I'll def take a look

[quote=Brian Schuler]That 24 volt trolling motor is not near enough for the Z21! As said above the 200 hp motor isn't near enough for either of those two boats.

Brian[/quote250 and 36v it is then if I buy brand new

I am running a 21' Cat and have a 250 on the back. A 225 would be better than the 200, but 250 is the ticket for a boat this big. You have a lot of boat in the water and you will not be happy with a 24 volt T/M on anything other than a day where there is not a breath of wind. Also have to agree that you really want a hot foot. If there is a good loaded boat out there with low hours on it, warranty on the motor and it looks like it was cared for, have it gone over by a reputable mechanic, if you decide to go this route you will get more for your money and overall be happier.

I bought mine a year old from a Pro and could not be happier.

All the best with whatever you decide to do.

Either boat is good, but make sure you get enough horsepower. A 225 works "ok" with the Z20 (250 is best), but a 200 is not enough for those boats. I wouldn't recommend anything less than a 250 on the Z21. You also need a 36V trolling motor. A 24V will leave you sad and unhappy.

I have a z8 with a 250 and I have a buddy with a z8 with a 225 there is a difference. I've been in a z8 with a 200 it was a dog in my opinion

36 v for sure!

I have a 2012 Z9 with a 24V trolling motor. Zero complaints about it. I fish in all conditions at Amistad, normally fish 10-12 hours and have never ran out of power by the end of the day.

Nitro has a habit of under-accessorizing their base-model boats. And the price is right for sure, but I don't ever recall hearing a fisherman saying that his trolling motor had too much power or his outboard motor was too big. Heard plenty say the opposite. If your budget doesn't extend beyond $50k at all, I'd get the Z20 with a 225, 36V trolling motor, and whatever graphs you want, or I'd buy the used one that Brian is selling if he'll come down a bit.

In the end though, these upgrades only make up a small percentage of the price of the boat. If you really want a 21-footer, get one with a 250 and 36V trolling motor, and however many other extras you can live with. Half of the stuff in the "pro" package is stuff I've never had on a boat before and wouldn't miss it if it wasn't on my next one. So just add on the stuff that's important and make your budget work out. I wouldn't care one bit about not having a hydrowave, 2nd automatic bilge, keel guard, or remote oil fill. I'd be fine without power poles to be honest, and those are easy to add later if they're must-haves for you. Just don't quibble over a few thousand bucks on a $50k purchase if it's the difference between having a boat you're happy with versus one you're almost happy with.

Go big on all the recommendations (250 hp & 36V TM). Those are key differentiators in moving to the higher performance class from where you are now. You will dilute this chance to move up if you skip these.

Consider you will run a 24V TM harder to offset not having 100+ pounds of thrust. The two batteries will die quicker and need replacement sooner. Three batteries offer more power, longer fishing days, and better battery service life. I have never found anyone who regretted moving up to 36V.

On the outboard, the story is similar. Consider a 250hp will need a lower pitch prop to push the same boat. You'll run a 200 harder to get the same typical speeds and not have that extra performance kick available. You may end up spending more on fuel for a 200 on the same boat.

if you get the smaller motor 200 and the 24v, you will kick yourself. Upgrade if you can.

I would bite the bullet and get the 250 on the Z20, along with the 112 Fortress 36V and I would also get two power poles.
It only hurts for a little while!
I put two poles on my new ZX250, and Im glad I did. The 250 hp SHO, pushes that boat like a demon. And the Fortress is worth every penny.

John-Mark:
You should really reprice both boats properly configured as some posters have described before determining the best deal. Much of this, if not all of this can be done on the Nitro website which is really cool if you don't mind the fixed selling price plan.

For valuation purposes and the only difference being the boat (20' 2" versus 21' 2') itself - meaning that the engine, trailer, electronics and etc. are the same it becomes a much simpler question. If the Z20 was $5000 cheaper I would say take it but if the deal is only a 2-3 thousand less I would go with the bigger boat (Z21). FYI - on the web site the 200 to 250HP Mercury is $4400 and is money well spent.

For some boat brands there does not seem to be a big difference between the 20 & 21 ft boats. The Ranger Z520C and Z521C is (or was) an example but with other brands there appears to be a wider price gap such as with Phoenix 921 & 920.

The value boat buy on a Nitro seems to be a 1-2 year old used boat that has an engine warranty for another 3-4 years.

Disclaimer - my comments on pricing may not be current but I am sure some of the TFF guys that work with dealers can point you in the right direction.

JMO, get the new Z21 !! Load it out now or later.....bigger is better.
Front deck on those looks HUGE !!!!
God Bless
Lee

z71 you also have to think about resale value