Opinions on these two boats?

[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

[Les Young]

I had a 1998 H-56 with a 1998 Mariner 135. With the front storage crammed full & myself at 200 Lb. & a partner at 325 Lb. & a half tank (12 gallons) would do 59 gps with a prop that wasn't in very good shape. Xpress hyper lift hull series boats are by far the best performing aluminium boat on the market when it comes to speed & performance. The one & only down fall I had period was drifting in the wind. I also have had a couple older Lowes & not knocking them in any way, but If I were going back to aluminium again it would definitley be Xpress. Unless of course I couldn't get it in my garage. lol

[MrSplitshot]

Well, I flipped a coin and bought the Xpress...lol

I liked both boats and both dealers, but the Xpress just felt right for me. Loved the Yamaha, the ride of the HyperLift, and having something a bit unique that you don't see out there everyday. Nothing against the Lowe at all, because I know they are fine boats too.

Both of them were way too expensive for an aluminum boat and I should probably have my head examined for buying new, but I reckon you only live once. Couldn't really find what I wanted used, especially with my narrow garage. Supposed to take delivery on Tuesday and hope to be pitching a buzz bait from the front deck by the weekend.

$100/month for the next 46 years ain't bad loan terms are they? j/k

Thanks for those who offered opinions!