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2025 Princecraft Xpedition 200

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

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Built with an extensive list of exceptional fishing amenities, the Princecraft Xpedition 200 arrives on showroom floors and waterways across the country ready to chase whatever species you desire. With a sleek new exterior appearance, she is pure style.

Her exterior two-tone urethane paint blends a matte black finish with high gloss black and tasteful accent stripes. The reverse chine hull design is engineered to deliver great performance in rough water while adding improved fuel economy and a dry ride.

The subtle grey exterior accent on the stern pulls your eyes into the multi-tone and textured interior, which offers up tons of space in a fishing-focused atmosphere. With an easy-to-clean vinyl floor, an optional wash down system, and a self-draining feature in the stern flooring area, keeping up with interior maintenance is a breeze.

The list of fishing features is endless, but here’s a peak at a few of my favorites starting in the bow section:

- Compression latches on all bow storage compartments – it’s going to get wet up there. This is a great solution for keeping your gear dry.

- Recessed pan for your trolling motor pedal – smart, neat and tidy.

- 64L/30” Proflo plus electric filled aerated livewell with intermittent re-circulation.

- ACS system is an air intake system that delivers airflow into the bow storage compartments and the rod locker to protect your gear.

- Massive center walkthrough lockable rod locker for up to 10 rods, with built-in tubes and sliding shelf to access two forward batteries.

- PrinceTrak system allowing you to mount and move fishing accessories to suit both your crew and your targeted catch of the day.

- On the aft casting deck, an enormous 44”/77L livewell that even houses a light. I dare you to fill it!

- Additional rod storage under the gunnel on the port side for 4 x 9’ rods with support tubes

A true fishing machine like this also has to deliver exceptional creature comforts for captain and crew. The Xpedition doesn’t miss a beat. The helm station is well appointed and rests in behind a tall, curved windshield (on the WS model we tested). The deluxe dash panel pops with glossy black accent panels and we were treated to optional SmartCraft gauges that blend the analog look with digital technology. The right-side open panel rests below lighted toggle switches and allows owners to add in their preferred sonar screen. The no-pinch seats are comfortable and easily moveable to the four interior seat bases, or to the bow or aft casting deck. Cargo netting makes for a functional storage solution under both helms. I also noted multiple cup holders dotted throughout the interior.

Power choices range from the Mercury 150 Pro-XS all the way up to their 250 Verado. We had the pleasure of experiencing the power of the 250 V8 Pro-XS with DTS – their digital throttle and shift technology – along with power steering. The 250 has a sleek and sexy look, and her natural cowling colors play perfectly with the overall package.

Easing away from the dock on a late September morning, I was admittedly excited to see how this combination would perform. First impression – the steering system is awesome. The wheel feels supple in your hands and idling out to open waters felt calm and confident. Once safely away from other boat traffic, we brought the Xpedition up and on plane with limited throttle. Next we played with cruising speeds and cornering. There’s an immediate realization that this combination has an exceptional performance range. It wasn’t long before I glanced over at our camera pro and said ‘Hang on’. Maybe I should have said that a few seconds earlier…but that’s another story.

Holeshots were simply exceptional with this package delivering consistent up and on plane results in under 3 seconds. I have zero doubt that the addition of gear and crew will still result in nothing less than smiling faces.

The Xpedition likes to cruise anywhere from 26 to 35 MPH, but let’s not kid ourselves, you will find endless range of power here capable of getting the job done in all water conditions.

With camera work done and gear safely stowed, it was time to wind her out and see how far we could go. Ambient air temperature had risen to about 14 degrees C (60 F), and out of respect for crew I closed the walk-through windshield. Our location had limited boat traffic and calm lapping waves. In other words, the waterway was ours to test at will.

We climbed through mid-range in record time, and I watched with a smile as the speedo crested 40 MPH with lots of power still to come. I increased trim as the speed continued to climb and watch the bow gracefully raise above the water leaving less and less drag while yielding more and more performance.

We found 45 MPH, and still there was more. It felt like seconds later and the gauge suddenly broke through the 50 MPH barrier. I thought we were done. The Xpedition and the 250 said ‘hold on, there’s more’.

55 arrived with the hull feeling strong and confident and the captain exhilarated. There wasn’t much left, but there was a little and we had to try. She shared 56 MPH. This had to be it. And then there was 57.2 MPH with the Mercury spinning at an even 5,800 RPM. WOW.

I knew we would break 50 MPH and had hoped we might see 55 but I never thought we would find 57. Is 60 MPH possible in this package? Perhaps, but that’s up to you.

Either way there is zero doubt that this combination will get you and your crew onto your favorite fishing grounds in a big hurry. She will do it with style and grace, too.

The Xpedition 200 is nothing short of an adrenaline junkies dream and a passionate angler’s exceptional solution.

*Test boat has optional features. Please contact your local Princecraft dealer for details.