Every fall the same thing happens. The 2027s start arriving, and a handful of brand-new 2026 models are still sitting on the lot — untouched, never titled, full factory warranty, and suddenly priced to move.

Right now our Tulsa location has five of them. Three Vexus fishing boats, a MasterCraft surf boat, and a Chaparral surf model. These are new boats, not used ones, and when they’re gone they’re gone — there is no reordering a prior model year.

Here’s what’s left, who each one is right for, and why buying a leftover model year is one of the smartest moves in boating.

What “Leftover 2026” Actually Means

There’s a persistent misunderstanding worth clearing up, because it costs buyers money every year.

A leftover 2026 is a brand-new boat. It has never been sold, never been titled, and in most cases has never been in the water outside of a factory or dealer test. The only thing separating it from a 2027 is the number on the paperwork.

Your Warranty Is Identical

This is the one buyers get wrong most often. Factory warranty coverage begins on the date of sale to the original owner — not on the model year. Buying a leftover 2026 today gives you exactly the same warranty period you’d get buying a 2027 today. You lose nothing.

Year-Over-Year Changes Are Usually Small

Manufacturers refine continuously rather than reinventing annually. Between model years you’ll typically see updated upholstery patterns, new color programs, minor helm or electronics revisions, and occasional trim changes. Hulls, engines, and core construction carry forward. On the water, the difference between a 2026 and a 2027 in the same model is usually imperceptible.

The Pricing Gap Is Not Small

That’s the trade. Modest feature differences, meaningful price differences. For buyers who care more about getting the right boat than about the number on the title, leftover season is the best buying window of the year.

The Catch: Selection

Leftovers are, by definition, what’s left. You take the color, layout, and configuration that’s on the lot. If you need a specific build, order a 2027. If what’s sitting here fits how you actually boat, you’re getting a better deal than anyone who waits.

The 5 Leftover 2026 Models at Nichols Marine Tulsa

2026 Vexus Defender 181 — $29,999

Best for: First-time boat buyers and anglers who want a genuinely capable aluminum fishing boat without a big payment.

At 18′ 1″ with a 94″ beam and a Mercury 75 ELPT four-stroke, the Defender 181 is the easiest boat on this list to own. It launches easily, tows behind almost anything, and stores without drama. This one is marked as a price drop clearance unit, which makes it the strongest value on our Tulsa lot right now.

It’s not a stripped base boat, either. BayStar hydraulic steering, a Minn Kota Edge 70 lb thrust 24-volt trolling motor with a recessed pedal tray, a three-bank battery charger, a front storage box plumbed for livewell or baitwell use, three-across front deck seat bases, one bike seat and one fishing seat, plus a single axle trailer with spare tire, tie downs, and transom saver.

Specs: 18′ 1″ LOA · 94″ beam · Mercury 75 ELPT four-stroke · 26 gallon fuel

→ View the 2026 Vexus Defender 181 listing

2026 Vexus Defender 189 — $34,999

Best for: Anglers who want more boat and more power than an entry model, without moving into fiberglass bass boat pricing.

The 189 Defender is the step up from the 181 and it’s the one we’d point most serious weekend anglers toward. Just over 18½ feet, it’s still easy to launch, load, tow, and maneuver — but the Mercury 115 ELPT Pro XS four-stroke gives it noticeably more capability on bigger water like Keystone, Skiatook, or Grand Lake.

Two livewells, three-across seat bases, two fold-down fishing seats, a Minn Kota Edge trolling motor, and SeaDek throughout. One detail worth calling out: this boat has polyurea flooring instead of carpet. If you’ve ever dealt with wet, mildewed carpet at the end of a season, you’ll appreciate that more than any other feature on the sheet.

Specs: 18′ 7″ LOA · 94″ beam · Mercury 115 ELPT Pro XS four-stroke

→ View the 2026 Vexus Defender 189 listing

2026 Vexus Defender 201 — $44,999

Best for: Anglers who want one boat that fishes hard and still works for the family, and anyone drawn to the center console layout.

The Defender 201 is an all-new model and the most versatile boat of the three Vexus units here. At 20 feet with an 8-foot beam and a center console layout, it crosses categories — Vexus lists it as a bass boat, bay boat, center console, freshwater fishing boat, and river cruiser, and that’s not marketing stretch. It genuinely does all of those things.

Finished in Summit White with a Mercury 115 Pro XS four-stroke, hydraulic steering, a Minn Kota 6×3 charger, poly flooring, aft jump seats, helm and aft baitwell/livewell, transom saver, and a single axle trailer with spare.

Those aft jump seats matter more than they sound. They’re the difference between a dedicated fishing boat and one that can also take the family out on a Sunday afternoon without anyone sitting on a cooler.

Specs: 20′ LOA · 8′ beam · Mercury 115 Pro XS four-stroke · 30 gallon fuel

→ View the 2026 Vexus Defender 201 listing

2026 MasterCraft NXT 24 — $157,884

Best for: Families who want a legitimate MasterCraft surf experience and want to bring everyone along.

The NXT line is MasterCraft’s accessible entry into the tow boat world, and the NXT 24 is the one that makes the most sense for families. Seating capacity for over 16 people is unusual in this segment — most surf boats make you choose between wave quality and bringing the whole crew. This one doesn’t.

Powered by the Ilmor 5.3L GDI HO 380 HP with MasterCraft’s Surf-Star system and surf, wake, and ski presets, plus 3,300 lbs of ballast. That preset system is a genuinely underrated feature — it means anyone can dial in a proper wave without a decade of experience reading ballast and speed.

Equipment includes a 7-inch touchscreen with integrated Meridian ADV audio and tower speakers, digital switching, a Z6 hydraulic assist grey tower with clamping board racks, a convertible center seat, black SeaDek on the swim platform and transom walk-thru, and a transom stereo remote with Bluetooth. Finished in Flint Grey with black metal flake and cool-feel beach tan and grey upholstery — the cool-feel matters in an Oklahoma July.

The custom tandem axle trailer with break-away tongue is included, which on a boat this size is a real four to six thousand dollar consideration if you had to source it separately.

Specs: 24′ LOA · 102″ beam · 29″ draft · Ilmor 5.3L GDI HO 380 HP · 65 gallon fuel · 5,000 lbs dry

→ View the 2026 MasterCraft NXT 24 listing

2026 Chaparral GTS 6 — $3,000 Rebate Available

Best for: Buyers who want surf capability plus real day-boat comfort, including a head — and who don’t want to give up either one.

This is the most loaded boat on the list and the one that solves a problem most surf boats ignore. At 26′ 5″ with a full fiberglass head compartment including porta pottie and vanity cabinet, the GTS 6 is a boat you can spend an entire day on with family without anyone asking to go back to the ramp.

It surfs properly too. Mercury 350 HP 6.2L DTS with Bravo Four S, a purpose-built wake surfing hull, Malibu Surf Gates, 1,080 lb ballast capacity, and a SIMRAD NSS4 multifunction display with integrated surf controls.

The equipment list runs long: HTX II electric folding arch tower, Infinity power step, Edge Force swiveling board racks, windlass with stainless steel anchor, premium Envision Marine silicone upholstery, premium helm seats with flip-up bolsters, power assisted steering with tilt wheel, JL Audio upgrade, connectivity package, snap-in SeaDek, ski mirror, and charging stations with power plugs. The aft bench uses a reversible backrest system that converts from double bench seating to a sun lounge — a small thing that changes how the boat gets used at anchor.

White hull with the black painted Apex graphic and Luna cockpit interior.

Specs: 26′ 5″ LOA · 8′ 6″ beam · Mercury 350 HP 6.2L DTS Bravo Four S · 65 gallon fuel · 5,600 lbs dry

A $3,000 rebate is currently available on this unit. Call our Tulsa team at 918-838-2500 for current pricing.

→ View the 2026 Chaparral GTS 6 listing

Which One Fits You?

• Buying your first fishing boat, want to keep the payment low → Vexus Defender 181
• Serious weekend angler on bigger water → Vexus Defender 189
• Want to fish hard but still take the family out → Vexus Defender 201
• Surf boat for a big family or crew → MasterCraft NXT 24
• All-day boat that surfs and has a head → Chaparral GTS 6

Why These Won’t Sit Long

Leftover inventory operates on simple math. There are five of these. There will never be more. Once the 2027 floor plan fills up, prior model year units are the first thing a dealership wants gone — which is exactly why the pricing is what it is, and exactly why the window closes.

If one of these is the right boat for you, the move is to call now rather than wait to see whether it’s still here next month. Our Tulsa team can hold a unit while you arrange financing or bring a trade in for evaluation.

Financing and Trade-Ins

Fall is a good time to sort both. Our service department isn’t in the spring backlog yet, so rigging and prep happen quickly, and getting pre-approved before you commit gives you a clear budget.

• Get pre-approved through our financing application— takes a few minutes online
• Value your trade with our online trade tool, or bring it to Tulsa for an in-person look
• Still deciding? Our boat buying FAQ covers financing, trade-ins, registration, and ownership costs

Trading in the fall has a practical advantage too: your current boat just came off a full season, so it shows well — and you skip paying to winterize and store a boat you’re about to replace.

See Them in Tulsa

All five units are at Nichols Marine Tulsa, 6556 E 21st St, Tulsa, OK 74129. Call 918-838-2500 or come by — we’re minutes from Keystone Lake and Skiatook Lake and an easy run to Grand Lake.

Nichols Marine has been family-owned since 1972 and is an authorized dealer for Vexus, MasterCraft, Chaparral, and five other brands across seven locations in Oklahoma and Texas.

Not seeing what you want here? Browse our full new boat inventory or all available boats across every location.

Five 2026 models left in Tulsa. New boats, full warranty, clearance pricing. Call 918-838-2500.

Pricing and availability subject to change without notice. Units offered subject to prior sale. Contact Nichols Marine Tulsa for current pricing, rebate details, and availability.