Essex 26DX

[Lakerwood12]

Has anyone reviewed this newer boat from Essex the 26DX or been in one? Curious of how it handles the chop and what engine is best powerplant.

 

[OCMerrill]

It sure is a good looking boat.

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

It sure is a good looking boat.

yes it is

 

[counterpart7]

My understanding is that it's a 24' Valor with an extended swim step. Valors handle chop pretty well!

There might be some reviews on the Valor somewhere.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Nice looking boat for sure!! When we toured Essex I was really impressed with the boats. Not sure why those boats are not more common. Obviously it is a smaller brand but the production times were not bad when other brands were 1.5-2 years out they could have a boat finished in 6 months. Not sure if that was accurate but no one is complaining like some of the questionable brands.

 

[Lakerwood12]

Nice looking boat for sure!! When we toured Essex I was really impressed with the boats. Not sure why those boats are not more common. Obviously it is a smaller brand but the production times were not bad when other brands were 1.5-2 years out they could have a boat finished in 6 months. Not sure if that was accurate but no one is complaining like some of the questionable brands.

Yea I have always been a fan of their quality and attention to detail. Love the floor space without the seats behind buckets.

 

[Lakerwood12]

My understanding is that it's a 24' Valor with an extended swim step. Valors handle chop pretty well!

There might be some reviews on the Valor somewhere.

Interesting but that makes sense.

 

[OCMerrill]

yes it is

Here I'll fix it.

Making the boat is one thing and I will say the Essex family (sister and two brothers) runs that place well and even through covid, the dot com bubble bursting, etc, they still pumped out boats and what I consider fair prices.

The issue might be getting stern drive engines in a timely manor if you want some HP in there.

Also I have a 21' Sterling and the inside seating and total space is not a whole lot different on the 26 so it seems however I think that thing is really good looking with that platform on the back.

 

[evantwheeler]

Here I'll fix it.



View attachment 1411605
View attachment 1411606

Wow. That looks like an awesome float!

 

[Lakerwood12]

Here I'll fix it.

Making the boat is one thing and I will say the Essex family (sister and two brothers) runs that place well and even through covid, the dot com bubble bursting, etc, they still pumped out boats and what I consider fair prices.

The issue might be getting stern drive engines in a timely manor if you want some HP in there.

Also I have a 21' Sterling and the inside seating and total space is not a whole lot different on the 26 so it seems however I think that thing is really good looking with that platform on the back.



View attachment 1411605
View attachment 1411606

So do you think it’s going to handle chop ect like a 24 not like a traditional 25/26ft?

 

[OCMerrill]

So do you think it’s going to handle chop ect like a 24 not like a traditional 25/26ft?

Essex makes a stout boat. My 1997 Sterling 21' does pretty well on lakes and better than I expected. Nothing shakes, no weird noises, etc. and I'm very near 900 hrs.
Mostly used on the Parker Strip though.

Its been stated already that the Valor, the boat the 26 is based off of, fights the larger water pretty well and I would agree. You see them but they are not as popular as their Cats's or the 22' Vortex (what my sterling grew into).

All Essex has top of the line gel coat. In this pic taken a month ago.. boat is 27 years old.

 

[Dan Lorenze]

You know what I really like about the Essex Valor and the new 26DX? No Mid Cabin. May work for some but I've never been a fan. They are sexy boats for sure, and I love the interiors on Essex boats, they really do a fantastic job with fit and finish. Top notch quality

 

[evantwheeler]

You know what I really like about the Essex Valor and the new 26DX? No Mid Cabin. May work for some but I've never been a fan. They are sexy boats for sure, and I love the interiors on Essex boats, they really do a fantastic job with fit and finish. Top notch quality

100% agree on the design and layout of this 26. I hate to say it, but i bet if they rebranded with a different name, they would be more popular.

 

[DRYHEAT]

100% agree on the design and layout of this 26. I hate to say it, but i bet if they rebranded with a different name, they would be more popular.

I think the name and the brand is fine, they’re just a very understated boat, I don’t know maybe they don’t spend advertising dollars in the magazines like some of the others. Maybe it’s just my opinion, but I see just as many Essex out here as anything else.

 

[Icky]

The Essex boat owner meet up is this weekend in havasu. May be an opportunity

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

So do you think it’s going to handle chop ect like a 24 not like a traditional 25/26ft?

The deadeise on the 26 Essex is smaller than some comparable boats in that size, so that will affect your ride on rougher days.

 

[counterpart7]

I think the name and the brand is fine, they’re just a very understated boat, I don’t know maybe they don’t spend advertising dollars in the magazines like some of the others. Maybe it’s just my opinion, but I see just as many Essex out here as anything else.

They do very little marketing/advertising of any sort, sadly. I don't see them at shows or many of the other events. And their website/marketing material looks like its from 2006. Maybe they’re busy enough and enjoy flying under the radar a little bit.

I for one would love to see them step up their marketing game and be seen as one of the “popular” brands. A new website and some less cheesy branding would go a long way.

We love our Essex(22’ Vortex). Solid, no rattles, tons of space and storage for a 22’. It handles chop really well and an extra 2 feet(what is the Valor/26dx bottom) would be fine for most days on Havasu in my opinion.

 

[DRYHEAT]

They do very little marketing/advertising of any sort, sadly. I don't see them at shows or many of the other events. And their website/marketing material looks like its from 2006. Maybe they’re busy enough and enjoy flying under the radar a little bit.

I for one would love to see them step up their marketing game and be seen as one of the “popular” brands. A new website and some less cheesy branding would go a long way.

We love our Essex(22’ Vortex). Solid, no rattles, tons of space and storage for a 22’. It handles chop really well and an extra 2 feet(what is the Valor/26dx bottom) would be fine for most days on Havasu in my opinion.

It may very well be the Sanchez(I think that was their last name) brothers. Don’t want to deal with all that BS. I don’t think they have any problems selling boats as things are now.

As for being one of the “more popular” boats, I don’t think they have a problem there either. On any given weekend in Havasu, I would say it’s probably one of the more prevalent boat manufacturers out here.

They definitely put out a very nice product and I wouldn’t mind having one of those new 26’s myself.

 

[Corso]

Bumping this thread to see if anyone has any seat time in one of these? Also any ideas on pricing?

 

[FROGMAN524]

They do very little marketing/advertising of any sort, sadly. I don't see them at shows or many of the other events. And their website/marketing material looks like its from 2006. Maybe they’re busy enough and enjoy flying under the radar a little bit.

I for one would love to see them step up their marketing game and be seen as one of the “popular” brands. A new website and some less cheesy branding would go a long way.

We love our Essex(22’ Vortex). Solid, no rattles, tons of space and storage for a 22’. It handles chop really well and an extra 2 feet(what is the Valor/26dx bottom) would be fine for most days on Havasu in my opinion.

I’ve come to find that a lot of family run businesses in any industry I’ve dealt with are happy just “making wages” rather than growing year over year. With growth comes stress and growing pains.

 

[counterpart7]

I’ve come to find that a lot of family run businesses in any industry I’ve dealt with are happy just “making wages” rather than growing year over year. With growth comes stress and growing pains.

Totally agree! Just makes it tough to watch them not grow year over year when you grew up in one of their boats and want to see them succeed!