I need some help here. I have a triton currently with an Evinrude motor. I am thinking of getting a new boat because my Evinrude is a 115 and I am ready for some more speed. Can anyone give me some in sight to the new motors that are on the market. I hear a lot of people talk about how great the Yamaha motors are and the warranties are better. I also see a lot of Mercury products out there. Also am interested in hearing a great debate on makes of bass boats. Don't now squat about skeeter other than they are pricey, but for some reason I have a fatal attraction to them. Can anyone help me.

Thank You

Jmak,
My friend has had a yamaha vmax for 6 years now, good speed on a heavy boat about 51 with all the stuff, 18 ft aluminum. Not a problem.

What are you getting from that 115 rude? how big is the boat you have it on?

Yamaha VMAX

as far as the boat.
i hear alot of people talking about Nitro so you may want to look in to them.

jmak.

here's my take on your question.

smaller boat, say less than 19ft.
skeeter, ranger, triton. yamaha hpdi is okay, a mercury would be my 1st choice. the e-tec's aren't too bad. but yamaha has had alot of recalls lately, and are announcing another one now. something about the oil pump.

boats over 19ft (that will boogy)
Bass Cat, BULLET, Gambler,
One these boats, nothing but the Mercury XS, not the proxs, the XS. these engines are not having any problems. And are very fast.

boats over 19ft (slower)
Ranger Z's, skeeters, tritons
doesn't matter which engine in the 225's and larger most of them are okay.


Now i know some will guys will disagree with them and that's okay. this is just from my personal experiences with alot of boats. those listed are best for fit and finish, drivability and resale.

Bass Cat and Bullet wins hands down for customer service!!
I can tell you if you have a mercury on a bullet and have a problem and mercury doesn't step in Bullet dang sure will. Same with Bass Cat.

Ditto Steve,
Let's make this really simple. Simple doesn't mean easy always.

Call up the three or so "finalists" in your personal survey. Give them all the same instructions, "I will be at X ramp at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, *IF* you're interested in selling me a boat, you'll show up, if you're not you won't" Step out of one and into the next, you'll know in thirty minutes what you like.

Don't ever make a decision on a boat sitting on a trailer. Or on what some patch pirate pro staffer tells you without proving it on the water.

patch pirate pro staffer

Most Used Bullets are in tip top shape and you can get one for a good price, much cheaper than a new anything. The Bullet Hull and gel coat last forever and most owners really take care of them. I have a 1998 20XD w/a 225 promax that I picked up for $16,000 but of course I'm in the process of having to rebuild the motor and it's costing me a pretty penny. Anyone who sees this boat swears it looks brand new. I had a guy metion he wished he had my kind of $ so he could have a Bullet and I laughed and said "your boat cost twice as much as mine". he said what do you mean, them boats go for 40 / 50 grand! I said it's a "98" I paid 16k. He "say's a 98! there's no way it looks brand new off the showroom floor".

Go to this site: http://www.bulletowners.com/
Most of these are already sold, they rarely update but it will give you an idea what you could get a good used one for.

Oh yeah I forgott to mention, don't listen to anyone else, if get a Bullet you'll never own a different bass boat. Get ya a 21' foot if you're looking for a smoother ride, get ya a 20' if you want a sports car and a better ride than any Skeeter the same size.

Yamaha VMAX.

Thanks to everyone for the imput. I hear a lot of yeahs for the yamaha vmax. What is it that makes this such a good choice?
And to answer Eagle 2 it is on a 18 ft triton dual console 1999 model and once and only once I squeezed 52 mph out of it. The norm is 45 MPH. To tell you the truth I do not know why I am getting away from triton. I have had no trouble with the boat. In fact it has been great! The evinrude has been a good motor. Only the usual issues we all have had.

And for steve @scp, i have also been thinking about a bass cat but know very little about them, other than a friend has a 94 pantera, with a johnson 150. That boat will run 77mph and handles rough water very well. Is this this case with most bass cats?

skeeters are not pricy at all unless you get into the i class series. rangers,tritons are way higher than skeeters. bullets are nice boats. yamahas are very reliable. i have had 2 of them and never had any problems.

but right now legend makes the best boat on the water.

well jmak19,let me tell you i don't believe there is such a thing as the best boat or motor out there.there are however a lot of nice boats on the market.if you talked to enough people you would find folks that have a good and bad vote on every make out there.i got me a new boat this year.and after running a merc for many years i wanted to get a yamaha hpdi.so i got a zx225 skeeter.i'm very happy with it,i think skeeter's are the best loking boat on the trailer and the water.is it perfect or the best?no,i really like some small features on about every brand.i think if you look at a boat within your price range with the most features and setup for your style of fishing you can't go wrong.just worry about what you think and maybe your wife.rick

77 out of a Pantera with a 150 Johnson? I would not say that is the case with most BassCats. I would say that was a miracle.

I know it sounds fishy. I could not beleive it until I was in the boat with him. It has a digital dash. It hasn't come without testing and evaluating the best place for the jack plate. Everytime we use his boat I am amazed at the speed

Internet foul called...
Speed on the water is a simple matter of weight and horsepower. 77 mph means your friend is turning a 28 pitch prop around 6,000 rpms.

Not on a bass cat, not with a 150.

Sorry, but it's just way too far from reality. A nice running pantera II with a very good running 150 is a 63 mph boat, expertly set up. Even the smaller sabre with a very good running 150 runs 65.

That boat weighs in around 1,400 lbs. A 900 lb Allison with a 150 might possibly hit 75 with a 150, if it's very light, but not ready to fish.

Sorry but outrageous remarks will be called upon.