I attended the New England Fishing Expo this past February not expecting to see a Vexus AVX 1880 at the show. My first look at the Vexus AVX 1880 left me mostly impressed, but was it perfect? There has been a big buzz with Vexus as of last year when they introduced a brand new revolutionary aluminum bass boat at the Classic last year. It was touted to be the aluminum boat all others wish to be. I was hooked!
Is this the boat that’s going to replace my trusty Ranger Rt188? Thoughts of me standing on the front deck with a rod in hand in a brand new Vexus keeps running through my mind.
Vexus AVX 1880
Naturally, I gravitated to the website so I could check out the all-new Vexus AVX 1880. I wanted to see what was new and different about this aluminum boat. I really liked the solid built-in Fiberglass rear storage and tournament grade fiberglass livewell. Now, to be 100% honest I don’t know if there is a true advantage to a fiberglass livewell when compared to a livewell made out of aluminum, but the dealer at the show had a convincing argument that it’s better for the fish. Sure, I’ll buy it.
Other features that pique my interest are the high-performance pad hull and the Vector Force Transom. This transom is a heavily reinforced transom which allows the use of jack plates and shallow water anchors without voiding any kind of warranty. This is awesome.
Up close with the Vexus AVX 1880
While I had the chance, I was going to take advantage of this opportunity to check out the boat while mentally comparing it to my Ranger RT188 and my old G3. It seems Vexus has all the bases covered and have thought about everything when coming up with the design. Right off the start, I can tell you there is way more room for the driver in the Vexus 1880. In my Ranger, getting in and out of the seat is really tight. Legroom is also tight and I have to bend my leg to fit. That is not the case with the Vexus.
Here are a couple of shots from the back of the boat, I was trying to get a picture of the pad hull.
Below are a couple of pictures of the bilge area and the battery compartment. I like the clean open design, unlike my cramped Ranger.
The front deck is laid out perfectly in my opinion, and the rod locker does hold 8-foot rods. Those are Helix 10’s on the deck and in the console. They fit perfectly.
Money shots of the cockpit.
Does Vexus fall short anywhere?
This boat is high on my want list, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have some minor concerns. I have to question fit and finish on the Vexus AVX 1880 from my initial observation. Upon looking in one of the storage boxes on the deck I noticed the fit and finish was off. Talking with a few folks around the boat, they all agreed that this was not the way it should be. There was a gap from the console and it did not fit flush. Take a look for yourself. Notice the gap on both sides.
Will this cause an issue over time after running the boat hard in rough water? What about rain? While there is a nice gasket around the storage compartment, will water leak down and underneath the console? Is that really a concern? No idea, I’m just pointing it out. To be honest, I would expect a little better fit and finish for the premium price this boat commands. Do you have a Vexus? Does your console fit and finish look like this? Please leave some comments below.
I have seen many boat projects, modifications, & welding jobs over the years as I do own this site. I have seen a ton of solid work, and a ton of hack jobs. In my opinion, this is a solid boat worthy of consideration if you want a top-notch tournament grade aluminum bass boat.
Final Thoughts
This boat is sharp, and if I was to sell my Ranger, I would consider Vexus to be in the mix for my next choice. I am hoping now that Vexus is about to introduce fiberglass boats to their line up at this year’s Classic, that they continue to innovate and push the aluminum line of their boats and not make them an afterthought.
I could bore you with all the features and specs of the AVX 1880, but no one can tell the story better than Vexus. Head on over to their website to get all the information you need.
Link: Vexus Boats
Jim, nice write up. There might be a lip hidden under the console to keep water from entering. I noticed the only tight spot was where it was welded, and only on one side. Why not the other side to hold it down tight?
Yes, I’m not sure. I wish I did some better looking. I’m going to seek out a current owner and see if they are willing to look at theirs and let me know if it’s the same and if there is a lip like you said.
I just spent some time in the Vexus 1980 at the Bassmaster Classicin Knoxville. They did introduce the Fiberglass line at the show. I am in the market for my first Aluminum Bass boat, comparing the Vexus 1980 with the Ranger RT198P. Loved the Vexus, as far as quality, looks feel. Have watched several U-Tube videos on both boats. Vexus looks great . My two issues with the Vexus, in any video , the boat sits “high” in the fron when fishing, and also the front deck is pretty narrow , right where the front seat post is. Feels like if you made a sudden move, stood up quickly, you could go right over the side ? Ranger front deck feels wider, have not had opportunity to measure them.
I noticed that myself! Thanks for the reply, let us know what you end up going with.
PICK UP MY NEW 2020 AVX 1880 THIS COMING WEEK CAN NOT WAIT
Good luck with it! What motor and options?
Are the two sets of four screws/bolts on the transom for shallow water anchors?