I am considering moving from fiberglass to aluminum.  I see reviews all over the internet about hull thickness.  Most say its got to be .125 like Xpress, Avid, GatorTrax.  However, the Lund Pro V bass gets great reviews across the board.  Its .100 hull thickness with .080 freeboard thickness.  So what gives?  Is it different for a deep V vs a mod V?  I’m looking for a boat that will handle semi rough water regularly and rough water occasionally.  I hear most of the mod V aluminums don’t ride well in rough water.  Specifically looking at Vexus and Lund Renegade in the Mod V world.

@A-Jay is our Lund Pro V expert - he's been riding one for years now..

Just now, MN Fisher said:

@A-Jay is our Lund Pro V expert - he's been riding one for years now..

I guess I'm chopped liver

 

Just now, slonezp said:

I guess I'm chopped liver

 

Ya, but you sold yours, Paul...

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

@A-Jay is our Lund Pro V expert - he's been riding one for years now..

I sent him a PM

Yes I did. Bigger and better things are slowly falling into place.

 

 

I can't comment on the Renegade specifically. I ran a Lund Predator 2010 for 10 years. It was the predecessor to the Pro V Bass. Larger in size and built more for big water. Honestly, I don't think you will find a better quality aluminum boat on the market. 

53 minutes ago, Obi_Wan said:

I hear most of the mod V aluminums don’t ride well in rough water.  Specifically looking at Vexus and Lund Renegade in the Mod V world.

I don’t have either one of those, but I do have a close version to the Lund Renegade. Mine is a Ranger RT178. It’s an aluminum mod v and I can confirm that it is not good in rough water. Can’t imagine the renegade is any better also being a mod v aluminum of similar size.

 

The pro v bass is a bigger boat than the renegade, and the hull is different. It’s based off their popular line of deep v boats and has a hull similar to the original pro v series that a lot of walleye anglers use on bigger, rougher water.

 

Cant comment on a vexus, not familiar with them.

14 minutes ago, Obi_Wan said:

I sent him a PM

And I responded  . . . .

I am not an expert, just a guy who runs one.

Either way, 

The IPS2 hull design on the Pro-V Bass has proven itself for many years on 

other Lund big water platforms.

At the time of my decision & eventual purchase,

Lund's reputation as an industry leader is where I put my faith.

Never gave the actual 'hull thickness' a second thought.

I simply run the boat and believe that if I take care of it,

it will take care of me.

And so far, it has. (7 seasons now)

I don't run my rig in these types of conditions often,

but it's reassuring to know that I can if the need arises.

https://youtu.be/jYDqRk6ghyE

Good Luck with your decision.

A-Jay

If you’re going to look at Xpress be sure you look at their Hyper-Lift hull not the Mod-V hull.

Thanks for all the comments.  I’m very familiar with all the differences in the mod V boats vs the Deep V.  I hear the Xpress Hyperlift runs well in rough water.  I don’t get much of that here, but I do get it on occasion when we go to Canada. 

 

My preference is a Pro V Bass.  I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with a Vexus in rough water.  Seems like it would be like most other mod Vs.  

5 hours ago, Obi_Wan said:

 I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with a Vexus in rough water.  Seems like it would be like most other mod Vs

 

Again are you looking at the Vexus with the mod V hull?

 

Xpress & Vexus both have models with mod V hulls & models with pad hulls. Two totally different rides.

 

I have a close friend who runs a Vexus AVX1980, handles rough water extremely well, lots of storage, huge rod boxes. 

I fished out of a DVX22 this spring on Erie and it handles rough water very well. I know it's a different animal than what your looking at but it did impress me. 

I'm not an aluminum guy.  Ride quality is a term I've never associated with an aluminum boat.  If you have always used a good riding glass hull, I think it will take an attitude adjustment to step into most aluminum boats.  However, if you want each trip to cost you less, that helps offset the dislike of the ride quality.

As for gauge aluminum, a lot has to do with the size boat and quality boat you are looking at.  When you start getting below 0.095" thick metal and pop riveted hulls, you are down entry level, bottom feeder models.  When looking at the one-piece mold formed hulls, you are in the upper-class hulls.  Like the old saying, buy cheap, get cheap, so buy as good as you think you can afford, and you might be willing to keep it and not regret giving up your glass boat.

So I am just a river rat and am curious as to what the hull thickness has to do with the ride? Does it just deaden the blows of the rougher water?

22 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

So I am just a river rat and am curious as to what the hull thickness has to do with the ride? Does it just deaden the blows of the rougher water?

No. Weight and hull design has to do with the ride. The thickness has to do with how well it will hold up to waves and/or obstructions. 

9 hours ago, slonezp said:

The thickness has to do with how well it will hold up to waves and/or obstructions. 

 

Less flex ?

 

In a flat bottom you can really feel the flex, mod-v has quite a bit less flex.