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ABOUT THE BOAT:

BASS TRACKER PROTEAM 190 TX

outboard storage areas where you cankeep drinks, snacks and bait on ice as well as room for three standard 3700 Plano tackle trays. A centerline marine pedestal accepts one of the two standard deluxe fold-down fishing chairs, which feature composite frames. At the forward end of the rear castingdeck, just aft of the cockpit seats, is one ofthe most comprehensive livewells you’llfind in this size of boat. The 18-gallondivided livewell has an aerator that can berun on a timer (typically 1 minute on, 3minutes off) as well as a recirculation sys-tem that uses an air venturi to keep the water in the well oxygenated while you’remaking longer runs. The livewell also has apumpout feature to make it easier to pullyour catch out when you’re ready.Forward of the rear casting area is anewly designed seating setup for the driv- er and a couple of passengers. The main driver and passenger seats are comfort-able and form fitting — and there’s a thirdfold-down buddy seat in the middle for an additional passenger. When not in use as aseat, the back folds down to provide a stepto the rear casting platform (it also has twocupholders built into it). All three seatshave a stain-resistant top coating — and there’s gear storage under each seat.The console puts all the customarygauges and instruments within easy viewand reach for the driver, and we especiallyliked the Lowrance X-37 fish finder, which is made exclusively for Tracker andincludes surface temperature, batterymonitor and marine swivel.The main casting deck forward hasanother centerline pedestal base for the other fishing seat and features the mainstorage for your gear. Outboard are a pairof locking 7-foot rod lockers with moreroom than you will probably ever reallyneed — but it’s always nice to have extra room. In between is a pair of centerline drystorage lockers for PFDs and other itemsyou want to keep away from the water. Allof the compartments have aluminumhatches, and the entire deck is covered with marine-grade cut-pile carpeting.All the way forward is a foot-operated12v MotorGuide trolling motor with a 42-inch shaft and 46 pounds of thrust.There’s also a small nonskid surface at the apex of the bow for added utility anddurability.

SPECIFICATIONS

Length 18 ft., 8 in. Beam 7 ft., 5 in. Capacity 5 people Hull weight 1,075 lbs. Fuel capacity 21 gals. Maximum power 135 hp Deadrise (@ transom) 12 degrees
In most cases an aluminum boatlooks like an aluminum boat. Baregray aluminum, hard-edge corners,bulging welds and bumpy rivets are par forthe course. In the case of the Bass Tracker ProTeam 190 TX, however, a lot of people don’t realize that it’s an aluminum boat at first glance. Its sleek low profile, cleanwelds and baked-on painted sides andgunnels make it easy to mistake it for a fiberglass bass boat.When you look at the craft’s weight or its notable performance numbers with rel-atively lower horsepower motors, however,it’s easy to tell that you’re dealing with analuminum craft.Anglers are notorious for cramminggear and tackle into every little space, and the 190 TX’s aluminum construction allows designers to get a little more outof the interior in terms of storage. Thereare two large locking rod storage com- partments long enough for 7-foot rods on the outboard sides of the forward casting deck. There are two more com-partments in between dedicated to drystorage. On the aft casting deck there are two insulated storage areas as well as room for three standard 3700 Plano tackle trays. There are even little storagecompartments under all the seats in thecockpit.Even though the 190 TX is priced foraffordability, it comes standard with all the bass boat essentials — including arobust 18-gallon aerated recirculatinglivewell with timer and a pumpout sys- tem. The craft even comes standard with a powder-coated marine trailer with a swing-away tongue, chrome wheels and GalvaShieldprotection. â–¼

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GO BOATING |fall 2006