Upgrading my boat

[Oufb90]

I have a 2003 triton tr-175 with a 115 Mercury on it that I like quite a bit. It's gotten a bit small now that I've gotten into some tournament fishing this year. I'm thinking of getting a 4-6 year old Skeeter zx200. Seems to be what I'm liking the most for that price range. Any preferences for a different boat or dislikes of the zx200? 

[crypt]

skeeter is darn good boat.you can't go wrong with that model. 2 guys in our club have one. they love em. if I didn't love my Ranger so much i'd have a skeeter. 

[Zachh Nute]

Lots of guys I know love the way the skeeter runs. But there's little things that they hate about them. Some of the engineering that went into them, just doesn't make any sense. I personally prefer Ranger or Triton. I could be a tad biased, though...

[tcbass]

22 hours ago, Zachh Nute said:

Lots of guys I know love the way the skeeter runs. But there's little things that they hate about them. Some of the engineering that went into them, just doesn't make any sense. I personally prefer Ranger or Triton. I could be a tad biased, though...

 

What little things?

[Catt]

1 hour ago, tcbass said:

 

What little things?

Yes! Please elaborate!

[Zachh Nute]

First off, would be lack of storage in comparison to other boats. The glove box on the passenger console leaks water in heavy rain, the underseat storage leaks during heavy rain. Also the trailers aren't made to last. I have a buddy who has a 2011 and looks like it should be a 2007, my 1994 trailer looks better than his. Just some of the things I've heard...

[Catt]

Typical cookie cutter answers!

Lack of storage?

Have you compared the actual square footage?

Never seen a problem with any leaking of any compartment.

Trailer! Ya keeping em indoors or outdoors?

@Oufb90 you'll be fine in a ZX, I would look at BassCat & Legend.

[fishnkamp]

I agree about the storage. I test rode on one at the BASS Elite event on the Upper Chesapeake Bay. It was a 20 footer and honestly I have more storage on my Lowe Stinger 170 and it is only a 17.5 foot aluminum. In fairness, we once compared it to a Tennessee guide's Z8 and he was amazed that I had more storage and a wider front deck than his Z8 had also.  Its deck stays wide far further than most and I have two huge storage boxes split by a center rod box.  The deal with the Skeeter storage is how the make the box lids bigger than the storage hole. You need to see it, it is hard to explain.  For me I have big hands and had some difficulty opening their latch bar too, it is sorta recessed and tight to the edge of the lid.  Maybe it is me because plenty of Skeeter owners love them. As for ride, fit and finish it is an awesome boat. We test rode in a Skeeter, Nitro and a Triton.  I love love love the Yamaha SHO engine, but prefered the Triton layout. The ride was very similar between the Triton and Skeeter. This was Saturday, during a major tournament, plus all of the local recreational boats which go from runabouts and ski boats all the way up to 60 plus foot long boats, so all of the Northeast River and the Susquehanna River looked like a washing machine. I was not impressed by either the Merc ProXS on the Triton or the Nitro/Merc ProXS combo. I have never liked any version of an Opti-POPS, although I had hoped they were improved.  I would stick to the SHO for me. I would like to get a ride on a boat with a Etec G2 I hear good things about them. I do have a different guide I use on Dale Hollow Lake that has an early Etec and loves it. It is 6 years old I think and has needed very little attention.

I suggest you test run a Skeeter and see if you fall in love with it. You might want to bring your boat and transfer all of your tackle and see if or works for you. I am pretty sure you will like the ride for sure. 

[Oufb90]

The boat I have now is a smaller triton and I like it quite a bit but I've heard the larger tritons put water on your face in choppy water but I hadn't been on one. 

[custer]

I rode backseat on a triton during last year's classic on Kerr.

 

The only water I took was from the trolling motor. 

 

I fished backseat on a skeeter on the Chicahominy and we hit a large wake and buried the nose . Got quite wet on that one.. 

 

Fished backseat on an older ranger 2 years ago and loved the ride,  the storage. . Well, honestly,  everything. 

 

I've got a tracker 175txw and am upgrading to the Ranger.

[Oufb90]

I assume going from my tr175 (under 18) that any 20+ foot boat would feel like it had a lot more storage but I feel like I have decent storage now for a boat that size. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Oufb90 said:

I assume going from my tr175 (under 18) that any 20+ foot boat would feel like it had a lot more storage but I feel like I have decent storage now for a boat that size. 

Have a look at BassCat & Legend, both are in my opinion that best rides out there!

[Oufb90]

I appreciate the info. I'll definitely have a look at both before I buy this offseason. Are boat dealers as bad as car dealers whenever it comes to trade-ins? Should I just try to sell it out right?

[RyneB]

I had a 2000 Ranger I traded in on a 2015 skeeter with with a 175hpdi. They are both excellent boats, and the only thing I can say I would take the Ranger over the skeeter is live well size. my Rangers was huge and my skeeters is on the smaller side. the Ranger was heavier so it seemed to fish more stable in rough water. the skeeter ride is night an day compared to the Ranger, granted, the Ranger was a lot older. the skeeter feels nimble, quick, and smooth. my Ranger was beaten up pretty good by the previous owner, but everything was still rock solid on that boat. only thing I had to fix was a rod locker spring.

[Catt]

My number one requirement in a bass boat is to handle rough water well; BassCat & Legend lead the pack.

[RyneB]

champion is a great rough water boat, so is legend. IV only been in a basscat once on the Mississippi, and I was unimpressed with its rough water ride. a driver can make a HUGE difference.

[Zachh Nute]

On ‎9‎/‎17‎/‎2016 at 7:14 PM, Catt said:

My number one requirement in a bass boat is to handle rough water well; BassCat & Legend lead the pack.

I'm starting to see a trend. You seem a tad bit biased.

One of the guys I fish with on my trail is sponsored by Skeeter. He told me all those things about the newer Skeeter boats and that Skeeter is trying to fix those issues.

I was giving my opinion. No need for any animosity. Relax.

[Catt]

44 minutes ago, Zachh Nute said:

I'm starting to see a trend. You seem a tad bit biased.

One of the guys I fish with on my trail is sponsored by Skeeter. He told me all those things about the newer Skeeter boats and that Skeeter is trying to fix those issues.

I was giving my opinion. No need for any animosity. Relax.

Ya got a good imagination if you can get animosity out of my post!

The guys I fish with are sponsored by Skeeter, Ranger, BassCat, Legend, Triton, & Nitro.

Ever heard of a boat lane?

It is a 60-100' wide path cut through timber & is where you must keep your boat.

Get outside these boat lane at any speed above a fast idle & will end up with a broke transom, lower unit damage, or a hole in the hull.

Ya wondering what that has to do with which boat to choose?

When our lakes get rough you can not pick to optimal angle to run because you have to stay in boat lanes.

Hince my #1 requirement is rough water ride.

The picture below is what lies below the surface of Toledo Bend!

RANT OVER

[Willmoon05]

Had a Skeeter ZX 225 I am in the process of trading in. Bought it used from a friend who just had a new powerhead installed. So far in 25 months I have had to change out a foot and have another power head installed. The storage under seats do leak in even moderate rain. I loved  the boat itself but no way I would have a Yamaha 225 on it. When the shop called to order the powerhead they said it would be a couple weeks they cant keep them produced fast enough. That in itself tells you there is a problem.