Captain's Report by Capt. Steve--

Mission Statement

The Tracker Pro Team 190 TX was developed to bring competition class functionality to a well-built fishing boat. Since the angler catches the fish, not the boat, why spend a fortune on the platform?

Mission #2

Build an aluminum boat as strong as any in class with a warranty to match.



With a capacity for 5 persons, the 190 TX still leaves plenty of room onboard. All seats are composite and the center seat folds down to reveal a step to the aft deck.

Major Features

• Exclusive all-welded .100 aluminum Revolution hull with Smooth Ride guarantee.

• All-aluminum Power-Trac offset transom and full-length longitudinal stringer

• Minn Kota 12V, 45-lb. thrust trolling motor

• Lowrance X-4 Pro fishfinder

• Aft 16-gallon livewell with bait bucket—aerated, timed and recirculated with pump-out

• 3-across seating with storage, fold-down center seatback with drink holders and step to aft deck and 2 fishing seats with secure screw-in seat bases

• Lockable 8' center rod box, rod hold-down straps (bow deck and cockpit side), bow/aft storage boxes with aluminum lids, aft drop-in boxes with 3 tackle trays

• Interstate cranking and trolling batteries and 2-bank, 4-amp (8 amps total) onboard battery charger

• Painted gunwale and hull sides with natural aluminum bottom for long-term durability

• Factory-matched custom trailer with heavy-duty load guides, EZ lube hubs, swing-away tongue and all-welded frame with Galvashield protection

Performance

While we haven’t tested this 190 TX, we do have considerable experience on Tracker boats. This particular boat has Tracker’s exclusive Power Trac offset transom that provides improved hole shots and a more stable and drier ride -- so much so that Tracker guarantees it. If owners aren’t convinced that the ride is the smoothest, they can return it within 30 days for a full credit towards any Tracker boat of equal or greater value. Our experience in other Tracker models with this guarantee has been positive.



All Revolution hulls feature Tracker’s exclusive offset transom design. It feeds undisturbed water to the prop to give a quicker hole shot and better overall performance.

With the standard 90-hp ELPT OptiMax engine, Tracker tells us that the 190 TX will reach speeds between 43-44 mph. The optional 115-hp OptiMax will bring her to 45-46 mph, it says.



The reverse chines help the 190 TX to carve cleanly through the turns, rather than slide and fall off the turn. It also creates stability when maneuvering on the trolling motor.

Construction

With all-welded construction, Tracker boats are built tough. It starts with an empty hull and a longitudinal stringer system that is hydraulically pressed into the hull, and then welded in place. This gives full length support of the running surface. Side supports are then added at the inside of the chine to control flexing. At the bow, chevron supports are added to absorb water impact. Then a box-beam transom is welded directly to the stringer system making a solid, unitized hull.



The Tracker hull is one of the strongest in class with completely unitized all-welded construction.

Once the hull skeleton is created, transverse bulkheads are welded to the stringer system and hull sides to further add strength and support. Finally, a two-part expanding foam is used in the remaining void areas to add flotation when swamped, further increase hull stiffening, and provide sound insulation. And Tracker stands behind the product with a transferable Limited Lifetime Warranty covering all external welds and a Limited Five-Year Warranty covering the hull, interior ribs and transom.

Features Walkthrough

Storage

One thing Tracker has always managed to get right was the amount of available storage on its boats, and when carrying gear is critical, this is a feature that stands out. The forward rod storage locker, complete with tubes, holds rods up to 8’6” (2.59 m) long. Straps on the bow deck and side gunwales provide even more rod storage. To the sides of the bow are two additional storage compartments, ventilated to reduce moisture buildup, and lockable for overnight security. More storage is under the cockpit seats and to either side of the aft deck mounted livewell. These aft compartments are drop-in types that hold Plano tackle organizers.



Storage is plentiful on the Pro Team 190 TX.



Something we don’t usually see are the aluminum hatch covers with a reinforcing square-channel. Notice the deck straps to hold additional rods.



Moving aft there is additional storage under each of the three-across cockpit seats. And two more storage compartments flanking the livewell in the aft casting deck. Notice the “new for 2013” courtesy light at the side of the console.

Seating

With a capacity for 5, there are enough seats to accommodate all passengers with room to spare. All seats are constructed from composite materials for long life and weight reduction. All seats fold down and feature “pinchless” hinges. The center seat in the cockpit lays flat to form a step leading to the aft casting deck. It also had drink holders embedded into the step.



Pedestal seats are “secure and stable” and have pedestals that screw into the bases for more rigidity.



The center seat forms a step to the aft deck. Drink holders are included for the side seat occupants.

Helm

The helm consists of a console to starboard with a small windscreen to deflect air. Black vinyl serves as the mounting point for the helm components that include silver backed switch panels to either side of the three-spoke steering wheel.



An efficient helm helps keep clutter to a minimum while keeping the operator comfortable. Here is an excellent example of a drop-in console that served its purpose well.

A Lowrance X-4 Pro fishfinder with surface temperature readout is mounted to a swivel base and included as standard equipment. The four gauges are white-faced with chromed bezels, as typically seen in this category. The engine control is mounted low enough to take good advantage of the wide caprail as an armrest.

Additional Fishing Features

To add to the standard fishing features there is a 12V trolling motor connected to a bow panel that includes a tilt switch for the outboard. Two batteries are included in the build, one for the trolling motor and one for engine start. Both are charged from a standard 2-bank, 8-amp battery charger.



A powerful Minn Kota trolling motor with foot control is standard equipment.

The livewell mounted into the aft casting deck has a 16 gallon (60.6 L) capacity and features a divider with a bait bucket holder, one-piece construction, a 500 GPH (1,892.71 LPH) aerator/fill pump with timer, and a 500 GPH (1,892.71 LPH) recirculating pump with timer.



The livewell comes with timers and room for a bait bucket.

Trailer

The 190 TX rides on a “best in class” custom trailer that includes a swing-away tongue. The frames are welded together from Galvashield corrosion protected steel tubing. A brake upgrade is available as an option.



Even the standard trailer adds to the quality of the Tracker Pro Team 190 TX.

Observations

Clearly Tracker pulled out all the stops to provide a top-of-the-line competition class fishing machine in the Pro Team 190 TX. As its business model is to provide the best value for the boating dollar, it’s not surprising that it comes competitively priced at just under $18,500 with a standard 90-hp motor.

Given the boat's rugged construction and good warranty we'd say its hard to go wrong with the 190 TX at this price.



The largest of the Pro Team family, this 190 TX has a LOA of 18’7” (5.66 m) and a beam of 7’5” (2.26 m).