I am wondering if you Nitro bass boat owners can give me an honest opinion. Are you getting what you pay for? Good or bad.

From the guys Ive known that have had Nitros, I would say no. They are real proud of their boats and I dont know why. Im not sayin they are a bad boat, in fact the designs they have are some of my favorites, but Im not sure if I would want to own one.

I had a 2001 - 882 w/Mercury 150xr. It was to me and everyone that rode in it an excellant boat for my first boat. It was a 18 1/2 ft boat. It did an outstanding job of getting me everywhere I wanted to go, with this being said I now own a 2006 Puma BassCat and there is a world of difference. The ride and fishability are as different as night and day. Would I change anything that I did? NO. The Nitro was a great first boat and for the price I did not do wrong. FYI I purchased both boats new.

I have a 2005 NX 750. 17.6 ft 115 elpto on it. I bought it used, but have had it 3 going on 4 years. In rough water I am limited, and try to run in as fast and safe as I can. It will jump around, but it is 17.6 ft, and any 17.6 would do that due to the size and weight. It has higher sides and I have always stayed dry, plenty wide for me.

It has plenty of storage, but I have to use the stick jackets to handle rods up to 7ft. Any larger and they wont fit, the stick jackets let me put as many as I want in the rod box. I use the other rod box and center box for gear and tackle. I have storage under one seat, and a cooler in the other. The cooler could be bigger.

The live well has a pump out and recirc, and is insulated. We have not lost a fish in a summer tourney, but I take a lot of care in keeping the water cool, please release me. I took the divider out as with the divider its really not big enough, but when you catch 14 inch fish I guess it doesnt matter. I can put the divider back in with no prob.

I have two deep storage bins behind the seats. they are removeable to get to the inside of the boat. they have been ok when I have someone with me, they can put tackle in one, and weather gear, lunch, etc in the other.

plenty of room in the back storage area, I added a 24v tm so 3 batts in the back, 3 bank charger, and I had a DC charger also, but took it out, I could go to 36 v and have plenty of area for all four batteries. The gas tank is behind the storage bins running the width of the boat, I have access to the livewell to add an oxyengenator or lights if needed. The only thing hard to get to was the bilge, I broker and replaced it and it was kinda under the gas tank.

The hull has been good, its scratched up from going in the trees. I noticed one crack on it yesterday on the upper rail, real small, but, i am pretty hard on it. I think that it would compare to any 17.6 ft boat on the market as good or better.

It would not bother me to buy a larger nitro, z7, z9 etc, based on this boats preformance, but this one has several more years on it. The 115 sips gas to, and will run from 45 to 50 depending on load, on gps.

I dont know how a z-9 compares to a the same size legend, skeeter, etc. The only 20-21 ft I have fished out of are Triton, Skeeter and BCB.

I got a very good deal on mine from a local dealer, it was a repo boat and not used much at all. so for the used boat, the value was great. I have not had a bad experience at all with mine.

I bought a new Z8 last year and really like it. Have run Skeeters and Pro Crafts and fish occasionally in a Triton. The boat gets up super fast and I have had it in some pretty rough water here on Toledo Bend and it has been fine. If I was going to complain about anything it would be:
(1) A bit more detail needs to be given the boat is sucuring cables, etc and
(2) I had a console put in the left side and they did very little to utilize the available space for storage, etc. The glove compartment is a joke. That's not many complaints for a new rig.

I have a Mercury 225hp on the transom and it seems perfect for the boat size. You have lots of space in the front and back for fishing and unlike some boats it is a fairly dry ride.

There are a number of great boats on the market .. but I am pretty happy with the Z8-- JB

I to had a nitro for my first boat and now have a bass cat puma and there is no comparison but the nitro was a good boat. The thing about nitros, especially new nitros is that in order to keep the cost down there is nothing on them and they are underpowered with motors and to include the trolling motors. It may look like good deals on new nitros but they again have nothing on them.

I've never owned one.. but looked very heavily at them for a 2011 model. and I was looking at the z-9.
As mentioned above, by the time you pay for the higher end motors, graphs, TM, and trailer options, you are spending well over 50K...
The depreciation factor kicks in then.. and the loss was just FAR greater on a Nitro than all other boats..
So for 50K, I decided to go with Bass Cat Eyra.. Better quality in my opinion, better resale, and the cost was the same..

Mo

I have a 2008 Z-7 and like the wide front deck and lots of storage. Great ride with 150 opti. Only problem so far is gel coat cracks all repaired under warranty. I shopped around for a couple of years before buying and couldn't find anything close for the price.

I own a Nitro Z-7 with a optimax 200, I will honestly say that if I was going to buy another boat I would go back with the same thing I have. I fish Texoma a lot and several big body lakes and it has done everything I ask for. People can say what they want about Nitro's but I look at it a little different in that the trolling motor and Mercury gets me to where I am going and the boat does not get me soaked getting there. I have not found anything that says Nitro is far less a boat than any other boat.

I agree, if you're spending $50k, don't get a Nitro. If you're trying to spend $20k or less and you find a good deal on a Nitro, I wouldn't spend less just because it says Nitro on the side. They generally come with less extras, but you just have to decide if that's stuff you have to have on your boat. And if it is, are there any boats in your price range that include those options?

I went from Ranger boats to Nitro Boats and can say there is not anything I regret making switch. I owned 2008 Z9 CDC and now 2010 Z8 and both boats I have had very little problems with. Neither boat was ever in shop for any reason. I purchased both my boats from Nitro National Team owner both had right at 40 hrs on engine and 5 year warranty. Both were fully loaded newest electronics and save thousands off retail price. The new Z boats have the new improved hull and jumps right on top water empty or loaded. Yes next boat will be Nitro as well.

Thanks guys, I got a sweet deal on a new 2006 Skeeter SX 190 with a Yamaha V-Max 150. Purchased the boat from a co-worker who won it at a tournament it is my first boat. I have really enjoyed it but was thinking of moving up to a bigger boat. I have seen the Nitro's but wanted your opinions.

No I purchased the Skeeter in 2007 and I am still looking.

I have an 08 z6 with a 115 opti. I wish the trolling batery was in the back beside the cranking battery, other than that, I really like it. The motor is plenty big for the boat. It runs 53 mph @ 5600 rpms. It's favorite speed is about 40 at 4000 rpms, at any rate thats pretty fair. I can fish rayburn for a month without touching a gas pump. It makes oil as well! My note is real reasonable, and dad and I caught two double digits out of it last year. I was a senior in college when I got it, will buy a ranger next, but legend builds one heck of a boat too!

I myself looked into the Nitro Z-8 in 2009 but wound up buying a Skeeter ZX 200 because the Nitros was cheaper but if I would have upgraded everything to the same stuff my Skeeter came with I would have paid about 4000 more dollars for the Nitro and I didnt want to do that. Skeeters IMO are alot nicer boat then the Nitro. The Nitro is a better rough water boat then the Skeeters I think but the Skeeter is way faster out of the whole and over all. You give up some in every different boat brand some is better than others in areas and so on so forth but get what you want. Some people dont like Skeeters and I love them.