New Stratos 176XT

[RiskKid.]

I'm probably going to buy my first boat this year. It will be used on Lake Barkley in KY which most of you know is a large impoundment. I have been told I'd be best served looking for a good used fiberglass boat. The opinion was that fiberglass would be more sturdy and stable for a large impoundment. Of course the new Stratos caught my eye due to the seemingly great price. It seems underpowered at 50HP but I think its available with 75HP also.

Just seeking thoughts and opinions from the experienced about which way to go and what the word is on the new Stratos.

[flippinout]

riskkid,

I fish Barkley and Kentucky alot as well.  Barkley is easy to fish in a smaller boat if you stay in the southern (upstream) portion of the lake.  Barkley becomes pretty wide once you get up past the 68/80 bridge and if the winds pick up a little can get pretty choppy.  The rest of the lake stays pretty calm because it has alot of bends in it, breaking the wind.  If you plan to fish near the dam or would like to fish Kentucky Lake too, I would suggest at the very least, an 18 footer like the Stratos 284.  It'll cost more but will get you out on the water more comfortably.

I would also power that boat up some.  I'd recommend at least 75hp.

I hope this helps some.

[RiskKid.]

Thanks flippinout,  I'll be mostly just north of the bridge fishing between Little River and Prizer Point. Would also eventually like to fish KY lake since Kenlake is so close but not until I get to know Barkley better. I'm just building a lake house in Cadiz so that will be my initial stompin grounds. Maybe we'll run into each other sometime next year.

[Catt]

As every one here knows I fish Toledo Bend which one of the biggest lakes in the USA and I generally fish from a small (16-18') boat. Yes you can fish big water in a smaller boat, how boat handles rough water has to do with the driver more than the boat. I've been in 19 to 22' boats where I was totally wet and absolutely miserable because the driver didn't know how to drive under adverse conditions. With smaller boats you learn when to get off the lake and how to trailer to different launches instead of trying to run the lake.

I would highly recommend the 75 hp outboard this would assure you get maximum performance out of the hull.

[cravenfish]

The size of your boat is up to you and your budget, If you get a smaller boat just pick the days you go, and the places you go. As for the power on a boat, I would say you want to put the max HP that the boat is rated for. It will proform much better, and when the time comes it will help in re-sale( There is nothing worse then an underpowered boat )

Good Luck

[senile1]

I'm probably going to buy my first boat this year. It will be used on Lake Barkley in KY which most of you know is a large impoundment. I have been told I'd be best served looking for a good used fiberglass boat. The opinion was that fiberglass would be more sturdy and stable for a large impoundment. Of course the new Stratos caught my eye due to the seemingly great price. It seems underpowered at 50HP but I think its available with 75HP also.

Just seeking thoughts and opinions from the experienced about which way to go and what the word is on the new Stratos.

Riskkid, I've been looking at this same boat.  I have a boat now, but I'm itching for more rod space and though the 176XT is small it has decent storage for its size.  I would go with the larger 75 hp motor.  It doesn't increase the cost too much.  I fish Truman Lake which is 55,000 acres and have no problems with my 15' 6" boat but I do have 70 horses pushing it.  Of course, a bigger boat with more power will always handle the waves better.  The lakes I frequent have a lot of timber so I like smaller boats just for the fact that I can squeeze them into places that larger boats can't reach.  

[flippinout]

riskkid,

I know the area you are looking at to start your fishing out there.  I lived out in Linton for a year.  Speaking of which, the Linton ramp is a very short drive from where you live but it will get you into the calmer water near the TN/KY border without having to use a tank of gas in the boat.  Are you planning to fish any tournaments in the future?  I can show you a few spots on the lake to get you started.  I'll look you up when I get back home.

[Jnamo]

The size of your boat is up to you and your budget, If you get a smaller boat just pick the days you go, and the places you go. As for the power on a boat, I would say you want to put the max HP that the boat is rated for. It will proform much better, and when the time comes it will help in re-sale( There is nothing worse then an underpowered boat )

Good Luck

Good Advice...

Always get the most HP you can put on a boat/ or can afford.  Always.  

You can always run the boat slower with the bigger motor, but you cant make a boat run faster w/o more HP's.  

[RiskKid.]

Thanks flippinout.....i sent you a PM

[RiskKid.]

Riskkid, I've been looking at this same boat. I have a boat now, but I'm itching for more rod space and though the 176XT is small it has decent storage for its size. I would go with the larger 75 hp motor. It doesn't increase the cost too much. I fish Truman Lake which is 55,000 acres and have no problems with my 15' 6" boat but I do have 70 horses pushing it. Of course, a bigger boat with more power will always handle the waves better. The lakes I frequent have a lot of timber so I like smaller boats just for the fact that I can squeeze them into places that larger boats can't reach.

Senile1, Have you had an opportunity to test one out?

After the responses here I am even more intruiged by this boat. Seems like the size is not that big a deal if you act responsibly and I'm thinking it may be easier for a newbie to learn on.

Thanks for the great input fellas, more is welcome.....

Merry Christmas All!!!

[Catt]

Stratos's secret weapon is; Mr. Alan Stinson.

A veteran many times over, Alan was not only the founder of Nitro Boats, which he sold off to Bass Pro Shops, but he was the designer of the well known Skeeter Starfire, and the world record holding Stratos 201 hulls. He has designed every hull Javelin Boats currently have in their production line up. These are the same hulls they have been running under Javelins for some time now. He also designed the proven 19, 20, and 21 foot Stratos SS hulls.

Alan Stinson has designed every hull that Larry Nixon has fished from since 1976!  

[senile1]

Riskkid, I've been looking at this same boat.  I have a boat now, but I'm itching for more rod space and though the 176XT is small it has decent storage for its size.  I would go with the larger 75 hp motor.  It doesn't increase the cost too much.  I fish Truman Lake which is 55,000 acres and have no problems with my 15' 6" boat but I do have 70 horses pushing it.  Of course, a bigger boat with more power will always handle the waves better.  The lakes I frequent have a lot of timber so I like smaller boats just for the fact that I can squeeze them into places that larger boats can't reach.  

Senile1, Have you had an opportunity to test one out?

After the responses here I am even more intruiged by this boat. Seems like the size is not that big a deal if you act responsibly and I'm thinking it may be easier for a newbie to learn on.

Thanks for the great input fellas, more is welcome.....

Merry Christmas All!!!

Riskkid, I haven't tested one yet, but I've been doing a lot of reading.  I just had some work performed on my old boat because the prop shaft was bent.  I decided it was worth repairing if I want to sell it.  I wouldn't want to sell someone a boat that is going to wear out the lower end seals and bearings.  I want a new boat but I also need to replace the siding on my house this coming year, and my wife and I have reached the point in our life that we prefer to pay cash for such things.  I know we can pay for either the siding or the boat, alone, from cash but we can't do both.  I probably won't purchase a new boat until I've put the siding on the house.  So, hopefully, I'm looking at later in 2007.  Meanwhile, it wouldn't hurt to take it for a test ride, would it?  

[RiskKid.]

Senile, It would be a good idea to test one. The boat shows should be coming soon too. I have an idea for ya.....let the wife buy the siding and that will leave you free to buy the boat  ;D ;D

[senile1]

I would suggest that to her, but I don't sleep well on the couch.  

[RiskKid.]

I would suggest that to her, but I don't sleep well on the couch.  

Don't wanna do that!!

[Nick_Barr]

For $12-13K You could look into an XPRESS H51 (90HP)  or H50 (75HP)

[Redlinerobert]

Stratos are great boats for the money from what I have heard.  Good luck with the purchase and make sure you post a picture of it when you get it!

[iowabass]

My brother bought me one of these as a gift.   I have the 60 hp four stroke yamaha, and this boat is perfect for me.   I was pleasantly suprised at how well the boat handled in moderately choppy water.   I do 80%+ of my fishing by myself, and I wanted a smaller boat I could fit into the garage.    There are a lot of nice features on this boat and I am more than satisfied with the power of the 60.  

I have looked around and don't think you will find another boat that compares to this for the price.    

[Way2slow]

For those that have forgotten, it wasn't that many years ago the 17' bass boat was "the boat" of the pro's when BASS had the 150 hp limit and they fished some mighty big water with them.

I would definitly upgrade to the 75 hp motor, and my motor of choice would be a two stroke, acutally an E-tec.  The two stroke motor is going to make a lot more bottom end torque than a four stroke and you are already way down on power for that hull. The manufactors are being forced by liabilitly claims to drop the HP limit on boats to slow them down and I think they have gone too far on entry level boats. It wasn't too many years ago that same boat would have been rated for 150 hp and would have run 70 mph, making it a fairly dangerous ride for the beginning basser but cutting that in half is a little too much. I have an old 16'9" Stratos that weighs about the same as that 176XT and it's rated for 140 hp and has a 115 Merc on it. When I take a friend that weights 290 pounds, I have to change props and sometimes he has to get up toward the bow for the boat to get on plane so I would hate to know I was limited to 75 hp, even in that boat. As I've said many times before, the horse power is not about the speed, it's about the load carrying capabilties, the speed is just a by product of being able to have a fully loaded bass boat being able to get up and go.

[coacht]

read my post on this boat.  I own one.  and research and compared it to every boat out there the same size both aluminum and fiberglass.  and i absolutly love mine.  get the max horse power though.  I got a 70 yamaha and it is great.  I run about 40-41 mph on it.