20' Tracker SF Project

[otterhound]

Hi All,
I mostly lurk around here enjoying everyone's projects but have now started one of my own. I picked this boat up this summer for $1250 w/motor and on a trailer with 2 bent axles. We managed to drag it up onto a rollback car hauler and get it to Shelter Island where I have a small boat shop. After running the boat a couple times it was clear that this was the one to keep long term. Being a sailor I never really did much with power boats. Anyway the gas tank started leaking while it was in the driveway one so this is where I begin this fiasco . Enclosed are a few photos for you enjoyment and I will try to update this regularly.
Rod Anderson

[otterhound]

The console fastenings had all stripped because the balsa core had gone away so the previous owners just set it in about 4 tubes of 5200! I'm going to have to start doing my paying boats in a few weeks so I won't have the time this year to replace the cockpit floor. Also, I felt the console was too big for a narrow 20 footer (it was a Grande) so as you can see I'm narrowing it 5" and shortening about 2 1/2". I shortened it from the bottom as the flange was pretty mutilated anyway and I'll mount it to a fiberglass angle that will be fastened and glued to the deck.
Rod

[Boatboy6]

Spent last summer at brick cove marina and hope to do the same this year. Itll be nice to see another seacraft down there.

[otterhound]

Absolutely, give a holler when you get out here
Rod

[mrobertson]

Keep the pics coming. We need more tracker 20 owners on here!!!! I did a quick restore of one early this year.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...ad.php?t=23607


The way mine is setup, light, and with that 115 2 smoker..........it will surprise the hell out of you. Absolutely fantastic boat in a short tight chop. I frequently cruise by other boats taking a pounding in a typical 2 foot chesapeake bay chop.

You're right about the console. I swear the consoles are the same on that era 20's and 23's (i have both). The stock console on the tracker era 20's is way too big.

-Mike

[otterhound]

I read through your thread a couple of times and it inspired me to dive in. I particularly liked your console and will keep looking for something similar. In the meantime though narrowing the present one and taking off the flange gives a lot more room to get around it. The motor that's on it right now is a 1989 Black Max 150 with a number of issues but with a daughter in college the 130 Etec is going to have to wait a couple of years . On the upside though I'm happy with the way it performs when it's running correctly. Fuel mileage is another story though .
Rod

[mrobertson]

You can buy those consoles for less than $700 shipped from marine connection liquidators in florida. I would have hacked mine up but given the shape it was in and what i ultimately wanted out of my project, i would have spent most of that rehabbing it anyway so i'm happy. I wanted something without the front seat to give the most deck space possible.

I was going with a 140 suzuki but i ran into a stupid good deal on a NIB 2005 Yamaha 115 2 stroke. I wasn't overly excited about the power plant before running it, but its a really sweet package. I cruise about 27 mph at 4,000 - 4,200 RPM. I plane off instantly with no bow rise at all. I have not calcuated exact fuel mileage but it's 3.5 mpg or better, i know that much. The only negative is, i only top out around 34 - 35 mph.

Honestly though - sweet sweet little boat to run around it. Very versatile and very capable. Lots of storage for a boat that size, my only gripe is i wish it had just a litttttttttle more freeboard.

[otterhound]

I looked at the consoles on the marine connection site but I need to put my hands on it and see how it's made, so I don't know if that would work for me, lol. I need to keep a small seat as well, I'm thinking of putting my batteries up there. As far as the ride of the boat goes though I'm really impressed, especially in a short steep chop. I haven't had it out in any big stuff yet but I'm sure it will be fine as long as the old Merc stays running .
Rod

[jimthesailor]

Would like to see some pictures of the narrowed down original console.

Also if the windshield is still available, I could be interested.

[otterhound]

You can see the two halves narrowed by 5" in the 6th photo. That is also shortened by 2 1/2" which I've since added back on . I'm also probably going to remove the seat/storage from the front of the console and use a cooler/seat when needed. I post a photo of the console back together tomorrow.