saw quite a few of the manufacturers proudly displaying their 17'-18' class rigs at the expo this past weekend. I especially took a liking to the new TZX190 Skeeter introduced this year. Great looking boat, and seems to be a great value for a tournament ready rig. I also liked looking at the Ranger display, for their shorter versions of eye candy, the Z118, and Z117.. These rigs seem to be geared more toward the weekend warrior tournament angler, or fun fisher. Nice to see the attention to detail that is put into the larger rigs, go into these smaller less attention grabbing boats.

Hope to see myself in one sometime in the future.

what did you guys see there that impressed you?

What did they change on the ZX190 to make it the TZX model?

People can get financed on these rigs easier

I asked that specifically, and was only told "a few of the bells and whistles have been deleted" Im not all that familiar with the ZX190, so I couldnt compare on sight.

I dig the boats tho, fo sho.

I will never finance a bass boat. I will save, and buy used, BUT.. it was certainly what most of the manufacturers were pushing.. exactly that.. "this boat is far easier to finance" etc etc.

I find it funny, The TZX models they had a few years ago are what they are putting out now. Got rid of all the switch panels that would fail, and used individual rocker switches.

Boat prices and the fishing industry in general are running a close 2nd to government in terms of cost and pricing. Somewhere along the line the manufactors decided we could'nt catch a fish without a $60,000 boat, a $500 reel, $400 rod and a $25 bait, the prices have come to this because of our willingness as fisherman to go along with them, we have all fallen for the marketing trap. The marketing has done exactly what it was intended to do. I for one even though I run a 21' boat am glad to see major league fishing using smaller 18/19' boats powered by 150's. Just like it gov't... I think its time to break the trend. And my hat is off the Steve Kennedy and his 05' 519 ranger with a 200.

I like fishing.

I love my Z118.

Man if I wasn't guiding I would have a 19ftr. I love a shorter boat, they make me look taller! Really though, seem to be easier to maneuver and tend to slide into places easier. Of course the wind will suck a lot more.

I know my TZX200 fits everything I need it to. Fishes a lot bigger and takes rough water, but yet small enough to jack-knife down the interstate and miss most of guard rails.

Love my 18ft boat, just wish there was room for one more battery.

I just went smaller. Looking to get up in the creek myself

I fished for 25 years before I stepped foot in a 20' boat, I guided for years out of a 18'4" champion and then a 19' bass cat. Lately Ive been thinking about going back to a 19' with a 150. Its just become a standard in bass fishing to have a 20+ ft boat its not that its needed. Like Rick Clunn said its a misconception due to marketing that we need and have all this stuff to catch fish. With gas prices the way they are we may see the trend start to shift.

that Z118 was a fine boat and they had a deal that gave you 7 years of warranty from mercury