Hi everyone! Newbie needs help with a boat decision.

Hi. I'm Swatman and I'm new here. Gone are my days of competitive bass fishing. I've learned to really have fun and relax by crappie fishing. Been at it for the past few years and now my wife will only eat crappie. She says they are like eating candy and I agree. I'm getting too old to climb up/down on the old bass boat casting deck and I've decided to get a stick steer boat with a 40 or 50hp motor. I'm torn between 3 models: War Eagle 754VS, Xpress XP16PF and Crestliner 1657 Outlook. I would like to hear from any owners of these models on what they like or don't like about their rigs. THANKS.

If you always expect the worst you'll never be disappointed.

How about a center console or a Lund? They can be very roomy if you get one set up so you don't have a big step.

They all sound pretty good. Perhaps posting this in the main forum would get a lot more viewers and potential answers. Welcome aboard from East Tennessee

I've considered both but keep going back to the three models I listed

:hesaid Welcome from Alabama

I have 754VS with 50 Yamaha 4 stroke, 50 lb thrust Terrova with ipilot. I like the fact once I get boat in water I only have to get out of drivers seat to launch trolling motor or bathroom break. Live well on right side I can operate from seat put fish in from seat. Have my rod holders mounted for easy access, rod carrier on left side for easy access of Long poles. I can jig fish or cast from same seat. Handles rough water better than you would think for hull design. Dislike rear seat mount because it’s to close to back compartment for someone to sit comfortable facing directly to the rear. I solved this by buying a Wise 4 legged stool from grizzly and installed a millennium seat so it’s movable back and forth or to side. Plenty of storage for boat size. Polar raft and express both seem to have front seat set to far back for my taste. I don’t know if it’s changed on newer models but another dislike on my 2004 is deck in front of front seat has upward slope and makes it harder to stand up for more than a minute or two. Wish it was more flat.

Main forum?

Thanks Cray. That's the kind of input I'm looking for. The 754VS is also the longest of my 3 choices. There's a lot of war eagles flying around my area. The factory is about 80 miles away.

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Originally Posted by Swatman

Thanks Cray. That's the kind of input I'm looking for. The 754VS is also the longest of my 3 choices. There's a lot of war eagles flying around my area. The factory is about 80 miles away.

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If you can get in a couple and see what you like and don’t like. Also being that close to them and they will work with you on building a boat if buying new. They build a side pulling 754 with tiller motor I like layout of. One thing I would like to have is the spring loaded lids in that livewell set up where you just push fish in without opening lid every time and extra seat base in middle of bottom.

:welcome Welcome to the site

Welcome and blessings from SE Ohio. USA FLAG+Cross+