RCC question for you.

What boat do you have now? Is it an Excel? What model? I am considering getting a new boat since Amelea is getting old enough to fish, I know it wont be long 'til Kristen and Amelea will be wanting to both go fishing with me, so need something besides the stick steer that can fish three out of. Don't have to worry about trying to fish four since Angela doesn't fish, but Kristen loves to and I am sure Amelea will also. I have looked at everything from DuraCraft, WarEagle, Lowe, Excel, G3, Xpress, Alumacraft, Tracker, Ranger, and Triton. Right now it is a toss up in my mind between H17PFC, an Excel 1754 Crappie, and a War Eagle 761 Blackhawk. Kinda' leaning towards a War Eagle to get a Evinude 115 since I have had such good luck with my current Evinrude.

Love my express crappie edition

I think he has a Meatgetter edition War Eagle.

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Originally Posted by arkansasbowhunter

Love my express crappie edition

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What engine is on your Xpress and how has the boat and motor held up for you? My Dad and his partner had a 1542 Xpress with a 25 Merc on it for over 20 years and they liked it.
Thanks

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Originally Posted by Cmj

I think he has a Meatgetter edition War Eagle.

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OK, let me show my ignorance, what is a "Meatgetter" edition?

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Originally Posted by gzrglide

OK, let me show my ignorance, what is a "Meatgetter" edition?

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Read the two old threads. One of them shows the War Eagle pretty good and how he rigged it.

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Originally Posted by Cmj

Read the two old threads. One of them shows the War Eagle pretty good and how he rigged it.

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Thanks for the bumps on the threads, I found the rigging thread, but not the new boat thread. I looked at the rigging thread and the picture showing how Randall built the mount for his 998, that lid on the compartment is what made me think he had an Excel, either a 1860 Crappie or a 1754 Crappie. I looked and haven't found a War Eagle with that type of lid on the bow. Looking at the Excel site, it looks like the pedestals on both the 1754 and the 1860 are spaced far enough apart that you could fish three on that front deck. Decisions, Decisions, guess I will just have to keep looking, eventually I will find the boat that has everything I want. But I really like this layout...

Can't say for sure, but I think Randell has an Excel 1860. I know it's the boat I will buy when I get the money saved up. Trust me, it's got everything you need for crappie fishing. Not sure about fishing three wide cause I don't think the seats would turn if you put three of them up there.

Sorry about the delay posting. Had an epic reply but the pc got hosed. I'll try to be semi-brief. My Excel is and 1860 vsc. The CRSC is the fishing edition and is probably a bit more fisherman friendly. I would be concerned about the fuel/battery compartment. I wonder how much room is in the CRSC if you need to add another batter for dragging cranks...not necessary, but something to consider. Excel if the more narrow of the boats with the same size bottom. On a 60 inch boat the War Eagle is 2 inches wider and the Express is 8 inches wider. Excel and War Eagle may use thicker aluminum than the Express. Any one of these boats with a 115 will be a bullet. My requirements for a boat were as follows...

1. Low front deck
2. Front live well
3. Accessory rail.

The War Eagle and the the Excel met those and I found the Excel at a steal of a price. The best thing to give you an idea would be to load up with me and fish from and run mine. It will run 32 with just about any load, but does touch the rev limiter. The Black Hawk may be the king of aluminum fishing boats, but you can't go wrong with any that you've mentioned. I would suggest going to the 18 foot if you buy an Excel. BRM suggested this and he was absolutely spot on. Meatgetter has lots more fishing hours in the Excel and I think he is still pleased with his.

I have a 115hp yami 4 stroke and boat is awesome ride and dry. Also held up good so far.

gzrglide, I have been thinking hard on getting a stick steer. How do you like your stick steer. I really like the war eagle 1754. Whats your opinion. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by dko

gzrglide, I have been thinking hard on getting a stick steer. How do you like your stick steer. I really like the war eagle 1754. Whats your opinion. Thanks.

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Honestly, if it wasn't for wanting to fish 3 somewhat comfortably from my boat, I would get another Stick Steer and it would most likely be a 1754 with a side livewell. Love being able to fish and run the boat from the same location. My crappie magnum has been and really still is an excellent boat, just it has a lot of wear on it and not a lot of it tender loving. As RCC knows, I love the St. Francis River, and I like running fast, so needless to say I still find a stump that I forgot about every now and then. I have an E-rude 40 on it running a Michigan Wheel 17 pitch ballistic prop and the boat will run in the low to mid 30's. The 1754 with a 60 on it should run mid 30's easy. They are not the best boats for rough water as you will get wet, but if you fish small waters and rivers, they can't be beat. I mention the side livewell above because my boat had a center livewell and found that my Dad had problems getting around it to get to the back seat as he got older and more stumble footed. It also ate up a lot of floor space sitting there in the middle of the boat. I removed it and just use a cooler now. Will pull the plate I put over the hole and re-install the livewell when and if I decide to get rid of it. With the stick steer and me sitting up front when I am by myself, I can trim the boat up enough to run some pretty shallow water, shallow enough that all the paint is missing from the skeg and the lower part of my lower unit on my E-rude due to flying across sand bars. Hope that helps.

Randall, does your boat have a bow trim switch? I couldn't tell from the pictures you posted, or maybe I just over looked it. Based on what you said above, I decided to put a spread sheet together listing the specs on all the boats I have considered and a list of everything I want in the boat and see which one meets the majority of my requirements. As you know, I like fast, so will probably go with the smallest boat that meets my requirements with the biggest engine I can find. Small to make it easier to fish the river, biggest engine to go faster. I guess I just miss the Stratos Tunnel Hull with 150 Mariner Magnum, hydraulic jack plate and 30" chopper prop that I had in South Carolina and Florida in the late 80's and early 90's. Just something about running flat out, trimmed up, and feeling that nice slow chine walk and knowing there ain't much running pad in the water that appeals to me.

Yes it does have a bow trim switch. I wish it had a bow switch for the aerator in the live well. If you get one custom made, be sure to have the seat pedestals moved forward. The stock position is too far back. I wouldn't want to take my Excel on the St Francis. I'll break out the War Eagle for that.

The spread sheet is a great idea. I looked for months before things all came together. The crazy thing is that just a few weeks ago there was a War Eagle Predator in the sale forum. The owner kept coming down on the price. I'll try to find the post.

Thanks, gonna have to think hard about a river boat, do I keep my Magnum or sale it and get a tiller steer mod v in the 1542 range. Got the spread sheet together and looked at all the sites on line, read a bunch of the threads on here and came up with 25 criteria to judge the boats against, evaluated 20 boats against my criteria, the 1860CRSC and the 1754CRSC came up number 1 and 2, with the SeaArk CRX190 coming in number three. Lowe ST175 finished mid pack and the G3's brought up the rear. Think I will keep my list up and see what other criteria come along and continue rating the boats until around March and then decide which one to get.

You will have the best of both worlds by keeping the stick steer. "G" the moderator down on the MS forum runs a Seark and I'm sure he could give you some feed back on his. They are a nice looking boat. Half the fun of owning is the shopping around before you buy.

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Originally Posted by Cmj

I think he has a Meatgetter edition War Eagle.

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Man was I wrong!!!

Yea, but it's all good. I still want to know what a meatgetter edition entails though.

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Originally Posted by gzrglide

Yea, but it's all good. I still want to know what a meatgetter edition entails though.

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Jerry aka Meatgetter bought an Excel VSC and rigged it for crappie fishing and it became known as the Meatgetter edition. Many have tried to duplicate this setup, but none have succeeded. Jerry's runs faster catches more fish and is purtier than all the other knockoff Meatgetter editions. I love my boat, but at the end of the day, it's just another knockoff. Here's another "knockoff" Meatgetter edition:Rofl

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/arkan...-new-demo.html

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Originally Posted by gzrglide

Thanks, gonna have to think hard about a river boat, do I keep my Magnum or sale it and get a tiller steer mod v in the 1542 range. Got the spread sheet together and looked at all the sites on line, read a bunch of the threads on here and came up with 25 criteria to judge the boats against, evaluated 20 boats against my criteria, the 1860CRSC and the 1754CRSC came up number 1 and 2, with the SeaArk CRX190 coming in number three. Lowe ST175 finished mid pack and the G3's brought up the rear. Think I will keep my list up and see what other criteria come along and continue rating the boats until around March and then decide which one to get.

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I got to know your criteria, they are all good boats, and everyone has a preference and what they want in a boat. I have a G3 and cant see how it would be on the bottom of the list. I dont know if I was buying another boat if it would be my first choice but no way would it be my last. The worst thing about it is that you get wet in the wind. I looked at your number one picks and from what I see from the layout on them compared to my boat I would do the exact opposite of you and put them on the bottom of my list. Just saying not knocking them just wondered what make them your number one pick and the G3 last. Just my :twocents

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Originally Posted by dko

gzrglide, I have been thinking hard on getting a stick steer. How do you like your stick steer. I really like the war eagle 1754. Whats your opinion. Thanks.

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dko, I have a 754VS WarEagle stick steer with a 50 Yamaha 4stroke. Runs about 32 gps with just me and cooler. Fill live well and a 200 lb'er and only loose about 1.5 mph. Love the side live well. I am at a point in life where I don't get around so good and it is great for me. I have everything set up where once I drop my trolling motor I never have to get out of the seat. She is a little rough at wide open when the lake is rolling but other than that not as bad as you would think. I don't get near as wet as I used to in my Alumacraft side console. If I was buying new I would get the factory to move rear seat base forward about 9in. It is to close to back deck for most to fish right out the back of boat.

Thanks for info gzrglide and cray thats what I wanted to know.

Excel also has the nicest stick steer on the market!!!!!!! !

No no Jerry express nicest on market lol.

And how long did it take you to figure out you needed to add minners in your arsenal ???? And one day you will figure this out also!!!!! Just saying! !!!!!! !

Lmbo you right Jerry, but i do like my express!! I can admit when i am wrong :-). There is a time and place for everything!!

I know that's why I'm so lucky!!!! More!

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Originally Posted by clfarms1

I got to know your criteria, they are all good boats, and everyone has a preference and what they want in a boat. I have a G3 and cant see how it would be on the bottom of the list. I dont know if I was buying another boat if it would be my first choice but no way would it be my last. The worst thing about it is that you get wet in the wind. I looked at your number one picks and from what I see from the layout on them compared to my boat I would do the exact opposite of you and put them on the bottom of my list. Just saying not knocking them just wondered what make them your number one pick and the G3 last. Just my :twocents

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Lets see, criteria Bottom width, beam, bottom to beam difference, HP rating, low front deck, front livewell, do livewells have either baitwell or minnow bucket storage, Front engine trim switch, 24v trolling motor wiring standard, 6 ga wiring for trolling motor, fuel capacity, three pedestal base on front deck, 3 across seating for when running, engine brand available or standard, trolling motor brand that is standard on boat depth finder brand standard on boat, material of construction standard on trailer, hull rise, hull thickness, boat weight, accessory rail, person capacity, person or total weight capacity, boat all aluminum or is wood used in the decks, and length.

That makes 24 Criteria. If beam was 60" or less, it got a yes, if Bottom to beam difference was 21 or less, it got a yes vote. If HP rating was 90 or Above, it was a yes, fuel capacity 18 gallon or more got a yes vote. Hull rise was 8 degrees or greater got a yes, hull thickness of .125 got a yes vote, boat weight listed less then 1000 lbs got a yes. person seating of a 5 or more got a yes, and person weight capacity of greater than 600 lbs got a yes. As for the Engine, an E-rude and a Mercury got a yes cause I like these motors. A Minn Kota trolling motor got a yes cause I like the Terrova, a Humminbird fish finder got a yes because they are my preference. The rest of the criteria were yes or no answers.

I then totaled the yeses and used boat length as a tie breaker for any ties, shorter length won the tie. The Excel 1860 got 21 yeses, the Excel 1754 got 20 yeses. The G3's got 11 yeses for the Talon 17PFX, and 8 yeses for the 176. My beam to bottom difference was based on my wanting the widest boat that will fit in he narrowest spot. I used this because after 54 years, I know myself pretty well and while RCC might not take his big fancy boat on the St. Francis river, I have no delusions that I would never do that. When I had a Stratos fiberglass boat in South Carolina, I put my boat right in the middle of stump fields on Lake Moultrie, or ran the abandoned rice paddies on the Cooper River above the T's and had all of the paint worn off of the skeg and lower unit of my Mariner Magnum. So I know this boat will wind up on shallow stump filled waters and fishing in tight spots.

I think that covers everything I used. If you think of more criteria you would use, let me know, I am open to considering more items in a boat.

thanks for the answer on your criteria seems like you have put alot of thought into it.

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Originally Posted by clfarms1

thanks for the answer on your criteria seems like you have put alot of thought into it.

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That's just how gzrglide is. He don't do nothin' halfway.

Just call me. I know someone who sells Xpress ( NOT Express), AND Excel!!! :-)

Being a C.C member, you will get the best deal available.

Excel has the nicest Stick steer boat, and all their models are the toughest boats you can buy.

Xpress has the finest high performance aluminum fishing boats you can buy IMO. They are built like a glass boat with the pad ride hulls. They ride smoother in Rough water and Rough conditions, and they are Fast!!!

Smart choice!!!!!!! !

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Originally Posted by MEATGETTER

Smart choice!!!!!!! !

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Thanks Budro.

Had your battery at the tourney, but forgot to give it to ya in all the hustle bustle. I'll bring it to Washington. Ain't going to Eagle/ Chotard.

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Originally Posted by BigRiverMarine

Just call me. I know someone who sells Xpress ( NOT Express), AND Excel!!! :-)

Being a C.C member, you will get the best deal available.

Excel has the nicest Stick steer boat, and all their models are the toughest boats you can buy.

Xpress has the finest high performance aluminum fishing boats you can buy IMO. They are built like a glass boat with the pad ride hulls. They ride smoother in Rough water and Rough conditions, and they are Fast!!!

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Will Keep you in mind, and you hit the nail on the head, like the Excel, but also like the running pad design of the Xpress. But do the Xpress boats only have Yamaha's on them? I kinda like my E-rudes and Merc's.

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Originally Posted by gzrglide

Will Keep you in mind, and you hit the nail on the head, like the Excel, but also like the running pad design of the Xpress. But do the Xpress boats only have Yamaha's on them? I kinda like my E-rudes and Merc's.

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I have the ETEC's , but not Merc. You get a better package price from Xpress with the Yammie!!! It saves you at least 5-600, and more on larger engines. No probs with the Yammies tho. That's how I base my decision on engines. I like the ones with the LEAST amount of repair issues.

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Originally Posted by gzrglide

Will Keep you in mind,

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I WILL save you $$$$$$.