well..these are my reasons anyway of why I think Skeeter builds the most complete fishing platform (ride, stability, storage lay-out, and ability to maneuver around while in the boat) today. It may or may not help you as you decide what boat to buy next and quite frankly it may have the opposite effect. I am offering my reasons so it may not fit yours...so please dont crucify me over it!
Below you will find what I like as well as what I would change. By the way, the options I talk about can usually be found in both Skeeter ZX and iClass versions.
Perfect size glove box. Not too big, and not too small. I owned a brand once where I had to put two 12” X 10” trays inside the glove compartment just to keep small stuff from getting lost. In fact, I had to keep a flashlight in their just to find my stuff.
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Day box.. Its the box directly in front of drivers console. A must have for fast access for what you need quickly such as dye, pliers, scissors, scent, etc. Not offered in many boats.
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Small driver side glove box for wallet, keys and cell phone. I like this. I usually jump quickly into the console and start to empty my pockets so having it here is convenient I think.
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Passenger rod space:Notice the area is set up to hold up to 8 rods AND that they lay down on a carpeted area. This design limits the height at which passenger rods stick up in the air.
Notice wide carpeted area for passenger rods to lay on.
Cup holders – Notice in both pictures below where they are located. They are placed where they should be and that is on the floor near the seats where you can reach them while seating and/or driving. Some boat brands place them near the front step, and sometimes they are placed on the middle fold-down- why? I have no idea and it makes no sense. Not sure I want a drink there that close to me while driving. Skeeter cup holders are wide for big bottles of Gatorade, mugs, etc.
Ice Chest: It’s in the floor allowing more area to walk around. There is an additional ice chest between driver and passenger seat. You don’t need to use this middle area as a cooler. Rather, it serves as an ideal place for keeping things you need to grab quickly like bouy markers , weigh scales/balance beam, and culling system, maps, sun screen, etc.
Front and Rear Deck – Notice how on some boats (Triton comes to mind), have the cockpit moved more forward (shortening the front deck) and thus giving the rear deck a lot of room. Not sure exactly why they do this. I guess it’s a plus for those wanting to give their backseat partner more room. Also, good size live wells on Skeeters.
Area for getting off and on the deck - First notice the step is not very high. Second look at the WIDE distance inbetween the driver and passenger console. Lots of room to move back and forth. Boats that are narrow or have wide consoles (like older model BCB) offer a smaller area to pass when dual consoles are present.
Place to sit while needing to retie - Notice the width of back end of rod locker. Its WIDE. Skeeter offers plenty of sitting area even when boat has dual consoles. In this iclass example notice the room. There is enough room to sit in front of either console (so if you’re a righty or lefty ) and able to reach into compartment without having to bend back too much to grab tackle. The area to sit is wide enough because the deck is wide, rod lockers are long and consoles are far enough back. Anyway, the routine is you step down and sit on either side of rod locker, pop open the tackle compartment, grab whatever tackle box your needing and do your thing. Other brands of boats offer a) limited area of space to sit b) the tackle boxes are deep which require more bending than necessary for reaching stuff c) tackle compartments are far away. One brand of boat the distance separating the driver and passenger console is very narrow and thus making it a tight squeeze.
Rods on deck: Consoles on Skeeters are not too big and/or blocky so they allow room on the outside for rod tips to sit. This console design allows rod tips that extra needed room when they slide back while running down the water or room for long rods.
Tackle Storage: I really like Skeeter tackle storage because 1) you have 2 compartments as one ABOVE the other (not side by side or one huge long compartment which requires you to open up the entire lid just to get a bait out) and 2) they are not basement deep – the tackle compartment floors are elevated enough so the top of tackle trays sit somewhat close to the top. You don’t need to bend at a 45 degree angle in order to reach them like others brands design. This photo doesn’t show what I am talking about because it has stuff in it. Anyway, the compartment just above it can be used to hold things you are not going to use that often such as rain gear, life jackets, throwable PDF, etc.
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Rod Compartment: Many boat builders can really screw this one up. Don’t worry because Skeeter got it right. Notice how wide the rod boxes are at the base. My 1994 Skeeter still has wide rod compartments when compared to other newer boat brands in the market today…they still cant get it right!!! These wide rod lockers make it so your rods are spread out while minimizing crowding. Most come present for about 12 rods but you can double up on some to 16 rods before it becomes unmanageable. Because they are long, you can slide your rods in and out without having to bend the rod more than necessary or too tight that you screw up rod guides.
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Electronics on Console: Many anglers like having 2 graphs…one for use as GPS/sonar and the other (usually the larger one) for SI. Having two is ideal (one for GPS/Sonar and the other primarily for SI). I think the best way to have this set up is so that the GPS/Sonar unit GOES IN THE MIDDLE and the SI unit GOES ON THE SIDE. The GPS unit should go in the middle because it is what you use as you are driving!!
Some brands of boats come premounted with the larger SI unit in the middle allowing you to add another unit on the side. I don’t care for it this way. Maybe its me but it just seems backwards on how I will be using both units…one for driving and the other for SI reading while idling. One brand of boat released its new “shell” looking console with big unit premounted in the middle. It appears that adding a 2nd unit is going to be tricky because the space provided on the gunnel seems small.
Below is the layout of what I consider to be ideal…GPS/Sonar in middle and large SI to the side:
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Front deck – WIDE, and not narrow (causing you to step on rods while on the trolling motor), Trolling motor foot peddle is not mounted to far forward like one finds on a basscat. I am told Basscat fans like it because it gives two people on front deck more room….maybe good for a guide boat but personally, the 2nd guy needs to go to the back of the boat!
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The deck is longer than most and part of the reason is because they don’t have the front console moved so far forward. Notice on how some boat brands when comparing same size of boats their rear deck is large. But usually when this happens it seems like the cockpit sits farther forward and thus shortening the front deck. There could be a good reason why they do this to help with handling/stability. But to me, it cuts off front deck space for the guy paying and giving lots of room that doesn’t pay the bill. As stated previously, I guess this can be a plus for people requiringe more rear room. It could make for a tight fit for like a guide having himself and 3 people (3 upfront and one in back) or maybe even 2 people upfront. The front and rear deck of a Skeeter offers a nice balance in overall size, width and length.
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Other : - Designed to mimize (not totally prevent) backwash, minimize spraying of water and getting wet, minimize boat tipping while moving around, etc. I have gotten wet in the SX 18 older Skeeters but not in the ZX 225 or iclass. Also, when you ride a Skeeter, you will notice the initial impact of a wave hitting is at the front of your feet while in other brands the impact seems to come right underneath your butt where you are sitting and then the impact travels up your spine…ouch!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atCxDQozBSI&feature=relatedAccess to battery cord: Forget trying to dig it out of a batter compartment. You won’t have to because Skeeter has it located it on the driver’s side. Some models are on the passenger side. In this pic you can’t see it but it’s behind the door propped open.
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• The boat sits low enough so you don’t get blown around while fishing windy conditions. This has been a big plus especially this year!
* both gas refill areas are located on the back of boat and NOT ON SIDES. This makes it convenient REGARDLESS what side of the pump is open plus because they are on the back you can hit both while refueling
* Easy to load on the trailer.
* Easy to drive. They have nothing to be "squirely" about them when running at top speed.
* Boats hold up well as they age
Cons:• I don’t like how at one time they installed the GPS (smaller unit) below eye level. I prefer both my fish finder units mounted close to eye level especially if I need to be using one for navigating. Older model Skeeter boats had the one unit mounted in the middle which gave you the option to mount a larger SI unit on the side but they have moved away from it for awhile. I prefer how the new Rangers have the console laid out with the one sonar in middle which allows another to be installed on the side. So its hit and miss depending on year of boat.
• I know its not a big deal but they don’t come with the “ easy access” for refilling engine oil like a Ranger does. As simple feature as this offers, I really it because it’s makes refilling simple. Plus, it makes easy to wipe any oil spilled as opposed to having the refill spout inside the compartment where any spilled oil can eventually find its way to the inside floor and making its way into the lake at some point.
• Your engine option is limited to Yamaha. It may be a challenge for some while others are ok with it. I have owned Mercury in the past and had good luck. Only time will tell on my opinion with Yama. But so far my experience with Yamahas have been good.
• I wish the company was US owned.
• It doesn’t quite have that really nice rich & sexy look like a Ranger. But then again, no other bass boat does! That WOW look of a Ranger causes me to want to overlook the things I don’t like about it..ha! I think only a Ranger looks its high asking price while other brands try to mark themselves that high but have no reason too…they only wish they did!!!
• Stainless steel cup holders needs to be standard on all boats ZX line of boats. It doesn’t help w/ fishing but does make the boat look more finished.
• Detail finish looks better on Legends and Ranger boat. Doesn’t help with fishing but does with resale value.
• While idling slow, boat doesn’t seem to want to turn as easily.
• The bungee rod straps break all the time!!! I like the rod straps Ranger uses instead.
• The seats may give a feel of sitting high. You notice it more when running across windy Texoma, and you get the feeling of possibly flyn off your seat. You don’t really but you get that feeling. Its good for short drivers I guess. Some brands their boat seats sit too low which require extra effort to pull oneself up. Ranger seats I think offer the best combination of height level and best in comfort.
Its not JUST ALL about the ride. Boat has to be well thought out in design and functionality when on the water. This is what makes Skeeter the most complete and well thought out boat in the market today!
!!!!!
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