Phoenix 21 PHX Vid 2 Great Bass Boat Search of 2020-21 Video 20 in the Series

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Today is part 2 of the Phoenix 21 PHX review, all part of the Great Bass Boat Search of 2020-21. This video series overall is titled Before You Buy a Bass Boat Watch this, in the series I walk you through me spending the day in a bunch of different boat brands and models through the fall of 2020 looking for my next boat. If you didn't see the first 12 videos you can go back and watch them first, (reviewed Bass Cat Puma Hybrid the boat with the Champion 203 style hull, a Charger 210 Elite, a Ranger 521C & 520L and a Caymas CX21 , a Vexus VX20 a Bullet 21 SDC, a Phoenix 921 a Blazer 650 Pro Tour).
We do have the YoloTek discount code for 10-38% off different products, use code KENSMITH at bit.ly/kensmithyolotek
Today we score the boat 1-20 in 5 different categories, Fishability, Performance, Amenities, Fit & Finish and then a 5th catch all that includes feedback from friends that own them, trailer, options, feedback from fiberglass shops in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas asking them what they see as the best 3 boats, based upon construction, currently being built (since they see how we beat them up). And then we ask them which they see the most non-impact damage to the hulls with (least well built). Then for tournament anglers we include a 6th 20 point category looking to see who has the best contingency prize package available. Next up is a Phoenix!
#Phoenix21phx #beforeyoubuyabassboatwatchthis #greatbassboatsearch2020
My Instagram page kensmithfishing2.0
Links from today's videos
Lasko 20" fan for drying boat amzn.to/3fw3Wow
Weego 2500 Peak Amps Jump Box amzn.to/3hxYp08
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All 6th Sense Fishing Product at www.6thsensefishing.com are 10% off with code Ken10
For electronics help reach out to Jones Trolling Motor & Electronics at 870 773 3474 or bit.ly/3gCyuog and please let them know you found them through Ken Smith Fishing
See also Shopping for a New Bass boat, Bass boat shopping, Shopping for a new bass boat 2020, which bass boat is right for me, what to know before you buy a bass boat, thinking about buying a new bass boat, buying your first bass boat, buying a new bass boat, best bass boat for the money, what to look for in a bass boat, bass boat walk through, what to look for in a new bass boat, bass boat comparisons, bass boat champion, Ranger walk through, buying a new bass boat tips and tricks, consumer digest bass boat, best value bass boat, best bass boat 2020, best bass boat 2021, top 5 bass boats.
My camera gear
My camera, mount and wind mic for dash footage:
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Remote power for camera, phone charge or to jump the boat Weego! amzn.to/3ihrCO4
For Transom Mount shots
YOLOtek PowerStick bit.ly/3be8E7K
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Many of you have expressed an interest in supporting Ken Smith Fishing, when you purchase from my partners 6th Sense Fishing using my discount code Ken10, or Tackle Warehouse using one of the links below you are 100% supporting Ken Smith Fishing and your patronage is very much appreciated.
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For some of the same gear I use at a discount check out these sites and discount codes:
The best rods and reels in the marketplace today Lew’s Rods bit.ly/37HLJQf
Lew’s Reels bit.ly/36FJpb2
Best Fluorocarbon and Braided line available at bit.ly/38QpBDm
The BEAST the new Mercury V8 4 Stroke 250 Pro XS bit.ly/2tvlhdR
Still looking for Bigfoot, dude hollar at me at my email address is [e-mail]
Make sure and check out my website as well, www.KenSmithFishing.com
Mercury Fury 3 blade 24 pitch…fastest on my boat amzn.to/3bEVrp9
Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links I’ll receive a small commission

[@TheCturner199]

Yea, have heard Mercury is having issues with not getting full RPMs. Would definitely run a yamaha for piece of mind. Phoenix and Basscat are my 2 options I'm checking out. Both 19' ish models. Thanks for spending the time to review Ken

[@travisstewart588]

Ken you ought to take a look at the Elite model. Lower gunnels and front bow panel will be more to you liking I believe. Elite is same hull as the XP being faster than the PHX by a tad but has the same style top cap as PHX with lower gunnels. The Elite and PHX are the only models coming with the slam latches. Only thing is it has a the one large center box lid. Oh and the little led light is not offered any longer for the switch panel area as they had a bad failure rate.

[@KenSmithFishing]

Travis if I wind up in a Phoenix that’s the boat I’ll have, like the cap layout better than the XP

[@KenSmithFishing]

So how do you see panel now without the light?

[@travisstewart588]

@@KenSmithFishing unfortunately on my 2021 you cannot see it at night. There is small LEDs that you can purchase to use for this tho and tap power from the nav light switch so once you have the nav lights on you would have a small light. I have seen guys on bassboatcentral do this. Pretty simple deal.

[@fishfpv5020]

Couple things someone may have mentioned but maybe not. Phoenix dose offer a Air Vent System as an option.... I think they were just offering it for PHX & Elite models but not sure... several pros have videos on there Rigs... you can get a slam latch on your console box so you can lock it up... you can get heated seats and I have seen some updates on the seats for 2021 aswell good section on Russ Lanes walk threw.. padded deck on the cooler lid for your knee support tieing on baits.. some people prob really like the new bait slider option aswell. Tight lines

[@KenSmithFishing]

Thanks Fish....love the idea of heated seats!

[@mattmandrell1669]

I hope you give the bass cat cougar a look after testing all these others. Great fishing platform and performance and great group of folks at bass cat

[@Forklunkerman]

Ken - I'm pretty sure there is a Adjustable Drivers Seat option on the Phoenix Boat, at least the dealer who wrote up an order for a 721 for me was going to sale me one

[@mxer224]

Ken, I have a 18’ 21phx and I do run fully loaded around 71 with 1/2 tank I get 71-72. You definitely need to take this out in some rough water to let the PHX part of this boat really shine. Other than that your review is spot on. The ice chest sucks compared to the 521 I previously had but that is my only complaint.

[@odarabla1]

Ken Smith, you should check out the 721 Pro XP. It handles as good as the 921 and the 21PHX but faster than them all. My 2021 721 Pro XP is 20'11" long and with a 250 SHO I've seen 78.2 with a full tank of fuel and all of my fishing gear. I would be happy to let you demo my boat if you like.

[@thechestnutking736]

Another great video Ken. Not a big fan of the PHX after your review. I figured you would score this boat no higher in the upper 70,s based on what you like in a boat. Nonetheless the Phoenix is a great boat.

[@jabojr5171]

Hi Ken, another great video. When you track down the Vexus VX21, will you get it with a Mercury 300? You didn't mention their seats, I thought the airwave seats would blow everyone else away. With nerve damage in my lower back I need the most comfortable seats I can find. Thank you again.

[@KenSmithFishing]

I already know the boat I’ll run and it has a 250 pro xp on it

[@reidmcginn4596]

Ken, you should definitely do a 921 elite review. 921 hull with PHX top cap. Sounds like the best of both worlds.

[@wyattloving8665]

Our 21 phx can get up to 75 in ideal conditions and average 72 fully loaded live wells,gas, and 3 people

[@wyattloving8665]

24 p furry 3 blade 5850 rpms trimmed all the way up

[@fishinglegend6948]

Ken, can you please add the list of boats you reviewed to each rating video you do? It's nice to see the boat list ratings at the end to see where each new boat ranks.

[@KenSmithFishing]

It’s in part 1, the grid where I show dimensions the last Column is score

[@jamesb9090]

I find the model differences confusing with Phoenix, and agree with your comment about website needing an overhaul. (Why not an actual build option with pricing, too, like other manufacturers?) But there are currently 3 21ft premium models - 21PHX, 921 Elite and 921 ProXP - all the same exact length, width, weight, fuel tank, and live well, and all 3 cite the “patented diamond V hull”. I just cannot determine if this is simply 3 different tops on one same hull, or if there really is any hull/performance differences between the models. Where is this information available?

[@captainron3494]

Well it looks like I have narrow my 2 boats for now Venus or Phoenix leaning towards Venus cause of the seats air ride because of my back but I will wait until u ken decide what u getting

[@tameraortiz7485]

Did you ever get a chance to talk to Terry about the speed issue? Great overview. 😀

[@KenSmithFishing]

Actually yes, he talked to the Mercury guys at the Toyota series and they said that was about all the speed they saw out of the boat as well.

[@tameraortiz7485]

@@KenSmithFishing Thanks so much for replying. You're awesome Ken. Been watching all of your videos lately. Great reviews. I was definitely curious. Thanks for the answer. We have a 2021 PhX21 on the way next month and are putting on the new designed 2021 Yamaha VMax250 on it. I'm curious if it will make a difference. Idk. We were recommended to put on a 4 blader. 🤔 We'll see. Here in Michigan, we mostly fish Lake Huron and St. Clair and Erie in the BFL and other tournaments so we want speed but handling big water without getting banged up too much is what we need. Surprisingly our Texas bought Skeeter ZX250 when we lived in TX 4 yrs ago has done us great but we sure do get wet and it can be a little rough sometimes but we drive it well and it has been a great boat so far. Again, appreciate the response. Take care! 😀🙌

[@derrickhouse7063]

When you are performing the slow speed pad test, what is your trim set at? Great video as always, can't wait for the FXR review. I appreciate the Tacklewarehouse link. Bookmarked

[@KenSmithFishing]

Derrick thanks for the bookmark, on this boat all the way down, on the FXR it had to be up some, don’t remember the number as I haven’t edited that footage yet

[@eddiepayne4241]

Although I don't have my Phoenix anymore (sniff, sniff!) I agree with you across the board. I guess one question is what is the 921 Elite compared to the other two? Thanks again, good stuff and well appreciated out here in wanna be land!! Have a great Thanksgiving.

[@KenSmithFishing]

Eddie I didn’t review that boat as it’s the same hull as the 921 just different cap, should score the same

[@eddiepayne4241]

@@KenSmithFishing cool, I was not sure about it. Not in my future, maybe an 819/919, yet to be seen. Thanks.

[@reidmcginn4596]

@@KenSmithFishing I have heard the elite does preform a little different. Review and let us know!

[@jeffporter100]

Great video! I suspect there is going to be a significant rise in sales of one or two brands of the finalist boats. I’ll call it the Ken Smith effect!

[@daviddawson5136]

When I watch the videos on my desktop the audio from your office is super quiet, then you cut to on the water and it’s much louder.

[@bobclark4183]

Awesome! Tackle Warehouse link book marked here.

[@KenSmithFishing]

Thanks Bob!

[@bradsmith873]

Hey Ken what was the solution to getting full power to your merc, I am only turning 5800 on a 2018 4 stroke and my dealer can’t figure it out. I have tried 4 different props with the same results.

[@KenSmithFishing]

Idle screw setting which I think meant hot foot couldn’t get to 100% throttle.

[@kwd1253]

Lot people having rpm problems with that motor. A bad dealer tell you go with a 20p prop get the rpm. Good dealer will put it on computer find that it’s in the ecu manufacture settings. Reason I’m not on the mercy 4 stroke team right now. If they get right rpm and no other gremlins going on with them, that hard motor to beat with tm lower unit. Give me the old 2 stroke mercy for now. I give it year or two mercy have trust motor like the old two strokes.

[@KenSmithFishing]

Kyle you are missing the boat (pun intended) on the new 4 strokes, I love mine!

[@chanceehuiet]

A whole lot of people are having issues with the new 4 stroke merc not reaching full speed. Buddy of mine now can’t get his 521 to run above 60 due to it. Year old motor and merc won’t do anything about it for him. Told him to run a smaller prop.

[@dlefeb67]

@@KenSmithFishing The torque difference in the 2S compared to the 4S does require a smaller pitched prop. However, I agree with you, The 24 Fury should put him in the 6000+ RPM band. I have seen the Hot foot (adjustment bolt) limit the throttle lever from hitting the WOT stop on the engine. Good call.

[@evanwaggener309]

Are you going to review any aluminum boats ?

[@KenSmithFishing]

Actually next project is tin rigs, gonna get through glass first but need to start gathering tin boat names, think I’d like to look at 18’ class boats

[@boydsnepaguidingservice]

@@KenSmithFishing Not sure if you have seen Gator Trax Strike Series, but that boat is pretty much a direct competitor to Glass rigs. Pretty much the only tin Rig that really can be compared to Glass.

[@briantaylor5742]

Ditto on the website

[@KenSmithFishing]

Thanks!

[@jamesmormino7632]

Like your videos but for some reason the audio volume on this one is terrible

[@samueldarroch7158]

Can you review a ballistic .223

[@KenSmithFishing]

Yep we are waiting on delivery of one

[@l8tapex]

Chicken coop on 20 knot North wind running the boat lane ... doing circles doesn't count for ride test.

[@KenSmithFishing]

Roger that, seems it’s calm when I want it windy and windy when I want it calm

[@l8tapex]

@@KenSmithFishing I know brother I am jesting with you. Or it rains when we scouted 3 dry days and have a game set/match. :)

[@MRbassmasterman]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@kidswrestlingtechniques]

Damn record video showing around the boat while discussing positives and negatives instead of referring to notes. Like junior high science project in here.

[@KenSmithFishing]

Sorry I have disappointed you