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Dec 30th, 2023
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 Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Jammin Outdoors]
#15030994
03/29/24 06:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,062
DLALLDER
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,062 |
Might want to look at the WAR EAGLE brand. Boats are made in Arkansas. Thanks Daniel
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Luke57]
#15032388
03/31/24 01:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,035
texcajun
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,035 |
Oh Man! I picked up a gently used Excel Bay Pro 203 this past November and couldn't be happier with it. The original purchaser put the Mercury Pro XS 150 on the back and then proceeded to only put 150 hours on it. What a boat! I shopped around for several months and was really close to pulling the trigger on a 20' Xpress H20 with the hyperlift hull. Really glad I didn't. My nephew owns a Vexus and they are super nice, I'd say it's nicer than mine, but even the used ones were out of my price range. The Excel boats have one of the thickest commercially installed hulls at .160 than most other manufactures. Even thicker than Vexus. I wanted that extra assurance because I don't plan on babying mine.
Last edited by texcajun; 03/31/24 01:53 PM.
2014 Excel Bay Pro 203/2014 Mercury 150 Optimax Pro XS
Point me towards the water!
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: crankbait745]
#15032403
03/31/24 02:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,035
texcajun
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,035 |
I just bought a 2024 h20 bay by xpress. This boat rides better than the fx 20 skeeter I had. While I was shopping for a nice used boat, I got to ride in a couple h2O Xpress models and I can attest to their ride quality. When it comes to tin boats, Xpress hyper lift hulls are pretty slick. The only other tin boats I tried were the Vexus and the Excel Bay Pro. I was super close to pulling the trigger on 20' h2O, but on the test drive, Yamaha F115 on the back stumbled and I backed out of the deal pending repairs. While waiting on the h2O getting fixed, I found a Excel Bay Pro 203 that checked all of my boxes (and then some) and I jumped on it. The Excel's ride quality is as good or better than Xpress, I suspect this is so because the Excel is a slightly heavier boat due to the thicker hull.
2014 Excel Bay Pro 203/2014 Mercury 150 Optimax Pro XS
Point me towards the water!
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Jammin Outdoors]
#15114876
06/29/24 04:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 141
CDS
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 141 |
The great thing about an aluminum boat is that it will last forever. 50 years from now an alum boat may have a little faded paint, but the hull will be as sturdy as the day you bought it. Most fiberglass boat begin to delaminate and crack after 10 years. I said most fiberglass, not all. If you keep fiberglass in a garage it will not deteriorate as quickly. You can store aluminum indoors or outdoors with no deterioration to the hull structure.
I come from the water.
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Jammin Outdoors]
#15114877
06/29/24 04:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 4,139
Grasshopperglock
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 4,139 |
I thought plastic boats were the up and coming thing. Heavy duty polymer, the entire boat.
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Springcrik]
#15118325
07/03/24 03:49 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 14,455
Stump jumper
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 14,455 |
After owning several bass boats and riding in various CC’s, I have settled on a multi-species Lund (Tyee 1950.) I feel like I’m sitting on a pad on the floor in a bass boat and I need a post or something to pull myself up (help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up 😆). In a typical CC with more than 2 anglers aboard, there’s usually no place to sit except perhaps on a hatch cover or a cooler lid. In a multi species, you usually have 4 good sturdy full-back pedestal seats and perhaps a couple of fold-down jump seats. We troll and move around the lake a lot, and the Lund handles big water just fine. True, you can catch a lot more overspray running diagnoally to the waves than a CC does, because most aluminum boats don’t have the flared gunwales that CC’s do. But overall I’ve found the Lund design the best compromise for big Texas lakes for myself and my family. When I was looking at CCs 1 of my must haves was jump seats. Champ has 2 and seat with back padding on baitwell.
2200 Bay Champ/200 Mercury Optimax
2017 Tundra TSS 4x4 Crewmax 5.7L
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Jammin Outdoors]
#15134557
07/19/24 04:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,302
ogles824 (aka Lakewaydr50)
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,302 |
I bought m ZX200 Skeeter two years ago and looked at the Triton's from the TRX line, I've fished out of a TRX21 recently. Honestly I'd be rolling in a TRX18 right now if my knees weren't up against the console when I sat behind the wheel. They are good boats and well laid out and for the money, hard to beat. I talked to someone that worked at Triton before I bought my Skeeter about whether or not the folks at White River Marine Group had made them change anything about the way the whole rig was built and he said that nothing has changed at that point, they were still building everything about them just the same as before WR took over.
2012 ZX200 Skeeter 2012 Yamaha 200 SHO Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Proud student of the Pro Staffer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzwF72B2F2w&t=14s
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Jammin Outdoors]
#15135613
07/20/24 05:58 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,771
Mckinneycrappiecatcher
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,771 |
You get what you pay for when it comes to boats. I wouldn’t touch anything aluminum. I’ve yet to see any aluminum boat that I would consider to have a good build quality. Most of them are pretty much cheap junk. If those are the only two choices get the triton. If they aren’t, then go look at center consoles. Either of those boats are only going to fish about two people and you won’t want to be on a lake in any kind of significant chop.
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Mckinneycrappiecatcher]
#15136066
07/21/24 02:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,726
Jim Ford
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,726 |
[quote=Mckinneycrappiecatcher]You get what you pay for when it comes to boats. I wouldn’t touch anything aluminum. I’ve yet to see any aluminum boat that I would consider to have a good build quality.
You obviously haven't seen a Sabine. And they're built in Texas.
Last edited by Jim Ford; 07/21/24 02:04 AM.
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: ogles824 (aka Lakewaydr50)]
#15137351
07/22/24 10:32 AM
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,115
BMCD
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,115 |
Did they not release new models last year? Not sure about the 18ft boats but the 23-24s are new design.
Last edited by BMCD; 07/22/24 10:33 AM.
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: crankbait745]
#15141597
07/26/24 02:59 AM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 160
El_Tortuga
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 160 |
I just bought a 2024 h20 bay by xpress. This boat rides better than the fx 20 skeeter I had. +1 for the Xpress. H18C / Yammy 115 for me. Not the biggest nor baddest boat on the water, but quite a bit for the money.
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Mckinneycrappiecatcher]
#15141633
07/26/24 06:18 AM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,624
ToasterWEyes
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,624 |
You get what you pay for when it comes to boats. I wouldn’t touch anything aluminum. I’ve yet to see any aluminum boat that I would consider to have a good build quality. Most of them are pretty much cheap junk. If those are the only two choices get the triton. If they aren’t, then go look at center consoles. Either of those boats are only going to fish about two people and you won’t want to be on a lake in any kind of significant chop. 
It's only a good cast if you catch a fish...
Personal Best: 11.62 lbs
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: Jammin Outdoors]
#15148342
08/01/24 10:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 188
TritonRob
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 188 |
I've got an older triton TR-186 and I love it. It's a great boat that fishes big for it's size. Mine's older so it's a Bentz boat unlike the new ones so I would probably look at his newer Caymas boats if I were looking new. I've put my boat through hell and it's a battleship. I don't think Earl Bentz would put his name on junk so that's where I'd start looking.
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: TritonRob]
#15148863
08/02/24 02:58 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,841
4Weight
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,841 |
I've got an older triton TR-186 and I love it. It's a great boat that fishes big for it's size. Mine's older so it's a Bentz boat unlike the new ones so I would probably look at his newer Caymas boats if I were looking new. I've put my boat through hell and it's a battleship. I don't think Earl Bentz would put his name on junk so that's where I'd start looking. Likewise. I love my 186, it's an 03 with a new Pro XS. Wish I would have repowered sooner.
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Re: Help with boat decision
[Re: 4Weight]
#15149551
08/02/24 11:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 188
TritonRob
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 188 |
I've got an older triton TR-186 and I love it. It's a great boat that fishes big for it's size. Mine's older so it's a Bentz boat unlike the new ones so I would probably look at his newer Caymas boats if I were looking new. I've put my boat through hell and it's a battleship. I don't think Earl Bentz would put his name on junk so that's where I'd start looking. Likewise. I love my 186, it's an 03 with a new Pro XS. Wish I would have repowered sooner. I just repowered mine with a new Pro XS too. Decided to keep the boat and fix it up some instead of buting new...
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