FX-21 vs ZX250...2018 ride quality

Hello TFF...I'm looking to buy a 2018 skeeter...down to 2 boats

Is the ride that much different between these 2 boats because the price sure is? I'm not a picky guy and I don't have to have all the Bells and whistles but I do What the smoothest quietest ride possible just not sure if it's worth the difference in price...Thanks

Next to the old i-Class hulls, the FX is the best riding Skeeter. But much different? No.

I've got the ZX and it handles rough water just fine.

I have recently been in both in rough water. I would go with the ZX.

ZX 250 with a 300 on back dominates the rough water.

ZX is a decent riding boat and the FX, in my opinion. is a lot better.


But then again I think there is a $8-12k difference in price as well...

I'm not a big Skeeter fan but I'd agree with this.

If you can afford the FX, you want be sorry. You can thank me later. Everything is better on an FX including the quality of the ride.

I’ve been through this...

Went with the FX21LE

If you’re going to spend that much just get what you want.

Just my opinion plus I don’t understand the new ZX front deck layout.
Looks like a pain in the rear if you ask me....

very pleased with my FX21, coming from 15 years of running a 20' Champion. Only thing I've noticed is fishing rough open water, the Champion didn't flop on top of the incoming waves when sitting idle in rough water, it chopped up and down through the waves, hence, deep-v hull.

I've fished out of both regularly and own a ZX250 and my ZX handles rough water like a dream. Been in some nasty stuff and never any issues. While both are top of the line in my opinion, if i were buying new, I would have zero issues with either. My ZX actually is a better ride and handles large swells better than by buddies FX...but that could also be the driver...

I realize you are talking about the 21 so I cant really offer an opinion on that one because I have never been in it. I can tell you that I recently rode in an FX20 as a co-angler on Rayburn in the BFL and it was one of the worst riding boats I have ever been in. My rear end and back was sore for a few days after. The next day I drew a guy with a Phoenix 721 and that thing rode so good man, so much better than the FX20. Very similar conditions and both were good drivers from what I could tell.

I think another poster really nailed it. So much of it is the driver. I was in a fx21 last week on fork in 25mph winds and it was amazing. However the driver is a guide that spends 250 days a year on the water and knows how to drive the conditions. I have owned a zx250 with a Yamaha 300 and it was a great ride too. If I were buying this year it would be the fx. But the best riding boat in the world doesn’t matter if the driver doesn’t know how to drive the conditions. A good driver can take almost any of the new boats and keep you relatively dry and less beat up than most.

I'd be really surprised to find a ZX owner that used to own a FX.

FX is a noticeably better ride.

I had a 2015 and 2016 FX21 and I had a 2017 and now a 2018 ZX250 and if someone can tell you their is a difference in ride then I wouldn't believe them because I could not tell any difference. They both ride great and I think the main difference is the bells and whistles and top deck lay out that you get with the FX. The hulls look identical to me. Either one is a great choice!

Just bought a 2018 FX21LE traded my 2005 ZX250 that I’ve had since 2005 and there is no comparison this FX is a Cadillac of course I am sure the new ZX have improved a lot.Shoot my ZX came with a maxim.

This exactly.

My understanding is that the ZX hull and FX hulls are the same but the top caps and layout are different. I would suspect there’s very little difference in actual ride between the two. Of course the FX is going to have more amenities but for me that wasn’t important. Honestly I thought my ‘03 ZX250 rode better than my ‘15 ZX250. JMO

Just get a ZX and put a hydraulic jack plate on it.

I’ve had my 18 zx250 In 30-35 on roberts and it handled fine. Was used to my old ZX so took a while to get used to new hull with a sho it drives way better than my 05.

The new deck layout is amazing. Matches the way I fish Nicely

I am willing to bet it was the driver that made it feel worse than it was. I love my FX20 and the ride is pretty good to me.

I had an 07 zx250 and upgraded to a fx21. The fx is a better riding boat, and seems to be better built

Whatever you do, buy a skeeter

The new deck layout is the best layout I've ever seen by far. The center storage and day boxes on both sides are game changers

But only if you swing for the fence and make the right adjustments to catch a ga-ga-ga-GIANT bass!

I have fished/ridden out of both.
I Own a 2016 FX21LE.
I'm not a fan of the deck layout or the livewells on the new ones. If you can get the FX do it!
you will not regret it.

The FX doesn't do the "skeeter slap", any of their other boats needs to come equipped with a "whale tail".

Both are the same Hull now, FYI.