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  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    1

    FXR 20 handle rough water

    Looking to buy 2023 FXR 20, love to fish Lake Erie, Detroit River and St. Clair anybody have one?

    How does it handle big rough water

  2. Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    1,562
    #2
    I have an FXR21, and it rides better than my 20i. I heard the FXR20 rides better than the previous FX21. You are not going to see many opportunities to run 70+ mph on Erie/Detroit R/St Clair and these FXR are a challenge to run without porpoising at around 30mph and with full livewells (a very common speed for me up there). I’d consider getting a 4 blade for the waters up there (it’ll make that difference). Fishability (no one seems to talk about that much) is pretty good for those types of water.

    Another issue not talked about much is that those waters are hard on a boat. If the boat isn’t laid well, it will develop a bunch of stress cracks up there in no time (I’ve seen some cheaper boats get stress cracks in just one day on Erie). The verdict is still out, but it doesn’t seem all manufacturers are making them like they used to. My 20i was 14 years old with a lot of time up there the last 5 years and had ZERO stress cracks when I sold it. I’m not as confident my current FXR will do as well, but time will tell.

  3. Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    oakdale, california
    Posts
    365
    #3
    I have a 2022 FXR21 and love it.. I came out of a 21 foot Nitro that I had for 15 years. This Skeeter seems like the real deal but I'm still learning it. I have been told by numerous folks that they love rough water and to go fast. I took typically stay under 4000RPM's unless I need to be somewhere

    Good luck and have fun

  4. Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    Spartanburg SC
    Posts
    382
    #4
    My buddies had 2 Skeeters in a row a 2022 and 2023 that both have had the top cap screws break. He said he will never own another one and he has been a Skeeter diehard for many years. We live in SC and have no real rough lakes that the waves stack up on like the great lakes.

  5. Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Southlake
    Posts
    3,065
    #5
    Quote Originally Posted by FALCONflyer200 View Post
    My buddies had 2 Skeeters in a row a 2022 and 2023 that both have had the top cap screws break. He said he will never own another one and he has been a Skeeter diehard for many years. We live in SC and have no real rough lakes that the waves stack up on like the great lakes.
    Was fishing last weekend with a buddy on Sam Rayburn, he was wiping his boat down after fishing and found that his top cap is loose from the hull, it is a 2022 model. I am sure Skeeter will fix it for him, hopefully it will not take them a long time.

  6. Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    bay st louis
    Posts
    362
    #6
    Maybe try looking at a bay boat if they sell them up there. They are pretty fast and ride better than any bass boat made. They have as many bells and whistles as you can afford.