I am a lifelong fisherman who always used his dad’s bass boat.  I am now in the market for my first bass boat. I’m a big guy 6’4 300 so keep that in mind. Aluminum is a must. Here are the 3.

Crestliner MX19- Mercury 150

Xpress x21 pro or H20 Yamaha 175

Vexus AVX 1880 Mercury 115

I am not super versed or comfortable using electronics (only for depth really), but I want to learn.

Any help or suggestions will help!

I can't help but congratulations whenever and whatever you purchase.

 

I'm looking to get a boat myself.

 

I have ZERO experience with boats other than the plastic thing I paddle around so it's going to be a nerve racking purchase. Next year is the goal unless I find something this fall. Storage is my number one problem.

 

Good luck with your decision.

 

Exciting!!!

I don't have experience with any of the boats so my opinion may not be worth much.  I have a Ranger aluminum and have always own aluminum boats.  

 

I would choose the Vexus.  You have to ask where you want to put your money.  I've always tried to get the most fish per dollar spent.  A lot of anglers like to go fast.  Going fast is expensive you don't catch fish when you're going fast.  The 115 motor on the Vexus lets you put your money into other things that will enhance the fishing experience more.  But if you're one of those guys that likes to go fast then you will probably ignore everything I've just said.  😆

 

The Xpress would be my second choice.  I've heard nothing but good things about Xpress boats.  

I'm biased against the Crestliner.  I just don't associate the name with bass fishing.  

Thank you for that. No need to go fast for me. 175 would probably be my limit. 

I think the Xpress would be tippy with a guy your size moving around in it.  So I vote for the Vexus.

4 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

I think the Xpress would be tippy with a guy your size moving around in it.  So I vote for the Vexus.

Why would the Xpress feel tippy but not the Vexus. I’m new to all this

All of the hulls are welded hulls so basically all the same thing. And all of them are relatively close in price. The added toys aren't what I would decide with.

 

I'd be taking a look at the companies. Are any of them in financial trouble and could go bankrupt in a year or two or 5? I say this because service after the sale is what I would be looking at. I'd want a boat company to be there for me after the sale.

 

Who is closest to you? Who has best service side? Who's gonna work on the motor? That's a big deal right there. Which brand of motor is going to be most serviceable close to you?

 

All of those boats are gonna get you on the water the same. So for me, the important stuff is when it breaks and its gotta be fixed. Which one will be around longest and be there for you when you need them.

 

One thing to check just FYI is hull thickness. Some companies put thicker aluminum below water and thinner aluminum above the water. Some is same thickness all over. Good to know.

 

My next boat is going to be an all weld as well. No more rivets! I might just order up a custom hull from one of the boat builders here in Florida. The airboat guys do it all the time. Maybe I should get one of those and throw a trolling motor on it!

 

For your 3 boats, I recognize Crestliner as a well known old boat company. The others I never heard of. Must be kind of new. But for the money grab the biggest one! That 21 foot pro if you can fit in the garage! 

28 minutes ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

All of the hulls are welded hulls so basically all the same thing. And all of them are relatively close in price. The added toys aren't what I would decide with.

 

I'd be taking a look at the companies. Are any of them in financial trouble and could go bankrupt in a year or two or 5? I say this because service after the sale is what I would be looking at. I'd want a boat company to be there for me after the sale.

 

Who is closest to you? Who has best service side? Who's gonna work on the motor? That's a big deal right there. Which brand of motor is going to be most serviceable close to you?

 

All of those boats are gonna get you on the water the same. So for me, the important stuff is when it breaks and its gotta be fixed. Which one will be around longest and be there for you when you need them.

 

One thing to check just FYI is hull thickness. Some companies put thicker aluminum below water and thinner aluminum above the water. Some is same thickness all over. Good know.

 

My next boat is going to be an all weld as well. No more rivets! I might just order up a custom hull from one of the boat builders here in Florida. The airboat guys do it all the time. Maybe I should get one of those and throw a trolling motor on it!

 

For your 3 boats, I recognize Crestliner as a well known old boat company. The others I never heard of. Must be kind of new. But for the money grab the biggest one! That 21 foot pro if you can fit in the garage! 

Thank you my friend that was great info!

You're welcome. I would like to add one more thing...

 

I brought up boat hull thickness because I had problems here in Florida with thin hulls.

 

I got a used aluminum boat for free that had been used in saltwater. The aluminum looked like swiss cheese. I had hoped to be able to salvage the hull. I needed to have a 2 inch hole sealed up from previous owner who installed his own live well, and when he attached the outflow to the hull he did not install it straight. It had some serious side pressure and eventually a crack developed extended outwards from that hole.

 

So I found this certified aluminum welder who used thin aluminum soda cans to show how well he could weld thin aluminum. He did a nice job. Problem is the aluminum was no good. Do you know when I picked that boat up from the welder it did not leak. By the time I drove it home, his weld had already split apart right along the edge of the weld right where untouched hull meets weld. It just unzipped. The hull was just too thin and too corroded to be useable. So I scrapped it as recycled aluminum and broke even on weld cost from money I got for all that aluminum.

 

So this was a lesson to me. For 1 no more salty dogs. And for two, no more welding boat hulls unless the metal is thick enough to handle it.

 

So with all 3 boats, one thing I would want to know would be the thickness and construction of each hull. It might be important down the road for you like it was for me.

Get the biggest, best, most well equipped boat you can afford. Buy once, cry once. I've never run in to a fisherman who said, "man, I just got too much boat...need to downsize." HA!

 

Always do your best to max out HP on a given boat. Under-powered boats stink.

 

I like the v-hulls...especially nice when getting on bigger water.

 

I really looked hard at Alumacraft when searching for a boat. Really liked their layout. But went with Lund for a few reasons:

• Brother got a Lund Alaskan few years back, had many opportunities to fish it...really liked the layout, build quality, etc.
• Lots of Lund dealers around these parts. Pretty easy to get it serviced if needed
• Loved the little things...the travel cover goes on and off super easy.
• I outfitted my electronics to mirror my Brother's boat. If I'm fishing in his boat, it feels very much like fishing in mine...and vice versa. We are very fortunate to have found two excellent boats.

Good luck in your search. Spend the time to research, and get behind the wheel if you can. Take your time...this boat will be with you for a long while.

1 hour ago, Indiananabassaholic said:

Why would the Xpress feel tippy but not the Vexus. I’m new to all this

It is a guess.  I know nothing about a Vexus.  I fished several years out of an Xpress owned by a 6’3” 270# buddy.  When he moved the boat really moved with him.

Maybe a good idea is to try all 3 out in the water if they will let you do that or they take you out on the water.

 

Stand up on the front deck and with your 300 pounds try and rock the boats side to side and see how they respond under similar circumstances.

 

One may be more stable than another.

 

-------------------------

 

Another thing I would be looking at are the holes in the hull. Today I loathe putting a hole into any hull. You would not believe how many guys don't think twice about grabbing a screw gun and start screwing screws into the hulls.

 

Take a look at how the boats are built. Walk around and count all the holes in the hulls. The fewer the better!

 @Indiananabassaholic

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

Whatever you do, don't get one of those Lund 1875 Pro-V Bass boats.

No storage, can't get out of it's own way, down right scary in anything but flat calm conditions and

don't get me started on all those problem free rivets.

Plus there's only 9 or so Lund dealers right there in your home state.

https://www.lundboats.com/find-a-boat-dealer.US.ChIJHRv42bxQa4gRcuwyy84vEH4.html

Either way, Congrats on being in the market for a new rig.

A-Jay

https://youtu.be/cCE7y_0QlVU?feature=shared&t=290

 

My 30 year old rivets are doing just fine, thank you.

Most of my 51 year old rivets are fine as well. But I've replaced around 10 of them and got another one to replace now- but I stuck some gum on it and all is well!

 

Next boat- no rivets. I am rivet done!

 

Can't complain about the boat one bit though. Loyal and faithful and always ready and delivers too! 51 solid years and still going strong. Thanks AlumaCraft!

The 21 pro has 2’ or more on the next biggest choice in the list.  I know where I’d be going if all else was equal.

 

that said, having the dealer close enough to you that you can just ‘pop in’ (which for me means an hour or less) is good to have if you ever need anything.  I’d start there and rule out any that didn’t have that.  

On 8/5/2025 at 5:06 PM, FloridaFishinFool said:

By the time I drove it home, his weld had already split apart right along the edge of the weld right where untouched hull meets weld. It just unzipped. The hull was just too thin and too corroded to be useable.

That means there was insufficient penetration on the toe line. Sounds to me like he went cold and basically laid the weld on-top instead of creating a fusion between the base material and the weld puddle. He also could have used the incorrect filler material which I still stand by the former that cause this issue.  I am assuming he used the GTAW process? 

On 8/5/2025 at 4:35 PM, DaubsNU1 said:

Lots of Lund dealers around these parts. Pretty easy to get it serviced if needed

Other items being relatively equal, proximity and reputation of the dealer would be the final determination for me. Nothing worse than having a new boat and then hauling it 2 hours away for service while they address something. That would be a deal breaker for me.

On 8/5/2025 at 7:52 PM, Indiananabassaholic said:

I am a lifelong fisherman who always used his dad’s bass boat.  I am now in the market for my first bass boat. I’m a big guy 6’4 300 so keep that in mind. Aluminum is a must. Here are the 3.

Crestliner MX19- Mercury 150

Xpress x21 pro or H20 Yamaha 175

Vexus AVX 1880 Mercury 115

I am not super versed or comfortable using electronics (only for depth really), but I want to learn.

Any help or suggestions will help!

Vexus AVX 1880 hands down.

Step hull rides and fishes like a glass bass boat. 18’ 8” is long enough and very stable boat. The XPress is a tunnel hull for shallow draft and water conditions, good boat but unless you fish shallow water areas not the best choice.

Also add Lund Pro-V 1875 to your lists, similar to Crestliner but better built boat imo.

Tom

I've only had one tin boat but in general the most important thing with any bass boat is how it actually fishes.  Try out any boat you're considering on the trolling motor and see how well it tracks and how stable it is. Keep in mind that wind and boat traffic can change things.

Also, check how well you fit on the front deck, and if you use a front seat or butt seat, see how much room it leaves you to walk between it and the gunwale. If you have to squeeze every time you deploy or pick up the trolling motor it get's old fast.

They look bigger on the showroom floor than on the lake.

As was said, you will never say I wish I had bought a slower and smaller boat

 

 

 

 

 

From your list - Vexus.

I spent the day at a Vexus dealership while waiting on my boat and was extremely impressed with their product.

 

Dealer location would be a consideration.

Oh speed ❓ well call me a wimp but I get on plane and run 30 mph regardless of the size of lake...... feels like 60. 😄

1 hour ago, rangerjockey said:

you will never say I wish I had bought a slower and smaller boat

 

I don't desire a bigger boat because a bigger boat can't reach many of the places I fish. 

34 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I don't desire a bigger boat because a bigger boat can't reach many of the places I fish. 

That’s fine if that’s how you desire to fish.

I wouldn’t paddle a canoe on Table Rock

Avid also makes a good aluminum bass boat.  A friend has a 20' with a 200.  Agree with others, closeness of the dealer is a big deal..

What size water are you going to fish?  2 feet in hull size can make a big difference.  What are you going to tow it with?  Where are you going to store it?  All considerations.