Opinions on these two boats?

[MrSplitshot]

I've got finger on the trigger to buy a boat, but am kind of torn between two models. I have a shallow garage with narrow dual doors, so before you go throwing out other options...I've done a lot of research. Length and width is driving the bus here a lot. I fish a 200 acre club lake regularly that will give trolling motor a work out constantly (can't use big gas motor), but also wanting something suitable for anywhere from Stoner Creek, to Cave Run, to Cedar Creek, to Laurel, to an occasional trip to Cumberland or Dale Hollow. I fish 99% for bass, don't do tourneys. I want to be able to get back to the ramp if the wind picks up without dying.

Option #1
2014 Xpress H17 Pro
90HP 4-Stroke Yamaha w/SS Prop and 3yr warr
80# Minn Kota Fortrexx 24V
Humminbird 859 In Dash Down Image & GPS
Humminbird 678 Down Image on Bow
All Aluminum Trailer, Aluminum Wheels, 100k mile warranty no maintenance hubs
Pad Hull
17' long with 88" beam at rear with fast taper to front

Drove it Thursday and WOW...50mph boat...unreal ride and stability for a 17' tin rig. I was pretty shocked at how well it rode and cleared through rough water. The hull is impressive. Looks like a little glass boat, very sharp and unique rig. Only downside I can really find is the layout is a little less conducive for having a bunch of rods on the deck. It's comfortable at the helm and back deck for passenger is huge. Front deck is smaller than a Lowe, but I was still comfortable and felt stable. Storage up front is fine, pretty large actually. Rod box is mediocre, no tubes, but handles a 7'6" just fine. In sleeves I think I can cram 8 sticks in it. Dealer has been awesome to work with...great guy...and I feel like relationship with dealer (very important to me) would be awesome.





VERSUS, for the same money...

Option #2
2014 Lowe Stinger 18HP
115 Mercury ProXS 2-Stroke w/SS prop and 5 year warr
75# MotorGuide Tour 24V
Lowrance Elite 5 HDI Sonar & GPS in-dash
Painted steel trailer with aluminum wheels
Pad Hull 18'2" long with 85" beam at rear with slow taper to front. (Stays wider at the front deck)

I haven't been able to test drive or sit in one, so I don't have quite the feel for this rig that I do the Xpress. It's supposed to be a 52mph boat and I believe that. Deck definitely bigger up front, rod box bigger, and layout looks more accommodating than the Xpress, which is the reason I'm still considering it right now. I don't like the idea of a 2-stroke Merc again, but I have no experience with Optimax platform. A lot of guys sing their praises. A lot of guys also tell me the Yamaha 4-strokes are friggin bulletproof and I can't go wrong with one. I want a motor that is (1) reliable, (2) easy starting, (3) fairly quiet.

Dealer here has also been on point for answering my questions and working with me. No doubts that relationship with the dealer would be great here too.



I'm kinda torn. The money is dang near identical. My gut tells me that I need to buy the Xpress/Yamaha, because I really loved it....but I've also bought some cars in my lifetime that I loved on the test drive and wanted to sell after 6 months because of something I didn't consider. LOL

[slackdaddy]

I will cast my vote for the Lowe for the speed and fishability. I have an aluminum Triton vt19 with a 115 opti that I have gps'd at 51.4. It is 6" longer and 5" wider than the Lowe with no pad hull but do have a 5"jackplate. The Lowe should do 54 or so with some motor adjustment. I looked at an express x19 before I bought the triton but the small front deck really turned me off. I would rather be 30 seconds later to the spot and have more stability for the next 8 hours. Steve

[MrSplitshot]

Thanks Steve.
Any issues with your Opti? Good fuel mileage? Use much oil? Smoke?

The 90 4-Stroke Yamaha was unbelievably smooth and I kept looking back for the water stream at idle it was so quiet. Power band seemed good too and made the Xpress a little rocket.

I agree on speed and I'm definitely not in it for that though. I just refuse to have another underpowered boat that is a slug. I've been down that road already. I want max motor that the hull is rated for and both of these boats have that, so I kinda see that as a push. Either will provide plenty of speed and power for what I do.

No doubt Lowe front deck has more room. I'm a big guy. I wasn't uncomfortable on the front of the Xpress though.

[slackdaddy]

I have only had my boat since mid-summer last year so I can't give a real in depth review on the opti but coming from a carbed 2-stroke, it is night and day. The opti had no problem starting right up in the mid thirties when I would have had to choke my carbed motor and cranked for a while. I think that is a wash though because I'm sure the 4-stroke is fuel injected also so it should start and run quickly.

I actually looked at the lowes also and the one thing I didn't like was the front livewell instead of storage. Of course If you don't fish tourneys that could be a non issue for you. It was for me

If you are in no hurry, you are welcome to drive mine when the ky river goes down. I live in stamping ground, just 12 miles from the Steele branch ramp. I don't mind dropping it in one night after work. Weekends are tough though

[MrSplitshot]

Thanks man, that's awful nice of you to offer a ride.

I'm the same way on a front live well - It does nothing for me. The Xpress just has the one divided live well in the rear, which will get used as a cooler for me 99 times out of 100. LOL

[smalljaw01]

If you are just comparing motors , i have an 06 90hp optimax on a nitro 750 . Has been a very good motor my first issue came at 300 engine hours . One downside is the oil cost about 40 dollars a gallon for opti oil. Good luck both boats look great.

[R19]

I have only fished out of few different model aluminum boats. However I have probably spent several hundred hours fishing out of an Express. A guy I fish with some had an 18 ft Express with a 115 Yamaha and a 6" jack plate. I do not recall what the model numbers was. He ran that boat for around 10 years and in that time I spent many days fishing out of it so my opinion is based on experience.

Excellent hole shot. I ran beside him one day in my boat and he would eat me alive out of the hole. Good speed,my boat has GPS and I pulled beside him running down the lake and he can GPS 54 mph...not bad for a 18 footer with a 115. Bow lift is excellent. I have never rode in any boat aluminum or fiberglass that had such a good hole shot and reached top end so fast. Ride..good for an aluminum boat. Running down the lake you could cross boat wakes with ease.

Deck layout...a lot of wasted space. The large area in front of the console and to the side could use a platform instead of being open. He fabricated a deck insert so 2 people could fish off the front deck. Front storage compartment was one open area. I am not a fan of the design but it was large enough to put his fishing tackle and life jackets in it. I prefer a storage compartment with dividers but his did get the job done. Rod locker...He would put rod socks on his rods and then he would insert 2 in a tube. I "think" he eventually took out the rod tubes but I am not 100% sure about that. I do know he had a couple of rods that were just over 7 ft and they fit in the locker. I do know on my fiberglass boat that when I removed the rod tubes and use rod socks I can get more in there with rod socks verse rod tubes..

Live well was plenty big enough to keep a limit alive in it. Cooler...now that I think about it I do not think his boat had a cooler. I know he always had a portable cooler that was under the deck insert he made.

I know there will be a difference between the 14 year old 18 ft Express with a 115 and a brand new 17 ft Express with a 90 so take that into account on my review.

Overall I like his Express better than any aluminum boat that I have been in. Deck space and lay out need improvement in my opinion but the hole shot and top end are awesome. I have always said if I ever went to aluminum that Express would be on a short list of boats that I would consider. I know you only ask about aluminum but fiberglass is much smoother riding and it does not blow around in the wind as bad as aluminum. On windy days we would take my fiberglass boat just because of the ride and stability. It does not matter what brand of aluminum you buy that is just going to be a factor with aluminum. Based on the type of lakes you said you fish you should be fine. I would not want to go to Cumberland with a 10-12 mph or greater wind but if you pick your days on the big lakes you will be fine. I think you will be happy with whatever you choose...Wish I was choosing what new ride I wanted LOL.

Based on the pictures you posted and both being similar in price it would be nice to have the 115 with more deck space verses the smaller deck with 90...good luck on your decision.

[MrSplitshot]

Thanks, R19.

The difference in layout is pretty much the only reason I haven't already signed on the Xpress. It's a sweet little rig. Just thinking a lot about the layout and how it would fish for me. I feel like it's what I'll end up with though.

If fiberglass was an option for me, given my goofy garage, I'd probably buy one. I've got 20'2" max depth and 94" trim to trim on garage door. Finding a boat that will fit that (no turning once in the garage) is pretty dang tough.

[slackdaddy]

Thanks, R19.

The difference in layout is pretty much the only reason I haven't already signed on the Xpress. It's a sweet little rig. Just thinking a lot about the layout and how it would fish for me. I feel like it's what I'll end up with though.

If fiberglass was an option for me, given my goofy garage, I'd probably buy one. I've got 20'2" max depth and 94" trim to trim on garage door. Finding a boat that will fit that (no turning once in the garage) is pretty dang tough.

I'm guessing you did figure in folding trailer tongues and taking the transom saver out and tilting the motor down?

[MrSplitshot]

I'm guessing you did figure in folding trailer tongues and taking the transom saver out and tilting the motor down?

Oh yeah...folding tongue, motor down, motor turned to the side, hole cut in drywall between two studs to buy me a couple more inches...LOL

My issue really ends up being the 94" wide trim to trim on garage door. That pretty much rules out every glass rig on the market.

[R19]

You are correct 94" / 7'10" is a narrow doorway. My boat alone is almost that wide and that does not count the extra width of the trailer. I think we both agree that the Express is a great riding boat with a poor deck lay out. Like you all I do is bass fish so having deck space to lay out 5-6 rods and still having room to move and walk around is important.

The more I think about your dilemma the more I lean towards the Lowe. The Lowe is a little longer and has more horsepower. There should be a noticeable difference in 90 hp verses 115 hp. You said price was similar on both boats but your getting more length and hp with the Lowe and 2 more years warranty on the motor. Plus it's a little more narrow which I think is an overall negative but based on your narrow door way it is a plus.

As for personal preference the Lowe does have Motor Guide and Lowrance and I prefer them over Minn Kota and Humminbird. Nothing wrong with Minn Kota or Hummingbird they are both fine products. I have ran Motor Guide and Lowrance for so many years with little to no issues so I am comfortable with their products.

Because of your limited space 3" will mean a lot. The Lowe is has a 85" beam. Add in the trailer width and your pushing the limit of your door way. The extra 3" of width on the Express will make it even more tighter. I would be nerves as a cat on a tin roof trying to back a boat in a 7' 10" doorway. Whatever you choose be careful and enjoy your new ride. I would get the Lowe.

[Moveon]

One thing to think about with the live well is weight distribution. Once you fill it with water there is a lot of weight there.

My boat came with the life well on the starboard side and I ended up putting an extra 75 lbs of lead on the port side so my boat is level in the water when I'm sitting at the drivers seat on the Starboard side of the boat. I'm heavier than I was when I got my boat. But the boat is a 1978 model.

Getting the boat you like is a personal thing. Only you can really decide what's best for you.

I'm not familiar with either of those boats.

But if I were looking for a boat that would suit your Garage I'd think about a trailer with a folding front tongue. You probably already thought about that.

Four strokes are quiet and may get a little bit better gas mileage although I'm guessing on that.

If you need more room up front and that's number one on the list then go with the bigger boat that has more room up front.

with gas prices going up again 3.78 a gallon here I'd go for the most economical motor/boat that I could find. Especially if you are going to fish smaller lakes that are trolling motor only a lot. The only time you really will need a lot of speed is to try to outrace a lightning storm. That's a life and death situation IMHO and I'll go as fast as I can to get off the water when I see lighting. Other wise I don't need speed. Now if you are fishing tournaments and have to race to to your spot to get their first then that's a different story. I don't do tournaments. I don't need the stress these days. I got enough stress the way it is with my heart condition. I like to take it nice and slow and relax as much as possible.

Another factor that I look at in the boat is the ride though waves and rough water. How is the bow constructed and the stakes under the boat. Is the boat stable when you turn at high speed? If the lake is rough and there's 4 ft rollers and white caps can you still fish out on the main lake? That's where a longer and bigger boat may come in handy. But unless you are a fishing guide or a tournament guy you don't need to be out there in those conditions. Well at least I don't need to be out there. Don't want to tell you want to do. That's your job!

Good luck and enjoy the new boat when you decide to pull the trigger.

Any boat is better than fishing from the bank.

PS: when I was around 8 years old I started driving the boat for my dad when we went fishing. We would rent out a 14 ft or 16 ft alumacraft fishing boat. The kind with wooden benches and rivets holding the aluminum together. They were V bottom boats. Dad Owned a Black Mercury 20 HP motor that he got sometime in the 1960's. He would haul that motor in the back of the Grand Prix with all the other gear and the back shocks looked like they had failed the rear end sat down so low due to the excess weight of the motor. But that motor and boat combination let me ride the 4 ft waves on KY lake when there was a North South Wind. I would cut into the waves at 45 deg angle and I did just fine. If I had fallen out of the boat I would have had a long swim to shore. I guess I was lucky as I never had any problems when I was out on KY Lake all by myself. My current boat would not do so well as it's front end is like that of a old john boat. No "V" front *****. Every wave that I hit comes over the front of the boat and gets every one wet. I'd do it all over again if I could. It was my first boat and I still have it 36 years later. May you have your boat for a long time too.

Thanks man, that's awful nice of you to offer a ride.

I'm the same way on a front live well - It does nothing for me. The Xpress just has the one divided live well in the rear, which will get used as a cooler for me 99 times out of 100. LOL