Looking for feed back on Aluminum boats

[J Francho]

True story^^^

[sarcazmo]

11 hours ago, Catt said:

Xpress X18, 150 HP, + fuel = 1920 lbs

Trition TRX179, 115 HP, + fuel = 1787 lbs

Don't see wind blowing that tin boat around!

Those questioning the Xpress ride compared to glass aint never ridden in one!

I've tried making that argument to several 'serious' fisherman friends.

I say "How are two boats with similar profiles and weights going to differ that significantly in performance, wind, etc?"  Apparently fiberglass is just better at everything other than shallow water access :-)

I really like those express boats!  One day I hope to upgrade from my old duracraft to one :-)

[Further North]

On 11/7/2016 at 11:50 AM, WIGuide said:

You might be able to find one of the Rangers from the first aluminum line they came out with that ran from the mid 90's into the early 2000's. I haven't been in the mod-v style ones, but I've ridden in multiple of their v hull style boats. They offered a nice platform, that was stable, and gave a ride much more like a glass boat. Some of the bigger models were rated for 125's and maybe more as I can't remember how big their biggest model was. Here's a few links to examples. 

http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/classifieds/65544/Ranger.Cherokee/

http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/classifieds.asp?a=46510

I looked pretty hard at a couple of those Rangers...and those hulls looked like twins to the Crestliner series that predated the CMV.

[WIGuide]

13 hours ago, Further North said:

I looked pretty hard at a couple of those Rangers...and those hulls looked like twins to the Crestliner series that predated the CMV.

They looked like twins for good reason, that was when Genmar owned both companies so the hulls were manufactured at the same plant. I don't know if they completed the boats side by side or not, but I know there were some differences in build quality. Those pre-CMV hulls had tendencies to develop soft spots in the floors rather quickly. I remember my dad passing on buying a few of them for that reason. I think the Rangers had a thicker and higher quality plywood decking eliminating the issue. 

[WRB]

On November 8, 2016 at 5:38 AM, Catt said:

Xpress X18, 150 HP, + fuel = 1920 lbs

Trition TRX179, 115 HP, + fuel = 1787 lbs

Don't see wind blowing that tin boat around!

Those questioning the Xpress ride compared to glass aint never ridden in one!

Why compare 17' Triton w/115 to 18' Xpress w/150, compare the 17' Xpres w/115.

I agree a Xpres X18' w/150 should have a more stable ride and wind performance, lot bigger and heavier boat.

Thr big difference between glass bass boats vs aluminum is maintenance and care, aluminum boats can take a lot more punishment from the owners then glass boats. Compare my 18' old 1988 SF175 Skeeter I had for several years that was a 75+ mph safe ride in 3' chop. Can't come close to the performance or storage with aluminum boats of equal length and weight to glass bass boats,  It's like comparing apples and oranges. 

I really like what I see in regards to the Xpres line of aluminum boats and haven't fished or test driven the Xpres and can't remember ever seeing one on our local lakes.

Tom

 

[Catt]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

Why compare 17' Triton w/115 to 18' Xpress w/150, compare the 17' Xpres w/115.

I agree a Xpres X18' w/150 should have a more stable ride and wind performance, lot bigger and heavier boat.

Thr big difference between glass bass boats vs aluminum is maintenance and care, aluminum boats can take a lot more punishment from the owners then glass boats. Compare my 18' old 1988 SF175 Skeeter I had for several years that was a 75+ mph safe ride in 3' chop. Can't come close to the performance or storage with aluminum boats of equal length and weight to glass bass boats,  It's like comparing apples and oranges. 

I really like what I see in regards to the Xpres line of aluminum boats and haven't fished or test driven the Xpres and can't remember ever seeing one on our local lakes.

Tom

 

The Triton TRX179 is 18' 6" in length

Xpress Hyper Lift Hull will in fact run with any fiberglass in any water conditions ask @J Francho

[OperationEagle]

10 hours ago, WIGuide said:

They looked like twins for good reason, that was when Genmar owned both companies so the hulls were manufactured at the same plant. I don't know if they completed the boats side by side or not, but I know there were some differences in build quality. Those pre-CMV hulls had tendencies to develop soft spots in the floors rather quickly. I remember my dad passing on buying a few of them for that reason. I think the Rangers had a thicker and higher quality plywood decking eliminating the issue. 

Not sure if ranger changed their design but as of recent past there is no plywood in their deck. 

[Al w.]

New here but thought I'd chime in. I have an '04 Triton V197 with a 200 Mercury. It is very stable and will run in the upper 60s. It has a 44 gallon fuel tank and plenty of storage. It's a little over 19 ft. I've had this boat over a year and have really enjoyed it. 

[WRB]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

The Triton TRX179 is 18' 6" in length

Xpress Hyper Lift Hull will in fact run with any fiberglass in any water conditions ask @J Francho

My mistake, get confused with Triton models, TR 186 was the 18'6" now TRX 179.

The OP should check out Xpress boats.

Tom

[J Francho]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

Xpress Hyper Lift Hull will in fact run with any fiberglass in any water conditions ask @J Francho

My H18 with a 115 ran mid fifties, two guys, livewell full, tournament load.  I think it had a 23 or 24 Lazer II prop.That boat would have benefited from a slight setback and slightly higher engine height a jack-plate would  offer.  I think that hull was rated to 135 hp.  Never felt under powered with the 115, though.

[Further North]

On 11/9/2016 at 9:52 AM, WIGuide said:

They looked like twins for good reason, that was when Genmar owned both companies so the hulls were manufactured at the same plant. I don't know if they completed the boats side by side or not, but I know there were some differences in build quality. Those pre-CMV hulls had tendencies to develop soft spots in the floors rather quickly. I remember my dad passing on buying a few of them for that reason. I think the Rangers had a thicker and higher quality plywood decking eliminating the issue. 

My neighbor had one, and you are spot on about the floors.  When I got my CMV he started telling me I was going to have problems...I said, Jim, all aluminum.  No wood."

He said a bad word.

[gim]

Lund just introduced a smaller aluminum bass boat to compete with the Trackers, Lowes, Rangers, and other "cookie cutters."  Renegade series might be worth checking out.

[WIGuide]

On 11/9/2016 at 8:44 PM, OperationEagle said:

Not sure if ranger changed their design but as of recent past there is no plywood in their deck. 

That's correct, I was referring to the Ranger Cherokee line, Ranger's first run at the aluminum market. They were built from the early to early 2000's. They discontinued them for some years before returning to the aluminum scene in 2013-2014. You are correct that the new series contain no wood. 

[Kurt Shepherd]

I have an X18 pro with a 115 Yamaha on it and it rides fine. Windy lakes are no problem. I have been blown around in it just as much as I have been blown around in glass boats that I have been a co angler in for some fishing tournaments. I have never owned a glass boat but I don't have to worry about gel coats and I have more then enough room for casting from the front or back with quite a lot of storage for only being 18 ft. I doubt you will be disappointed. I got mine new for around 25k also. Try finding a glass boat with as many perks as aluminum for that price and you'll be looking into a boat like 4 - 5 years old at least.

[Way2slow]

Yes, I'm liking the X18 with a 150.  That's as large as I care to go, anything bigger and there's no need trying to downsize, and it seems to be more in line for what I would like to have.  However, like I said before, I'm most likely going to be at the mercy of what shows up at the auctions.  I will probably start getting serious about getting one in the April time frame but I'm not going to pay the prices a ready to fish boat will be bringing.  I will give it a few months, on into the summer if necessary.  There is one auction I use that every few months they have nothing boats, sometimes hundreds of them and that's the one I usually get my best deals at.  That's where I got my Javelin.  The first time the bank that had it financed ran it through, they did the "No Sale" because it didn't bring what they were wanting.  The next time they did not put a minimum on it and I actually got it $1,200 cheaper that time than I had bid the first time.

[Crookedneck]

I purchased a 2000 Xpress x21 this last fall with a 2000 Mercury Optimax 200.  10" jack plate.  It was well taken care of.  I am getting low to mid 60's with it.  And I have work to do with it.  I should be getting 70+.   It isn't in a glass boat.  I will start by saying that. 

A couple differences.....the hole shot...I've seen faster on drag boats.  But not on a bass boat.  It was actually a lot of fun to listen to the comments all my buddies made after the first club tournament when they were all behind me at take off and couldn't catch me.  A larger body of water, yes but it would have taken at least 4-5 miles of straight running to pass me. 

It rides and handles great.  Some key differences, it does not cut other boats wake like my last 20' Nitro.  It goes over them.  But, it handles 2-3 foot chop as good as any glass boat I have been in.  It does blow more in the wind than my old glass boat.  But, the 112 fortrex takes care of that.  Loading, it on the trailer took some getting used to.  I have a tandem bunk trailer, but I think it actually sits higher on the trailer.  So every once in a while she gets a little squirly.  Where my glass boat just kinda centered easier, I guess.

The livewell isn't as big.  But, I knew that going into it.  You'll hear some complaints about dry storage....Me rolling my eyes....when it's down pouring..things get wet.  They did in my Nitro too if I opened that compartment.  So I have to dry it out...I did my Nitro too a long with every other bass boat I have been in.

The deck space is very work able!  Mine has a full front deck, an 8' flipping stick doesn't touch either end.  I can put an 8'+ rod in the either side rod storage.  The back deck has two huge battery storage compartments.  The back tackle storage is smaller.  But, I never used it in my old boat.  So, my co-anglers will have to deal with that...

I attached a picture of it the day I picked it up.  Please forgive me for the hideous Motorguide on the front of it in the picture.

They look pretty sweet too!  I get a lot of looks up here.  A tin with a 200?!  I have heard that a lot!  I made the change because I fish rivers a lot.  I like to get skinny.  And my opinion, less to worry about.

["hamma"]

  Nice rig crooked! Actually, after reading all of the posts concerning tin rigs? Mines scraping the bottom of the barrel,...lol A-Jay has a sweet rig, no doubt, and Ive seen a 18 ft lund over here before too,. But, slonezp and dwight, I never saw such big bad tinboats in my life,... other that river rigs with jets,.. I never thought they made them that huge,..those are like mine on super steroids, growth hormones, and workin out with sasquatch regiments,...lol

 Im truely in awe,.. you guys must be fishing the great lakes right?

[slonezp]

18 hours ago, "hamma" said:

  Nice rig crooked! Actually, after reading all of the posts concerning tin rigs? Mines scraping the bottom of the barrel,...lol A-Jay has a sweet rig, no doubt, and Ive seen a 18 ft lund over here before too,. But, slonezp and dwight, I never saw such big bad tinboats in my life,... other that river rigs with jets,.. I never thought they made them that huge,..those are like mine on super steroids, growth hormones, and workin out with sasquatch regiments,...lol

 Im truely in awe,.. you guys must be fishing the great lakes right?

Dwight fishes Lake Erie and I fish Lake Michigan. The hull on Dwight's boat is what I would call a full time big water hull. Mine does what I need it to the dozen or so times a year I'm on the Big Pond. If Lake Michigan was my primary water, I'd be in a different boat.  

[RHuff]

People have their own opinions but I absolutely love my 17' Triton Aluminum VT-17 Tournament Sport. It's perfect for me and a fishing buddy. It's easy to pull. Easy to care for and does a great job on my waters. A man catches fish, not the boats. 

[samwise2u]

I have a Xpress Striker 17' w/60hp Evinrude, http://www.gogreeson.com/inventory/v1/Current/Xpress-Boats/Bass/2014-Striker-Series/17--Hot-Springs-Arkansas---1829401. My first fishing boat was my ex-father-in-law jon boat that had a 25hp motor, Evinrude I think. So really nothing to compare my Xpress too.

 

There is no leaning no matter where I sit or stand on the front deck. Very stable.

 

Will say that I personally think riding around in 1' - 2' waves is no fun, it does jar my insides, but the boat is stable and I feel completely safe.

 

Loaded down with my son and myself and gear GPS says 25mph wide open. Gas mileage is good but the plastic gas tank is a bummer. The two cycle Evinrude hardly uses any oil at all.

 

I would buy another Xpress.

[lonnie g]

I got an 1850 gator jon boat  with 90 hp Yamaha  runs about 45mph  rides good easy to fish out of. I especialy like fishing it in stump fields.    o course I crappie fish as well. anchor on both ends. doesnt hang up on small stick up stumps as bad as my 393 ranger does   and not scuffing fiberglass boat     down side, you do loose a lot off stability when other boats are blowing by you   and less storage   my son also duck hunts out of it in winter months.  if your looking for dual purpose.  times are tough and there are good deals out there.  be patient in you search.  hope you find a good one   catch big ones! lonnie

[Pete-K]

I own a lund, and a Lund tiller boat at that. You will not find anything more stable than these Deep V boats. Now there slow mine wide open is only around 35 MPH.

RW has fished out of it. He can tell you how stable these boat are. right at 19ft long and 95" wide I think that is the width.

1825 Pro Guide Tiller. I have a 90 Etec on it, but if I keep this boat. Theres going to be a new 115 mounted on it  by next year.

Pete