Has anyone heard of a 818 in the works replacing the 618. Would have the wider front deck. Would be nice for sure.
Has anyone heard of a 818 in the works replacing the 618. Would have the wider front deck. Would be nice for sure.
I heard this is the last year for the 619. So they could be phasing the 600 series out in favor of the 800 series. So it's a good possibility.
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it will not be this year... As usual its all speculation right now.
So no new surprises at the 2016 Classic?
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I have looked at the 618 for a while and it is just not wide enough up front for me. I believe an "818" would be about perfect for me.
Go all out, a 918
I can see the appeal of the wider deck but honestly I'd be concerned about price. Are we eager to see a 18.5 foot boat pushing $50K out the door????
To me the guy who requires a wider deck would be happier in the 919 or 920 IMO. Or, you can go with the Ranger z118 now
I'm not finding any downside to me fishing the deck on the 618 solo and I am pushing the space boundaries of both garages I use. When I was trolling through heavy hydrilla down in Florida with sustained wind of 14mph I can assure you I was not wanting a wider boat.
2024 Phoenix 818
2024 merc 175 pro xs 3B411947
I would agree with davidsa. I felt just like you TFJR87 for a long time. I looked at Phoenix boats for two years before I purchased one. I was dead set on a 919 or an 819. I almost completely ignored the 618 because of the 919 and 819 upgrade to a wider deck. That was until my fishing partner told me of this crazy deal on my current 618. That was the first time I had actually got into a 618 and was surprised of the room. As I dug for more information about the boat the more I was pleased. When talking about room, the length from the driver and passenger seats to the front of the boat is the same length as 619, 819, and 919. The storage is also virtually the same. Even with the information I gathered and getting into the boat I was still nervous about it being big enough. After fishing my first tournament, I couldn't have been happier with my decision. I can easily sit eight rods on the deck and comfortably fish with myself or my co-angler upfront.
I love the wider decks. I got interested in Phoenix looking at a 721 in 2012. Liked the boat but could not get past the deck width at the front pedestal. When the 920 came out, one test drive and I was all in.
I have to admit, for quite a while I was bit by the "you need a bigger boat if you handle rough water" mantra, so I was looking at squeezing a 721 or 920 into my garage (and budget). But as I've taken time, I think a 618/619 would be just fine. I fish now out of a 50" wide 13' aluminum boat...an 18'-19' bass boat would be an aircraft carrier for me, and the price tag on the 600 series is much more appealing. I'm still considering a used 721/920 (or 919) of course, but I don't think a 619 would be a problem at all.
How about a 918 with a 200 hp on the back!
Like most of you if I spend that much for a new boat I wont leave it outside so it needs to fit in my garage. A 19'ft may not make it even angled sideways and I don't feel I need a 19ft-200hp rig to fit my needs. I currently fish out of a Tracker PT175. Would the 618 feel that much wider at the TM pedal? It surely doesn't look it based on the pics I have seen, I could be wrong as I have never been in one. I would be worried when I have all my 2435243 rods out trying to buy a bite, there won't be much space to maneuver without stepping on one. I would definitely have to test one out before writing it off, simply because of all the positive reviews on Phoenix. (Z118 wont make my list).
I can think of three really good reasons to have a wider and longer boat the then the 618- (1) normally fish 2 on the front deck, (2) often fish three in the boat or (3) need to race someone to a spot. A distant (4) for me would be handling rough water. The 618 handles rough water great and if it gets rougher then the 618 can safely handle I don't want to be on the water in any bassboat. The 618 is not really a 18'6 boat and the Proxs 150 is not a 150hp motor. If you remove the set-back plate and motor from the 618 you need a 18'11 box to put it in; 19'3 with my jackplate mount. The boat in my garage is roughly 2 inches shorter then my 19'6 Ranger without jackplate but with bigger motor. The proxs 150 has output of roughly 165hp as I remember.
Indeed if we had a 918, some would post it did not perform without a 200hp. Then others would say 36v required. Then a 40g gas tank. Then a tandem to haul the extra weight The defect I see in this logic is that guys who are coming from small boats like my old Tracker 175 think they need 20ft boats to get a great rig.
2024 Phoenix 818
2024 merc 175 pro xs 3B411947
I was writing my reply when you posted. The 618 is in a different category from my old PT175; should not even be compared. I normally only lay 4 rods on the deck and only on my driver side. This is personal preference so I have an entire side of the boat wide open. See my comments on garage space as even the 618 takes a bunch of space. My Dad has a place in Florida with a carport where we use to keep the PT175. It was a super easy fit. The 618 fits by a matter of inches and we have to pull it out by hand because we would hit a support post if we tried towing it out. Even a 919 which I like would have been a disaster. I don't believe I could jackknife it into the carport and I could not pull it out by hand. I feel brilliant picking the 618 but had no idea it would be that tight.
I think we are 10 miles away. I'd be happy to take you out when I bring the bird home in June.
2024 Phoenix 818
2024 merc 175 pro xs 3B411947
618 is a great rig. There are lots of 619 and 719 boats out there that share the virtually the same dimensions (save for the rear deck). The 19' was designed first, so technically the 618 has the deck of a 19'r. I had no problem fishing tandem up front; I did it for 5 years. My current 919 was an upgrade in many more ways than the deck width. That's part of it, and I love the extra room but ultimately it's in a different class. That said, a wider decked 18'r would have a niche, and I bet Phoenix wouldn't price it at 50k. The 819 can be had out the door for much less so I presume the fictional 818 would be minused even greater.
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I heard in a couple years there will be a 2018 :)
In a couple after there will be a 2020 also.
Jason
2015 Phoenix 919 225 ProXs
Love my 618. Im a smaller guy but ive fished two up front a bunch.
I see there is a 618 and 818 option on the Phoenix website?