Boat opinion

[slayem]

A buddy of mine is buying a new boat and I wanna hear more opinions! He is getting an xpress tactical series 18'. He was gonna go with a 50 outboard but has since changed his mind into gettin a prodrive with auto reverse. I'm thinking a pro drive is all but worthless in this combo. Thoughts?

[deltadukman]

Can I ask what is so "tactical" about this boat?

[LODI QUACKER]

I dont know the actual HP you can get in a Pd but I would think on an 18 ft heavy boat the 50hp outboard would be bare min. Anything less and I think he will be disapointed, esp with a couple of other people in the boat.

[Anatidae]

A buddy of mine is buying a new boat and I wanna hear more opinions!

Strike 1: According to Express' website the hull is 5052 alloy and .100" thick - weighs 620 lbs.

When you put a MM on a hull and subject it to backwater abuse - you better get a thick hull or know a good welder.

You can get a comparable Gator Trax hull (1754 w/hunt deck) in .125" or .190" (3/16") and similar weight. The extra cost would offset dmage to .100" hull and decline in performance over several seasons.

So, I agree with your assessment about this hull for use with a MM.

Strike 2: I've not been impressed with Express products, warranty, or customer service over the years (mostly others' experience). The .100" thick hull is an attempt to cut weight. When you do that, durability will suffer. They would've had to beef-up the framing under the floor to counteract 'hooking'.

Strike 3: I would not recommend a ribbed hull for any mud motor application - particularly in stumps. The ad even says: "Open floor plan, narrower beam, wider bottom, deeper v for optimum outboard xcitement." It also says......"finest outboard hull “HD:3”.

I agree - a 50hp would be bare minimum outboard for this hull.

[Anatidae]

Can I ask what is so "tactical" about this boat?

Ad says it has 'laser-like' construction........ .....AND, it's termed - "pursuit craft".

Just another marketing gimmick - appeal to 'stealth' when assaulting hunting spots (or other hunters).

[slayem]

Can I ask what is so "tactical" about this boat?

Just to tag a $15k tag on it with a 40 outboard! I'm totally against the whole thing but it ain't my money! I've told him go with a custom hull like gator trax and get exactly what you want

[LODI QUACKER]

For refrence.

http://www.fowlerforum.com/showthread.p ... stom-Boats

[tobydawg]

Just want to echo what some of these other guys have said based on my personal experience: don't waste time and money mismatching a mm on a hull designed for an outboard. The mm won't be able to perform to its full potential and the hull will get thrashed terribly. I just sold a thoroughly beat xpress duck boat hull, kept my mm, and had a hull built for my personal needs that is designed to perform with my mm and one test run is all it took. No comparison or compromise between the two as far as speed (actually gained even though the new hull is 60-70% heavier) and, more importantly, much more capability in the gnarly, shallow, tight stump and log-choked junk I used to have to wait for high water to get through. Also, I saved a good bit of money by having a boat built over going with a 'factory' hull.

[Model12]

I respect the other opinions and, I have no info on the new "tactical"??? really? moniker, but...I've been running Xpress in the MS Delta timber for about 15 years and I wont have anything else. If your unsure of hull thickness when you order the hull add an "ice-breaker" keel. It came on the older Xpress duck boats (pre-2000) at least and all of them that I know of are still gettin it done. Xpress makes a great duck-boat. As far as a 55HP on and 18 footer...That's way under-powered for sure. I'd double that. It really depends on what your running thru. I haven't seen a mud motor that I like yet after actually running them. You know, loud, in-efficient, etc. I'm an outboard guy. And yes, no matter what they say, I usually get to the same spot they do. I'll admit it may take a little longer, but the races for me are long over with. They do look great on the trailer though....

[tobydawg]

My previous boat was a decent handling,decent laid out boat and was probably fine for its intended purpose (outboard), and had its fair share of dead ducks to its credit. Its just that the extra weight of the mm (and I just run a longtail, nowhere near as heavy as a PD)coupled with the stuff I go through was taking its toll on the hull, so I decided to change before I ruined it. No intentions of bashing Xpress, as my point is to just reiterate what's already been stated (more specifically Strike 1 and Strike 3 in Anatidae's above post, he speaks the truth) with my own experience of running a mm on a hull that's not designed to take that kind of abuse.

[Blake Williamson]

I got a 1860 Gator Tail boat loaded to the gills.....3/16" bottom 1/8" boat alome is ine the 800 pound rang with a stock GTR 35 on the back. Me and one person in that boat we can get 28 mph not a bit more over that.

Now here is my advise and you can take it if you want or not I dont care. Mudd motors on preform well on mud boat hulls. Dont get me wrong I do know a few guys with em on a V bottom that will run like a champ. But when you start jumping stuff get into the mud and shallow water they dont preform like a true mud hull would.

Prodrives only make a 36hp motor but you can add mods to the mptor and get alittle more out of it. And if speed is a must have on your boat welllllll mud motor isnt what you want.

[Anatidae]

I got a 1860 Gator Tail boat loaded to the gills.....3/16" bottom 1/8" boat alome is ine the 800 pound rang with a stock GTR 35 on the back. Me and one person in that boat we can get 28 mph not a bit more over that.

Just out of curiosity - how many RPM's is that STOCK 35 motor turning to get that speed on a 800# hull? What kinda prop?

Reason I ask is: a MB 45HD Mag Sport on a Gator Trax 1650 (hull roughly 600 pounds) only does 27.7 with one person (no gear), turning 3900 RPM's. I've adjusted a few things on the motor without going over the recommended OW WOT governor setting (4600), got a lower restriction 'Q' muffler, and get 4100 RPM's (IW with ample prop bite) with little more than 1 mph gain.

Yours must be turning close to 5000.

[teul2]

Ok, so what custom builders are out there and what do you guys recommend?
I am pretty much in love with this boat and want to see what the possibilities are for a custom version of it.
1754SWV4
http://www.excelboats.net/Shallow%20Water%20F4.html

[Blake Williamson]

I got a 1860 Gator Tail boat loaded to the gills.....3/16" bottom 1/8" boat alome is ine the 800 pound rang with a stock GTR 35 on the back. Me and one person in that boat we can get 28 mph not a bit more over that.

Just out of curiosity - how many RPM's is that STOCK 35 motor turning to get that speed on a 800# hull? What kinda prop?

Reason I ask is: a MB 45HD Mag Sport on a Gator Trax 1650 (hull roughly 600 pounds) only does 27.7 with one person (no gear), turning 3900 RPM's. I've adjusted a few things on the motor without going over the recommended OW WOT governor setting (4600), got a lower restriction 'Q' muffler, and get 4100 RPM's (IW with ample prop bite) with little more than 1 mph gain.

Yours must be turning close to 5000.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl= ... utput=html

3800 Something on a bran new Power Tech CA1910P.....Did this just yesterday on a GPS.....

[Blake Williamson]

Ok, so what custom builders are out there and what do you guys recommend?
I am pretty much in love with this boat and want to see what the possibilities are for a custom version of it.
1754SWV4
http://www.excelboats.net/Shallow%20Water%20F4.html

Uncle J, WC Customs, Dead Fowl, Extreme Fab, Instagator......All those right there do some great boats......My next one will be custom.