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Started By
Message
Thoughts on Excel Bay Pro 203
Posted on 9/5/20 at 6:44 pm
Posted on 9/5/20 at 6:44 pm
Been going back and forth between bay or bass boat. Starting to lean towards the bay boat with a family of 4 that all likes to fish.
I’ve looked at all the aluminum bay boats and am preferring the Excel because of a little more room in front of the console for a cooler and now I see they are making them with .160” aluminum.
Use would be between the basin, Toledo Bend, and Saline/Larto about 75% of the time and if going the bay bot route, mix in some Big Lake, Vermillion Bay, etc. not looking to go fiberglass for the amount of time I fish fresh water.
Just wanting to hear some pros and cons from you guys.
I’ve looked at all the aluminum bay boats and am preferring the Excel because of a little more room in front of the console for a cooler and now I see they are making them with .160” aluminum.
Use would be between the basin, Toledo Bend, and Saline/Larto about 75% of the time and if going the bay bot route, mix in some Big Lake, Vermillion Bay, etc. not looking to go fiberglass for the amount of time I fish fresh water.
Just wanting to hear some pros and cons from you guys.
5
Posted on 9/6/20 at 4:01 am to tigNstick629
I said I would never buy a boat but charter prices have been climbing sky high. I would 100% get a bay boat over a bass boat! They are so much more versatile and usually cheaper for the same sized boat.
My favorite two aluminum boats right now are the Crestliner 2200 and the Avid 23FS. I plan to order a 23FS when I can make it down to the dealership, I was going to go Monday but they closed for the holiday, they are closed weekends and are over an hour away so it makes it a little challenging getting to them. You mention cooler space, Avid is the only Aluminum Bay boat I have seen with cooler space under the leaning post, they also have built in insulated boxes that drain directly overboard on the front of the boat.
I am not a huge fan of the Excel design and layout, I also cannot find any build pictures or descriptions of how they build their stringers and transom. Every other major Aluminum boat builder has this info out there. I did consider them due to the thicker hull but many, many people have reassured me that the .125" boats are plenty strong enough, especially with modern extruded stringer systems foamed in. The best prices I have found in the region are at an RV place in Hattiesburg MS. The guys in Louisiana with Excel boats want an arm and a leg for them.
My favorite two aluminum boats right now are the Crestliner 2200 and the Avid 23FS. I plan to order a 23FS when I can make it down to the dealership, I was going to go Monday but they closed for the holiday, they are closed weekends and are over an hour away so it makes it a little challenging getting to them. You mention cooler space, Avid is the only Aluminum Bay boat I have seen with cooler space under the leaning post, they also have built in insulated boxes that drain directly overboard on the front of the boat.
I am not a huge fan of the Excel design and layout, I also cannot find any build pictures or descriptions of how they build their stringers and transom. Every other major Aluminum boat builder has this info out there. I did consider them due to the thicker hull but many, many people have reassured me that the .125" boats are plenty strong enough, especially with modern extruded stringer systems foamed in. The best prices I have found in the region are at an RV place in Hattiesburg MS. The guys in Louisiana with Excel boats want an arm and a leg for them.
Posted on 9/6/20 at 8:01 am to tigNstick629
I purchased one a few months back and enjoy it so far. Handles chop pretty good, better than my Xpress did. The layout matches other boats similar in size. The storage is actually dry which is a major plus for me.
I opted for the 150 instead of the 115 and am glad I did. The 115 tops out about 41 and I can cruise 41 at ~4000 rpm and top out about 51 with normal fishing load. 13.25" x 19p prop.
My brother just purchased a 21' Avid out of Biloxi. He's still breaking it in but it's a faster boat and a cleaner layout than mine.
I opted for the 150 instead of the 115 and am glad I did. The 115 tops out about 41 and I can cruise 41 at ~4000 rpm and top out about 51 with normal fishing load. 13.25" x 19p prop.
My brother just purchased a 21' Avid out of Biloxi. He's still breaking it in but it's a faster boat and a cleaner layout than mine.
This post was edited on 9/6/20 at 8:09 am
Posted on 9/6/20 at 9:35 am to JonO
After the floods in the Baton Rouge/Livingston area a few years ago, I talked with the sales reps at Boat Unlimited. When the 8ft of water receded, they returned to find all the Xpress boats piled on top of the Excel boats. With no plugs in any boats, there's only one way the boat wound up that way. They no longer sell Excel boats.
Posted on 9/6/20 at 9:53 am to armsdealer
I don’t have any personal experience with the Excel brand. They look a lot like an Xpress which the prices are beyond insane for an Xpress.
I am curious what an Avid sells for as I have only seen one in person. Looked pretty nice.
I am curious what an Avid sells for as I have only seen one in person. Looked pretty nice.
Posted on 9/6/20 at 10:14 am to Mister Bigfish
I dont like the lines on the excel boats at all. They're butt arse ugly IMO.
In that class of boat I really like the xpress the best. They're reasonably priced and the best for your money IMO. Use the money you save for a bigger engine and an ipilot
In that class of boat I really like the xpress the best. They're reasonably priced and the best for your money IMO. Use the money you save for a bigger engine and an ipilot
Posted on 9/6/20 at 10:56 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Thanks for the responses. This is the type of info I was looking for.
I really like the avid 21fs but more than I want to spend on an aluminum rig once they are optioned out.
I really like the avid 21fs but more than I want to spend on an aluminum rig once they are optioned out.
Posted on 9/6/20 at 1:14 pm to tigNstick629
Who did you get prices from? Boat prices vary GREATLY between dealers and I can get an Avid optioned out cheaper than an Xpress or Excel.
I am doing 23FS, 6" hydraulic jack plate, Tackle storage from the factory,and spare trailer tire. I am NOT getting my trolling motor, electronics and shallow water anchors from Avid.
Tons of features that are upgrades on other boats are standard on avid, SS hardware/cupholders/rodholders, hydraulic steering, Led hatch lights and courtesy lights,both front and rear live wells, aluminum trailer wheels, tandem axle trailer (for the 23fs at least) pre wired for trolling motor (good for up to 36V units). What I like most about the Avid over the other aluminum boats is that the gas tank is in the floor and there is room behind the leaning post. I like the extra floor room for my kids, and it is nice to have the space under the leaning posts for a cooler or fish baskets or whatever you want. They give you a pretty nice cooler to go under the leaning post.
Xpress and Excel were both cheaper before adding options. The must haves for me on a 22-23ft boat were tandem axle trailer, hydraulic steers, hydraulic jackplate. I also optioned out with stainless upgrades if they had an option. Every time the Avid came out cheaper and better optioned.
Finally and least important in the decision process, the Avid looks SO much better than the other aluminum bay boats. If the Xpress,Excel, Crestliner, Lowe, etc were TD5's the Avid is the mythical TD10 in an aluminum bay boat.
I am doing 23FS, 6" hydraulic jack plate, Tackle storage from the factory,and spare trailer tire. I am NOT getting my trolling motor, electronics and shallow water anchors from Avid.
Tons of features that are upgrades on other boats are standard on avid, SS hardware/cupholders/rodholders, hydraulic steering, Led hatch lights and courtesy lights,both front and rear live wells, aluminum trailer wheels, tandem axle trailer (for the 23fs at least) pre wired for trolling motor (good for up to 36V units). What I like most about the Avid over the other aluminum boats is that the gas tank is in the floor and there is room behind the leaning post. I like the extra floor room for my kids, and it is nice to have the space under the leaning posts for a cooler or fish baskets or whatever you want. They give you a pretty nice cooler to go under the leaning post.
Xpress and Excel were both cheaper before adding options. The must haves for me on a 22-23ft boat were tandem axle trailer, hydraulic steers, hydraulic jackplate. I also optioned out with stainless upgrades if they had an option. Every time the Avid came out cheaper and better optioned.
Finally and least important in the decision process, the Avid looks SO much better than the other aluminum bay boats. If the Xpress,Excel, Crestliner, Lowe, etc were TD5's the Avid is the mythical TD10 in an aluminum bay boat.
Posted on 9/7/20 at 7:24 am to tigNstick629
I am not saying this is not a good boat, because I have never owned or been in one. Before I bought a Nautic Star, I did look at Excel. What bothers me is the lack of free board. The sides are really low, and I would not want to be outside bays and get caught in bad weather.
Posted on 9/7/20 at 9:45 am to tigNstick629
General rule of boats is ugly boats ride bad. There's no way those things can handle a chop well
Posted on 9/7/20 at 10:27 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
I haven’t rode in one but it looks like it would handle chop about the same as any other similar style aluminum rigs which isn’t great, I know. OP says he wants aluminum though.
Posted on 9/7/20 at 2:29 pm to Mister Bigfish
The foamed aluminum bay boats are not going to ride as smooth as a glass boat but they are not like riding in a jon boat or mod v aluminum boat. What you loose in ride quality in a chop you gain in performance especially considering the weight savings.
Posted on 9/7/20 at 5:00 pm to tigNstick629
Hell yeah they’re good boats. We fish all over Big Lake in a 20ft with no problem.
Posted on 9/7/20 at 6:57 pm to Mister Bigfish
If I was fishing saltwater the majority of the time, I would go fiberglass no doubt. Looking to stay mainly fresh with the option to hit some specks, reds, crabs on occasion so I can pick my days.
This puts me looking at aluminum boats around 20’. I will look a bit harder at the xpress again. I know a few guys that have them for similar reasons I am looking at them for and they like them, but they just seem like the usable space is getting crowded in them with bigger console and now catwalks. That got me looking at excel.
This puts me looking at aluminum boats around 20’. I will look a bit harder at the xpress again. I know a few guys that have them for similar reasons I am looking at them for and they like them, but they just seem like the usable space is getting crowded in them with bigger console and now catwalks. That got me looking at excel.
Posted on 9/8/20 at 12:08 am to tigNstick629
quote:
and now catwalks
Those pushed me over the edge to Avid, they make ZERO sense.
Posted on 9/8/20 at 5:25 am to Sack531
quote:
After the floods in the Baton Rouge/Livingston area a few years ago, I talked with the sales reps at Boat Unlimited. When the 8ft of water receded, they returned to find all the Xpress boats piled on top of the Excel boats. With no plugs in any boats, there's only one way the boat wound up that way. They no longer sell Excel boats.
What?
Posted on 9/8/20 at 11:35 am to LSUballs
quote:
After the floods in the Baton Rouge/Livingston area a few years ago, I talked with the sales reps at Boat Unlimited. When the 8ft of water receded, they returned to find all the Xpress boats piled on top of the Excel boats. With no plugs in any boats, there's only one way the boat wound up that way. They no longer sell Excel boats.
What?
I read that as the Excel boats didn't have enough flotation. Was I right?
Posted on 9/8/20 at 1:20 pm to Thorny
Their is a video showing all the Xpress boats floating while still strapped to their trailers during the 2016 flood. Boats Unlimited got rid of all of the lines that compete with Xpress boats after that.
Posted on 9/8/20 at 4:03 pm to armsdealer
The Avid boats look a lot like the Vexus, any connection between these companies?
Posted on 9/8/20 at 5:51 pm to LSUNathan
The Nauticstar people hired away some Vexus designers after they sold Nauticstar and opened up an aluminum boat shop next door to Nauticstar. I am pretty sure the consoles are out of the Nauticstar boats.
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