David - Only you can make that decision in the end. I would never spend as much money as Xpress wants for their boats. I can say that the ride on an X21 is pretty good though but it is nowhere near a glass boat. To me, the main thing about a boat is storage layout. Xpress doesn't have near the layout as a top of the line glass boat.
The few advantages of aluminum over glass is glass must be waxed, glass boats WILL eventually have stress cracks and with an aluminum boat, if after 5-10 years you don't like the way it looks, just sand it, repaint it and VIOLA!!!! New boat...

Just take a Ride in the Ranger and then the Alum. one case closed.

Whatever you choose, put a Merc or a Yammy on the back. STAY AWAY FROM ETEC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LCB

the front

LCB

the rear notice the 300 and rear trolling motors

LCB

the inside the deck goes all the way around the boat

I'm sold on Lanier Custom Boats! I'm about to cut a check for a 20' cat with a Yamaha 300!
www.laniercustomboats.com

faster than any bass boat. Someone clocked, by gps, going 118 mph
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL_xF2bc184

since its a cat, it'll take the chop with ease, so it's usable in freshwater and saltwater bays. I can get to close rigs if seas are calm.

tons of storage and deck area. Also check out the rear trolling motors.

Whats the price tag on one of those bad boys?

Ive been told around mid 50's-60 brand new. He can use Kevlar or carbon fiber but doesn't recommend it. Mine used is in mid 30's

I have owned or my friends have owned just about every bass boat and bay boat made. In all my experiences I find that the best all around South LA boat is the Rocket, but if I were to buy a high end bass boat, my choice would be a 22' Sterling or 22' Gambler. I'm actually selling my Rocket to get a Gambler. My opinion. !!

Bob - You are 100% correct. I have been in every boat on the market except for a Rocket and a Phoenix and the best ride BY FAR is a Gambler. Highly advised if you have the means. Unfortunatley, I do not have the means...

93 Gambler Intimidator, 90 Merc 150

I also agree. I haven't been in many bass boats, but I do have an old Gambler. Not only does it ride very, very good, I also get alot of attention with it. Everywhere I go someone says 'that sure is a nice boat'. I don't really care for the attention, but I only paid $4000.00 for this Gambler. Many people with much newer boats that paid much more than I did turn their heads when I pass by them, or they can't help themselves from talking to me at the gas station. If I tell them how much I paid, they just about fall out right where they're standing. When I am on the water, I feel richer lol. Just don't follow me to my truck, it's old and not so nice looking lol.

Depends on what you'll be using it for (fresh water, or salt/brackish water). I have an X19 and do like my boat. Runs great. But because I now see that fiberglass boats have many more ammenities, etc, I know for a fact that my next boat will be fiberglass. Xpress boats sit high in the water. While fishing, wind will aggravate the crap out of you. I've used mine in vermillion bay and the gulf. Sometimes a little rough but handles the waves well and feels rock solid.

I seriously doubt that there's any close comparison in price between an X21 and a 21' Ranger, Skeeter, Phoenix, etc. Last week, I looked at a 2012 Ranger Z520 (20 footer) that the dealer was willing to let go for 54K. I paid 25K in 2008 for my X19 with a four stroke Yamaha 150. There's no way I'd pay more than 30-32K for an Xpress boat even if it had a 250hp. Once you start getting into that price range, that's where fiberglass boats blow away Xpress. Kinda like buying a loaded toyota camry or spending a little more money for an entry or mid level Mercedes.

Rincon - Check again. The last time I checked the X21 with a 225 yammy was pushing $40K

Wow. Don't get me wrong, I do like Xpress boats, but I would not pay 40k for one. I know the motors wouldn't be the same, but I think 40K gets you a much nicer fishing rig in fiberglass opposed to what Xpress has. But in the end, its all up to the person putting the money down. Fiberglass and aluminum boats each have there own pros/cons.

A loaded brand new 21 lass boat w/ a comparible 250 will be mid 60's to 70K

Actually, you can get some of the models for under 50K. A Nitro Z9 with a 250 Pro XS will only run you 45K. Honestly, if you plan on fishing the spillway more than anything else, a 21 footer is too big. I have a buddy that has a Skeeter FX210 and another that has the Xpress X21 and both complain that they are too big.
To me, the best thing to do is buy a used boat. You can buy a 2 or 3 year old boat for 10-15K less than brand new.

Traded my Xpress H18 in for a 2011 Ranger Z119 closeout model.......arrival of new year models is best time to buy!
Like someone here wrote.......layout and storage is Everything if you fish a lot.
Xpress is a great boat.......but nowhere to put all my stuff.
Front deck was way too small and standing on flexing metal all day wasn't real fun.
If you've owned boats before.......then you should definitely know what you don't like.........
Buying a boat is a personal choice that requires lots of homework.........
Shouldn't criticize what you haven't owned before.........until you've had a real quality boat to compare to.

i meant to say a top of the line bass boats such as ranger/gambler etc, will be 60K+ loaded.

Yes a nitro can be had loaded for 50k..

and you can't compare an xpress to a ranger no matter what options you have.

I also agree on the size. The waters I fish if my little 18 ft xpress was any wider, i wouldn't be able to get through some locks.

Don't let JB scare you on the E-TEC motors. I ran one for three years then sold the boat to a friend of mine and it does just fine. Get whatever motor offers the longest warranty, there are plenty of the Merc. and yammaes that blow the head after three years of service. Let me put it another way 6000 rpm's will not last as long as 5500 rpm's.

I bought the boat that's in the pictures I attached above! Can't wait, it's being shipped from Miami lol. You should see some fishing posts from me out of that boat soon!

By the way, anyone in LOVE with their power pole anchor? I looked at the Blade 10' one but is an anchor worth $2000 really worth it? I've always used a mud anchor or sand anchor and was ok with it...

If you can afford the Power Pole, buy it. Once you fish with one, you won't want to fish without one, period.

thanks Iceman! I've seen people with two. I assume one will not keep the boat straight since it's only a thin round probe, hence having two will keep it straight. I may wind up with this later. I have a good bit of things I want for the boat before that though.

I have one, an 8' model. 2 Power poles will allow you to hold the boat any way you want in a cross wind. With just one, if the wind shifts your boat will move around a little. It's never been a problem for me though.

first off, ranger is nothing more than a name. there is nothing impressive about them. just like mathews bows, they are nothing more than good marketers. innovative and elite they are not. every singe ranger i have been in over the last 20 years rode wet, rode nose down, was prone to spearing waves, was slow for its size, and couldn't corner worth a flip. none i have fished from ever made me want one. also, you guys saying gamblers have a good ride must have never been in one when the wind blows. the hull is flat like a john boat and plain hurts when the wind picks up.

below is my take on a few pure bass boats are good for fresh/inshore. i have spent a lot of time in these four in the dularge/theriot area as well as many of the lakes our fine state has to offer:

champion- pros: are faster than you think, corner on a dime, smooth ride,take waves better than any other, dry ride, simple and roomy layout, large livewells, deep V helps to not get stuck on sumps as bad and prevents suction on soft bottoms. you can fish shallower than the actual draft of the boat because it will just slide across the bottom. Cons: not as stable at rest as others, tend to draft a bit more than others, super thick gel coat more prone to stress cracks

skeeter - pros: stable at rest even in the smallest sized, pretty dry ride, great layout, ample storage, great fishability, decent draft Cons: ride fairly rough, harder to get off sumps, bottom creates a suction at times

progator - Pros: super strong hull, extremely well built structurally, smooth dry ride, stable at rest, tremendous storage, best looking meat and potatoes bass boat around, decent draft, not as prone to suction and hanging on stumps as a skeeter. cons: heavy(if that is a con), slower than others, not as fancy as others(could be a pro), cornering not as good as others

triton- pros: decent ride, decent cornering, good layout, decent storage, good fishability, stable at rest Cons: seats look like crap after a couple years, hulls fade quicker, doesn't really do anything better than than the others but doesn't do anything that much worse either, lemons out there due to high production

other bass hulls that i have heard nothing but good things about, but i have no seat time in: phoenix- although a start from scratch hull, they are of the champion lineage of designers. legend: hulls are a modified older ranger hull. legend basically took a ranger hull and made it as close to a champ hull as they could without getting sued. hawk, cobra, fisher, and certain pro-crafts wear the legend hull as they came fist.

I have ridden in both. Like many on here said, its what you want, and what you dont.

Fiberglass: I think the biggest thing i noticed was the stability in fiberglass while moving around the boat versus aluminum. Much more storage in fiberglass. Front sits lower to water when fishing, Easier fish retrieval. Better ride.

Aluminum: Lighter boat. Uses less fuel. Dent verus a hole in the hull. Less care required.
Stress cracks, easily welded versus Gelcoat/fiberglass repair.Cheaper price. LAst a LONG time.

I purchased this 94 Model Ranger for 3500.00.
Put 2000.00 more..Replaced seats, trolling motor, Live well valves, all pumps and aeriators.Added a Keel/bow gaurd. Trailer was used. New bunks, bearings, rollers, lights..etc. New plugs, wires, modules, choke valve, O/H carbs. Did all work myself. Runs great, fishes better! Its all in what you want, and willing to spend.

Yes the power anchors (I have the talon) are worth every penny. The thing gets used more than my trolling motor. Helps me to also unload the boat faster when Im fishing by myself.

Ranger nothing more than a name? That's a little bit of a hater statement don't you think? I think if you get an aluminum bass boat don't spend too much money or you will defeat the purpose. If you spend some money get a fiberglass boat. Ranger,Gambler,Skeeter,Triton, are all great choices. I have a buddy with a Pheonix and he loves it. It's all Ford vs Chevy at that level. There will be something about the one you choose that is different than the rest that you like.

I owned 3 of them so I think I can speak for there performance. But just think of this in the past 30 years most bass boats have compied Ranger and have been compared to Ranger. Think these facts also speak for themself. Another fact without Forrest Woods leader ship there would not be a bass boat induatry.

Give us some feed back on it. i hear they fly, they will out ride a v bottom hull and have massive storage. Saw a video the other day of one with a 300xs running 122 mph.

TGITWB-archive

I like my 9.9 hp just as much.

I like my 18ft Ranger. I can 'murder' the 'red-drum' in it. My friends 21 foot Triton will smoke the doors off of it in chop. But it fits me. No carpet, all made for salt water.

picture

capt js

One picture is worth a 1000 words.