I voted with my pocket book and bought a Phoenix 920 last year. It was a step up in all categories from my champion 206 except in ride. But my Champ was 15 years old so the step ups didnt surprise me. I think they are still cheaper than Ranger and Skeeter from what I have seen depending on where you buy it.

Luv that 4 stroke Merc.

I shopped new boats back in late summer before I bought one. Researched prices, options and features and personally never saw anything as loaded up and price as low as the ZX250 fora 21' boat. The ZX225 is even less than that. I looked at Phoenix pretty hard as well and their pricing was not cheaper than the others. Triton has a national package price and I think BassCat does as well. This one was hard to beat. The national price included the Ultrex upgrade as well as the custom cover on the one I bought.

https://skeeterboats.com/Skeeter-Boat.php?id=98

I've owned Charger, Champion, Triton, Skeeter, and now, Ranger Z521. I've fished out of Legend, Bass Cat, Phoenix and several others.
My Ranger is the best for me.

I've been running a CX21 Pro with a Mercury 250, I'm liking what I see so far. 71-73 loaded on a 21' 4" boat. If you get a chance to ride in one, take it. I think you will be extremely impressed with top end and handling because of the 17" pad. No carpet in any of the storage compartments, access panels in the bilge area for quickly accessing pumps and livewell lights, high speed water pick up for live-wells, entire front deck is padded, raised trolling motor platform for true 90* transducer beam. Caymas Cash also has the best contingency program going for local Texas tournament trails like Bass Champs, TTT, and TTZ.

Contingency money is way better with the SHO and that’s the only reason I went with them because I loved my merc 4s. I rethink this Caymas is laid out and built really well. Fit and finish was great and I like some of the new things they have come up with. The opportunity was there for me to leave Triton and that what I did.

All these rough ride comments, how much of it is due to the driver???

99.9% especially in 20-21' boats.

So do I...

Mine is. I could be charged with assault driving my boat!

I don’t care what boat you have when it’s windy you getting wet wether you want to admit it or not. Specially on a lake like caddo when you have to run the boat lanes.

I think one of the most interesting things I ask Co anglers for tournaments that have been doing it a while is what boat they have been on that they like the most. Gets ya thinking for sure.

Only owned a skeeter and it was a great boat for me. Has anyone been in a Falcon? They're fairly new to the market.

SCB

If I Didn’t run Ranger my next choice would be Basscat