I am in the market for an 18x60 boat. I was between Excel, Phowler, and Gator Tail. Why do people not like Excel? They look like they are well made. I am also torn between a GTR 35 or Prodrive. Are both of these motors compatible with the above listed boats? I am going from a LT to SD and I don't know anyone with a SD so any info would be helpful. Also, this rig will be for hunting the Mississippi River northern Illinois primarily.
Thanks,
Matt

Excel boats get trashed easily with light abuse it would appear. The "options"you have to get to make a boat tough enough to stand up and really use are what other companies use as their standard. They are pretty, jabber loss of "neat" features and are fine for deep water and taking it easy...but that's not what you are buying a mm for...

My suggestion is go with a gator tail or pro drive (whatever you prefer after you research! and drive! them if possible) and get a hull brand to match a motor brand.

Hull size you want is fine for a 35/36.

Do some research and a lot of using the search function.

Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk 2

They can run them but it's best to match the manufacturers motors to boats. Phowler to Pro-Drive, Gator-Tail to Gator-Tail, Excel to Mud Buddy. Biggest problem with Excel is they use .100 gauge as the standard thickness which does not handle the abuse.

Whatever motor you go with I would buy a matching hull for it. If you go with excel I would still get a GTR or prodrive, that way when you sell that beer can of a hull you will still have a good tough motor for your next hull.

If you are wanting different layout options, definately get bids from the custom builders also.....

Go either Gator Tail or Pro drive all the way. You want be disappointed. I like Gator Tail the most bc of the its reverse is instant and Gator Tails customer service is nothing but first class!

Overpriced junk!

Excel=junk.

PD=JUNK

I appreciate all of your input. I know I am not getting the Excel and am torn between Gatortail boat and motor or Phowler with Prodrive. I'm leaning towards the Phowler because they are a local,company for me to deal with (2.5 hr drive).

Go with the Phowler/PD combo. You live close to Phowler so any service would not be an issue. Their boats are = to any quality custom builder on here and have a lifetime Hull warranty. Pretty simple decision.

X2 the boys at Phowler are awesome to deal with.

I called the guys at Phowler today. Looks like I'm buying an 18x60 from them. I think I will be happy that I got talked out of the Excel although they are a beautiful looking boat. Hell, Dodge makes a nice looking truck but i will never buy one of those again. Thanks again for all the input and comments. I really think this site has saved me from making a mistake and buying something that I wouldn't be 100% happy with.

What does your lifetime warranty cover?

I know that phowler will put any motor on. I was simply stating the majority of yalls boats run PD. And I'm with Barnes on the statement about your boats will out perform any other manufacturers boats. That's a lot to prove.

They will, pound for pound. We have tested it and I believe if you search we put those results up on here a number of years ago. Our warranty is pretty straight forward, we will warranty all welds and our transoms for life to the the original owner of the hull.

Our claims are not some sales pitch, it is simply stating the truth of what we have tested and seen with real loads in real hunting situations and what our customers have seen as well. We get 10-20 of the other guys boats in on trade every year, most less then a year old, take the guys same motor and put it on our hull and they see better results with all the same stuff, gear and blind on the boat. I am not bashing any of the other builders, they all build good boats, I just think they way oversell the performance to sell boats and are more concerned with using fancy hull bends and sleek looking accessories and gimicks vs focusing on a boat that really does perform, not empty, but with a real load. When we sell a rig, it does what we say it will do and more, just ask our customers, they are our best advertisers and most of them have owned the other brands (and drank the kool aid) before they came to us. No I won't say we are better then a PD X Series boat, they are very close, but they don't build the different sizes we do or do the custom work we will do, yes we will outperform the SBX hands down with our floatation hull.

Again, we back up everything we say on the water everytime someone comes and demos our rigs.

You are all more the welcome to come and see for yourself, we would love to put you on the water.

PW

I checked out your web site and it looked like a nice boat you guys build. I have only ever owned a Gator traxx. I will say I don't think you can build a better or tougher boat than than there's . After dealing with kent and boat doctor it will be very hard to beat the service I got from them. I will be in the market for a new boat next year and will gives you guys a look over for a boat. I will definitely tell anyone to take a look at your boats if they are looking for a new boat. Any chance I can see one of them at a boat show or is there any Canadian dealers? I would love to see one up close. I am in Ottawa Ont. Canada so I don't see many good mud boats around here.

I do have a couple boats in use up in Canada, call us or PM and we will get you in touch with the owners in the spring. On is in Ont. at an outfitter.

GT builds a great boats, I sold GT for years before starting Phowler. I have said it a million times, if we could have gotten PD or GT to build a mudboat with taller sides, floatation, bigger sizes and full flat open floor and with the options guys up north wanted, I would not own a boat company today. They are all building larger boats now, but in 2003-2004 they all though we were nuts asking them to build 22-24" deep sides on 54-60" boats, back then they just wanted to build 18" sided 48" and 60" boats with 16" transoms. All the true mudboat builders make tough boats and they all seem to hold up well and as you stated, Kent and the gator trax guys are good folks, so are the PD guys and I think any of our customers will tell you the same about us at Phowler as well.

PW

You'll be glad you steered clear of the excel, been there made that mistake....