Press Room
PR Contacts:
Larry Whitely
417-873-5022
Jenna Kendall
417-873-5059
2500 E. Kearney
Springfield, MO 65898
03/17/2008
TAHOE Q4 Super Sport: Cooking With Gas
STORY AND PHOTOS BY RON ELDRIDGE
Nobody wants cheap steak; they want good steak for cheap. Or so says Tracker Marine’s product development guru Steve Mason. And while his work may take him all over the Tracker plant, the affable and homespun
Mason may well have tarried too long with the marketing folks, for there’s no better assessment of Tahoe’s new Q4 Super
Sport. Selling for $16 grand, the Tahoe, asserts Mason, matches up against anyone’s 18-footer, including the likes of Sea Ray. A
tall order? Maybe not.
The Q4 SS we tested on massive, twisting Table Rock Lake in southern Missouri proved fun to drive, offering snappy, responsive performance from its 135 hp 3.0L MerCruiser sterndrive. More to the point, it also boasted unexpected, upscale touches, including a stainless rubrail, optional Bimini top (with high-grade, quick-release ball-and-socket fittings), and a standard trailer with a swingaway tongue and Tracker’s GalvaShield corrosion protection. It’s basically a turnkey rig; all you have to do is pile your posse aboard and you’re cooking with gas.
MEAT AND POTATOES
Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Tracker offers bedrock value in its Tahoe runabouts, fish ’n skis and deck boats. The Tahoe Q4 SS, also available in an outboard model, is the smallest member of a fleet that stretches up to 26 feet. So don’t expect it to be tricked out with a head, wet bar or console locker. With a length of 18 feet, 1 inch spread across 7 feet, 7 inches of beam, there just isn’t room. What we have here is a snazzy, well-mannered bowrider that will get you on the water without having to torpedo your 401(k) or sink the kids’ college plans. Getting back to our steak metaphor, it’s meat and potatoes all the way, baby.
As Mason explains, Tahoe keeps prices in check by streamlining choices — a marketing trend we’re seeing more of lately. Compared to many boats, the Q4 SS’ options list is mercifully short. “Once you’ve decided on the sterndrive model, for example, your only choice in engines is whether or not to add power steering to that 3.0L four-banger,” he says. Hankering for a V-6? Then you’ll have to pony up for the 19-foot Q5i.
By the way, spend the $404 on power steering. It’s a no-brainer. Another must-have upgrade is the $445 drum brake system for the color-coordinated, single-axle trailer. You’ll want a spare tire, too — but at $175 for the factory spare, you’ll probably be able to put your own spare and bracket together for less. All in all, however, Tahoe’s options prices are super reasonable — which is not something that can be said of every boat.
HAMMER TIME
On our test runs across Table Rock, the Q4 handled the generally benign conditions with no trouble. Fortunately, the good thing about the Rock is there’s no shortage of big boats, so you can always scare up some nasty wakes to see how a rig is put together. Featuring an 18-degree, semi-V design and fiberglass stringers that are chemically fused to the hull for maximum rigidity, our boat picked its way through the holes and launched off the lips with only minor pounding. Ride comfort in these situations is largely proportionate to throttle position and trim, and we found that at midrange speeds and higher, we had to keep the drive tucked in or the bow would float and begin to porpoise.
Bottom line is that she’s only an 18-footer; as long as you slow down through the rough patches, you’ll be fine. When we dropped the hammer, the Q4’s 135 hp MerCruiser/Alpha package stepped lively, and visibility while seated remained unobstructed from initial holeshot through top end. A 21-inch-pitch, three-blade aluminum wheel spun our boat’s tach to 4800 while painting 43.3 mph across our GPS. OK... so it’s not the kind of top end that will have you bragging from your barstool, but just go ahead and mention how little you paid.
Whether performing lazy S turns or carving doughnuts, the Tahoe delivered sporty handling, and reminded us just how nimble boats with short waterlines can be. Steering via our rigs’s nonpowered, rack-and-pinion system felt neutral except at higher trim settings, where we noticed mild torque. Nothing too uncomfortable, though. The Q4’s helm seats do not have flip-up bolsters, but each swivels and adjusts fore and aft. More importantly, they offer good lumbar support and cradle your hips, providing comfort and security. In short, the boat feels tight in turns and rough water, and so do you.
COOL TOUCHES
Helm instrumentation includes two oversize, multifunction gauges, which we found easy to read on the fly. Our only suggestion for improvement would be to use a somewhat less ref lective dash fascia, because we experienced some instrument glare off the windshield. Two things we really liked were the handy catchall basins on the helm and passenger consoles (which are ideal for holding sunscreen, iPods and such), and an optional Ritchie compass (a steal at $70). Positioned as one of theuppermost gauges, it’s directly within the driver’s line of sight — right where it should be.
The Sirius-ready Jensen AM/FM/CD stereo includes an MP3 jack, and pumps tunes through two speakers located near the rear seats. Besides a small sunpad atop the engine box, the noteworthy thing back here is the self-draining wet/dry locker under the center seat. It’s the perfect place to stash wetsuits, dripping ski lines or yappy little dogs. Tahoe’s nonskid sole houses a ski locker, and the deck drains to the bilge via scuppers in the aft cockpit — two features you’ll appreciate when watersports are the activity du jour.
Although the boat’s pod-shaped, bowrider backrests are a tad firm and don’t offer much in the way of lowerback support, we applaud the lift-off seat cushions that provide access to insulated lockers below. Nothing unusual, you say? Perhaps... until Mason points out the unexpected: The Q4 features stainless press-in fittings to hold the cushions securely in place. Another cool touch is a forepeak cushion that unsnaps to reveal a boarding step. Both are welcome additions.
All told, the Tahoe Q4 SS is a basic but richly featured bowrider at an uncommonly attractive price. Whether you’re just starting out in boating, getting back into the sport after an absence, or simply downsizing to a smaller, more manageable craft, one taste of the Q4 and you’ll be hungry for more. And no worries about barbecuing alongside the Joneses, either — because with the Tahoe’s good-looking lines and jazzy color schemes, this dish serves up plenty of sizzle to go with that full-flavored steak.
For complete test review, please click on the PDF file below.
View 417_TB0408 tahoe Q4 ss.pdf