2023 Tracker Targa V19 WT review (walk-through)

[@andrewwolf832]

Just ordered mine today. Should get next week. Going with the 225

[@yzzufriab]

You'll enjoy your selection. Are you going to use it for fishing or recreation? If fishing... what do you normally fish for? End of Sept. 2023 I'll be doing a one year review of pros and cons I've experienced.

[@andrewwolf832]

@@yzzufriab bass, crappie and gills on the inland lakes. perch out in Lake Michigan, will graduate to some downriggers to chase salmon, will be hitting up the Detroit river and Lake Erie for walleye etc. I got the tournament edition/combo. So will be using it for both recreational and fishing

[@yzzufriab]

awesome, I live in TN now but I was born in Michigan. I do miss Northern Pike and Perch.@@andrewwolf832

[@JFoxTN]

Alan, thanks for your service and the good review. I ordered the same boat with a 200hp DTS motor today from BassPro in Nashville. I currently have a 2012 Targa V18 WT with a 115 hp Mercury and it's been a good boat. The comments about any discrepancies to look for is helpful. All the best!

[@alancummings5651]

Excellent boat. And thank you for your service to our country.

[@yzzufriab]

You're welcome. I do love this boat. Can't say enough goods things about it from all the storage to all the elbow room for family and friends. Thank you for your comment.

[@ryanskare6670]

The three spring tandem trailer began with the new models (2020 I believe). When you first put it in the water DO NOT disconnect the bow winch. Instead, leave your boat floating on the trailer, get on board, run your livewell systems, and check them closely for leaks as well as your transom thru-hull fittings. The vinyl cockpit is how they are delivered standard. The only option is for woven vinyl on the decks. Check your cleat fasteners. They tend to be loose. Drill a hole in the back corner of the hidden cubby, it is a welded aluminum box and it will hold water. Check to make sure your TM batteries are wired in series. Also check that they are both strapped correctly. Vacuum the area where your bilge drain is, there will be a lot of random screws are chunks of expanding foam there. If you did not get the key to remove the tow pylon cap it is most likely going to be somewhere in your bilge. Most of the issues we've encountered with these boats are not immediately apparent and will take a few outings to show up. Good luck and enjoy.

[@yzzufriab]

Thank you so much for your comment. I've actually gone through most of this stuff with the walk through even the points that you detailed in your comment. There was a few things that I definitely will look into that you brought up. I see that you picked up your 2022 back in December so I do appreciate the feedback and I'm sure others do as well. That's why I'm doing this video to also show others that are interested in this year, make and model of what all of what I've encountered. The vinyl flooring in the center of the boat was actually something that I requested when I was doing the build a boat part online so it's nice to know that it was actually part of the basic set up. I'll see overtime if I want to go full vinyl or keep the carpet where they're currently located. I have grand kids so bare feet may sway me in keeping carpet where they currently are. Thanks again for your input it's always nice to hear from somebody that experienced things in a boat that you are getting.

[@ryanskare6670]

@@yzzufriab Overall I think you will be very happy with your boat. My build was during the covid chaos and I'm sure quality suffered a bit. hopefully it has improved. Regardless none of the "issues" were deal breakers, just little nuisance fixes. Heck I still have a few warranty items to take care of at the next service but they have no impact on using the boat. Again, good choice of boats. You'll be very happy with it.

[@yzzufriab]

@@ryanskare6670 Still have not had an opportunity to get it into the water yet but I am pretty excited for the main voyage. I will take some of your tips into consideration at the launch. Thanks again

[@harvey8695]

Great tips! We found some of these same issues during my walkthrough at the dealership. I discovered the leaking livewell pumps later. Both of my livewells were leaking, but they fixed them under the warranty. I guess my boat missed the quality control inspection at the factory.

[@ryanskare6670]

@@harvey8695 hopefully your issues have been few and minor. Once I worked out the kinks I've had no other problems going on my second full season. I do have one persistent cleat that works loose but I think adding lock washers will take care of that.

[@abpob6052]

I have the 2020 V19 Combo with the 150. We fish and play in it pretty hard and it has been flawless. Every few months take a screwdriver to all the screws you can find. Waves, temperature changes, etc. loosen up everything eventually. I took out that little step/storage/cup holder thing in the rear as it is pretty weak and eventually you will put a foot thru the door that opens. I like the space better without it. If you want to keep it really nice looking wax the heck out of it every season. Otherwise water spots make it look a little ratty.

[@910Volcomsnow]

Finally a Targa 19 review video. I thought guys just weren’t buying this boat anymore 😂 great review!

[@yzzufriab]

Thank you for your comment. Glad you liked it. I've had it out a couple times so far for motor break in and I love it. Very roomy and tons of compartments.

[@alancummings5651]

Have you considered hydraulic trim tabs? We are thinking of getting them for my father-n-laws 2017 Tracker Deep Vee 17. I have them on my 21 foot bay boat and they help minimize bow lift and gets on plane much faster.

[@apostlerobertsummers]

Great video, thanks. Just found a brand new 2023 Targa V19wt for sale on a BPS lot. Question, after 2 years, any problems? Are you still happy? Any additional information you can share would help.

[@getsum697]

Ordered mine in May of 2022 and they keep slipping the build date every two weeks; very frustrating as I don't even begin to trust the date they give me anymore! I went with the fishing combo, 200 HP and a 10HP kicker as well. Along with the Bimini to i got the full enclosure so I'll use it a bit more in inclement weather; I did the same on my tractor and buoght the cab with heat and a/c...best money I ever spent and I can comfortably use it year round. Great video and honest review! Thank You!

[@MrExrench]

Great review Alan, I to got the exact same model but in the 2022 18WT version. # hrs so far then the Cal rains came.. My boat was also in near perfect condition, also no scratches no dents, toggles were reversed for live wells but all else was good. Looking forward to some warmer drier weather for a test of Cal Delta fishing and the great Shasta and Lake Oroville reservoirs. Duped your break-in procedure. Well done

[@yzzufriab]

Thanks for your comment. I'm also very ready for drier and warmer days. We've been getting alot of rain here also.

[@willmann81785]

I have a 2022 V18 but with the 200 ProXS. I scratched mine up pretty good with some dock rash so I need to have it touched up and replace some of the stickers lol. First time boat owner mistake. I also only have the 2 steps on the trailer but as a younger guy (30s) I can still handle it. Good video!

[@yzzufriab]

Honestly, I never special ordered the 3 steps for this trailer. That's just what came from the factory for the V19... I'm so sorry you scratched your motor up ... that sucks. Actually I'm glad it came with the 3 steps because it helps grand kids that have short legs.

[@shotgunwilly4685]

Great walk through. I have a couple bits of advice for you, and any other Targa owners. First, the trailer winch post has some issues. If you get on a steep ramp, and have to winch the boat up on the bunks, it puts too much stress on the welds at the base of the winch post. There have been several complaints where the post has pulled rearward or broken off completely. You can easily make (and there's some guys selling them) a gusset to go forward of the post and attaching to the trailer frame. This gives it enough extra support to remedy the weak point at the base. Second.....do yourself a favor and throw the Hook2 in the lake (I did). Mine was extremely unreliable for reading depth. In fact it was the direct cause of me hitting a rock while navigating a narrow channel. I went with 2 Garmin Map units, one for fish and one for charts and depth, but almost anything is better than that Hook!! Otherwise, my 2020 V18 has been a solid boat that I would recommend to anyone, especially at $11k (ish) cheaper than an equivalent Lund or Starcraft. Have fun!

[@yzzufriab]

Thank you so much. I appreciate that. I'm actually thinking of changing out the crank lift on this brand new trailer also because there are areas when I'm pulling it that I need to drop it and if it is too low or too high it is a problem. I especially have an area that I park it under, and it is a low-level spot. So I can't even Swivel the attached Jack so that it will lock in place and then allow me to start cranking. I need to find a different style that allows me to lock it in place on an uneven ground.

[@CHUNKYCATSFISHING]

Absolutely fantastic video thank you for sharing I should be picking up my boat hear the next couple of weeks

[@yzzufriab]

Thank you so much for your comment. As I was looking around KZbin channels I didn't see that anybody had posted one for this year, make, and model so it needed to be put out for others lol. If you're getting the same boat you are going to love it. I just knocked out my 2 hour outboard motor break in this morning.

[@yzzufriab]

I checked out a couple videos and became a new sub for your channel....

[@57Dalv]

Congrats on your new boat - it looks great and glad you're happy with it. I am considering buying a new one and looking at some used ones as well. A couple years from retirement and looking for a last boat to enjoy. I think I will go with the 200hp and working with our local private dealer now on pricing. Good luck and enjoy!

[@yzzufriab]

Thank you for your comment and your new Sub. I almost went with the 200 also but I checked the elevation where I fish and it is only a little over 500 ft so I stuck with the 150. I retired from the Army back in 2012 and I love it. I hope your retirement will be all you hope for.

[@jayb7675]

Congrats. Looked hard at the Targas but ended up going a different direction.

[@harvey8695]

Congrats on the new boat! You're lucky to get one with no problems. I bought the V19 last year and it has had a number of "quality control" problems.

[@yzzufriab]

Thank you. Before I got to see it in person...I was talking to White River Marine and sharing things about what others have encountered, while it was still in production. I also chatted with Bass Pro in Nashville, TN, where it was going to be delivered to, telling them what others encountered...so I think b/c I was engaged with the manufacture and dealership I had people on high alert on what I didn't want to see when I got it in person. The dealership even greased all the fittings, from the motor to the trailer, before I saw it in person on top of what the manufacture did when they received it. Thank you for your comment.

[@clintperry799]

Look into a cover for the windshield, so rocks that fly up won't Crack it .

[@yzzufriab]

I definitely will be ....thank you for your input and your comment. 😊

[@kevinwill8542]

need a video on installing the cover thanks

[@yzzufriab]

Boat Cover?

[@stilltuckered]

Congrats on the boat! How was the red color underfoot, in the sun. Will it burn you like a black color boat? Thanks

[@yzzufriab]

Thank you. Not sure if the Red color is as hot as the Black. Luckily I got the Bimini for rain and sun. Thanks for your comment.

[@robo5987]

Ok so I love your boat! So My first question is the basic lowrance does it have gps? And do you have to buy maps for it ?Also I know the minn kota does not have I pilot but can u upgrade to a power drive with I pilot which is what the new ones are?

[@yzzufriab]

Thank you for your comment. I picked it up at the end of August of 2022, and it's really nice. Yes, it does have GPS and comes with 4000 US lake maps. You haven't needed to upgrade any of the lake maps, but I think that you can if you want to purchase upgrades later. I have the navionics app on my phone, and I use that every time I hit the lake. You can purchase a kit to upgrade the minn kota power drive trolling motor to ipilot. Just so you know, any power drive trolling motor dated 2007 or older is not upgradable to ipilot.

[@bobdelaney1835]

Can you lay the Bimini top down and use the jumper seats. Also what’s the trick to use the cleats

[@yzzufriab]

I don't have jumper seats that came with this boat. My seats are all on pedestals. As far as the cleats go they sit pretty tightly when they're flush so you just have to use some finger strength to pop them up.

[@bobdelaney1835]

@@yzzufriab 🤙

[@yzzufriab]

@@bobdelaney1835 I can tell you that the Bimini top does lay down when I have those pedestal seats in any position. I have noticed that if you're trying to get into the back live well with the Bimini top laying down flat it doesn't raise all the way up unless you unfasten either side latch for the Bimini top so that you can raise your lid up.

[@mikekenner9218]

Thanks for sharing your Targa. Get rid of those thin transom tie downs ASAP. No idea why that garbage is holding down a 4,000 lb boat?!?! Not surprising they didn't want to be on camera, most those guys know $hit. I bought a V-19 Tournament Edition with a 200 Pro XS and a 9.9 kicker back in Feb 2020 (a week before Covid) at BPS. I did a ton of research too and at that time, boats were everywhere. I live at 6K feet and a 150 HP wouldn't be near enough at my elevation. Anyway, my boat has been just 'ok'. I use my boat a ton, it's not for looks. The ride is nice and I really like all the rod storage (use socks). So far, zero leaks and I love the Mercury Pro XS. So happy I got that, amazing motor! Like all Trackers tho, the quality is piss poor (feels like every boat is made on a Friday). wiring in my rig is garbage (incorrect gauge almost caused a fire in the bow), trailer is awful (wait till you start to travel and your wheels just come off), screws just fall out constantly, why you ask? Don't know. My windshield is always lose as the screws came stripped. Yes, the put in stripped screws that just spin and spin. My console is falling apart (your new console design appears to be better material) and every compartment leaks, even the glovebox. Just be prepared when you open your compartments and your TM batteries are in 6 inches of water. I hope you have better luck than me but BP sucks. They use the absolute cheapest materials, all made in China and they don't check their boats when they put them on the sales floor. Find a real mechanic and never go there. If you need to file a warranty, good luck. At the time I was looking at this rig, I was also looking at a Lund 1875 Crossover XS with a 175 Pro XS. I don't know what I was thinking but buyers remorse sucks.

[@yzzufriab]

When I was thinking about doing a video on my review I looked around and nobody else had posted one in a couple years so I wanted to share what upgrades and experiences I was going through for others to see. Those transom straps definitely are going to be going...lol. I can definitely understand getting a bigger motor for the elevation where you live. I live over here at Nashville Tennessee and we are only a little above 500' above sea level here. I was tracking my boat as it was being built at White River Marine and sharing with them what the Internet was sharing about their bad encounters. From the screw experiences to scratches and gouges to trailers not being fully greased, etc. I shared with White River about others experience with trash (foam pieces) in the bilge area, metal shavings on the carpet and in compartments. While my boat was being built at the manufacturer I was contacting them 2 months before they finished and sharing what others were saying so I think that helped because those issues were looked at and addressed before it was even Delivered to the dealer in Nashville. When Nashville received it I also shared with them what I shared with the manufacturer and that prompted them to look ever so closely and address my concerns. They even greased everything from front to rear... including the motor and the wheels. Thank you so much for your comment and for your input on your experiences.

[@Califishin292]

Would you be able to send me pictures of the inside of your locker?

[@yzzufriab]

This boat has 3 Rod lockers...specific one?

[@Califishin292]

@@yzzufriab I’m sorry. I’m focused on the center rod locker. I’m looking for pictures inside under the bow area. I’m wanting to put a recessed foot pedal if I buy one, but am curious of the framing underneath the bow deck.