Bass Tracker boats
Bass Tracker is Tracker Marine's entry level aluminum fishing boat line, built for budget conscious anglers since the 1980s. With over 7,000 registered hulls in the US and used prices typically between $5,000 and $14,000, these 17 foot boats offer an affordable path into bass fishing. The fleet skews older, with most registered hulls from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Bass Tracker used price range
From 971 live listings in BoatVerdict's market data (10th, 50th, 90th percentile).
See Bass Tracker values by model year →Are Bass Tracker boats reliable?
Bass Tracker boats are basic, mass produced aluminum hulls built to a price point rather than for longevity. Expect typical aluminum boat issues like rivet leaks, transom flex, and carpet rot on older models. Ownership costs stay low if you stick to simple outboard maintenance, but budget for trailer bearing replacements and electrical gremlins common to boats from this era.
Common problems to inspect on a used Bass Tracker
- Rivet leaks along chines and transom seams
- Soft or rotted transom wood behind the aluminum skin
- Corroded wiring and failed bilge pumps
- Trailer bunks and axles worn beyond service life
Bass Tracker used-boat buyer's guide
What Bass Tracker is on the used market
Bass Tracker is the nameplate that built the packaged-boat model in 1978 — boat, motor, and trailer at one national price — and the 7,200+ hulls registered under the standalone 'Bass Tracker' name skew toward the older classics (1980s–2000s), since newer boats register under Tracker. That makes this slice of the market effectively a vintage value segment: 20–40 year old riveted aluminum bass boats trading between $3K and $12K.
Known issues to inspect
Age dictates the checklist. Rivets and transom wood are the structural items — assume a 1990s transom is original unless receipts say otherwise, and price replacement ($800–2K DIY-adjacent, more at a shop) into any soft example. Deck plywood and carpet are nearly always tired on pre-2005 boats; that's cosmetic but quotable.
The engine decides the deal: most classics wear two-stroke Mercury or Johnson/Evinrude outboards of similar vintage. Compression-test every cylinder, check the lower unit oil for water intrusion, and treat a non-running engine as a $4K–8K repower decision, not a 'probably just needs a carb clean.' A classic hull with a newer four-stroke already on it is the configuration worth paying up for.
Resale and value character
Bass Trackers hold a remarkably durable price floor — a floating, running 16-footer with a trailer has cost $4K–7K for a decade regardless of age, because it's the cheapest complete path into bass fishing in America. You won't lose much owning one and you won't make anything selling it. Negotiate on the engine and trailer; the hull's value is its floor.
Written by a BoatVerdict analyst · Updated 2026-06-11
Registry footprint
Sample = US state open-data vessel registries (currently Texas + New York, ~875k vessels). Treat as a representative slice of recreational US inventory.
Recalls (6)
- ⚠ Recall
820101S7/9/1981LEVEL FLOTATION; LBD04716M79M-BUT08121M81K
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810055S4/21/1981LEVEL FLOTATION; BASS TRACKERS I-II-III
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820045S4/1/1982LEVEL FLOTATION
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820046S4/1/1982LEVEL FLOTATION
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820003S1/13/1982LEVEL FLOTATION; LBD04716M79M-BUJ08121M81K
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810101SFLOTATION
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Frequently asked questions
Are Bass Tracker boats good quality?
Bass Tracker boats are entry level aluminum hulls built for affordability, not premium fit and finish. They serve first time buyers well but lack the build quality and resale value of higher end brands.
How long do Bass Tracker boats last?
With over 7,000 hulls still registered and many dating to the late 1980s, the aluminum hull itself can last decades. The challenge is maintaining the transom, electrical system, and other components that degrade faster than the hull.
What is a used Bass Tracker boat worth?
Current market listings range from $5,000 to $14,000 with a median around $9,000. Age, condition, trailer quality, and outboard health drive the spread more than hull model.
Should I buy a Bass Tracker as my first boat?
Bass Tracker boats make sense for first time buyers on a tight budget who want to learn fishing and basic boat ownership without a large financial commitment. Just budget for repairs on older models and inspect the transom carefully before buying.
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