Great Video. It is videos like this that helped me make up my mind between the Ranger, Avid, and Vexus. One day I'll pay it forward and do a walk through/ride video. I have the same boat (2021) 150 Merc with 23 Tempest with Atlas 6" J Plate, dual console, loaded down with tackle, me & the wife, livewell full and it will hit 55.2-55.5 mph on the GPS. Brand new by myself with nothing in it it got to 57.6 - but that isn't the norm. Hole shot is incredible. Rooster tail is at top of motor height at 2.5-ish inches on jackplate - at 3.5+ you can feel the prop catching air. Count 1 - 2 - 3 - You are On Plane by 3! I switched from a Javelin glass boat to this one and it certainly rides better than my old boat - doesn't ride like classic aluminum boat at all. Storage is awesome. I-Pilot: highly recommend! I do have 1 Power Pole, where I fish one meets my needs. Maybe one day I'll install another. If I had to list cons: 1.) TIn boat in the south humid conditions, I keep a supply of DampRid for the compartments. 2.) I feel the 150 is a little under powered for this boat or I wish it would trim up a bit more. 3.) Factory decals are delicate. I rubbed spots of them off docking against a plastic dock. However, customer service is amazing. Called them an they sent me the pinstripe and decals - no issues. Other than that, I have heard/read stories about the hull cracking on older models that they supposedly fixed - so far after a year I haven't had that problem. Overall, this is a tin boat that I promise runs like a glass boat. I am glad with my purpose and highly recommend. Sorry this is so long - hope this helps someone trying to make a decision.
@@KenSmithFishing with 2 people in the boat with gear and full tank I get 52 mph I also lowered it all the way down only other thing I could think of is putting a jack plate on my boat to get even faster
I had the same problem with my Ranger 198P. I had to lower the Merc 150 one hole i the jack plate. The factory setting I was getting 50 to 51mph but after I lowered the motor on the jack plate by one hole it jumped to 55 to 56mhp.
KEN, are you going to give a price point for the way he has his rigged out? Is the max HP rating 150? Does it have a swing away tongue and what is the storage length? I like the boat!!! Good job KEN!!!
Again thank you for the review on this boat. I really like Scott's battery set up. Surprised he didn't go with a Power Charger by Power Pole. I just put a NOCO charger in my boat-I don't stay out too long. Speaking of Power poles where are the power poles? 😆 Ageee with you on the rooster tail! Did you say as he came to a stop there was not any backwash? If so that's a first.
Alan, no backwash. I've always said if I were choosing between PP and Ultrex that's an easy decision. I love the PP charger but I'm with MJ below, I don't have one in my current boat, was just more than I was willing to spend at the time. That said I have several buddies that have them and LOVE them, so likely my next boat will be $1400 higher to get one
The dirty secret with on the fly trolling battery charging is that if you are running the big motor enough to charge the batteries, you likely aren’t wearing down the trolling batteries anyways. Plus with modern lithiums the need for recharging is greatly reduced.
@@MJ_Bass I'm confused or just need to be enlightened. I think my big motor only charges my starting battery. I don't believe my two trolling motors are tied to the master switch or starting battery.
The jackplate doesn’t make much a difference, he needs to get the bobs 5 degree wedges, mercury motors have a trim limit and it only need like 3 more percent, it could also be how he has the boat weighted with the tackle in the side it makes it less balance saying that the gas tank is under the seats. It can hit high 50s. I also think he has the wrong prob the 22 tempest is a little better it goes to the rev limiter, he isn’t getting all of the rpm.
Parker I don’t think the trim wedge will help him, if you look at the rooster tail it’s throwing water up, so it’s already in an overtrim position (IMO).
I'm going to guess lowering the engine about 3/8 inch and swapping to the 24 tempest will let the prop bite better, drop the rpms just a tad and increase top speed about 2 mph?
I have almost the same identical boat, even down to the color and Sea Deck. I have the Garmin Force trolling motor, different electronics, 3 conventional lead batteries, auto jack plate, and 2 power poles. Mine consistently runs in the high 50's. Around 58 mph. I am NOT a tournament fisherman, and have absolutely NO desire to go 70 mph on the water. 55 is almost too fast for me.
I feel like you came into this video….mmmm not informed or excited as the glass series. You had a lot of I’m not sure, I’ll have to get back to you type of moments. Maybe it’s just life and you gotta do what you gotta do and apologize for it later; since no lives were in jeopardy. On another note I was actually considering a 1980 or a 2080 vexus; used and new. I’ve heard of a handful of people with their aluminum hulls cracking; but vexus 100% warranty and replaced. So I went to a dealer near Nashville and they didn’t have any type n vexus because of supply chain issues and upgrades to the thicker hulls. Salesman at the dealership said he will only own a vexus aluminum because it’s better than any glass boat on 80% of the waters we fish and 20k less Ultimately I stuck with glass ordered a custom Phoenix 819 pro with a 200hp 4-st Loving it thus far… But my 97 270Z hydra-sport with a 150 Johnson’s 2ST leaves this boat behind in hole shot as if the Phoenix had deployed anchor Once the 819 is off and on pad. It definitely had an advantage, but needs to be a long run to catch up.
Matt, absolutely less informed, I just don't have the wheel hours in a tin boat I do in a glass one. I've always been excited about it, however it is MUCH more challenging, can't have as much wind the days I test, and just way less of these in the market. Probably half of the models I want to look at I still haven't found.
I purchase one about a year ago very disappointed with the management from Vexus to dealer. Boat has been in shop for minor electoral problems that take a month to fix. From president to Janitor asking for help and silence never even phone call. Bottom line boat runs great but after almost a year only used 3 weeks. Owned 3 Rangers this is not the same believe me. Right now boat is at dealer to replace two torn seats and Suzuki lift is not working.
I have no doubt these are great boats. I wanted one so bad I went to price one of the website. I was going to order one. But after adding everything I wanted with electronics and options, the price was literally the same as it was to build a brand new phoenix 920 with the same options!!! So I went the with the phoenix
I had a tracker 195 before I got my z20. The Vexus may ride a little better, but the 195 just rode awful. If I went tin boat I’d only want a smaller stick steer, not a “bass boat”
@@MJ_Bass these vexus aluminum are night and day different than that tracker. I've ran both the 1980 and 2080 and they blow me away every single time. They DO NOT feel like aluminum
@@chanceehuiet interesting, I’ve heard great things about them as well. It is hard to determine what is truth vs fan boy stuff, as on the forums you will hear guys talk about how great the ride on their tracker 175 is lol
@@MJ_Bass yeah I agree. Buddy had a 2080 with the 4s merc 200 dual poles dual helix 10s ultrex. Boat would run low-mid 60s all day and holeshot was INSANE. Very stable platform and road like a glass boat. I run a Champion 206 and if I get rid of it I'm buying a 2080 100% it fits every need I have in a boat
@@KenSmithFishing I get it and not really trying to bust your balls. I was too close to someone lost due to the life jacket not being on and saw a young man minutes after going in not wearing a kill switch and the boat was circling him so I get a little amped up when I seeing them missing.
Ken really enjoy your content and try to watch all your videos. I've been meaning to ask anyway. I see you wear a full size conventional life vest in the videos I've seen. Do you have experience with the newer inflatable ones and don't like them? Or do think the conventional ones provide better flotation? Just curious on your thoughts.
It's been my experience that with tin boats... are a little different when it comes to peak RPM..when you Accelerate with a tin boat it takes a moment to reach peak RPM and then trim adjustments need to be small... for every a adjustment with a tin boats trim Will require a moment for the RPM to catch up....if you don't allow for this the motor trim will not match the boat trim and the motor will Rooster and loose prop rotation columns per inch of water.... even experienced boat operators will miss this and not achieve proper trim.... all tin boats seem to be this way.... fact
