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Why would you buy one and tell me why you wouldn't buy the other. I can't get this wrong. I truly want your opinion.
Which one rides best? Which one is driest both in ride and in the storage boxes? Which has more storage? Which is better looking in fit and finish? Which one is more stable for a big guy to wander around in.:)
Thanks for any and all suggestions.
Bob, they are both great rides and fishing machines. Whichever you pick, you will like. Inherently, there will be several things about each that will cause discomfort. Just a given when you are a big guy in a short, aluminum, side console boat. Your right ear and shoe are going to be wet at one time or another. I'm a big fella with an 18' aluminum boat, I know, it's going to lean into the water to your side.
A 20' glass boat would be better, if a side console. It will go anywhere the 18' aluminum will, but be drier and smoother getting there. Me personally, if only fishing with one other person most times, a 20'-21' bass or walleye stlye boat would be my choice. Of course with these, usually comes added expense. Both with initial investment and operational and maintenance costs. Some of which can be offset buy buying a gently used boat. You can get a really nice boat in that 25k to 30k range.
If you are just dying to have a new boat and the budget mandates aluminum, you should strongly consider center console. Bay series center consoles, offer a much more comfortable and stable platform for us big guys. Most of the manufactures have several styles. I like the Xpress Hperlift series myself. Bay | Xpress Boats
Whichever way you decide, be patient and good luck.
I bought a xpress h18pfc from Bill at BigRiverMarine and love it!! Look him up on here you will not be disappointed!!
I have no experience in either. that said, them Express Hyperlifts look fast just settin on the trailer.
Eithter one would be nice i am a big guy also and have a 18 footer and it is tough on big guys. My next boat will be a center console 21 ft. Unfortunally got to buy pontoon for family first
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Look at the predator 961 before you decide. Lots more room for ......Bigger folks like me.
I heard about the 961 but haven't seen one in person yet. I wonder how many are out there.
I saw one at the plant. Looks BIG sittin in the floor
TALL TIMBER, WHAT COLOR WAS THAT 961 PREDATOR?
I have one on order, it should be ready anytime.
And this man knows what he is talking about!!Quote:
Originally Posted by feelay
Jesse be sure and post up some pictures of that bad boy when you get it. You puttin on a one-fiddy?Quote:
Originally Posted by JESSE JAMES
Thanks! I emailed War Eagle last night after reading this for more information. This may be what I need.Quote:
Originally Posted by skeetbum
What he said.Quote:
Originally Posted by yikess
yikes, will do and yes its getting a 150
The one I saw was natgear if I remember right, but that was right at a year and a half ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by JESSE JAMES
I like that natgear. Almost ordered it, but got the charcoal gray instead.
I got a 2011 861 predator. I can't compare it with the xpress as I have never been in one, but dude, you will not be disappointed in the predator!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by bobcat1
i was in the exact same spot you are a few months ago. xpress or a predator, after alot of looks and thoughts i bought the lowe 18 hp with a 115 proxs. so far so good,
I went to Cabelas in Ft. Worth and sat in one of those. I am a big boy and I felt a little cramped behind that console. But I bet for normal size guys it's a good boat. ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by jhef
i wish i could say i was normal sized lol. 6 1 240lbs. got the 40 year stretch working for me lol. its not too bad but today i went catfishing with my son and it does get a bit cramped when you put stuff in the floor cause it always ends up under the console..
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!!
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.
Thanks Goofy1. Good input for sure. I'm 6'1 and 340. I have a keg instead of a six pack. LOL
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.
Nuff Said!Quote:
Originally Posted by Cane Pole
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.
Attachment 94065
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by rlduckhntr
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!
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by goofy1
I've seen a couple guys with Xpress boats on other forums completely tear their boats apart and remove the water logged foam.
Wow. That doesn't make me feel good at all. I was hoping this baby would last 15 years at least. I take real good care of my boats. So they spray it in and it gets wet? Think if they knew this was a problem they would of fixed any issues like that. This is very upsetting to me to think in a couple years I will have a heavy boat that is water logged and no good. Especially after $29000. I knew it was quieter and figured just better insulated. Wow!!!!
After having the war eagle I almost went ahead and got another one but searched for over a year to see if I could find one with better fit and more front usable deck. Finally ran into the xpress and it filled the bill. From trailer to deck to fit was great besides the ride. Also like the extreme coat better than the vinyl lining. I hope they have changed the way they foam and they no longer have this issue. Checked my Warranty and should be good for 5 years and lifetime on hull. If this wasn't fixed and I find they do still have this issue I think would sell the boat after few years. It always seems like something has to be off. Find a boat that really fits a mix for me. Plus room behind console is huge also.
Called and checked with dealer and factory. They said they do not have this problem with there expandable foam and if this was to every happen from workmanship that it would be fully covered under warranty. So that makes me feel a lot better. I also reached out to a few other owners who have bass boats from Xpress that are 5 to 10 years old and none of these issues.
I have had the War Eagle Predator and enjoyed it, performed well and could do about any kind of fishing out of it except side pulling and I have a War Eagle built for that also, I have no complaints with these boats. Bill Morgan over at Mississippi Marine has sold a lot of these boats and is very helpful give him a call 662-842-4444, Tell him Joel said to call him.
Xpress by Far!!! Much Wider, and a pad ride hull. The smoothest, best riding aluminum boat on the market!!! Period!!!
BTW, Thanks Bryan!!!
Big River Marine
Bill Burnett
870-635-0202
Member-- Tri-State Crappie Anglers
Pro Staff-- Southern Pro Tackle, Meatgetter Jigs, Minner Critters, Ozark Rods, and Crappieholic Apparel.
The Xpress H18 PFC has a 67" bottom, and a 94" beam, and rides like a glass boat!!!!!
Big River Marine
Bill Burnett
870-635-0202
Member-- Tri-State Crappie Anglers
Pro Staff-- Southern Pro Tackle, Meatgetter Jigs, Minner Critters, Ozark Rods, and Crappieholic Apparel.
News Flash for us BIG guys, Xpress is going to make an H20 PFC for 2013!!!! I got mine ordered!!! Rated for the SHO 200!!!
This boat is the same as the H18PFC, but has an additional 2' between the front deck and the console for more gear, coolers, and room!!!!! 70 MPH!!!
Big River Marine
Bill Burnett
870-635-0202
Member-- Tri-State Crappie Anglers
Pro Staff-- Southern Pro Tackle, Meatgetter Jigs, Minner Critters, Ozark Rods, and Crappieholic Apparel.
Call or PM me for more I go, and the BEST price!!!
Big River Marine
Bill Burnett
870-635-0202
Member-- Tri-State Crappie Anglers
Pro Staff-- Southern Pro Tackle, Meatgetter Jigs, Minner Critters, Ozark Rods, and Crappieholic Apparel.
You got to be kidding!!! I havent gotten 2 hours on my 18 pfc and it is loaded as you know. That would be the boat I would prefer is the 20 with 200 sho. What will be length of the boat on trailer with this motor with hydraulic jack plate to mount the Power pole? I can use swing tongue. Makes me sick they now have a 20 footer after $29000 dropped loading my 18 footer. PM me.
Jesse, I am looking into buying a new boat and WE 961 Predator is one I am interested in. Did you ever get that boat? How do you like it? What kind and size engine did get? How fast does it run down the lake?Quote:
Originally Posted by JESSE JAMES