Boat decision. Need your help!

Guys and Gals,
I need help decided between two possible boats and i want your unbiased opinion. I am deciding between a new 2019 Nitro Z20 with a Mercury 250, with no upgrades for $45K. OR a used 2018 Skeeter FX21 with a Yamaha 250 Vmax with160hrs on it, Solix 15 and 12, 2 powerpoles, jackplate, and Hotfoot for $58K. Also comes with warranty till 2025. Keep in mind that i can put all the extras on the Nitro at wholesale price to make them equal in electronics. Am i wrong for worrying about the skeeter being used? Since the nitro is new from cabelas, wont it be easier to have maintenance and other repairs taken care of? Looking forward to your honest opinions.

Be patient because it's a coming

Skeeter FX21...every True Texans dream...

Lot of factors. Nitro will come with what motor? A 225? Skeeter comes with a 250. Who around you works on mercury or Yamaha? How much in extra is all the upgrades going to cost you?

Maintenance is going to be tough regardless. Repair shops and excellent customer service are typically not used in the same sentence. Proactive/Predictive scheduling and timelines are mostly non-existent

Don't worry about the Skeeter being used, IF it was properly cared for!

Yes, the Merc can be maintained at Cabelas and the Yammie can't.

I don't think the ride between the two is even comparable. Or is it?

FX 21 equipped @ 58K is a very good deal.

I hate to say it but out the 2 skeeter is the better buy.

Skeeter all the way. The Yammy is just fine and your covered for just as long as you would be (or longer) then with the new merc. 3 year factory and can add a 5 year extra with the merc. Check the skeeter out but IMO I’d go with the Skeeter any day!

At least it’s mine

1 more vote for the skeeter.

YOLO

#voteskeeter

Find a BassCat.... you'll be happier.

Ranger

get the biggest boat you can afford...If you ever have to fish big water the bigger the boat the better.

I would get the Skeeter if it were me.

Nitro the better deal there, and the mercury the better motor.

And I fish out of a new Ranger. So not skeeter owner. Lol I have rode in both a lot, and nitro still takes rough water better than anything I’ve rode in. I would have bought one if I didn’t get the deal on the Ranger I got.

If the Nitro has the 8 Cylinder 250 it is a beast. I have a new Z21 and it does take rough water well.
I came out of a FX21 and bought the Nitro. Just my 2 cents!

I'm not a true Texan then because I wouldn't want that hunk of [censored]

Put me in a Legend or Phoniex

Buy Texan buy Skeeter

Nitro hulls are not very strong was at the fiberglass shop and he was fixing a spot on top of rub rail that had s nice chunk in it ask him what happened and he said guy hit it with a tungsten weight.

Nitro all the way for me on those new Z hulls. Pass on the Skeeter.

Between these 2, on the same day go look at both, take a walk around, climb in and then make the deal on the one you feel is right for you in that moment. No lunch to think about it, no forum to cloud your thoughts. They will both be good boats for you. Just keep in mind how much it will cost you equip the nitro, but also you will get to equip it with what you want.
2-12's-$6000
2 power poles - $4000
jackplate, hotfoot, misc - $2,000
so about $12,000 to equip that nitro.

Both new, I would buy the Skeeter but they're not. Something to be said for owning it from Day 1. It is a tie. Buy the one YOU like the most and feel like fits you the best and don't look back.

Depending on when it hit the water that Skeeter could be 3 years old. I think it’s the better boat but that price seems high to me.

I agree, that boat seems priced high. I'd keep shopping, I think you'll find a better deal on a used boat. Your problem now is you are buying during peak demand.

Buy the Nitro and when you hit 160 hours think about owning a boat with 320 instead. Which do you want? Same with graphs, etc. they’ll all be new.

^^^^ This!

I know the last thing you're thinking about now (excited about new boat!) would be resell value but the Skeeter will probably be easier to sell down the road.

The nitro rigged out with new gen 3 electronics is the better value, especially if you can get them at cost. Also the new v8 plus extended warranty still puts you cheaper than the skeeter. In a few years you'll have a very desirable boat that'll still have good value

.............................................NOT

Skeeter.

I like Skeeters better than Nitro. But I too believe the Nitro would be best money spent .

That is a tough one . Guess it comes down to how long you plan on keeping the rig. Someone already mentioned when you reach 160 hours on the Nitro the Skeeter will be at 320 hours. I have heard some guys get nervous with engines approaching 400 hours are more. I personally think modern outboards should last well over 1000 hours.

2 stroke or 4 stroke Merc?

My current boat is a Ranger...and I miss my skeeter. The boat I had before the skeeter was a nitro, I don’t miss that damn thing a bit. 😜

Lol

For warranty concerns right?

Nitro probably won't hold up as well. It'll have a wider front deck. I agree with make sure you have service that is reasonably close.

What he said !!!

I will never buy anything else,,

160 hours is nothing on an outboard if it was run right from day one.

Buy them both...………..

Between the two brands I would go with a Skeeter any day over a Nitro.

Check Nitro hull warranty. I bought a used Skeeter and transferred the hull warranty. I have more stress cracks than I can count. Skeeter told me to pound sand when I asked for it to be repaired even though I was the first registered owner. I still have it because it’s paid for, but I have to say for my first $40k boat purchase I’m disappointed. Estimate for repair was $3500.

This happened to my BILs brand new Skeeter

I'd take the New Merc 250 over a 160 hour Yamaha any day! And I never had stress cracks on my old Nitro like my old Skeeter had. I'd get the Nitro with extended warranty and rig it out with the latest accessories at cost before I would ever consider a used Skeeter/Yamaha that cost more.....

I heard somewhere that Allison was the best bass boat ever? Oh, on your choices? I’d rather have the Skeeter.......but with the Merc! Can’t win huh? Seriously though, buy the BOAT you like best.

Nitro

I own a '06 21i...my fourth Skeeter...and definitely the best...boat has over 600 hrs on it and not a stress crack one..that being said...your either looking for a new boat or a used boat..both have their advantages..imo go new if you can...warranty makes peace of mind...but on the other hand there is a reason the Skeeter is higher than a new Nitro...and I'll leave it at that...

I was looking at the same two boats and ended up with the nitro rigged it up the way I wanted for 55k two helix 10s and ultrex and talons remote drain plug. By myself I can push it around 75mph. The new V8 is a beast I went with the nitro because of the mercury. I really liked the skeeter tho so I’m going to say you would be happy with either.

I’ve owned 3 skeeters, before I bought my 3rd I checked nitro and they are priced the same. Nitros come with basic trolling motor, no front graph, cheap console graph and no backup lights. If you add all the upgrades there is no price difference.

but you don't get the Merc!