I like the lines of the hull and some of their layouts look nice. I know it's a production hull so it sorta is what it is but does anyone other than Freddy "tree smasher" King have any real feedback on these things?? There's several models that look like they'd fit what I am looking for.

I'm interested in how one would do with a Pro Drive.....

I had a f86 With a pro drive. It would only run 23-25 after I done all the mods 30-32 . Just a heavy boat

Only problem I have with them is the seem down the middle

My S5

They are heavy boats, better options out there for the money in my opinion.

Have had a 1854 F4 and currently run a 1851 F86. Love em both, never had a durability issue with either. They are heavy and take some HP to push em. I can cruise over 30 mph no problem with a 5500 Mag. I like the floor plan of my 1851 but the F4 handled big water and turned better. I use mine for bowfishing, fishing, cruising and duck hunting. Lots of haters out there but most haven't owned an Excel.


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I would look at different options.

And yes I have had an excel

Prodigy boats give em a look @ www.prodigyboats.com/facebook

Chads building some damn fine rigs.

I can run loaded with 800# of humans and gear 27 mph in deep water with a BD 45 with worn BB prop.

I've been in contact with Chad as well as other builders and companies. I really like his work I'm just exploring all my options if I'm going to be dropping $15K+ of my hard earned money. I've always liked the looks of all of the excel boats.

Better off spending that hard earned money on exactly what you want through a custom builder. Excels arent a true mud boat imo. Plenty of great builders on here with proven resumes. Your money will be better spent in the long run.

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the old saying, you cant beat a man at his own trade rings true here. sure excel has "mud hulls" but they arent their specialty. kinda like how honda has trucks. just get a boat from a mud boat company. doesnt have to be custom just from a mud rig maker

I can run 34 with a hunt load out of my prodigy 1754 extra stringers about 700pnd load with 5500 bamf. Also is exactly what I wanted, also have drove excels, not impressed at all for the money!

My S5

I love my excel 1860swv4f4. Rides good and fits my needs. You won't be disappointed.

Can't run mud yet I can pull out a rogue and a gator hide at the same time?

Why were they stuck right there? Doesn't look like too bad of a spot...

yet youre boatless til spring

and noone said they cant run mud

Those boats look really nice. The weight is my biggest issue with them.

I had a 1751 f4 and all kinds of small problems and welds broke. and it was heavy. biggest mistake I ever made on boats. I have had lots of boats and hated this one the most. I think I would take an old riveted john before I buy another excel. at least you know what your getting.

You would be better off with a PD boat.

Why do you say that?

The last thing I would buy is an excel, you don't have to do a long search on here to get the gist of what you are dealing with there.

If you want a pro drive boat get one, but someone who's been looking at an excel's clean lines and bells and whistles is more than likely gonna want a little more than what PD has to offer on their hulls. PD hulls are simple, square, and all together basic.

if you want sport crimps, and tapered or rounded chines and all the badass essentials break out the pocketbook and get a custom builder to guide you through a build that gets you what you really want. Most all the guys you see raving about their boats on this site went that route and became more than satisfied.

You are doing the right thing by researching all the makers. For my money, I'd make sure you look at Prodigy boats before you buy. Chad (the owner) sold Gatortrax/Excel boats for a long time before he started a company building his own line. What he wanted to do was build a boat that was as durable as a Gator Trax but had the sexier lines and options that Excel was known for.

I think he is doing one he!! of a job at it.

That's my 2 cents... If you want to get into what actually makes them a better built boat, we can do that also... (Hint: one piece 5086 hulls, 8 1x2 stringers running the full length of the boat standard, no cross bracing on the floor, hand welded, totally customizable with options, fully coast guard approved, matching turf, Led's, the list goes on and on...

Good info. I like Pro-Drive boats, just like was said, they're pretty basic. But that's ok too. I do like the lines of the Excels like I said before but I really do like Chads boats too. He put a lot of thought into his options and I have yet to see one of his boats that I didn't like. I'm just gathering all the info I can before I write that check....

Setxlongtail dont know weight on hull is 1/8 5086 7 stringers, I'll ask chad. I would have went 18 but wouldn't fit in garage. That speed was before exhaust, and with a hunt load

My S5

Prodigy has 8 stringers standard now on the 54" boats

That they do, but I am in the teens count on builds under prodigy. Wasnt standard when I ordered mine

My S5

I love my excel and yes its heavy. Love the layout, and with a 35hp dixie stock, Im bumping 27 solo... Lots of haters on here, but its working for me just fine. Somehow I can manage to kill ducks and catch fish without the custom builds, mods and mud boats. BUT if I was going to purchase another rig and money wasnt an issue, it would be a prodigy and GTR.......