Princecraft Xperience 188 Video Boat Review
We spent a day filming on the 2015 Princecraft Xperience 188, to find out if this might be the right boat for you.
January 10, 2015
The Princecraft Xperience 188 is an interesting aluminum fishing boat, which has some features that set it apart from the crowd. Way, way apart. But don't take our word for it, watch this video boat review, and see for yourself why the Xperience 188 deserves your attention.
Boat Test Notes
Concept:
Build a relatively small but high-end aluminum fishing boat and equip it with a head.
Construction:
-5052 H-36 aluminum alloy hull has higher fatigue, sheer, and tensile strength than H32 or H34 aluminum commonly used by most builders.
-Bow and chines are double-plated.
-Pressure-treated ply deck is warranted for the life of the boat.
-Molded dash is sturdy and well laid-out, but doesn’t have much room for electronics.
-Pedestal table is a bit tippy and gets in the way of fishing; most anglers will want to leave it in the garage.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 19'0" |
| Beam | 8'2" |
| Draft (max) | 2'9" |
| Deadrise | NA |
| Displacement | NA |
| Fuel capacity | 40 gal. |
Performance:
-With a 200 HP Mercury Verado outboard, the Xperience 188 blasted off to over 50 MPH.
-Fuel economy at a 30 MPH cruise is exceptional: you get five miles to the gallon.
-Even at wide-open throttle, fuel economy is substantially above two miles to the gallon.
Handling:
-Tight turns in high speed runs are no problem; the hull banks and carves like a fiberglass V-hull.
- Hull never feels overly-light or out of control; even trimmed all the way up there’s no chine-walking or sliding in turns.
| Performance Data | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Test conditions: Winds 5-10 knots, calm seas, 2 POB | |||
| RPM | MPH | GPH | MPG |
| 1000 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 5.5 |
| 2000 | 7.1 | 2.4 | 3.0 |
| 3000 | 17.0 | 3.5 | 4.9 |
| 4000 | 29.9 | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| 5000 | 36.2 | 9.7 | 3.7 |
| 6000 | 44.5 | 18.4 | 2.4 |
| 6500 | 50.2 | 20.5 | 2.4 |
| Power | Single 200 HP Mercury Verado, swinging a 14.25" x 21" three-bladed aluminum prop. | ||
Unique features:
-This is the only boat of its size and nature that has a pop-up head compartment.
-Bow area converts from casting deck to seating by flipping over sections of the deck; you don’t have to remove and stow loose pieces-parts.
-Transom is designed to take a kicker motor.
To dig even deeper into the heart and soul of the Princecraft Xperience 188, read our full review of the boat: Princecraft Xperience 188: Nature Calls.
