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Trophy King
Well I had built new 2007 War eagle predator with 115 yam 4 stroke hydraulic steering and 24 volt minnkota and had it for two years when I left the bass world new 20 ft boats I ran for years. My dad wanted to fish and moved near us and liked cat fishing and fun fishing and crappie. He moved a year and half after I bought it. I had vinyl interior which was great. Boat was good boat and did well. I sold it thinking to get another bass boat and with economy and my wife saying she would like me not to tournament fish again. So after a year of looking and trying to find a crappie boat that fixed some negatives I had I ordered a 2012 xpress 18 PFC with 115 yam 4 stroke hyd steering and love the front deck that was a negative to me in the predator. Plus ride is better in xpress with it's hull. These were important to me. Now I can bass fish crappie fish hybrid catfish etc. Plus boarding ladder I had put on rear which could not seem to do on predator with rear of boat design for my wife to float next to boat in summer. Runs and rides great. 150 would of screamed but didn't need speed. I got the extreme liner which is perfect and love it! If you like more usable deck and get a little better ride and performance the xpress is the best in my opinion. Huge for me. Now I would still rather have my 20 ft bass boat and 250 SHO yam motor and fish for everything but my wife likes this boat to just fish for fun. I love the boat and would definitely choose it because layout and space and ride. Now the war eagle was a great boat zero issues. Now interior and the trailer of xpress is way better than war eagle. Trailer is fantastic!! Again war eagle was well built boat and just wasn't as nice in features and layout for me between the two. Oh I ordered xpress with power pole also and that's great!!
Trophy King
Oh get the 150 if you really want it to light up. Room behind console is a lot on the xpress. I am 6 ft 260 and easily a lot taller person by far would have space. There again if not for wife I would want my 20 ft bass boat and 75 mph speed and still fun fish and be able to tournament fish again.
Keeper
Thanks Goofy1. Good input for sure. I'm 6'1 and 340. I have a keg instead of a six pack. LOL
Bobby Barnetttheygotaeat LIKED above post
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I bought a predator in 2008 with 115 Yamaha. I haven't been boat looking since, except for a small Jon boat. I have 3 boats (if you consider the Coleman Crawdad a boat), but sometimes this many boats is a handicap.
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Slabmaster II
Nuff Said!Originally Posted by Cane Pole
Trophy King
Only other thing I noticed was the War Eagle was louder on water with noise running and moving around. Dont know if the Xpress has more insulation or if hull design and stuff made the difference.
Crappie Wall Hanger II
I just bought a 861. I have not rode in a xpress,but from what I have heard they are great boats. My reasoning for going with the war eagle was the service. I have a war eagle dealer real close to me and there are no xpress dealer close to me. That being said, I love my 861. great ride! only drawback I can see, not enough storage. Looks to me like they wasted some space when enginering the layout. If money were not a factor, I would have gone with the 961 and a 150.
Keeper
Good looking boat! I have no dealers of either close to me. So I am depending on information a I gather to make a choice.
I just bought a 861. I have not rode in a xpress,but from what I have heard they are great boats. My reasoning for going with the war eagle was the service. I have a war eagle dealer real close to me and there are no xpress dealer close to me. That being said, I love my 861. great ride! only drawback I can see, not enough storage. Looks to me like they wasted some space when enginering the layout. If money were not a factor, I would have gone with the 961 and a 150.
Bobby Barnett
Trophy King
Yeah I had neither dealer near me either. Hope xpress has no issues. My war eagle only had front live well issues and the sent parts to me but not as nice as tKing to dealer to get fixed. I kinda wish I spent the extra for 150 4 stroke but was $2800 more. Decided would rather have power pole and other upgrades. Heck by the time all added including hydraulic steering and swing tongue and upgraded trolling motor and inboard charger it was over $29000. But it is the way I wanted it and that's what it cost. The bass boat I would of gotten would of been $50000. So I guess I'm good!
Trophy King
War Eagle uses blocks of flotation foam under their floor, it isn't completely blown in like Xpress. While the blown in does make a for a quieter boat, it does not let water drain. In a couple years the Xpress will start holding water, the foam will break down from walking pressure on the floor and you will gain a significant amount of weight and the possibility or a reaction with the aluminum. I've seem actual pin holes in the aluminum hull of an Xpress with this issue.
I've seen a couple guys with Xpress boats on other forums completely tear their boats apart and remove the water logged foam.
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