Good stuff. Ive been fishing out of a Bass Tracker Pro Team 170, was a great first boat, but as I progressed through tournaments to some of the regional and national levels, definitely outgrew it, and was at a disadvantage when we had to go to some bigger waters. Decided to stick with aluminum for the cost savings and easier maintenance, but still wanted something that would at least make rough water navigable. Went with a used x19, and love it.
Great boat!! You are so right, you have to have common sense regardless of what your in, conditions dictate how you run! No doubt the 21 Express is bad to the bone! You talking about it after the fact is proof in the pudding!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks James! That’s a fact. You can’t just go barreling through big water or you’ll end up in a life raft QUICK! Thank you for watching. It’s fun having a boat that so many folks have questions on so I can get out there and do the tests!
Aluminum boats have came a long way. That boat did good looked like. I’ve never ridden in an express but have a Vexus and love it as well. Handles big water great but can fish in shallow borrow pits here in Arkansas with sketchy boat launches! Love the podcast btw keep it up
Thank you for making the video buddy answered a lot of questions I had about the xpress very impressed and I know you don’t but don’t worry about the negative comments, all of your videos speak for themselves!! Anyone with any kind of boat sense can see the capability of the boat! Hope all is well and god bless!! Enjoy all of your videos!!
Thank you for watching sir! Just trying to show the boat from every angle this year. A lot of folks think I’m just making content but I really am answering questions I had myself. Loving the boat!
@@LukeDunkinsTravelingCircus your welcome! Thank you for the reply and you’ve done a great job showing it’s capabilities! Keep up the great content buddy look forward to watching it! Maybe you can ease down to the coosa n get on some big spotted bass sometime!
First boat was a tracker 195 that beat me to death. Swore off of aluminum, but that express ride looks pretty dang good. Express and Vexus are changing the aluminum game for sure.
That’s awesome man! Glad you found it. G is the best. Great human. Go check out the “Boats and Pros” with him I did if you haven’t. I think you’ll enjoy it.
We been trying to tell the haters about the EXPRESS! I’ll put mine up against any fiberglass as far as performance, rough water etc. And they’re owned and ran by great people! I may be a little bias since I’m a Arkansas boy but I think anybody would be pleasantly surprised by how far these boats have come!!
That’s right! They need to get on the program haha. Yeah I’m just trying to educate folks on the benefits of owning one and actually test this thing myself.
Love it buddy!Stop by an pick me up on the way up north.Ya gotta drive straight up 65 an I’m right off the exit.Heck I’ll go with you for sure!ANYTIME!!!!
Great video and great information. I have found a lot of videos about driving on rough water with an Xpress but what about front deck fishing on rough water? Does it feel like you have to have rubberband legs to absorb all of the ups and downs or does the boat stay pretty stable?
Man that looks like the Ohio river when two barges are going in the opposite direction and a 25 mph winds out of the south. Haha great job man. Keep up the great work.
I live on Lake Huron right on the Saginaw Bay and there’s days you can go out and days you can’t, in any boat there’s no in between that’s just how these waters work there’s really not an in between. It’s either calm or it’s nasty.
Ive been in a smaller beam 17' g3 and that thing was rough, rocked side to side a bunch just didnt give me any confidence in rough water. Then i was in an 18' wider beam crestliner and that was a big improvement in ride and felt like a good all round size. Now i see they have pad hulls in these x18 pros and it really interest me. Ranger rr198p was on my mind but its got alot of quality issues. Im not a tournament fisherman but wouldn't mind doing one or two for the fun of it. Havent been in one in over 20 years now. Garage space is my limiting factor unless i can score my next house with a pole barn or minimum of a 3 car garage. Prices are insane right now so we'll see what i can find. A swing away tongue is a must and im really leaning towards a 200hp on an 18'. Have any experience with the smaller models?
I’m very interested in the xpress but doesn’t seem like I’ve seen many in Michigan. How would you compare the ride to 521? It’s hard to tell but it sounds like it lands soft.
I ran a 521 and 520. I’ll be completely honest I think it handles that water better. Front end doesn’t dive near as much as those boats did and it lands a lot softer.
@@LukeDunkinsTravelingCircus very sharp boat too. When the time comes I’ll definitely check them out. Hopefully I can get it one for a demo. Do you have a discount code available? Lol
Looks like it did great! Bow stays up and sounds and looked as if it landed soft. How fast were you cruising in both? Also, how was it fishing in those waves? Does the bow like to stay up when you are spot locked in the wind? How does that compare to your glass rigs in the past
I’ve been looking at buying a new boat. looking at the express and the vexus boats. But unfortunately Xpress doesn’t sell anywhere in Arizona or the states around me.
Vexus builds a great one too. I’m not sure on dealers out West. They have a dealer search engine on their website that might help. Sorry I’m not more help than that!
If you were to compare a new 2021 Phoenix PHX21 and this Xpress boat, would you say that this Xpress boat rides better? Just looking for an honest answer. Great job handling those waves!
I don’t have enough experience PHX21 to give an honest comparison, but I can say I’ve ridden in several older models over the years. I think they build one of the best riding fiberglass boats out there! Great folks too. My Xpress does ride better than a few fiberglass boats I’ve owned. That’s for sure. It comes down to what you’re preferences are. For me the Xpress gives me the combination of all things. Thank you for watching and for the great question!
@@LukeDunkinsTravelingCircus Thank you so much for the reply. I'm very impressed with the way your boat handled Lake Michigan. Even on seemingly calm days, that Lake can be a beast. I like how the water goes off the side. I've been in several boats and your boat is looking pretty good on the big water. 😀
Well I’ll give you this. You definitely know how to drive a boat!
You explained the difference in ride between an aluminum and a glass boat perfect.
Good stuff. Ive been fishing out of a Bass Tracker Pro Team 170, was a great first boat, but as I progressed through tournaments to some of the regional and national levels, definitely outgrew it, and was at a disadvantage when we had to go to some bigger waters. Decided to stick with aluminum for the cost savings and easier maintenance, but still wanted something that would at least make rough water navigable. Went with a used x19, and love it.
Great boat!! You are so right, you have to have common sense regardless of what your in, conditions dictate how you run! No doubt the 21 Express is bad to the bone! You talking about it after the fact is proof in the pudding!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks James! That’s a fact. You can’t just go barreling through big water or you’ll end up in a life raft QUICK! Thank you for watching. It’s fun having a boat that so many folks have questions on so I can get out there and do the tests!
Luke you are 100% Right is up to the driver behind the wheel . Thank you for the info and the video.....
Looks great! Sabine lake southeast texas is just like that sometimes and this was a great help thanks!
Aluminum boats have came a long way. That boat did good looked like. I’ve never ridden in an express but have a Vexus and love it as well. Handles big water great but can fish in shallow borrow pits here in Arkansas with sketchy boat launches! Love the podcast btw keep it up
Yes they have! Vexus builds a great one! Good folks over there in Flippin.
Thank you for making the video buddy answered a lot of questions I had about the xpress very impressed and I know you don’t but don’t worry about the negative comments, all of your videos speak for themselves!! Anyone with any kind of boat sense can see the capability of the boat! Hope all is well and god bless!! Enjoy all of your videos!!
Thank you for watching sir! Just trying to show the boat from every angle this year. A lot of folks think I’m just making content but I really am answering questions I had myself. Loving the boat!
@@LukeDunkinsTravelingCircus your welcome! Thank you for the reply and you’ve done a great job showing it’s capabilities! Keep up the great content buddy look forward to watching it! Maybe you can ease down to the coosa n get on some big spotted bass sometime!
I own a X17 xpress. It works surprisingly well in rough water for a 17 footer. Crazy agility and shallow water performance.
First boat was a tracker 195 that beat me to death. Swore off of aluminum, but that express ride looks pretty dang good. Express and Vexus are changing the aluminum game for sure.
Yea they are for sure! Definitely not normal aluminum boats.
Stumbled on your page by looking for a G Man pod cast. I love the podcast, professional fisherman are the last pros that are normal people!
That’s awesome man! Glad you found it. G is the best. Great human. Go check out the “Boats and Pros” with him I did if you haven’t. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Wow. Amazing boat
Thank you Harold. I sure do love it.
Do you hear the boat slapping on the water like the other aluminum boats?
We been trying to tell the haters about the EXPRESS! I’ll put mine up against any fiberglass as far as performance, rough water etc. And they’re owned and ran by great people! I may be a little bias since I’m a Arkansas boy but I think anybody would be pleasantly surprised by how far these boats have come!!
That’s right! They need to get on the program haha. Yeah I’m just trying to educate folks on the benefits of owning one and actually test this thing myself.
Right on! And woo pig sooie to an Arkansas brother
Good video and helpful. Do you know if trim tabs are an option on the xpress boats? Im interested in the center console bay boat.
Love it buddy!Stop by an pick me up on the way up north.Ya gotta drive straight up 65 an I’m right off the exit.Heck I’ll go with you for sure!ANYTIME!!!!
It was a good/short trip! I’ll be ready to go back sooner than later
Great video and great information. I have found a lot of videos about driving on rough water with an Xpress but what about front deck fishing on rough water? Does it feel like you have to have rubberband legs to absorb all of the ups and downs or does the boat stay pretty stable?
My H18 rides like that. Smooth and solid and when you hit a wave it lands softly. Love mine even if it is an 18 footer rides like a Cadillac
That boat is a beast. I want one so bad. I don’t know why I need another boat(my wife definitely doesn’t think so) but I want it. 🤣🤣
Looks like Douglas lake on a bad day :D
Man that looks like the Ohio river when two barges are going in the opposite direction and a 25 mph winds out of the south. Haha great job man. Keep up the great work.
Amen! Same with the TN River at times
@@LukeDunkinsTravelingCircus for sure man.
People don’t realize how rough the Ohio can get!
@@timg185 I agree
I was impressed how the spray went away from the boat.
I was too! Big time.
I live on Lake Huron right on the Saginaw Bay and there’s days you can go out and days you can’t, in any boat there’s no in between that’s just how these waters work there’s really not an in between. It’s either calm or it’s nasty.
I run a 2075 Lund ProV Bass XS and it eats big water like nothing.
Let me borrow it for a test run one weekend lol it’s hard to make myself buy one. I’m still rocking a 95 Javelin but she catches the fish
I’ll rent it out 🤣🤣🤣
50 or 57' trolling motor shaft? Thanks
That was a 50!
Bow high is a good thing in rollers, looks solid.
Yes it is!
Did you have any hull problems out of either of your xpress boats after using them for a season?
Not one. On my third Xpress now. Zero issues.
@@LukeDunkinsTravelingCircus thanks for the reply man!
Ive been in a smaller beam 17' g3 and that thing was rough, rocked side to side a bunch just didnt give me any confidence in rough water. Then i was in an 18' wider beam crestliner and that was a big improvement in ride and felt like a good all round size. Now i see they have pad hulls in these x18 pros and it really interest me. Ranger rr198p was on my mind but its got alot of quality issues. Im not a tournament fisherman but wouldn't mind doing one or two for the fun of it. Havent been in one in over 20 years now. Garage space is my limiting factor unless i can score my next house with a pole barn or minimum of a 3 car garage. Prices are insane right now so we'll see what i can find. A swing away tongue is a must and im really leaning towards a 200hp on an 18'. Have any experience with the smaller models?
Damn. Stop making me want one of these
🤣🤣🤣 sorry!
Wow. Hope those welds hold up 😯
They did
Very impressive for aluminum boat. How fast were you running?
I’m very interested in the xpress but doesn’t seem like I’ve seen many in Michigan. How would you compare the ride to 521? It’s hard to tell but it sounds like it lands soft.
I ran a 521 and 520. I’ll be completely honest I think it handles that water better. Front end doesn’t dive near as much as those boats did and it lands a lot softer.
@@LukeDunkinsTravelingCircus very sharp boat too. When the time comes I’ll definitely check them out. Hopefully I can get it one for a demo. Do you have a discount code available? Lol
Hahaha sorry I can’t be more help on the discount code! But I think you’d enjoy the boat for sure
Looks like it did great! Bow stays up and sounds and looked as if it landed soft. How fast were you cruising in both?
Also, how was it fishing in those waves? Does the bow like to stay up when you are spot locked in the wind? How does that compare to your glass rigs in the past
I thought you looked scared. 😂
I'm going small mouth fishing tomorrow in the Dallas area. Most of what I catch has a pretty small mouth. Get it?
Haha nah. I was scared that I didn’t have enough Flatworms but that was all 🤣
Looked like it did great for that water .I would run one
I’ve been looking at buying a new boat. looking at the express and the vexus boats. But unfortunately Xpress doesn’t sell anywhere in Arizona or the states around me.
Vexus builds a great one too. I’m not sure on dealers out West. They have a dealer search engine on their website that might help. Sorry I’m not more help than that!
I have got to get me one of those. How about an xpress discount code lol
Use code DUNK10 hahaha
Good job Luke. That was a great test and might just keep some of the naysayers quiet. Hair is looking sharp, high and tight. 👍
Thank you Ron! I loved it up there. Definitely going back soon
Don’t have to prove anything to me that looks good!!!!
I was very impressed!
If you were to compare a new 2021 Phoenix PHX21 and this Xpress boat, would you say that this Xpress boat rides better? Just looking for an honest answer. Great job handling those waves!
I don’t have enough experience PHX21 to give an honest comparison, but I can say I’ve ridden in several older models over the years. I think they build one of the best riding fiberglass boats out there! Great folks too. My Xpress does ride better than a few fiberglass boats I’ve owned. That’s for sure. It comes down to what you’re preferences are. For me the Xpress gives me the combination of all things. Thank you for watching and for the great question!
@@LukeDunkinsTravelingCircus Thank you so much for the reply. I'm very impressed with the way your boat handled Lake Michigan. Even on seemingly calm days, that Lake can be a beast. I like how the water goes off the side. I've been in several boats and your boat is looking pretty good on the big water. 😀
That’s world of difference a new Phoenix runs around 80k compared to the xpress you are getting super solid build for what it cost
#LukeDunken that is impressive for an aluminum boat in those kinda waves!
I love it!
Went shopping for a Xpress boat, and the dealer wanted $10,000 over MSRP, I'll wait
Yeah things are CRAZY right now
Where’s land?🤣🤣🤣
Not close enough most of the time!
Honest review hahahahahahahahaha yeah right
Thanks for stopping by and questioning my integrity faceless/nameless RUclips commenter guy ha
A few more years of that kind of abuse you’ll be having back surgery
That’s flat
Yep. It was slick. Thanks for your contribution Tracy. Thanks for going with me to film that day.
Bwuhahahahaha that wasn't anywhere near rough water
Thanks for clarifying that random RUclips commenter dude that wasn’t there. Appreciate that. Back to Mom’s basement bud.
@@LukeDunkinsTravelingCircus but then again, any water is rough water for that boat
That boat is the 💩
I agree!
U been scalped. I think xpress is fine
It’s even worse now haha. I skinned her back this week 🤣