The Tracker Pro-Guide V-16 is the company’s largest selling V-Series boat.

The Tracker Pro Guide V-16 Side Console is Tracker Marine’s best selling deep-V aluminum fishing boat. It measures 16' 6" (5.03 m) LOA and has a 7’ 10” (2.35 m) beam at the gunwales. We asked the folks at Tracker why this boat is so popular with freshwater anglers – other than the obvious reason of the low price – and here’s what they told us:

Evidently the Pro Guide V-16 is big enough to tackle some of the larger lakes in the northern part of the U.S. and in Canada. Some of these lakes have a long fetch, so can get rough if there is a breeze or a Venturi effect. On the other hand, the boat is small enough to navigate narrow, shallow rivers. As a result it is a good boat for all sorts of conditions and species of fish. At 1,925 lbs. (875 kgs.) the boat, engine and trailer package is light enough to be towed by most vehicles and it is easy to launch and store.



There is plenty of storage in seven separate compartments. Three seats come standard. The trolling motor is optional. This is a big step up from your grandfather’s outboard fishing boat with thwarts.

Boat Description

The Pro-Guide V-16 has a transom height of 21”, but remember that is not freeboard height. The 23-gallon (87.06 L) aerated livewell (with baitwell insert) takes fairly large fish, and the top-loading rod boxes handle rods up to 7' (2.13 m). For serious anglers, Tracker’s optional “Big Fish” package adds a trolling motor, battery and fishfinder to the deal.



There are several things we like about the helm: note the throttle is horizontal as we like it, there is a windscreen, something that is missing on many aluminum boats, and there are accessory toggle switches on the right side of the dash. Every boat is ergonomically different so make sure the helm of the boat you buy fits you because some may not.

The Tracker Pro-Guide V-16 is made from two pieces of 0.100 5052 marine aluminum alloy and is welded – not riveted. The bottom has a 19-degree deadrise which means on plane it can handle a light chop without rattling out your rear molars. The boat has reverse chines which adds a bit of stability but also knocks down the spray, so you’ll get a dryer ride.



The livewell has a 500 gph aerator and the corners are rounded. Note the hat-section stiffener in the in the lid for added strength.

The transom is all-aluminum and this is an important feature. There are two lockable rod and gear boxes, so you don’t have to worry about being ripped off when you stop at a roadside diner on your way up to your favorite lake. The livewell is aerated, has a timer, a pump out, and a handy insert so you can keep two kinds of live bait or whatever. We like the placement of this livewell because it is in the middle of the boat. The biggest concern we have in these size boats is capsizing, and by placing the livewell in the middle, close the boat’s CG, the boat will be more stable as anglers move around the boat to get to the livewell.



Three swivel, padded chairs come standard with the boat and can be moved to any of six locations in the deck.

Boat Capacity

There are six seat-base locations scattered around the boat so you can install the three seats to suit your fancy. The boat has a USCG-approved capacity of five people, but we suggest that you use common sense when loading any small outboard fishing boat. Overloading boats of this type and size is asking for trouble. All of this is to say, depending on the size of the passengers and how rough the lake is, there are times when five people could be too many for this or any similar-sized boat.

Package Trailer

The package trailer is factory-matched for the exact boat it will be holding and this is important. It comes with 13" (33.02 cm) EZ lube hubs, swing-away tongue, retractable safety cables & all-welded frame with GalvaShield anti-corrosion protection. The length of the package with the swing-away tongue is 18’ 5”, so it should fit into your garage. We would recommend that you consider the trailer brake upgrade.

The drive-on trailer is color-coordinated and is powder-coated for durability. There is a heavy-duty winch and nylon tie down straps. The tail lights are submersible, and there are retractable safety cables.



The Tracker Pro-Guide V-16 is an ideal boat for two or three anglers on most lakes and rivers.

Construction Details

Yes, the Tracker Pro-Guide V-16 is a low price-point boat, but that doesn’t mean that it is a stripped down bare shell of a boat. In fact, the boat as a lot of details that you might find surprising on a fishing boat that is so economical. For example, there are drink holders, a battery tray, a paddle, there is a heavy-duty extruded cap rail on the gunwale, the marine playwood decks have a lifetime warranty, there is a bilge pump, and an installed 12-V trolling motor harness (just plug and play).

If you are new to boating, or if all you want to do is some casual fishing now and then, or if this is just the price-point you were looking for, then the Tracker Pro-Guide V-16 represents a good value, in our opinion.

• Top speed for the Tracker Pro Guide V-16 SC (2012-) is 30.1 mph (48.4 kph), burning 4.5 gallons per hour (gph) or 17.03 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Tracker Pro Guide V-16 SC (2012-) is 18.7 mph (30.1 kph), and the boat gets 7.63 miles per gallon (mpg) or 3.24 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 103 miles (165.76 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 60-hp Mercury EFI.