08 201 Pro XL

[Southcoast Bassin]

I’ve been looking for a while and finally found this 08 Pro XL
This ones in incredible condition… Still looks new .

What info can you all share with me ? Thoughts on the hull overall ?
What kind of room does the drivers console have ?
Does it have enough room for big guys ?
Any opinions or insight?
Love to hear all thoughts On the 201 Pro XL?

[mactlman]

one of the best hulls every made by anyone!

[Southcoast Bassin]

Man ! I’m excited….
thank you
how’s the room for the driver’s console? Average? Bigger than average?

[mactlman]

Man ! I’m excited….
thank you
how’s the room for the driver’s console? Average? Bigger than average?

tournament partner has one and he is linebacker sized guy and it fits him fine -- stratos has smaller cockpits than some to add to deck space but still plenty-- bought a boat and have not sat in it????

[geodebasser]

The guy that I bought mine from was actually a linebacker at Alabama back in the day. If it is a dual console you can take the passenger console out easily to give you more room. Read my post on here about how well it performs in rough water.

[Southcoast Bassin]

Crazy but true….
had to pull the trigger fast.
Been hearing great things about the 201 Pro XL for a long time

[Southcoast Bassin]

It’s a single console so hopefully it’s good

[geodebasser]

It’s a single console so hopefully it’s good

Congratulations. You will enjoy.

[Southcoast Bassin]

Appreciate that ! Thank you !
The more I read about these hulls the more impressed I am !

[bbarthelt]

I got an 05 201 pro xl that I bought with insurance money after my 200 pro xl got totalled (rear ended at a stoplight). I had never been in one when I bought it. I had searched high and low for any deal on any decent looking boat of any brand. And now that I've had it for 1.5 seasons, I'm absolutely blown away. What a hull. I've been in a lot of bass boats, and the speed and rough water ride on this hull is up there with the best of them. I love it so much that I would be happy keeping it to the end of my days and just repowering it when needed. Oddly, it rides VERY similar to a Phoenix 721 Pro XP if you've ever been in one of those.

[mactlman]

I got an 05 201 pro xl that I bought with insurance money after my 200 pro xl got totalled (rear ended at a stoplight). I had never been in one when I bought it. I had searched high and low for any deal on any decent looking boat of any brand. And now that I've had it for 1.5 seasons, I'm absolutely blown away. What a hull. I've been in a lot of bass boats, and the speed and rough water ride on this hull is up there with the best of them. I love it so much that I would be happy keeping it to the end of my days and just repowering it when needed. Oddly, it rides VERY similar to a Phoenix 721 Pro XP if you've ever been in one of those.

721 is a newer version of the 201 pro mostly

[Southcoast Bassin]

Now that you mention… Wow ! They are really similar hulls
It’s uncanny how similar they are.

[mactlman]

Now that you mention… Wow ! They are really similar hulls
It’s uncanny how similar they are.

guys who left stratos started phoenix from the president down to designers

[Southcoast Bassin]

Oh .. wow
well it all makes sense then.
thank you
One of the things I like the most about The 2 boats is the opening to the casting deck being straight across.
Makes it allot easier to move around the boat while fighting a fish.

[geodebasser]

I got an 05 201 pro xl that I bought with insurance money after my 200 pro xl got totalled (rear ended at a stoplight). I had never been in one when I bought it. I had searched high and low for any deal on any decent looking boat of any brand. And now that I've had it for 1.5 seasons, I'm absolutely blown away. What a hull. I've been in a lot of bass boats, and the speed and rough water ride on this hull is up there with the best of them. I love it so much that I would be happy keeping it to the end of my days and just repowering it when needed. Oddly, it rides VERY similar to a Phoenix 721 Pro XP if you've ever been in one of those.

I feel the same. I was way up river on the Tennessee the other day and the wind got up and the waves were white capping. I got on plain and had a smooth ride at 50 back to the launch. My 2006 XL is my favorite boat of all time. I worry about the ole HPDI Yammy blowing up but if it ever does I will repower.

[rangerjockey]

Oh .. wow
well it all makes sense then.
thank you
One of the things I like the most about The 2 boats is the opening to the casting deck being straight across.
Makes it allot easier to move around the boat while fighting a fish.

Stratos is an Earl Benz design . He owned the company until I believe Genmar bought them and Earl Started Javelin and then Triton.
Phoenix started out as a Bee. Gary Clouse did work for Stratos as I recall but the first Phoenix was a splashed Bee to my memory.
If you are looking at an Earl Benz era Stratos I'm sure it's a great boat. I can even remember seeing a Champion 196 with the Stratos logo on it at a boat show 12 or more years ago. I'm sure that after the WRM acquisition.

[mactlman]

Stratos is an Earl Benz design . He owned the company until I believe Genmar bought them and Earl Started Javelin and then Triton.
Phoenix started out as a Bee. Gary Clouse did work for Stratos as I recall but the first Phoenix was a splashed Bee to my memory.
If you are looking at an Earl Benz era Stratos I'm sure it's a great boat. I can even remember seeing a Champion 196 with the Stratos logo on it at a boat show 12 or more years ago. I'm sure that after the WRM acquisition.

worked for hydrasport then owned javelin then stratos then triton then caymus

[Southcoast Bassin]

Pretty damn incredible…
As bous growing up we all were marveled by Ranger … for obvious reasons
The reality is this guy has been Producing hulls for a long time that are legendary

[rangerjockey]

Ol' Earl raced boats, he's built some fast ones for sure. I wonder if WRM ever had access to the Champion molds. Talk about legendary hulls.
But they got beaten to the punch by Charger.