Larson fx 1850 DC pros/ cons?

Not in the market yet, but thinking this might be my next boat. Anyone with any experience or at least an opinion? Thanks!

Rough ride buddy had one and it fell to pieces. He had a 20′ model. Looks nice but doesn’t ride well at all. He dropped his sponsorship due to the poor quality and they gave it to him. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the response! Not starting out great.

You should look at a Skeeter MX1825

I have looked.

Mike Klein wrote:

Rough ride buddy had one and it fell to pieces. He had a 20′ model. Looks nice but doesn’t ride well at all. He dropped his sponsorship due to the poor quality and they gave it to him. Hope that helps.

Any chance your buddy picked up a mx 2025? I spoke to a gentlemen that picked up a Skeeter after dropping his Larson sponsorship. His initials are B.A. If not, then the OP can consider this as a 2nd pro to drop Larson.

FDR

Jimmy Bell is no longer with them too. Rapid Marine took a 20’er in on trade that was 5 months old with a 250 on it, and it had a hydro foil on it. That can’t be a good sign.

mojogunter wrote:

Jimmy Bell is no longer with them too. Rapid Marine took a 20’er in on trade that was 5 months old with a 250 on it, and it had a hydro foil on it. That can’t be a good sign.

what does having a hydrofoil on it have anything to do with it?

had issues plaining or porpousing.

Huh, most Skeeters have foils on them?

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Yes thanks, sorry I didn’t specify what I was inferring. Rapid did sell the boat right away though. They look good, but other than the Larson sales rep at the boat show last year I wasn’t able to find one positive comment about them. The 2020 or the 1850.

Buffalo Bill wrote:

had issues plaining or porpousing.

The reason I ask is, I put one on my 2025 prov and it improved holding the bow down in large waves at lower rpm’s. With the motor trimmed up and on plane, it is out of the water and has no effect. Just because it has a hydrofoil on the boat doesn’t mean it is a bad boat. My buddy has one on his 20′ tuffy, and that hull, in my opinion, is superior to ranger, lund and skeeter. The only thing it did was make it better.

There is a significant difference between a 18 ft and a 20 ft boat. I truly believe the best feedback you can get is to physically get yourself in that specific model and fish out of it.

I understand your point. I looked at the 1850 DC last year and did some research about them and I was told they are really heavy and are a pig out of the hole even with a 200hp. This pig out of the hole info was backed by the salesman at the show last year saying you really don’t want to run less than the max 200. One highly respected guy on this site when asked about larson said ” I find it better to say nothing at all, if I can’t say anything good about it”. I started looking elsewhere after that. When I saw the used 2020 at Rapid and they said the boat is only 5 months old, and saw it had the max 250 on it I assumed it was because the 2020 was also a pig and needed some help. That was my frame of mind, and I could be way off base.

puddlepounder wrote:

The reason I ask is, I put one on my 2025 prov and it improved holding the bow down in large waves at lower rpm’s. With the motor trimmed up and on plane, it is out of the water and has no effect. Just because it has a hydrofoil on the boat doesn’t mean it is a bad boat. My buddy has one on his 20′ tuffy, and that hull, in my opinion, is superior to ranger, lund and skeeter. The only thing it did was make it better.

My dad purchased the 2020 FX with a 250 suzi last spring and throughout the summer and fall it’s been nothing but good to him. No gel coat cracks in the hull or transom. The 250 pushes that boat around great, and is by no means a dog out of the hole. The fit and finish isn’t going to be where Ranger is but you’re also not paying 70k. No planing or porpoising problems.

Mike Klein wrote:

Rough ride buddy had one and it fell to pieces. He had a 20′ model. Looks nice but doesn’t ride well at all. He dropped his sponsorship due to the poor quality and they gave it to him. Hope that helps.

I’ve rode in just about all of them and by no means would I say it’s a rough ride….I’d actually lean the other way. Granted he’s only had it a year but so far so good.

Thanks everyone!

I know a couple guides on Leech Lake that use them and abuse them and they have held up well. They are a little heavier but those 20 footers can take the rough water well, and any boat will ride rough in 3 and 4 foot waves. I know one of the guides has taken it out over 200 full days over the two years and it still looks good. They aren’t rangers or skeeters but they get the job done if you are on a budget. Made in Minnesota so if you are looking at staying home for a home grown product. They were designed on Mille Lacs lake and that’s where they did most of the testing for them. I have rode in rough waves just to see the ride and its no different then any other glass boat, just depends on the driver.

Ben Brettingen wrote:

My dad purchased the 2020 FX with a 250 suzi last spring and throughout the summer and fall it’s been nothing but good to him. No gel coat cracks in the hull or transom. The 250 pushes that boat around great, and is by no means a dog out of the hole. The fit and finish isn’t going to be where Ranger is but you’re also not paying 70k. No planing or porpoising problems.

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mike Klein wrote:</div>
Rough ride buddy had one and it fell to pieces. He had a 20′ model. Looks nice but doesn’t ride well at all. He dropped his sponsorship due to the poor quality and they gave it to him. Hope that helps.

I’ve rode in just about all of them and by no means would I say it’s a rough ride….I’d actually lean the other way. Granted he’s only had it a year but so far so good.

I have a 20 foot FX DC and it rides smoother than most, with the 250 I have gotten 56-7 mph on a perfect day full tourney load., it also has a foil but I think the proper prop would help that.
Foil is cheaper than playing the prop game.

I have a friend with a matching Skeeter and he proposes also, wrong prop again maybe, also seem all of the major brands bouncing across the water at one time or another..
Larson has made some minor hull changes to help, not sure how it worked out.

I’m told Bell did not leave Larson because of quality, sponsor dictated the change, ask him if you want.

Larson may not be for everybody, but no boat is, quality is good considering cost and hull design gives a smooth ride, admittedly at the cost of a few mph.

Al

I bought a 2020 2015 in August of 14 with a 250 Suzuki and love mine. No cracks great ride. Coming from a Lund 18′ fisherman it was a pleasant surprise. I fish nothing but big water. Only thing was my lund sat higher in the front and never got water in it. Now I just have to take a different angle on the big waves. I had 5′ waves on Leech last year which was surprising but I was prefishing and it handled just fine. But I do not beat on my boat. I would buy another at 40k compared to 70k for the same Ranger.