Vexus Boats

[Allaroundfishing]

So two weekends ago at the raleigh fishing expo I had the opportunity to look at three of their models the 20,19 and 18 foot versions. While the dealer was trying to sweet talk me into buying one I asked all sorts of questions (too many to list) and climbed all over the boat. sitting in the boat and behind the console/consoles, i truly appreciated the feel of the boat. It was wayyyyyy wider in the back then the ranger equivalent even in a fiberglass ranger the ranger cant be that much wider than the 2080 model of vexus. I tucked my head back where the batteries were and looked all through the livewells and dry boxes. the welds i could see looked phenomenal and were definitely a fine welding job by the techs. The fiberglass inserts were sturdy and good sized. (all compartments are coated fiberglass inserts instead of standard aluminum or plastic wells.) the boat felt sturdy, well laid out, and thoughtfully designed. I dont know if its of the same caliber of @A-Jay's lund but I was impressed nonetheless by the boat. If you have personally been in one on the water or just at the show floor feel free to add on what you think ??

[Catt]

I just posted under "New Dealership", we now have a Vexus dealership here in Southwest Louisiana.

 

The AVX189 has a 94" beam

The AVX1889, AVX1980, & AVX2080 all have a 95" beam.

 

The Ranger RT series has 92" beam, not a huge difference.

[A-Jay]

These boats were not yet available during my 'search' for a rig.(2016)

 Had they, I would have checked at least one out.

 While I think the appearance is appealing, as far as I can tell, the Vexus's Glass-Infused Aluminum Hybrid Design is still very new.   Additionally, the Pro-V Bass has a 25 inch transom, which was a huge selling point for me.   I can't find that spec for the Vexus boats.  If it's much less than that, it would be a deal breaker for me.

 

A-Jay

[Janderson45]

I haven’t seen one in person yet, but I will at a show on Saturday.  

 

My initial impressions of them are that they are well thought out and designed, the hybrid of aluminum and fiberglass seems like a great idea that in some aspects would allow you to get “the best of both worlds”.  My guess is that their targeted demo is primarily made up of aluminum fishing boat owners/shoppers.  

 

I’m probably overstating this, but as someone new to the boat owning/buying industry these boats appear to represent  one of the greatest leaps in technology and innovation for “tin” boats in decades.

 

Considering I just bought a brand new Lund myself, I don’t think I’ll be tempted by anything in a similar class for quite some time.  If the Vexus does good sales, provides solid customer service, continues to refine and improve their product, and get stellar reviews I could see it being in the running for my next boat.  I’ll be interested to see how it holds up and what initial reviews and sales are over the next couple of years. 

[J Francho]

58 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

While I think the appearance is appealing, as far as I can tell, the Vexus's Glass-Infused Aluminum Hybrid Design is still very new.   Additionally, the Pro-V Bass has a 25 inch transom, which was a huge selling point for me.

They're most likely 20" transom height.  These aren't deep-v hulls.  The other deal with the "glass infused" thing is it's just glass parts, like the livewell, consoles, and cooler.  It's not like the hull is some new material. 

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

They're most likely 20" transom height.  These aren't deep-v hulls.  The other deal with the "glass infused" thing is it's just glass parts, like the livewell, consoles, and cooler.  It's not like the hull is some new material. 

Seems like it.

 From what I can find out, they are an aluminum hull rig with a glass "top".

Does that sound right ?

 

A-Jay

[J Francho]

8 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

From what I can find out, they are an aluminum hull rig with a glass "top".

Does that sound right ?

No, that isn't true.  You can see videos showing the construction of the boats.  They are aluminum top caps.  The storage tops are painted and carpeted aluminum.  The consoles, cooler and livewell are fiberglass.  I forgot about the foot tray and bow electronics area - they are fiberglass too.

 

This should help explain it:

 

[Janderson45]

I was under the impression that fiberglass was integrated in more than just the livewell, storage boxes, console and TM tray, but apparently not.

 

So it’ll still be like any other aluminum hull but with improved fit and finish on the storage, console, livewell etc?  Still a cool idea, as that’s a gripe of a lot of aluminum boat owners, but not quite as groundbreaking as I was led to believe! 

[Catt]

@A-Jay & @J Francho They are as J Francho stated, an aluminum boat with fiberglass parts.

 

It is my understanding the Vexus engineers & "mechanics" worked Ranger before the BPS buy out. The fit, finish, & craftsmanship exceeds that of Ranger aluminum. I have ridden in one yet but want to know how the ride compares to Express.

 

@Janderson45 The groundbreaking is in the hull design, the problem with "Tin" bass boat is the are over sized Jon boats.

[J Francho]

The hulls look a little unique, but yeah it's a tin can.  A really nicely executed tin can at that.  I'm not really sure what is so much "improved" over what was there before.  The fit and finish on my Xpress was pretty good.  Though they are comparably priced boats, so maybe they are comparing themselves to lower end boats.  Vexus looks like they running a pad hull, like Xpress.  I still feel like the tag line "fiberglass infused aluminum" is misleading.

 

@Catt, the employees are from several major boat makers, not just Ranger.

[Catt]

@J Francho I have a lot of seat time in Xpress's Xclusive series & their fit & finish does not compare to Vexus!

 

But having so much seat time in an Xpress Hyperlift, Vexus hull better not be all talk!

[J Francho]

I haven't seen any Vexus boats in person.  I can't even find what thickness aluminum they use.  I'd hope it is 0.10.  I'm not seeing a huge leap in fit and finish, just updated styling.  I've fished with a partner that had an X19.  I had an H18.  Yeah, the new style seats are nicer than my bench, and not seeing machine screw heads is also nice, but these are things I'd expect to see in a new boat, over what was in my 2008.  Don't get me wrong, they look very appealing, and the colors are beautiful.  I just don't think it's as groundbreaking as the hype would have us believe.

[Catt]

@J Francho Coming from an Xpress background like you I was impressed with the fit & finish. We have an Xpress dealer here so I compared a 2019 Xpress Xclusive Pro Series.

 

Like you said all of that is fine & dandy but can it run Toledo Bend during spring cold fronts!

[Tennessee Boy]

They look like very nice boats.  Any word yet on when Johnny Morris is going to buy them?

[Fishing Rhino]

There is one thing that makes me curious about the fiberglass infused aluminum.  Or is it the other way around?

 

Fiberglass and aluminum are different materials, and chances are they expand and contract at different rates when temperatures change.  Enough to be a problem?  I don't know.  But it would be a concern for me, if I were in the market for a Vexus.

 

An uncle of mine worked at Morton Thiokol in Huntsville, Alabama.  A contributing factor to the explosion of the Challenger was that dissimilar materials caused fuel leaks at the o rings.  The last time I saw him we had a long conversation about the space shuttle disaster.

 

The Lexus isn't going to blow up.  But time will tell whether infusing two different materials in the components is a good idea.

 

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/researchernews/rn_Colloquium1012.html

[12poundbass]

They're going to unveil their glass boats at the Bassmaster Classic. 

 

The "fiberglass infused aluminium boat" was just a marketing ploy. Hey it worked, it got people talking. 

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

Vexus looks like they running a pad hull

I believe I read all their tin bass boats are pad hulls.

[slonezp]

7 hours ago, A-Jay said:

These boats were not yet available during my 'search' for a rig.(2016)

 Had they, I would have checked at least one out.

 While I think the appearance is appealing, as far as I can tell, the Vexus's Glass-Infused Aluminum Hybrid Design is still very new.   Additionally, the Pro-V Bass has a 25 inch transom, which was a huge selling point for me.   I can't find that spec for the Vexus boats.  If it's much less than that, it would be a deal breaker for me.

 

A-Jay

You would have still passed on them. I saw the 18 footer and 19 footer in person today. I will admit they are the purtiest tin boats on the market. But they aren't Lund. Were I in the market for a shallow/skinny water boat and had $40k to spend, I'd get one based on looks alone. Very sharp, nice lines, nice welds, big storage (not compared to Lund, but compared to the cookie cutter tins)

 

It's all relative but, IMO the Lund and the Crestliner Basshawk are still a better all around platform and in a different class. The Vexus hull is closer to the cookie cutter bass tins on the market today. Again, I'd rank it at the top for looks alone. Think of it as a woman. Some women are naturally beautiful and can get hit on at the gas station wearing sweats and a baseball cap with no makeup while others, will only get hit on at closing time after a pitcher of Bud and a few shots of tequila and beer goggles. Still beautiful but you're not throwing the Vexus out of bed when you're done. She's getting breakfast at Waffle House in the morning.

[Catt]

@Fishing Rhino I have not seen or had anyone explain this "glass-infused" aluminium!

 

I spent 15 in the Aerospace industry as an manufacturing engineer specializing in metallurgy. If glass-infused aluminium exist show me!

 

@12poundbass I don't think the AVX189 is a pad hull

[slonezp]

11 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

There is one thing that makes me curious about the fiberglass infused aluminum.  Or is it the other way around?

 

Fiberglass and aluminum are different materials, and chances are they expand and contract at different rates when temperatures change.  Enough to be a problem?  I don't know.  But it would be a concern for me, if I were in the market for a Vexus.

 

An uncle of mine worked at Morton Thiokol in Huntsville, Alabama.  A contributing factor to the explosion of the Challenger was that dissimilar materials caused fuel leaks at the o rings.  The last time I saw him we had a long conversation about the space shuttle disaster.

 

The Lexus isn't going to blow up.  But time will tell whether infusing two different materials in the components is a good idea.

 

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/researchernews/rn_Colloquium1012.html

 

1 hour ago, Catt said:

@Fishing Rhino I have not seen or had anyone explain this "glass-infused" aluminium!

 

I spent 15 in the Aerospace industry as an manufacturing engineer specializing in metallurgy. If glass-infused aluminium exist show me!

 

@12poundbass I don't think the AVX189 is a pad hull

I think they mean a glass infused aluminum boat, not glass infused aluminum. My understanding is they are using both aluminum and fiberglass in the manufacturing. The consoles are made of fiberglass. Possibly the deck and storage compartments as well. 

 

Lowe did something similar a few years back with a crossover ski and deck boat. Aluminum hull and fiberglass top cap. I don't believe the boat was ever mass produced and it was discontinued shortly after the release

[Fishing Rhino]

My take is that infusion is used because it sounds impressive, but their use of it does not conform to the dictionary definition of infusion.

 

However, "infusion" as used by Vexus, stimulates interest, and generates discussion, which is what web sites are designed to do.

 

in·fuse

[inˈfyo͞oz]

 

VERB

infused (past tense) · infused (past participle)

1. fill; pervade.

   "her work is infused with an anger born of pain and oppression"

   synonyms:

   fill · pervade · permeate · suffuse · charge · saturate · imbue · inspire ·

   [more]

   • instill (a quality) in someone or something.
     "he did his best to infuse good humor into his voice"
     synonyms:

     instil · breathe · inject · impart · inculcate · introduce · implant ·

     [more]
2. soak (tea, herbs, etc.) in liquid to extract the flavor or healing properties.

   "infuse the dried flowers in boiling water"

   synonyms:

   steep · brew · stew · soak · immerse · marinate · souse · mash · mast

   • (of tea, herbs, etc.) be soaked in liquid.
     "allow the mixture to infuse for 15 minutes"
3. medicine

   allow (a liquid) to flow into a patient, vein, etc..

   "saline was infused into the aorta"

    

    

[Catt]

@slonezp From everything I could see on the top cap it is welded because I could actually see the welds.

 

I could not say for certain but just by feel the console was aluminum.

[12poundbass]

11 hours ago, slonezp said:

You would have still passed on them. I saw the 18 footer and 19 footer in person today. I will admit they are the purtiest tin boats on the market. But they aren't Lund. Were I in the market for a shallow/skinny water boat and had $40k to spend, I'd get one based on looks alone. Very sharp, nice lines, nice welds, big storage (not compared to Lund, but compared to the cookie cutter tins)

 

It's all relative but, IMO the Lund and the Crestliner Basshawk are still a better all around platform and in a different class. The Vexus hull is closer to the cookie cutter bass tins on the market today. Again, I'd rank it at the top for looks alone. Think of it as a woman. Some women are naturally beautiful and can get hit on at the gas station wearing sweats and a baseball cap with no makeup while others, will only get hit on at closing time after a pitcher of Bud and a few shots of tequila and beer goggles. Still beautiful but you're not throwing the Vexus out of bed when you're done. She's getting breakfast at Waffle House in the morning.

Your analogies are always awesome. Good thing I don't drink coffee otherwise I'd be going home to change clothes and head to get a new phone. Well done! ?

[J Francho]

You guys don't read posts, or look at the video I posted.  I literally explained what their marketing term meant. Lol.

[Allaroundfishing]

20 hours ago, Catt said:

I just posted under "New Dealership", we now have a Vexus dealership here in Southwest Louisiana.

 

The AVX189 has a 94" beam

The AVX1889, AVX1980, & AVX2080 all have a 95" beam.

 

The Ranger RT series has 92" beam, not a huge difference.

at the show The vexus booth was right across from the where some rangers were when i hopped in the vexus and sat down i noticed how the width of the boat, like fishing platform wise and the ability to walk around and not feel cramped even on 19ft model was impressive. Maybe it was the layout or where the seats were it certainly felt wider and a little more fishable then the other aluminum boats there but that is just my opinion.

[TOXIC]

My concern would be when mating glass and metal how that mating reacts to heat/cold and rough water running.  I am currently getting ready (as soon as the weather warms up) to re-glass an underneath section of my drivers console on my Ranger because of the excessive trailering and rough water I run.  One of the mounting bolts has broken away from the console to the topcap/hull.  My concern would be if the hull/topcap were metal as opposed to glass, how will it react?  Different flex rates would only contribute to my kind of problem or possibly stress crack all of that pretty glass mated to metal.  Same inside the compartments.  My other problem is the old saying "jack of all trades, master of none".  When you try to do too many things you end up not doing any very well.  Tin boats have their place and so do glass boats.  With no real cost advantage I would have to sit on the sidelines a while and wait to see how the public reacts regarding performance and durability.  One thing that does interest me is a good tin that is 20 foot and lighter than glass that gives easier towing and better mpg.  I will say that Ranger has had their share of issues with their tin line.  There were paint problems in the beginning and there have been a lot of reported weld issues especially in the bow/keel welds.  Of course Ranger has handled the problems but it's still out there.