1998 Xpress 16' Boat

[CFFF 1.5]

I found a boat that looks like a really good deal, I still have to go check it out and do a water test.

Of the people on here that have an Xpress boat or have fished from an xpress boat what are your opinions on them. How is their construction and materials. Do they hold up well? How well do they handle rough water? The boat I found is a 1998 Xpress 16' w/ a 1998 40hp Yamaha motor with a side console for $3000.

I might be able to go look at this boat on Sunday so I would like some input on the construction and quality of these boats. I have heard that they are really well made boats but would like some opinions from the members on here.

Thanks in Advance

Here are some pictures.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

They can handler "light" water but.....

We rented one in Fork, 2 yrs ago.  If the weather was "ok" we could venture anywhere.  A little bit of wind though and the main lake was "off limits" to us. (of course, you can "get" anywhere, but it might be at a snails chug as opposed to "wide open")

Test run it on the biggest lake you will fish, on a somewhat windy day.  

Good luck

[Catt]

Xpress Boats come in 2 hull types; Hydro-Dynamic which is nothing more than a flat bottom with a 6 degree bottom and Hyperlift which is a full Pad Hull like those found on fiberglass boats. The boats LBH rented were probably the Hydro-Dynamic hull type since I doubt the guys he rented from spent the money to buy Hyperlift Series. The boat pictured above appears to be a 1650VJ with optional side console and homemade floor; this boat is well suited for all around fishing as long as you pay attention to weather.

[CFFF 1.5]

Catt so is this the hydro dynamic or hyper lift hull. The boat I have now does really really poorly in rough water but we still make it. This boat is an old 14'6" Grumman with a 35hp. This is the wettest boat you will ever fish in and leaks like hell. This boat has to perform way better than my boat now. Also my boat now is very heavy for an aluminum boat because of the decking that is in it. It still runs about 25-27 mph gps.

[Catt]

The add on console and homemade floor led me to believe it's a 1650VJ which is a modified V bottom. From the corrosion on the trailer fenders and the vertical rod holders it appears to have been used in salt water intensively and if that is the case I would pull the wheels and check the wheel bearing if not change them. Do something now with the corrosion before its BER.

Its an excellent little boat for a reasonable price and Oh man that looks like a blank canvas to me.

[Jig Man]

I have ridden in Xpress boats a lot.  They are the best riding aluminum boats I have ever been in.  Like most alum. they are light and tend to be a little hard to fish in windy conditions.

[CFFF 1.5]

the aluminum and the wind don't bother me at all. The only thing I have ever fished in was aluminum and when I was younger exclusively on the flats.