Looking for opinions on 2002 Nitro NX882

[Jeff P.]

I'm looking at a used 2002 Nitro NX882 150HP Merc XR6. The boat is in very good condition, has been kept in a storage building out of the weather. Not a whole lot of hours on it, about average 2-3 trips per month during fishing season. The boat has dual console, 2 fishfinders (nothing special), 3 new batteries, new tires and new spare tire, trailer brakes, keel guard, on board 3-bank charger.

Basically this is a well-kept boat. Asking price is $11,500. Picture attached.

Thanks.

[cart7t]

I don't have a link but Kelley blue book has a service available on the net for pricing boats.  You might want to google them up and run that boat through their ringer to see if the price is close.

By the way!  Go over the trailer, especially the crossmembers with a fine tooth comb. Nitro trailers were infamous for their crossmembers rusting out FAST!!

[Ben]

My concern would be that size boat in a dual console.  See how well your 7' rods will fit in the rod lockers without jamming and having the tip hang on the wires and stuff in the bow.  I went from a single to a dual console because my dad is 76 and wanted something for him to sit behind.  My boat is a 20' and it still has problems handling my 7' rods without the tip getting into the wiring etc in the tip of the bow, even with the rod storage tubes in the port box.

As for price, that just depends on how bad you want the boat.  If you're not dead set on "THAT" boat, you can probably negotiate it down a $K or so.

[DeereRun97]

I don't have a link but Kelley blue book has a service available on the net for pricing boats. You might want to google them up and run that boat through their ringer to see if the price is close.

Kelly blue book only has personal watercraft pricing. But here is a web site for pricing any boat, and I mean any boat. http://www.nadaguides.com/ I just bought a 1977 polar craft 16" and did searches for it on the web and came up with vary little imformation and no pictures. So I was surprised when www.nadaguides.com not only found my 1977 polar craft but had every modol for every lenght made that year. 30 all together, 11 differnt 16 footers. Polar craft must have been a populer boat 30 years ago.

There are three blue books generally accepted in the U.S. and used by boat dealers, the NADA Marine Appraisal Guide, the BUC Used Price Guide, and the ABOS Marine Blue Book. You can find copies of them at marine insurance agents or banks that handle boat financing. They come in handy when buying and selling a boat.

[cart7t]

I don't have a link but Kelley blue book has a service available on the net for pricing boats.  You might want to google them up and run that boat through their ringer to see if the price is close.

Kelly blue book only has personal watercraft pricing. But here is a web site for pricing any boat, and I mean any boat. http://www.nadaguides.com/ I just bought a 1977 polar craft 16" and did searches for it on the web and came up with vary little imformation and no pictures. So I was surprised when www.nadaguides.com not only found my 1977 polar craft but had every modol for every lenght made that year. 30 all together, 11 differnt 16 footers. Polar craft must have been a populer boat 30 years ago.

There are three blue books generally accepted in the U.S. and used by boat dealers, the NADA Marine Appraisal Guide, the BUC Used Price Guide, and the ABOS Marine Blue Book. You can find copies of them at marine insurance agents or banks that handle boat financing. They come in handy when buying and selling a boat.

Oops, you're right, it's NADA.  Got them mixed up with Kelley.

As for the boat, that's a pretty good price.  That particular boat was selling for around $20-21k new. The seller has depreciated the thing 50% which is about right for a Nitro. That brand doesn't hold it's value well in a resell.

[Jeff P.]

Thanks for the replies.  I went to the bank and got some information about the boat.  The trade-in value that they have listed in their NADA guide for the boat is $11,300, with retail price between $10,900 (low retail) to $13,200 (average retail).  This boat has a couple "nice to haves" that seems to make it a pretty good value for the asking price (well-kept, new batteries, new tires, etc).  I'm going to meet the guy to take it out on the lake, and I'm bringing along my Father-in-Law who has owned his own bass boat for 20+ years to get his opinion.

Thanks.

[cart7t]

Remember, check out the crossmembers on that trailer closely.  Tracker built tubular steel trailers. The crossmembers had weep holes for water drainage but the insides never dried out. I've heard many, many cases of guys with 2 or 3 year old trailers under their Nitro's that are rusting out.  I believe they've now gone to a channel frame trailer.

[redboat]

I just traded in my Nitro "Death Trap 700" on a Triton 196.  It was an OK first bass boat, but don't try to take one out in a wind over 5 mph or cross anything like a boat wake.

I suggest you test drive the boat before you buy it.  Not certain if all Nitros suffer from the instability problems the 700 LX does but if so you'd be better off finding out before you buy it!

[Madhouse27]

If you end up liking the boat and are ready to buy it keep in mind his asking price is $11,500 so I would offer him 10 grand. You guys will probably meet at $10,500. Definately take it for a spin first.

[cart7t]

I just traded in my Nitro "Death Trap 700" on a Triton 196.  It was an OK first bass boat, but don't try to take one out in a wind over 5 mph or cross anything like a boat wake.

I suggest you test drive the boat before you buy it.  Not certain if all Nitros suffer from the instability problems the 700 LX does but if so you'd be better off finding out before you buy it!

That 700 and the 640 series Nitro's were built on a much narrower hull than the NX882.

[redboat]

I just traded in my Nitro "Death Trap 700" on a Triton 196. It was an OK first bass boat, but don't try to take one out in a wind over 5 mph or cross anything like a boat wake.

I suggest you test drive the boat before you buy it. Not certain if all Nitros suffer from the instability problems the 700 LX does but if so you'd be better off finding out before you buy it!

That 700 and the 640 series Nitro's were built on a much narrower hull than the NX882.

Yeah, I know - and I've never driven an 882; it may be better than the 700 (which Nitro no longer makes) - but like all Nitro boats its more or less flat on the bottom, not much V in the hull. I could get my 700 into coves which were less than a foot deep, the flat bottom's great for that; but its also not a very seaworthy hull design.

[tunnelengineer]

Doesn't look like too bad a deal.  Check it out first though.  I agree on the $10,500 price.