Opinions! Which Bass Boats Are The Best, Etc.?

[Sam]

Ok guys, question for your input.

Which bass boats offer the following?

1. Best fishing platforms.

2. Best handling, especially in rough waters.

3. Best storage facilites.

4. Motors you like to match with the boat.

5. Best range.

6. Best to take a beating and keep on ticking.

7. Anything else?

What do you guys like best about your bass boats and if you are going to buy a new or used one what will you look for?

Just curious.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Stingray23]

good questions. I'd also like to know

[CKFishin]

This will be good.... There is no correct answer everyone has different opinions....

[Bass_Fanatic]

If I could buy any boat it would be a Statos/Champion Elite 210. The Champion hulls were some of the best ever built and now that Stratos bought em out, the Elite 210 is basically a Champion. I would put a Mercury 250 ProXS on it with two HDS 10's, one on the bow and one on a ram mount by my console. I would also have a HDS 7 in the console stritly for GPS. All would be hooked up to structure scan. Of course, 2 powerpoles too! This hull is the absolute best in rough water and still has decent speed. The front deck is HUGE and fishes great!

Now a close 2nd would be a Bullet 21XDC. Its front deck is right at 10' long, it flies (90's), and it handles rough water suprisingly well. I would have a 300 Super Mag on it (baddest looking motor ever made!) with the same electronics.

[Fishing Rhino]

You left out an important consideration from your list. Which boat gives you the most value for your dollar?

Another thing to keep in mind. One of my favorite sayings. A boat is a platform on the water to get you to the fish. The fish do not know if you are in a 70,000 dollar bass boat, or a 700 dollar jon boat.

For value per buck, in a fiberglass boat, I'll make a case for the BPS Nitro. I bought a brand new Z-8 off the showroom floor in April of this year, for 28,000 dollars. It's "sticker price" was 32,000. It was a leftover and had been discounted by 3000 dollars. In addition, I got a thousand dollar gift card for BPS. The only options were trailer brakes, retractable tie downs, and a ratchet type Nitro boat cover.

Just for jollies, I priced a new Z-7 with tandem axle trailer, with tandem (four wheel) brakes, 200 hp Optimax Pro XS, Spare tire carrier on the trailer, etc., so that other than the size difference, it had the same amenities. It priced out at over 35,000 dollars, seven grand more than I paid. That's more than a new (not leftover) Z-8 similarly equipped, by about three thousand dollars.

I traded in a 2009 Z-7 which I had bought new at the same BPS, and there is no comparison between the two boats. The 8 has a much better finish below the decks, and is much smoother in a chop. I was not dissatisfied with my 7, until I got on the water with my 8.

Your best bet is to look around, compare boats, take demonstration rides on breezy days to compare rides, and decide what best suits your needs, wants, and most of all, your finances.

If you are buying new, and are getting serious about a 19 foot (fill in the blank) with a host of options, check on the next size larger, or upscale model, it may come with standard features that will cost you extra on the smaller boat, and you could end up with more boat for less money.

[Stingray23]

^^^^Thats a hell of a deal. I too like the Nitros

[slonezp]

Sam, I too have been researching bass boats for a couple years now. A ton of great boats are available. My first requirement is it needs to handle big water, second is fishability,3rd is price, 4th is storage. etc. My next boat and last boat will be a Charger. A semi custom boat I can have it rigged anyway I want. Not stuck with one motor mfg or TM mfg or electronics mfg. Seems to me a little more value than some of the other mfgs. Basscat, Ranger, and Legend were other boats I considered.

[Sam]

Ck and Bass_Fanatic - the Stratos 210 is beautiful. Looked it up on the Internet.

Fishing Rhino - great advice. Never thought of upsizing to get more features. Still not sure about the Nitro line. But will look at the Z-8s and 9s.

Slone - I don't know the Charger but will look it up.

You guys are the greatest! Thanks for the feed back and let's read what the other guys have to say.

[RyneB]

the best boats are the ones that float. I love my Ranger, but its the only bass boat i have ever been in besides a Z-9. When i was looking for a boat i looked at storage and whether or not it would fit in my garage. I knew i could only fit an 18 footer in my garage, so that helped me narrow down my search.

[slonezp]

Here's there new flagship boat the 797

http://youtu.be/U1Cv0JVf2bw

[tritonguy]

Triton XS series. I have run a lot of different brands but My new 19 XS has them beat. This is my opinion and I'm sure some will disagree.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

30+ yrs of fishing,...been in all kinds of boats, all kinds of brands, sizes, etc,...fact remains, THE BEST bass boat out there,....... is the one you're in!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

A boat is a platform on the water to get you to the fish. The fish do not know if you are in a 70,000 dollar bass boat, or a 700 dollar jon boat.

My epitaph,lol

ps- the fish had no idea that wasn't a yamamoto worm either! (hi RW! )

[RyneB]

Here's there new flagship boat the 797

He might need some more tackle.

[TxGator]

Well heres another option. ProGator. I was looking at their bay boats and had them send me a price on the 210X just for kicks. With a 250HO Etec, tandem trailer, 101 mk tm,and on board charger it was right at 45k. I bet their smaller boats would be close to what the Nitros are going for, especially if rigged with a Merc. Course ya still need electronics. I ended up buying a used boat, just couldnt drop that kind of money right now.

G

[Bass Dude]

I've been in a lot of boats as a co-angler and I've always liked Stratos or a Ranger. I currently own a Stratos 285 and love it.

If I bought a new boat today...it would be a bigger Stratos. As a take off on a post above, I think the value and quality of a Stratos is remarkable. If I had 50g's or more, I would go for a Ranger.

I am not a huge fan of the lighter hulled boats, i.e. Bullet, Allison, Blazer etc. Yes they go 90MPH, but as far as fishability, I don't think they stack up. The storage is very limited and the ride in rough water can be brutal!! Plus, I don't like the looks of them. Even the new ones look 'old' to me.

Just my humble opinion....but I guess that's what you were asking for!

[Brad in MS]

i had the cool opportunity to tour the Basscat factory in Arkansas this past summer.

after seeing the way their boats are constructed i think you'd be hard pressed to find a "better" boat.

and their customer service is second to none.

if it was my money, i'd go with one of the three listed below.

1. Basscat

2. Ranger

3. Phoenix

Brad

[ctf58]

BassCat

Mines a 1998 and is great. driest ride I've ever been in.

[Sam]

^{My good friend has a Bass Cat and he loves it.}

^{Thanks for the input. I sincerely appreciate everyone's guidance.}

[K_Mac]

I own an old tin boat that is "best" for me. I can easily pull it with either of my vehicles and it goes where others can't or won't. I often fish with a friend who has last years Z8. While it is nothing fancy it performs well in all areas. It is a fine boat for the money IMO. If I had unlimited means Ranger would still be my first choice, but the newer Nitros a offer a lot of bang for your fishing buck.

[webertime]

I've been very fortunate to be a co-angler and fish hundreds of days on Champlain (wind factory) and I have to say the "best" boats I am been in are:

The Ranger 522 w/250 SHO (we call it the Freightliner). It's bigger than some apartments, HUGE boat and very stable.

Skeeter FX21w/250 SHO, there are a ton of Skeeter's owned by locals up here and they are very capible platforms, fast and a very smooth ride and handle the 2-4 footers with no issue.

Ranger 521 w/250 SHO, (me 270lbs, owner 160lbs, and all our gear) got up to 73.8mph! Same very sturdy feel of the 522.

Lots of guys are looking at Nitro's now up here. One guy that usually stomps us in the Opens uses a Z8 and loves it.

[NBR]

No specific answer to this question. Most are from pretty good to really good fishing platforms. I went from about a 14' Tinny to a used glass 17' then to a 19'. They all fished about the same but the 19 footer is much more comfortable so I fish longer per time out.