Need Info On 16’ Xpress Alumaweld

[AmmoGuy]

Someone near me is selling their 1999 16’ Express. It has an early Gen Suzuki 4 stroke 40hp (DF40?).  It’s been kept covered most of its life, under a carport. It shows some signs of age, but otherwise very clean. Carpet is in pretty fair condition. 
 

I know nothing about that era Express, or the early gen Zuk four strokes. 
 

If anyone has any input, I’m all ears. Also ballpark what it may be worth. 

[TnRiver46]

I have a 07 4 stroke that runs like a top, but it’s merc not Suzuki. Although I’ve never ran one personally, Suzuki engines have an excellent reputation. That boat looks awesome to me! I have ridden in some express boats from that era, more like a traditional aluminum than their new stuff but they are very tough, well made boats 

[AmmoGuy]

Went to look at it a little closer. Not a big fan of this hull dent. But it’s pretty clean otherwise. 
 

[WRB]

XPress boats, not express. Big dent that needs some body work and appears to be painted. Ask the owner what happened. Suzuki 4 strokes are heavier than other brands generally reliable. Need a mechanic to check it out, compression and lower unit.

Tom

[AmmoGuy]

3 minutes ago, WRB said:

XPress boats, not express. Big dent that needs some body work and appears to be painted. Ask the owner what happened. Suzuki 4 strokes are heavier than other brands generally reliable. Need a mechanic to check it out, compression and lower unit.

Tom

Yea, my phone doesn’t like to let “Xpress” stay that way it seems. 

 

Dent isn’t painted, just the odd glare from the street. I don’t know that it would have to be repaired? But I’m still not a fan. Current owner doesn’t know. Dent was there from original owner. 
 

It’s pretty tight room wise. I’m a big guy and don’t fit under the console well. That may be a deal breaker. 

[WRB]

Pass!

Tom

[AmmoGuy]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Pass!

Tom

 It’ll depend on how bad he wants it gone! Ha. 
 

I’ll add, that while I’d love to have it looked over, there’s not a good boat service with an hours drive of me. So not much option there. That said, I do all maintenance myself, and the motor seems to have been well cared for. 

[Catt]

I ran Xpress jon boats for years, their hulls are 0.100 gauge aluminum. Their ribs, ransom, & transom brace are heavy duty. If the dent is between ribs which it looks like it is, I wouldn't worry about it. 

 

I run Suzuki for years as well, very reliable outboard.

[gim]

Used boats with reliable 4-stroke outboards are like gold right now in this market. If he sells it at a reasonable price, I’d buy it quickly or someone else will.

[Dogface]

I have a 2002 War Eagle with a 2001 40HP Suzuki. When I was looking I looked at both Xpress and War Eagle. Both were top of the line boats and very similar in construction. I got a better deal on the War Eagle and went that route.

 

The Suzuki has been great and I have never had an issue. I run it all year fishing and hunting but it does not get much use in January or February. 

 

BTW the Suzuki is very fuel efficient. Much better than any comparable outboard I have owned. 

[AmmoGuy]

19 minutes ago, Dogface said:

I have a 2002 War Eagle with a 2001 40HP Suzuki. When I was looking I looked at both Xpress and War Eagle. Both were top of the line boats and very similar in construction. I got a better deal on the War Eagle and went that route.

 

The Suzuki has been great and I have never had an issue. I run it all year fishing and hunting but it does not get much use in January or February. 

 

BTW the Suzuki is very fuel efficient. Much better than any comparable outboard I have owned. 

 

Thanks for the info. 

Would the hull dent I posted above bother you? It does seem to be between the ribs.  And hopefully far enough forward that it won't affect when on plane. 

[Jig Man]

The dent wouldn’t bother me.  What would bother me is getting in and out of a tight fitting seat several times a day for maybe years.  I suggest you get in the boat and sit and stand several times before you make up your mind.

[AmmoGuy]

7 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

The dent wouldn’t bother me.  What would bother me is getting in and out of a tight fitting seat several times a day for maybe years.  I suggest you get in the boat and sit and stand several times before you make up your mind.

 

Solid advice, and it's the first thing I do with any boat (I'm 6'6").  Unfortunately, to get a side console bass boat that isn't "tight" for me, I'd have to step up to a much larger/more expensive boat. 

 

My main reservations are that the old Xpress boats weren't very wide, I think this one is a 71" beam, and the front deck is kind of tight. By myself, with my weight on one side of the boat, I'm betting it won't track perfectly.... But again, larger/more expensive is the answer to that. 

[AmmoGuy]

Well, I ended up pulling it home. 

After some haggling, and driving away one time, he came off his asking to the point that I couldn't turn it down.  Basically ended up paying "average" NADA, which currently is kind of unheard of around here. 

[Dogface]

4 hours ago, AmmoGuy said:

 

Thanks for the info. 

Would the hull dent I posted above bother you? It does seem to be between the ribs.  And hopefully far enough forward that it won't affect when on plane. 

 

It looks to be about the size of a baseball. Is that right? If that is correct it would not bother me.

 

I would examine it to make sure there are no splits. If there was a split it could be stopped and repaired. I had a trailer bunk come loose and it put a gash in my hull. I drilled holes at the end of the split and used Marine Tex and a small aluminum patch on it. That had to be 10 or 12 years ago and I have had no problems. 

 

If the dent is under the floor you could try to remove the floor board and tap it out. Better yet if it is in an area of a storage compartment you may have direct access to the dent from inside.  

4 minutes ago, AmmoGuy said:

Well, I ended up pulling it home. 

After some haggling, and driving away one time, he came off his asking to the point that I couldn't turn it down.  Basically ended up paying "average" NADA, which currently is kind of unheard of around here. 

 

Great!! 

 

[Dogface]

3 hours ago, AmmoGuy said:

 

Solid advice, and it's the first thing I do with any boat (I'm 6'6").  Unfortunately, to get a side console bass boat that isn't "tight" for me, I'd have to step up to a much larger/more expensive boat. 

 

 

If your console is set up like the War Eagle it can be moved forward some depending on the slack in the steering cable. 

[WRB]

19 hours ago, AmmoGuy said:

 It’ll depend on how bad he wants it gone! Ha. 
 

I’ll add, that while I’d love to have it looked over, there’s not a good boat service with an hours drive of me. So not much option there. That said, I do all maintenance myself, and the motor seems to have been well cared for. 

No reason to waste money on a boat that isn’t suiting your needs regarding size. I am never comfortable buying anything used by multiple owners too risky.

Tom

[gim]

59 minutes ago, AmmoGuy said:

Well, I ended up pulling it home. 

Nice.  Take some new pictures and post them in the "show your ride" thread.  I look forward to seeing them.

[Big-Bass]

Good luck with your new boat.

[Bruce424]

congrats on it. have fun

[NavyToad]

My brother had one when he lived on the Potomac near Hagerstown. I loved that boat and expect you’ll be happy with yours. He had a jet motor and we used to fish in 18” of water. Perfect boat for the conditions. I’m envious.

[TnRiver46]

Congrats on the purchase!!!

[AmmoGuy]

Running it a little last night, and I noticed a fair amount of water comes out at the joint between the gear case and drive shaft housing. I’ve had this before on other motors, and no big deal, but it wasn’t at two specific openings at the front of the case like this. 
Seems to me making good pressure? Tell tail is flowing. 
 

Normal? Odd? 

[cyclops2]

If water comes out between the surfaces of 2 castings?  Bolts are loose or  hitting something in the water.

[AmmoGuy]

11 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

If water comes out between the surfaces of 2 castings?  Bolts are loose or  hitting something in the water.

No, it’s not coming out between the two castings, there’s are two (presumably) drain holes at the front of the water pump casting. This is where the water was coming out, and some right above the two holes at the clutch rod opening (which I believe is just open to the same void as the two drain holes).