First - Thanks to everyone on BR forum (and some other forums) for helping me through the boat buying process. A lot of questions popped up and you guys were always more than happy to help. Many MANY thank you's! This is my first official decked bass boat. GOODBYE JON BOAT! 

 

Now - Here's the new beauty. Ready to skip town and put her on the water the rest of the week!

 

2011 Xpress H18SS w/ Yamaha Vmax 150. Has HB 365i @ console and Lowrance x50DS @ bow. Will be putting the HB up front and getting a HB 898HD next month. Nabbed it within 3 hours of it going on craigslist from a 65 year old insurance salesman for 19. Absolute MINT condition and EXACTLY what I wanted. SO happy I waited it out and didn't pull the trigger on one of the other messes I found myself getting into.

 

 

 

 

Sweet Rig!!!

You'll need that air horn to let other boaters you're screaming up behind them.   lol    That boat should move right along with a 150!!

Xpress is a nice boat and rides like a glass boat.  You sound like an inexperienced used so take it easy and learn the boat.  Learn what your power trim does and how to use it.  Don't run full throttle until you have learned how to control the boat as that rig probably will run in the mid to upper 50s.

Congrats on the new rig!  She is pretty!

 

Jeff

Great boat!!!  Enjoy!!!!

Congrats

Really nice rig there. Like the other guys have said though take your time on it. It definitely will rip with a 150 on there and can get sketchy REALLY quick the second you stop paying attention. Enjoy it though, looks like the guy never used it.

 

BTW, add a G-Force trolling motor rope onto your list of add ons. Normal ropes break constantly and youll never have the G-Force steel cable snap on you. Best add on Ive ever done from a functionality standpoint

Congrats ... can't wait for the day I am posting my pics on here.  

Definitely a nice upgrade from your jon.  Congrats, and may you make many enjoyable memories on her.

Looks more new than used. Time to get her slimed up.

Very nice! Congrats!

Really nice rig there. Like the other guys have said though take your time on it. It definitely will rip with a 150 on there and can get sketchy REALLY quick the second you stop paying attention. Enjoy it though, looks like the guy never used it.

 

BTW, add a G-Force trolling motor rope onto your list of add ons. Normal ropes break constantly and youll never have the G-Force steel cable snap on you. Best add on Ive ever done from a functionality standpoint

Also a better strap for the trolling motor. Nothing worse than a bouncing motor in rough waves.

sweet boat dude - congrats

There is something awesome about red boats!

Really nice rig there. Like the other guys have said though take your time on it. It definitely will rip with a 150 on there and can get sketchy REALLY quick the second you stop paying attention. Enjoy it though, looks like the guy never used it.

 

BTW, add a G-Force trolling motor rope onto your list of add ons. Normal ropes break constantly and youll never have the G-Force steel cable snap on you. Best add on Ive ever done from a functionality standpoint

X1000 on the upgraded trolling motor rope. The first time I broke my pull rope it took me 30 minutes to get the thing back tied tight enough I could try to lift the motor again. Next attempt it broke again  . I'm a really laid back guy but that about spun me off my axis. Ordered the steel cable the next day and couldn't be happier.

 

I ordered an Xpress catalog about a week ago to browse through. Truck will be paid off January 2015 so I can be a little more serious about looking then. Great looking boat! Should get years of enjoyment out of her! 

Sweet looking boat! I have ranger almost the exact same design with a 115 on it. I get 47mph with two people and a 1/2 tank (15 gal). You should get mid 50's easy if you don't weigh her down with tons of gear.

That is one sweet looking setup ..... congrats and enjoy!

I am as jealous as jealous can be! How Lonnie's it? What does it weight? Does the trailer have brakes?

X1000 on the upgraded trolling motor rope. The first time I broke my pull rope it took me 30 minutes to get the thing back tied tight enough I could try to lift the motor again. Next attempt it broke again  . I'm a really laid back guy but that about spun me off my axis. Ordered the steel cable the next day and couldn't be happier.

 

I ordered an Xpress catalog about a week ago to browse through. Truck will be paid off January 2015 so I can be a little more serious about looking then. Great looking boat! Should get years of enjoyment out of her! 

 

 

I make paracord duck call lanyards, so I actually just made up a nice trolling motor rope last night. Funny story - Went to go look at the boat. We took her on a spin in the channel then stopped to check everything out. He went to pull the trolling motor up and the rope snapped!!! He hlooked at me with this look of "oh dang... I just messed up." I laughed about it and told him "it's okay its okay.... that happens all the time."

 

As for the Xpress catalogue and you talking about getting one.... just got back from the lake and took her on a spin. RODE LIKE A DREAM! It was blowing about 15 when I got out but calmed down within an hour. Topped out at 51 with a 3/4 tank gas. Ran through some nice size wake and waves and just skipped right across. Didn't get wet at all.  I love it. Big deck. Lots of storage. GREAT hole shot. Im super stoked! I'm really happy I spent a little extra and got something other than a Tracker. I can guarantee if I would have bought something smaller than an 18 and slimmer than a 96" beam, I would be ANGRY right now.

 

My buddy kept telling me "whatever boat you get, once you get in the water, you'll start thinking I should have got something else." I'll tell you, I think I got something that will provide me years of pleasure. 

Congrats on the new rig!!!!! Money well spent!!!

Nice ride!

Good luck with the new boat. My friend kept his john boat when he got his bass boat and now has the best of both worlds. He uses the john boat when he wants to get out on ponds that don't allow gas motors.

That is a thing of beauty! Congrats!