I've owned the Kia of the bass boat market and will never own another Tracker Marine product. My 882nx fell apart from the inside out. Out of the 20+ boats I have owned that one by far was the worst.

Have had a Nitro--do not want another!!

It's like reading a bunch of 15yo girls argue about cooler clothing brands. If you like the boat and can afford it buy it. Service from the seller is a bigger deal than the sticker on the side. If you pull of the Ranger and Skeeter badges you'll save $15k on the price. I love my dads Z8 and I plan on a Nitro in the next 6months

Wow, I have put hundreds of hours on mine, hit stumps, slid over stumps, beached it on a rocks more then once. Once I bent the trim rod and ripped off the hydraulic steering, with no damage to the transom. I constantly drive in 3ft+ waves. Have speared many waves. I fish manly Toledo Bend and Rayburn, with a little bit of Livingstom mixed in. But I have yet to have all these problems with the 3 Nitros I have owned. I have had warranty work performed, but nothing major. Right in line with other brands that fish as much as I do. If the Z9 is such a bad boat, we need to start bashing some of the other brands mentioned too.

I would buy one, I own a 09 i bought used. The quality is there. I am not a fishing guide,just weekend user. I have had great service at BP in Grapevine . I will take you for a ride anytime. If you have any questions just call me.

Randy Witt
214 325 7628

well bmcd u want bashing ill give you my opinion on my 2006 champion 206. Ill start with whats broke since had it. 3 livewell pumps, hydraulic steerimng, gelcoat spider cracking 2 times, lost three glued in cupholders, lost centercap to steering wheel, driver side console is loose so rattles and windshield has popped off once, and seats coming apart. And to many this might seem like petty small stuff but when in 06 u drop 52 grand on a fully loaded boat this small stuff shouldnt happen imo. Ive road in a z8 and i really liked boat. Id have no problem owning one. Personally worst boat i have ever been in was a skeeter and thats three different models. Ill never own one. Its all personal opinion.

Not me.

Don't want to get into bashing other boats, but for around 30-32K there are better boats out there,u need to get out and ride in them and check out if they "fit" good enough for u

Like I stated in a similar post in the boating section. Quality issues on a boat can show up quickly but a good deal of the time they manifest themselves after several years. Water and the elements are your main concerns unlike something mechanical like a vehicle.

I have a 2009 Nitro Z-7. No, don't buy a Nitro. Service sucks, and I have used the service department more times than I should for my boat being a year old. My boat was bought in 2010 new off the showroom floor. The screws that hold on the bumper trim come out. They back themselves out and create little waves on the side of the boat. This happens from trailering i assume. I don't fish on rough water lakes. Little things are already falling apart. The interstate batteries will not last and leave you stranded in the middle of the lake. The livewell system doesn't make sense either. It is a split tank with a divider. The seperate sides are not big enough to fit an 8lb plus bass if you are tournament fishing. The motor guide trolling motor that comes with it had a cable break. Boat was out of commission for over two weeks while the service department waited on parts. This was durring prime time fishing too.

It's the little things that matter. Paying a bit more for another brand will get you those little things.

Sean sorry you had such bad luck, service on any brand can make or break a deal. As to some of the other issues you stated, the screws back out on lots of other brands, I consider that part of my normal maintenance on my Z7. My Interstates are 3 years old, still kicking. The livewell controls still confuse me, but I did fit my new personal best of 7.46 in there fine a month ago.

To me a couple the issues you had were not necessarily indicative of the Nitro boat itself, but with the 3rd party equipment installed on the boat.

I own a Nitro and as I stated probably in this thread as well as on other boards, it is a Ford vs Chevy debate. For the originator, buy what you want, and quit worrying about what everyone else has to say, unless of course they all pitch in a few bucks a month towards your payment!

Owned a 1995 Nitro 2000 DC for ten years. Fished three to four times a month every month with basically no problems. Sold the boat a couple of years ago to a friend who is still fishing out of it today. Still no problems. When I sold it I bought a Nitro 288 fish and ski because I was so satisfied with the performance. Ford vs chevy...

Well guys I started this post a year ago and people are still talking about it....so I thought I would let yal know what I bought...Went down to Uncle Gus on Lake Whitney and looked at the Phoenix Boats like them a lot, Phoenix also makes the Bee Line, James with Uncle Gus had a 21 foot Bee Line on the show room with 225 Yamaha great looking boat...we test drove it on Whitney in about 25 mph winds that day and the ride was great..like everyone has said buy what you want and like and afford and that is what I did....bought it new in November 2010 and has fish a lot this year in it....all I can say is it's a great boat and Phoenix is a great company, talk to Gary Clouse/ Owner of Phoenix Friday at the PAA in Garland and he confirmed what I was feeling about my boat�I know that is his job to talk great about his product, but when it is a great product it is kind of easy to talk about�. I fish a lot with my 11 year old son and fish in Tournaments with him and I fell safe when the wind is up like it has been this year ( I know time will tell about the Phoenix/Bee Line, but if you ever see me on the water and want to take a ride let me know�..Thanks Slim