Trying to keep up with Slabprowler

When I decided to get back into fishing late summer, I bought a Bass Tracker. It's a great little boat and if I wasn't such a big ol boy it would be perfect. I've spent countless hours getting back into top notch shape, but at the end of the day, a 300lb man on the front deck of a Bass Tracker is too much. I've been trying to find a bigger boat and figure out how I could swing buying it since I first put the Tracker in the water. I wanted to stay with an aluminum boat and I haven't found anything within my budget or size that I wanted. I decided it would be a few years before I could get a bigger boat......

THEN

I went fishing with Slabprowler last weekend and got in his 18' Xpress. Slabprowler is about a foot taller than me. He's pretty good sized fellow too. His Xpress was absolutely stable, even with me flipping around in the back. It rode great, like a glass boat. I was in love with it. I have never seen one for sale on craigslist, until I looked today. There she was. Same exact boat Slabprowler has, except it's a different color. It was somebodys crappie boat too. There's a couple of rod holders in a storage compartment and bases attached to the gunwale. Compression checked out like new, everything looked great, except the carpet is trashed and the prop shaft is bent. No water in the foot so it hasn't been run long with the bent shaft. I was glad that I took a boat mechanic buddy of mine with me, because I would likely never have noticed the bent prop shaft. I would have run it and ruined the lower unit. I'll have her ready for the water by early next week.

Now I've got a boat that my big butt won't flip over and hopefully one that I won't fall out of. :)

She ain't new, but I'm proud of her. She'll look good with some rod holders on the deck.

https://s26.postimg.org/sdhk92yuh/IMG_2950.jpg

Not sure why the picture is so small. LOL

https://s26.postimg.org/tpz9aywa1/FB...38_E64_C36.jpg

That's better.

Nice rig man, you will enjoy that for sure!

Congratulations, on finding what you wanted!! Nice looking boat.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

You done good buddy! Congrats I’ve got you by 75+ lbs and have had a couple in the boat about the same size as me plus me ! ( now that’s what you call hauling a load) 1/2 ton of fun :Rofl it’s a very stable boat and handles the big waters well also and can go as shallow as about 1’ water Let me know what you decide to do about the carpet mine got to be replaced also thinking on durabak bed liner .

Congrats!! Id love to have the tracker. Lol

Sent from my LGL62VL using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Thanks guys! I'm excited to have it. As most of you know, Lake Guntersville can get real rough and that keeps me fishing the creeks. Now I can get out on the main channel without too much concern and run from G'ville to South Sauty or wherever.

Mitch, I just don't know what to do on the carpet. My only concern about the bedliner is, if I don't like it, it doesn't matter. It's there til the morning comes.

Damion, that Tracker can be yours, it's going up for sale! It's a good little boat, I'm just too big fer it.

Nice lookin' rig! Enjoy!

Beavz

WTG. You'll enjoy that

Congrats on a nice and safe ride.

Congrats. Hope you enjoy the new fishing machine.

xpress is one of the best aluminum boats I've ever fished out of. I can't tell from the picture but if it's the hipper lift hull it will run and cut the water good. Congratulations one you dream boat buddy.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

You will love it, congrats on the boat looks great, now get out and slime it up.

Thanks guys. Glenn I don't know for sure if it's the hyper lift or not, but I think it is. I'll check when I get it back from the shop.

I was in the market for a boat and kept looking on Craigslist for a while, every one I found that I wanted someone bought right before I could get to it. I gave up for a while. I did not see that one on there. It looks good. I have been with slabprowler in that boat and it does hold big men well. I'm a little less but not a light fella. I am pushing 230 and we both can do jumping jacks on each end and feel safe lol. Wait a minute that knee might not hold up to that Mitchell, but the boat would lol. Congrats on the new ride

Can't hide money ;)

But, hey, I bought my old Venture off Craigslist too :)

I'm trying to sale my Sprint to go back to an aluminum. I'm wanting a 2072 in a bad way

Nice rig, Express and G3 were on my list until about 3 weeks ago I found a 1860 Triton aluminum to replace my 16' Lowe with and I am a big guy also. I know you will like it the difference on the water is huge, you would not think such a small step up in bost size would be such a difference but it is. Congrats again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WileyG

Can't hide money ;)

But, hey, I bought my old Venture off Craigslist too :)

---

I can. I have 3 boats and 3 4 wheelers. One of each isn't running either. LOL They're both for sale too along with the nice little Tracker.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bill_collector

I'm trying to sale my Sprint to go back to an aluminum. I'm wanting a 2072 in a bad way

---

You gonna bowfish out of it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by flintcreek

Nice rig, Express and G3 were on my list until about 3 weeks ago I found a 1860 Triton aluminum to replace my 16' Lowe with and I am a big guy also. I know you will like it the difference on the water is huge, you would not think such a small step up in bost size would be such a difference but it is. Congrats again.

---

Very true.

Nice ride enjoy

Congrats go get em.

Sent from my SM-J700T using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FurFlyin

You gonna bowfish out of it?

---

No sir. We squirrel, rabbit and deer hunt out of a boat alot. Be nice to be able to get 4 people and gear comfortably in a boat. Eliminate taking 2 boats. Plus, the older I get the worse my sea legs are lol. I got throwed out of my 17 ft aluminum twice. And once in my bass boat.

Nice rig mate

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bill_collector

Plus, the older I get the worse my sea legs are lol. I got throwed out of my 17 ft aluminum twice. And once in my bass boat.

---

You might need to have that seen about. LOL

Thanks for all the comments guys. I'm ready to get her in the water.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bill_collector

No sir. We squirrel, rabbit and deer hunt out of a boat alot. Be nice to be able to get 4 people and gear comfortably in a boat. Eliminate taking 2 boats. Plus, the older I get the worse my sea legs are lol. I got throwed out of my 17 ft aluminum twice. And once in my bass boat.

---

You may want to think about seat belts. :biggrin

That would help! It's probably got something to do with being 6-5 and potbellied!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bill_collector

That would help! It's probably got something to do with being 6-5 and potbellied!

---

I'm one of those.

Glenn, it does have the hyper lift hull.

I got her back from the mechanic shop last night. My son and I took her out for our first test drive mid day today. We didn't fish, we just wanted to ride. I was very pleased at how good that thing rides. It rides like a glass boat and for having a 115 on it, she'll fly. My son took the picture while we were WOT in the main channel. For those familiar with Guntersville, starting from a dead stop we made it from the powerlines at Monsanto to the bridge at the feedmills in 9 min 14 seconds. My sons smile was as wide as the transom of the boat.

https://s26.postimg.org/9t5tw6rqh/1_...857144_CC8.jpg

Excellent!! Congrats on finding a great ride with the right stuff for you. Enjoy it and fill that livewell!!

Thanks Bob. I've got a lot of work to do, replacing the carpet with whatever I finally decide to put in it and some wiring, repacking hubs, etc....

Starting in January we will be deer hunting. It may be late February by the time I fish out of it.

Hey FurFlyin, let us know what you decide to put in boat! I extended the deck of my G3 with aluminum and made some storage! I need to cover with something! It has some type of vinyl that came in boat on the old part of deck and thinking of changing!

Will do Preach.

It looks like a really nice boat ,congrats on your new boat


Sent from my iPad using Crappie.com

Thanks Zman. I'm looking forward to getting all the bugs worked out and getting some fish slime in it.