Stunning Performance and Looks in an All-Aluminum Boat
Tested By Captain Keith Burton
I had heard about the Tracker Tundra before I had my first look at one. People were talking about this rugged all-aluminum boat that looked as smooth as the best fiberglass boats. Sure, I had thought, where are the rivets?
So there it was floating peacefully at dock at Table Lake near Branson, Missouri. And sure enough, the hull was as smooth as a baby’s bottom, even more so.
The striking good looks of the Tundra 18, and its larger sibling, the Tundra 21, is due to a sophisticated formed-aluminum process that usually is found only on expensive aircraft. In this application it provides a boat with the rugged durability of aluminum and the sleek looks of the aforementioned fiberglass boats.
But there is more to this deep-V hull Tundra than a fancy set of aluminum duds. This is a boat that is rich in the type of features any fishing enthusiast would want in a deep-water boat.
First off, it is space. With its 8-foot beam, there is lots of room to get around on deck. The bow and stern fishing platforms are especially notable for plenty of standup space. Four deluxe removable pedestal seats are located in the main cabin. On the bow and stern fishing platforms there is a location to mount the seats for fishing.
The seat mounting mechanism is stoutly constructed and should last for years of use, however the mechanism is a bit difficult to operate, especially the first couple of times you use them. But with experience, you will be able to remove and mount the pedestal seats with ease.
Also at the bow is a powerful Minn Kota 24- volt, 65 lbs-thrust trolling motor, which is standard on the Tundra, along with its control pedal. Switches to control the main outboard motor tilt are mounted on the bow panel facing rearward.
All over the Tundra 18 you will find storage lockers. This boat is practically a storage closet on the water. There are lockers in the bow, lockers on the deck, lockers in the stern, lockers on the gunnels. And all can be locked with a key. We especially like the large center rod locker with room for heavy 7’6” muskie rods, and an area for storing two fishing rods in a holder on the port side.
At both the bow and stern the Tundra 18 has aerated baitwells. At the stern is a huge 29-gallon aerated and circulated livewell. The controls for the livewells are located conveniently at the control console. The livewells are notable in that the corners are rounded off corners to help keep fish alive.
The control console is fully instrumented with easy to see gauges set in a woodgrain plastic trim. Toggle switches for all the electrics are right at hand and easy to operate. Also standard with the Tundra 18 is a Lowrance X37 fish finder with surface temperature readings.
On the water, the Tundra is swift and stable, even through rough conditions. The hull flares outward at the rear, which really cuts water spray from entering the interior. The boat only weighs in at a modest 1,500 pounds, so it is also fuel efficient and able to get by with good performance with a smaller engine out back.
Through some rough water we noted that the hull didn’t pound sharply as in many other boats. Turn in is sharp and linear even when trimmed out high.
Steering effort with the standard cable setup is a bit stiff, so we recommend the optional hydraulic steering for this boat to the get the most enjoyment out of a long ride to your favorite fishing hole.
The Tundra 18 has a 40 gallon fuel tank that has convenient filler on the port side of the boat. Easy access to the main engine battery and engine oil reservoir are in compartments at the very stern of the deck. The Tundra 18 was also designed to handle a kicker outboard hung from the transom.
The base price, with a Mercury 115 ELPTO Pro Series outboard is a very reasonable $20,595, which includes a matching trailer.
Overall, the Tundra 18 is a remarkably capable deep-water fishing boat with rugged aluminum construction and an enormous amount of storage and space onboard. And it looks great. What more can a fisherman want?
