Yup, the big one in the middle up front finally completely fell through after being cracked for over a year. Going to see if I can find some 1/2" birch ply since it's not as heavy as normal ply and build a better and more roomy compartment while also still being dry storage. Will coat in some kind of bed liner material inside and out. I always joke that since I'm mostly German I tend to overengineer things but going to try to not reinvent the wheel with this simple task
2023 Xpress H18 with 115 SHO pulled by a 2016 Ram Tradesman HEMI
My boat is a tool and no one expects a tin rig to be in showroom condition anyway
did you put something heavy in them? did you ever try getting replacements?Originally Posted by Highcentered
Yup, the big one in the middle up front finally completely fell through after being cracked for over a year. Going to see if I can find some 1/2" birch ply since it's not as heavy as normal ply and build a better and more roomy compartment while also still being dry storage. Will coat in some kind of bed liner material inside and out. I always joke that since I'm mostly German I tend to overengineer things but going to try to not reinvent the wheel with this simple task
I wonder if weld shop could fab a aluminum box?
I sure did put something heavy in them in the form of too many soft plastics. Doubt towing down the piss poor roads in Arkansas helped any either. Not interested in replacing with the same junk because that plastic tub leaves a lot of potential room unused. I've built a lot of very custom subwoofer enclosures in my day and used to build them so precise I just about didn't need silicone to seal them up (one time I didn't AND removed the screws after the glue dried just to prove a point and it was tight as a virgin on prom night). In other words doing cabinet building type stuff is second nature...or like riding a bicycle anyway. Been a few years since I walked away from that lifestyle.
2023 Xpress H18 with 115 SHO pulled by a 2016 Ram Tradesman HEMI
My boat is a tool and no one expects a tin rig to be in showroom condition anyway
Those tubs are probably the only nit picky negative thing I can see on the H series that just doesn’t suit me. The rest of the boat I 100% like very much. Interested in seeing the build , I think you onto a neat idea.
Don't know how to post pics but I just built a 1/2" ply box with double layer bottom (1") to drop in without overengineering it. Mounted it with L brackets and I could probably stand in it and it be fine. I used Rustoleum undercoating inside and out to hopefully keep it from rotting over time. Still need to make the trim piece to make it look finished but like it way it came out. Also took some thin weather stripping and put it where the lid edges sit. No more clanking when I close them. I think the side tubs will be fine because I try to keep the heavy stuff in the middle one for balance. Just have my cranks and some other misc items in the console side compartments.
2023 Xpress H18 with 115 SHO pulled by a 2016 Ram Tradesman HEMI
My boat is a tool and no one expects a tin rig to be in showroom condition anyway
I finally got to see Xpresss boats in person today at a dealer, have only seen them at a distance on the lake. They had an H18, X19, and a bay center console. Very impressive. The H 18 was priced at 36,999. The trailers were nicely done too. Can't get over how wide they are, much more than my RT188 was.
Glad I got an X 18 the last year they built them, 2021 I think. Basically the same hull but a lot different interior, no plastic boxes forward to deal with and the aft ones are much thicker material plus 150 hp. Could you just deck them out and have all the space??
I thought about engineering the crap out of it because there's so much space not taken advantage of but I already carry too much tackle that never gets used so decided to just KISS and keep it easily removable if needed. My soft plastics and terminal tackle are in that middle box and it's eye opening how heavy they are when picking up the stack all at once. My boat's slow anyway so may as well keep the safety blanket in there because FOMO.
And the H18 is so much more roomy on the front deck than my 175txw was but I could fit more crap in the two side compartments of my little Tracker than I can the three compartments in this H18. The storage in my Tracker wasn't dry storage though. There are things I miss about my Tracker but everything I wanted improvement on was addressed with this Xpress. Not perfect but it's the right boat for who it's for.
2023 Xpress H18 with 115 SHO pulled by a 2016 Ram Tradesman HEMI
My boat is a tool and no one expects a tin rig to be in showroom condition anyway
yes they are and I recently bought a h20 bass. I love it but haven't been able to fish out of it yet. did part of the break in though. having trolling motor issues with a new ultrex quest that taking back to the local minn kota shop tomorrow. I came from a rt198p and it's a night and day difference between the 2 boats
id love to see a pic of what you came up with.
Dealer had a h190 Bay boat center console. This is the boat that is on my short list. I think a Center console would make nice bass boat. I like the Grab handles on the sides of the console for holding onto moving front to back of the boat. And the raised seating position makes for better sight plane while driving, can better see floating debris, hazards on the water out ahead.
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