer boards for stripers and work fish all around the boat. Leave the seats in and I have had 6 adults and 3 under 14, two coolers, a wake board, Airhead towable, 12 fishing rods, 3 tackle boxes and all the required safety gear onboard. Still doing 28 mph. Still pulling tubes. Still snatching that wake board up on plane. Everyone had a place to sit, the 11 foot bimini casts a lot of shade. the bluetooth sound bar sounds great. There is a LOT to like with this rig. And in your 18 minutes of talking, you never once mentioned the 10 year factory warranty on "substandard" upholstery and furniture, short fence rails, and really nice marine grade woven flooring, and exceptional 11 foot bimini top. And while discussing the "inferior" construction of the pontoons and the frame work, you never mentioned the LIFE TIME warranty on all structural pieces of the craft. The fence that doesnt go all the way up makes placing rod holders easier and increases the choices of the types of rod holders used. Is it the most luxurious pontoon boat on the market? NO! But where Tracker really saves money isnt in cutting corners as you suggest. Its in their cookie cutter floor plans, the limited color options, the universal furniture sections. None of it is customized. So they can work an assembly line and just keep pumping them out! Are there some quality control issues? Sure! But thats everyone. I did not get my boat from a Bass Pro store but from a local dealer. They had other boats and I looked at them also. For me to say price wasnt an issue wouldnt be true. But I do not feel that for what I received, and how I use it that I received an inferior product.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Just a side note, I really do like your videos. I learned so much information about many manufacturers that I did not know about before. A lot of them helped influence my decision in my purchase. It was the combination of floor plan, the Stow More seats, price, availability and that warranty that did it for me. I think this video came out just after I bought my boat. Its the 2021 year model, just picked it up brand new this summer. But I have been looking for a long time. I have had used boats and been bitten by it before, spending more money on parts and labor than i should have. In the last couple years the Sun Tracker lineup has changed some of its features. In your video, you show a picture of the Bass Buggy. All of which are i believe 18 foot and less. They don't use the same helm station or have the same seats. The Stow More seat design is pretty awesome and it is only on the 20 foot and up models, the Party Barge and Fishin Barge. The pontoon attachment method discussed in the video is not the same either. At least there are not the spaces between the deck and logs like you pointed out. I am going to put an underpinning kit and sacrificial anodes so I can take it inshore fishing for big bull reds and speckled trout. Its a real fishing machine and for me, i dont want or need luxury. I want a fishing weapon I can have an occasional party on and be comfortable! It checks all those boxes. Thank you for what you are doing! Happy boating!
Thanks for the comment tinman u have the fishing barge I am wantin and u have answered a few of my questions so hopefully by spring I will have one they r hard to find right now with this virus shut everything down...thank u sir
The M bracket on the Sun Tracker attaching the pontoon to the cross member deck supports are full length on 20' and longer. (The M brackets attach the log to the crossmembers which holds the decking) They are not just a decorative feature. As well as the log diameters are 24" standard size. The other manufactures such as Bennington use smaller logs sizes. To get a larger size from them you have to buy the upgrade. These are just a couple enlightening facts shared. I did notice you said nothing about all the features the Sun Tracker offers that the others don't. A few are - longer motor pods for increased fuel capacity and better handling, increased cross bracing on bow and 25% more sub structure than competitors, powder coat finish vs. automotive paint, increased deck fasteners and a longer center tritune. Just to name a few features. An accurate review would be appreciated. There may be some aspects that are correct in the review, but you leave the impression all features mentioned are consistent across all platforms. Another important note: there is no such thing a Bass Buggy XP3!! - Details, accuracy!!??
My inlaws have had a couple pontoons over a 30 year period on their lake. We were in the market for a new pontoon and started looking at all current brands. Most entry level or mid grade boats I saw seem to rely on the “name” to sell you a “ quality “ boat with 0 improvements over the past 25 years besides 4 stroke engines. Then you go to build one and Everything is an extra by the time your done building a decent boat with some features and a decent size engine you are in a new house price range! Im a welder and the aluminum welds are fantastic on my boat most of the welds are robotic. They are not skimping on rail work either. They have added extra extruded square tubes for strength and appearance. We bought the 20dlx and they easily could have cut down the amount of sq tube used. The average boater is not going to notice a 25 pontoon vs a 24”. The storage and roto molded seat frames and storage bins are amazing. The stow more seat storage is amazing. They have factory kicker stereo with 4 speakers, power bimini, courtesy lighting, The mercury command thrust is top notch comes with stainless prop. The trailer is also very nice, galvanized and coated dual axle on a 20’ boat with surge brakes. They have extended transom now with the rear half underpinned with aluminum sheeting which they easily could have left out. The rails are anodized as well like you mention. The paint is nice, overall styling nice, well layed out. Nice interior with swivel and reclining dual armrest helm seat that is very comfortable, removable table and cup holders. The amount of features and options and quality of build are exceptional in this price range. Now where they do fall short is QC. Check your boat over throughly before signing the paperwork they are mass produced unlike alot of the other boats I looked at. If it looks good after good inspection you should be good. Time will tell but you are definitely selling these boats at least my model short and people watch your video and will completely discount this boat on your opinion. If its one thing Ive noticed in the boat community is there are alot of boat brand snobs could be the same inferior design that was sold in 1980 and because it has a certain name its awesome snd thats not the case they are relying on that and selling you short for more coin. No pontoons ate cheap anymore at 20 k or less mine was 42k with trailer, 90horse and cover thats not cheap in my world…
im looking at maybe buying one. i own a 2012 yamaha tw200 motorcycle because the design hasnt changed since it was introduced as farm equipment in 1986. they didnt have to change it. it works. i bought it. hope the same could be said for this.
Bought an 18 ft Party Barge DLX with a 40HP as our first new boat. Absolutely love it. We even wakeboard on it with one of the high buoyancy ZUP boards. Perfect for a family with small kids.
Thanks for the very honest and unbiased comments and advice. I was very impressed with the XP3 for the money but went with a Crest 220 in the end which was close to 20% more money. Partly due to quality and partly the layout. Another way Suntracker keeps costs down is very limited layout choices.
Great content,and analysis! I Mercury has been producing their 40,50, 60hp motors in China(ugh) since 2012 and are matched on Tracker products to further reduce cost. It would be nice to see a video on walk-through aluminum fishing boats 16-18' .
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Yes, Alumna craft, Star Weld, Crestliner, Tracker. I was thinking more in the entry level 25k range, 60-90 hp rating. Thanks for asking!!
You failed to mention one of the most popular models. The Sportfish 22 xp3. Perfect for the person like my self who wants to fish but also can take other people with you. There is 10 year limited warranty. For another 2500 you can cover your motor for 8 years. Should be a great boat for me as will be on lift. The other thing is their storage system behind the seats is a plus. No, don't work for them but have done my research.
Sun trackers pontoons are hardly welded on, the brackets are like 12 inches apart at best. They do not have full runners like Avalon and Tahoe does. That skirt you're talking about is just for looks and to make you think you have a rigid pontoon but unfortunately sun tracker has one of the most notoriously badly attached toons. (But 10 year warranty absolutely covers that so thats good piece of mind for sure)
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon well said. I take delivery of my Avalon Catalina 2585 VRL tritoon on Thursday. I personally don't think there is a better pontoon out there for the money. Paid 53k , brands like Barletta and Premier charge 6 figures for a similarly optioned boat
How are you liking it? Which size motor did you get? I’m strongly looking at getting that same model this year (my local dealer said they sold out of the 2020’s, and only have 2021’s coming now).
You are wrong about the 16 XL. The 16 DLX will go only go up to a 40 but the XL comes with a 50HP. Mine now.has 14 hours on it. I took delivery a week ago. It is also 8 feet wide while the other is 7ft.
Purchased a new SunTracker 18 ft Party Barge. Had it delivered and put in the water on a Saturday. Went to the marina on Tuesday after the Dock Master called. Both forward pontoons were leaking and boat was sinking. Bass Pro came on Thursday brought the boat back down to Atlantic City. Sun Tracker still has not answered any requests regarding fixing/ replacing boat. Think twice, I have called and written and receive standard replies.
DO NOT BUY A SUN TRACKER BOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We received our new Sun Tracker Pontoon in April 2022. In late August the steering went out after 6-8 times on the water. The steering cable and helm went out. The boat was in the shop for 2 months because they had trouble getting parts. We used the boat around 8 times since then. On Labor Day 2023 the steering went out again. The same exact problem happened. The boat is back in the shop. The dealer cannot give us a realistic time frame of when we will get it back. The real problem is that they are going to use the same parts. Again. The same parts that have broken twice in 12 months. Based on this, next labor day it will break again. No one at Sun Tracker will speak to me. It's all on the dealer they say. The dealer say's the parts are supplied by White River, (Sun Tracker), and they can only use what they are sent. This is crap. It's great that they fix it but we are tired of dragging the boat to the dealer for a months long wait to put faulty, (cheap), parts on it. We will never be able to trust that the steering won't break out on the water again. Save yourself. Buy a good boat instead. We love the boat except for the fact that it spends more time in the shop than on the water due to the cheapness of the parts and the company. DO NOT BUY A SUN TRACKER BOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, the main (almost single supplier) Dometic had a steering system recall in 2022 and there are a lot of boats that had recalls & break downs and tons have been and still are waiting on new steering systems. No excuse for how its handled but that is the reality in the industry and its impacting tons of boaters.
18ft bass buggy 2017 yr 75hp 2 people and gear for fishing full tank full 36 gallon get about 26 to 27 mph. Smooth all right conditions will hit 28 to 29 mph. we love it. 20mph pulling tube full of people.
what brands would you say are the next step up? I dont need a monster motor but I want to make sure i buy a quality boat. I want it to last. Great vid and great channel!!
Love your videos, I do have an XP3 22 with a 250 on it. Biggest motor you can get, I keep it on the Rivers Near Pittsburgh some years and up on a small lake with an amusement part on it where the family has a cottage. It deff cuts corners, but it still performs very well. But you can deff tell where there is cost savings. Its been a good boat. Im actually selling it before we move to Florida, and once Im down ther eIm gonna buy a Key West Center Console. As Pontoons dont do well in the ocean
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Lots of point you pointed out, Compared to my Dads Bennington Tritoon, the whole boat is a little narrower, seats aren't as comfy, carpet isn't as nice. The helm doesn't have the infomation that his does. You can deff tell everything is just a little less well put together. Its a solid boat tho. Glad to hear it, I'll be in Tallahasee which has a big lake right near it, and its not far from the ocean. A small Key West Center Console, like a 22 or 23 Footer with at least a 250 on it seem like they can be had in very good condition on the used market and be reasonable. I think its the way to go
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Very welcome. My XP3 has been a great boat, with that 250 she hauls pretty good. Handles very well, planes up. And the Sun Tracker Lineup honestly I think your right, for a new boater, or someone with a family who doesn't boat every weekend, just wants an affordable decently made boat at a good price. You can't beat Sun Tracker. Their customer service is awesome to. You did say Key West is good right? Been looking at a couple of their family special boats with single engines, we're gonna be in Tallahassee. They got a big lake about 10 minutes from where the new house is being built, and 45 minutes from the Ocean, we think a Key West Center Console Pre Owned is gonna be perfect for both bodies of water. The XP3 would be great for the lake, I just wouldnt want to put it in the ocean. Not built for it
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I will inspect it fully. I could get a brand new one if I wanted, but with a kid on the way in december which isnt long after the move in October I dont wanna tie a ton of money into a new boat. Somthing in really good shape used imo is the way to go, plus it gives me options to go bigger if I want. I know some of the really high end Tritoons are ocean rated, so in the future I might look i nto one
