I dont agree with that at all. I have rode in all brands and the nitro is the best ride of any.

OK, I drive a 2008 Z9 so I will offer some input here. I am fairly unbiased and these are my observations:

It's a heavy rig. The hull is 300lbs heavier than a FX21 or a Z520 (I just looked it up) The overall package weight is 4100lbs according to the Nitro website and I bet this is before gas, batteries, gear, etc. I would bet that it is closer to 4500-4700lbs rolling down the highway. It takes a toll on the gas mileage. I have no idea why they are so heavy.

The good news is that equals a very solid ride in rough water.

People talk about the the fit and finish, but don't go into details, I will for a minute. Your 2011 Z8 probably doesn't have any of these issues that my 2008 Z9 has, Tracker Marine Group has made great strides in the last several years on these things. However there is considerable heartburn and brand damage because it took them so long to finally start making changes. For example wiring, look under my dash and its like a drunk monkey wired it. You can't tell what anything is other than just a big ball or wires zip tied together. Not the mention the wire is the smallest gauge they could get away with. This leads to electrical gremlins that are almost impossible to troubleshoot without a complete rewire. Everytime I start the motor the HDS8 reboots. Fun stuff like that.

Second point on fit and finish is the engine compartment, not saying it's bad, but it just doesn't compare the quality and layout of other boats I have seen. Plastic battery trays that are held in place by dry wall screws, battery layout and placement that was never designed for a 36V system, little stuff like that.

The pro's are the storage and fishability. The front deck has it's own area code and the storage is second to none. The Guardian livewells are HUGE. It's fast, easily 86-72 tournament loaded with the 250XS. Hole shot does suffer when it's loaded and full livewells.

Overall it's a great boat, but when you load them up like mine is (36v Foretrex, HDS8, HDS7, and all the bells and whistles) it's a 53K boat. For that price you have to compare it to the other mid 50's rigs and the above issues come into play.

However at 38K it's a freekin steal, so enjoy!

KVD fishes from a NIRO...enough said

Lame argument. KVD will fish out of any boat that pays him the most money, bottom line.

I have to say, I just sat and read this entire thread. I laughed a lot, good reading. IMO, the "keeping up with the Jones's" rules this thread. Some people are so worried about looking like fisherman and paying $ insert your ungodley price here for a tool that will probably not be used more than 25-50 times a year. The TRUTH of the matter is, there are so many people that in so far over their heads that it is a shame. I realize that there are plenty of people that have the money to blow on these, top of the line, brand name, bass boats. Don't get me wrong, they are NICE rigs. I would die to have one of those brand new Nitros, never the less a Ranger, Skeeter, Basscat, Statos Elite (the old Champs). The truth is I will probably will die before I own one of those because I am not willing to sacrifice that much money on a tool that I will use for a hobby. I love to fish probably more than most, but I will never be a Pro. So I am not going to spend that much money to look like one.

So to wrap this up, buy what you can justify spending on a hobby, love what you buy, and don't bash anyone else's equipment. I won the 1st 4 tournaments I ever fished in 1998 out of a 1975, 15ft Kingfisher, 70 hp Merc that you had to spray Carb and Choke cleaner in the carb to crank, storage box lids broke and coming unhinged, baling wire holding the TM on, livewell pump and bilge with alligator clips (negative always hooked up and when you wanted to fill livewell, then hook clip on the positive), you get the idea. I had people make fun of me the 1st 2 weeks, but after I won 4 in a row, it stopped. You don't have to have a an Escalade to drive to work. Their awesome if you can afford them, but my little plain jane GMC will do the same job at 1/4 the cost.