Picking an aluminum bass boat

[Topher89]

So in the near future I will be purchasing a boat.  I have looked into multiple boat makes and models.  My price range is roughly 25k.  Can anyone give advice on what boat you prefer and why?  As of now I feel like I will go with a Tracker or Xpress.  However, the Triton keeps catching my attention.  

[ChrisD46]

Although possibly more expensive - take a look at the Vexus or the Crestliner ... Lowe and Xpress are other brands to take a look at . 

[gim]

The tracker will be the cheapest in cost but it will also have the least amount of customizing options.

 

I have a 2015 Ranger RT178 that I bought new.  The budget you indicated is pretty accurate for a boat like that.  If you have a Lund dealer nearby, considering the Renegade series too.  I have heard that Ranger quality has gone down since Bass Pro bought them a few years ago.

[Spankey]

I fish from a Tracker 19’ Pro Team. Fished a 175 previous. Will most likely own another Tracker before I’m gone. 

[Captain Phil]

For what it's worth, I owned a 16' Lowe Aluminum boat for a number of years.  I sold my big bass boat and was looking for a mini bass boat with a side console that would hold a good sized motor.   My Lowe boat had a 60 hp Merc 4 stroke.   After looking at all the other boats, the Lowe seemed to be the higher quality boat.  The metal stringers are thicker.  Their boats are not fancy.  I'm not into fancy or pretty.   I'm into functionality and toughness.  I fish bass and inshore salt water species.  My Lowe boat held up well even with all the abuse of salt water fishing. 

[Fishes in trees]

For me, back when I bought my boat, my boat choices were limited by proximity to the dealer and how far I wanted to drive when something messed up.  For me, the closest dealer was a Lowe dealer, back in 2002 Lowe was affiliated with Yamaha.  Recently, that dealer. has retired and no one stepped up to buy his business so now I have to drive farther to get motor work done.  I don't know what dealers are where in Lee County, Alabama, but that is what would drive my choice.

 

If I had unrestricted finances, and I wanted to have an aluminum boat, I'd choose either a Vexus or an Express.  I have a buddy who has the 20' Express with the 200 Yamaha 4 stroke and that boat is nice and it goes fast too.   Last year, at the Fishing for Freedom event at Truman Lake, there were a few guys from Flippin Arkansas who were affiliated with the Vexus bait company and, just talking to them on the dock, those Vexus boats appeared to be nice boats.  Both of those boats are somewhat more than your stated budget.  I know that Lowe makes a 20' boat that is kind of in your price range.  Like I said previously, my choice of boat was determined by my proximity to the dealer, and that worked out great for 16 years until he retired a couple of years ago.

[BigAngus752]

I have a 2016 Ranger RT188 with a 115 Merc 4-stroke. I cannot imagine needing anything else for what I fish (no “big” water). There is nothing I would change about it other than on windy days I wish it was as heavy as fiberglass. I plan to try to mitigate that this winter by installing a Garmin Force or MK Ultrex. Other than fighting the wind it is perfect. Huge deck that is so stable it’s like standing on a dock. 

[Shimano_1]

I bought a new triton 18tx last year. Its had a few minor issues that the dealer has taken care of but overall I've been pleased with it. Honestly dont know that you can go wrong with any of the suggestions.  Tracker makes a fine boat. Im not a fan of how they sit in the water but there's too many of them on the water to not be a good rig. I think my next one will be a lund pro v bass but thats much more money than the budget and probably more than I'm willing to spend myself.  I looked at rangers when I bought mine and they're basically identical.  Triton dealer was easier to deal with and Honestly kinda wanted the triton because you don't see many of em. Good luck!

[Topher89]

Thank you all for your inputs.  I was considering a fiberglass boat.  However, I fish a small lake on the Chattahoochee river.  We go into the river a lot.  In our area there is a lot of shallow areas so you defenitly have to be careful.  I started fishing small tournaments.  I have an old 40 Force on a Spectrum boat.  Does fine, just starting to get annoying working on it.  I want a bigger motor due to the tournaments sucks getting thrown around by a 115, 150, 200.  So with that being said what about cutting through wake?  Does one boat stand out more? I am not trying to run 70 mph.  A good 50 mph is fine with me. So what maybe a 115 would do that?  I know depending on boat size.  I will also eventually start Fishing Eufaula, Guntersville, Weiss, Lake Martin. 

[ChrisD46]

Another consideration for an aluminum bass boat is the design and how they handle "water slap" in terms of how they sit in the water and reinforcing materials used in the hull . A good deal of wave action will be beyond your control but on the weekends with boat traffic a lot of water slap can make for a noisy aluminum bass fishing boat .

[@reelChris]

I can't tell you which boat to buy but I can say this - hold back $1-2k of your total budget for equipment you'll need pretty much immediately after you get the boat.  E.g.:. Bow electronics, trailer spare $100, extra battery $200, multi back charger $150-200, boat buckles $100, keel guard $150, boat cover $500, life vests, emergency paddle, flares, anchor, transom saver, extra props for gas motor and trolling motor, storage containers for tackle, rods sleeves, net, livewell additive, culling system, boat fenders, various ropes/lines, tools for emergency repairs, first aid kit... The list of mandatory equipment is long and easily overlooked when shopping.

[OnthePotomac]

If you have a dealer near you look at the G3 boat line.  MY Pro175 welded hull is 19 years old and going strong.  Carpet is in good shape the the seats are like new.  But I work at both to keep them that way.  I believe they have a boat about my size that comes with a 150 Yammie now (new hull design) and wider beam. I only have a 60, but the hull is rated for 75.  I like the storage lay out and the center rod locker for long rods.

[NHBull]

I would take a hard look at the Renegade....A lot of boat for the $$$$$........and while they have only been out a few year, the resale is strong!

[Goldstar225]

My previous boat was a 1987 Tracker TX17.  It served me well for seven years.  I chose my current boat, A tracker PT190 after looking at other brands, all of them good.  The PT190 just met my needs/wants at a lower price.  Three years later I have no regrets on my choice and would buy it again without hesitation.  

 

I chose the 190 over the 175 simply because the extra 1' of length gave me more storage space in the front lockers and a bit more room for fishing with three aboard.  I'm running the 115 Pro XS 4S.  Stock I could easily run 45 MPH (GPS) but above that it was a bit unstable.  After installing a stainless 19 pitch X7 prop and raising the motor to the third hole I can consistently run 48-49 (GPS) with a full load and be very stable. 

 

The ride in choppy water is excellent.  I don't go on the water if there are 2-3 foot conditions (and I wouldn't do that in any boat for that matter).

 

Stick to your budget and get the boat that appeals to you. 

[NCLunker]

Its close to your price range but If you have a Vexus dealer nearby I would check out the AVX 189 or 1880 with a 115 Merc. Like the Xpress they have a padded hull and are heavier than a typical aluminum, hence better in bigger water with some chop.

 

https://vexusboats.com/model/avx189/overview/

 

I was going to get an Xpress but ended up ordering a Vexus 1980 after riding in one and researching. I also have 2 Vexus dearlers that are not too far from me.

If you dont have a dealer near then I would get a Xpress if you can afford it.

[A-Jay]

18 minutes ago, NCLunker said:

Its close to your price range but If you have a Vexus dealer nearby I would check out the AVX 189 or 1880 with a 115 Merc. Like the Xpress they have a padded hull and are heavier than a typical aluminum, hence better in bigger water with some chop.

 

https://vexusboats.com/model/avx189/overview/

 

I was going to get an Xpress but ended up ordering a Vexus 1980 after riding in one and researching. I also have 2 Vexus dearlers that are not too far from me.

If you dont have a dealer near then I would get a Xpress if you can afford it.

What is the weight of this hull ?

It's not included on the list of Specs on the site.

A-Jay

 

[slonezp]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

What is the weight of this hull ?

It's not included on the list of Specs on the site.

A-Jay

 

I'm not sold on the Vexus aluminum hull. They look nice on the trailers, but to me seem like a flashy mod v hull. 

 

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, slonezp said:

I'm not sold on the Vexus aluminum hull. They look nice on the trailers, but to me seem like a flashy mod v hull. 

 

I hear that.

Time will tell.

A-Jay 

[slonezp]

4 hours ago, NCLunker said:

Its close to your price range but If you have a Vexus dealer nearby I would check out the AVX 189 or 1880 with a 115 Merc. Like the Xpress they have a padded hull and are heavier than a typical aluminum, hence better in bigger water with some chop.

 

https://vexusboats.com/model/avx189/overview/

 

I was going to get an Xpress but ended up ordering a Vexus 1980 after riding in one and researching. I also have 2 Vexus dearlers that are not too far from me.

If you dont have a dealer near then I would get a Xpress if you can afford it.

A pad hull is a performance hull. It doesn't necessarily mean a better hull in chop. Heavy is a relative term. 200lbs doesn't mean a hill of beans in the grand scheme of things. There's a fine line between performance and ride in a hull. A bass boat in its essence, sits low to the water. It is designed for performance and is not designed for big water or choppy conditions. 

 

There's a reason you see bass boat performance videos shot on flat calm water.

 

I'm gonna brag, but I'm not bragging. Hull design is extremely important in the waters you fish. 

Show me a bass boat video that has footage on less than calm water.

 

   

[NCLunker]

On 8/2/2020 at 4:36 PM, A-Jay said:

What is the weight of this hull ?

It's not included on the list of Specs on the site.

A-Jay

 

I reached out to the mfg rep and the empty hull is 1200 lbs. The Hull is .100", with .125"  for the transom, transom gussets, and certain junctions. Adding everything else plus the motor ( Yamaha - 480 lbs) and the trailer ( ~750 lbs)and the total is 3,000 lbs. The 570 lb difference is everything else which includes a fair bit of fiberglass.

 

Vexus video on the hull build: 

 

 

 

 

I don't recall total weight of the Xpress but I do recall they used .125 aluminum thickness throughout the boat. I liked the Ranger alums too but was concerned it wouldn't handle big water as well. The Vexus felt very solid throughout the test drive, and there wasn't any noticeable hull slap. Perhaps someone else with more experience would have found flaws but everything about the boat had a quality feel.

 

As some on this thread have already stated "time will tell". Regardless it seemed like the best choice "for me".

[Kirk McLinn]

Love my Crestliner Fishawk.

[gim]

On 8/5/2020 at 5:50 PM, NCLunker said:

I liked the Ranger alums too but was concerned it wouldn't handle big water as well. 

I can confirm that it does not handle big rough water well. I know what the limits are for my mod v aluminum hull and I don’t even try it now. Mostly because it’s difficult fishing but also borderline unsafe. I simply fish a smaller lake or go another day.

[Catt]

On 8/2/2020 at 7:16 PM, slonezp said:

I'm not sold on the Vexus aluminum hull. They look nice on the trailers, but to me seem like a flashy mod v hull. 

 

 

The Vexus AVX189 is a mod-V hull, the rest are pad hulls.

 

Only the Xpress Xclusive Series are pad hulls.

 

Be aware of package deals!

 

In order to maintain lower prices most companies sale boats that are under powered.

 

Most guys immediately say, I not interested in going fast. It ain't about going fast, its about proper throttle response in rough water.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

 

The Vexus AVX189 is a mod-V hull, the rest are pad hulls.

 

Only the Xpress Xclusive Series are pad hulls.

 

Be aware of package deals!

 

In order to maintain lower prices most companies sale boats that are under powered.

 

Most guys immediately say, I not interested in going fast. It ain't about going fast, its about proper throttle response in rough water.

X2

 

"My motor has too much horsepower"

"My Trolling motor has too many pounds of thrust"

"The charge in my batteries last way too long and they re-charge way too fast"

Said no one ever.

A-Jay

[Pantera61]

On 7/28/2020 at 10:52 AM, OnthePotomac said:

If you have a dealer near you look at the G3 boat line.  MY Pro175 welded hull is 19 years old and going strong.  Carpet is in good shape the the seats are like new.  But I work at both to keep them that way.  I believe they have a boat about my size that comes with a 150 Yammie now (new hull design) and wider beam. I only have a 60, but the hull is rated for 75.  I like the storage lay out and the center rod locker for long rods.

I’ve had my G3 for almost 10 years.  It’s a good boat.  Well designed.  Well built.  What prevents it from being a great boat?  Customer service.  Getting information, feedback, assistance AIN’T HAPPENING.  Everything goes through a dealers network.  Wonderful for the dealer.  Leaves the customer in the cold.