Nitro Owners??

[Bulletman20XD]

The VA will more than likely disable me in the next couple of months which will drastically reduce my income. I will have to move to an area with a much lower cost of living and plan to move close to a lake I know well and may guide a bit to afford my fishing habit. That said, my Bullet is not the ideal boat for guiding so a new boat is in my future. I have been researching boats which has caused my blood pressure to explode once I see the cost these days. I will have to buy what I can afford and not what I want. Nitro basically being the cheapest of the big glass boats were looking pretty good at least until I read some reviews from Nitro owners on their Facebook page. I wanted to ask for reviews from current owners here. What are your likes and dislikes? How was your customer service experience? What's your experience with warranty work?

 

Thanks in Advance!

[J Francho]

Sounds like you have a 20XD.  I have a 21XDC, and I would have no issue taking two clients on that boat.  Have you considered looking for a used 21xx?  You would know as I do, that these hulls are solid and don't lose too much value, but still priced less than some of the newer boats out there.

 

Also, sorry to hear of your status.  We owe you more than that.

[PECo]

I have a couple of buddies who recently bought Nitro Z18s from Bass Pro. One of them even worked at Bass Pro when he bought it.

 

Don't buy your boat from Bass Pro. Buy it from a local dealer that knows boats.

[Fishing Rhino]

Chevrolet vs. Cadillac, or whatever brand you care to substitute, with Nitro being the econocar.  

 

I had a new Nitro Z7 bought as a leftover, and it also had a cosmetic issue which was not a problem.  Somehow in the construction the hull was leaned against something, or something was leaned against the rear starboard side of the hull leaving a depression in the hull which could be seen from one angle.  The heat of summer caused that depression to disappear.  Had no issues with the hull.  I traded it for a 2011 Z8 in 2012 and have had no issue with the boat.  

 

The motor however did need to have the oil pump replaced under warranty last year.  

 

The chances are high that it will be the outboard motor that will account for the bulk of your operating expenses.  So, be it a Nitro, a Ranger, a Bullett or any other brand, it will have the same brand outboard hanging on the transom.  

 

I know, Nitros are only available with Mercury.  If you have a problem with Mercury outboards, then look elsewhere.

 

Depreciation will be higher on a Nitro than some of the premium brands.  Something to consider if you plan on replacing your boat every few years.  The hardware on Nitros is not up to snuff with the more expensive boats, but it is still up to the task of doing its job be it hinges, locks, running lights, etc.

 

Here's the important thing.  The fish do not care what platform you are fishing from.  There isn't a brand on the market that makes you a better or a worse fisherman.  Based on seven years, I have never missed a day of fishing or had a delay because of a mechanical problem with the boat.

 

On thing I did do was to install rubber grommets where the trailer wires passed through holes in the trailer frame.  It annoyed me that Nitro would cut corners to save a few pennies.  Don't know if they install them on the trailers today.

 

Didn't take me an hour to install the grommets which can be bought at most hardware stores.

 

 

 

[TOXIC]

I guided out of a NITRO for years....Why?.......Because clients tear up a boat.  My guide boat did what I asked of it and was safe on the water.  I didn't care when clients whacked my console or motor cowling, spilled food, coffee or sodas on the carpet, stepped on, or put a hook in, the seats or any of the other 1000 things they do to wreck a boat.  I also wasn't afraid to take that boat places that I would not take my current boat (a Ranger) to get clients on fish.  That being said, there is very little to be made in the guide business after you get done paying for baits (sponsorships help), liability/business insurance, fuel/oil/increased maintenance, licenses (state/USCG/Business, etc.), wear and tear on both your boat and tow vehicle, launch fees (if you don't have a sponsoring marina), rods & reels (I had to rotate mine out every other year).  Add to that the stress of being under the gun to put paying clients on fish every time you hit the water (it's not easy).  Don't get me wrong, I love guiding but as a money making business or a "side" business, the best thing you can hope for is a good tax write off.  And I had a good stream of return clients that booked me every year.  I could make a list just as long about the good things that come from guiding but income wouldn't be in the top 100. 

[J Francho]

Some good perspectives.  Thanks for that!

[RichF]

My dad has a '14 Z-7 he bought new.  I think the motor has about 150 - 175 hrs on it now.  It hasn't been run all that hard (we don't jump waves and go crazy like some).  It's definitely showing signs of wear and tear.  It's got stress cracks in the fiberglass on the inside next to the seats.  I've heard of other guys with Z-7's putting their feet thru the interior under the console while running (these guys were hitting 3 footers on Ontario at 55mph).  

 

All in all, we like the boat.  It's not perfect, but it's very comfortable to fish out of.

[nocluefisher]

I have a 2016 z18 with the 150 four stroke.. I bought it new in June. I had to have the ignition replaced the first month, it was a pain and the dealership was on it as soon as I had it in and had it fixed when I needed the boat for my next outing. The boat runs nice and I am happy with my purchase. There are going to be some issues as there will be with any product you buy with so many different gadgets on it. I knew when I bought my boat it would not be the fastest, most expensive fancy boat on the water, but as a first time boat owner I thought it was the right boat for me. I have put a few dings in the boat and it is painful every time, but it is what it is. In a couple of years I may or may not look at upgrading, but for what I paid($28k) I won't be underwater when the time comes.

[PECo]

16 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

Here's the important thing.  The fish do not care what platform you are fishing from.  There isn't a brand on the market that makes you a better or a worse fisherman.

[Bulletman20XD]

On 9/12/2017 at 3:00 PM, J Francho said:

Sounds like you have a 20XD.  I have a 21XDC, and I would have no issue taking two clients on that boat.  Have you considered looking for a used 21xx?  You would know as I do, that these hulls are solid and don't lose too much value, but still priced less than some of the newer boats out there.

 

Also, sorry to hear of your status.  We owe you more than that.

Yes J it is a 20XD, my 3rd in 25 years (2 XDs and 1 XRD w/Merc 260 Offshore) So from that you can tell I love my Bullets and will probably cry when I sell it. I'm too old and broke down for the HP stuff and having to rebuild motors out of my pocket! I need something with a warranty, more storage space and a boat that is a little easier on my back when the water gets rough. Many of the lakes I fish can get really rough. Yes a Bullet rides better than many would think but having fished from near every boat brand on the market, I know for a fact Bullets are not a big water boat, 20 or the 21' 10". I don't think I've had my boat past 65-70 in over a year. I had Jay Smith from JSRE rebuild it Dec 15. It now has about 255-260 HP and should run 90+- if set up correctly. I just lost the "want-to" after I rebuilt it. It's 18 years old but I get compliments on it every time I'm at a ramp---EVERY TIME! I take great care of it and pride myself that it looks nearly new at 18. It barely has a scratch on it. When I do sell it, someone is gonna get a hell of a deal.

 

[Bulletman20XD]

11 hours ago, PECo said:

Yes Minnow I'm very aware the fish don't care what boat you're fishing from---Been doing this near my entire adult life. I want something new that I don't have to work on all the time, with a warranty for them to pay for it when something breaks or if a piston decides to exit the exhaust. I will still be fishing competitively and like to have space for the tackle store I have on board. When you have that 30 mile run back to the weigh-in with 25 minutes to get there, new or newer gives you a sense of confidence when tournament fishing!

14 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I guided out of a NITRO for years....Why?.......Because clients tear up a boat.  My guide boat did what I asked of it and was safe on the water.  I didn't care when clients whacked my console or motor cowling, spilled food, coffee or sodas on the carpet, stepped on, or put a hook in, the seats or any of the other 1000 things they do to wreck a boat.  I also wasn't afraid to take that boat places that I would not take my current boat (a Ranger) to get clients on fish.  That being said, there is very little to be made in the guide business after you get done paying for baits (sponsorships help), liability/business insurance, fuel/oil/increased maintenance, licenses (state/USCG/Business, etc.), wear and tear on both your boat and tow vehicle, launch fees (if you don't have a sponsoring marina), rods & reels (I had to rotate mine out every other year).  Add to that the stress of being under the gun to put paying clients on fish every time you hit the water (it's not easy).  Don't get me wrong, I love guiding but as a money making business or a "side" business, the best thing you can hope for is a good tax write off.  And I had a good stream of return clients that booked me every year.  I could make a list just as long about the good things that come from guiding but income wouldn't be in the top 100. 

Toxic as I said at the start, my plan is to guide just enough to make a boat payment. If I get 1-2 clients per month I'll be happy. IF the VA does as I expect (which they called me today my disability physical is next Thursday) my income is about to drastically change. So, if I expect to be able to continue fishing as I do I will have to do something to be able to afford it.

[J Francho]

9 hours ago, Bulletman20XD said:

Yes J it is a 20XD, my 3rd in 25 years (2 XDs and 1 XRD w/Merc 260 Offshore) So from that you can tell I love my Bullets and will probably cry when I sell it. I'm too old and broke down for the HP stuff and having to rebuild motors out of my pocket! I need something with a warranty, more storage space and a boat that is a little easier on my back when the water gets rough. Many of the lakes I fish can get really rough. Yes a Bullet rides better than many would think but having fished from near every boat brand on the market, I know for a fact Bullets are not a big water boat, 20 or the 21' 10". I don't think I've had my boat past 65-70 in over a year. I had Jay Smith from JSRE rebuild it Dec 15. It now has about 255-260 HP and should run 90+- if set up correctly. I just lost the "want-to" after I rebuilt it. It's 18 years old but I get compliments on it every time I'm at a ramp---EVERY TIME! I take great care of it and pride myself that it looks nearly new at 18. It barely has a scratch on it. When I do sell it, someone is gonna get a hell of a deal.

 

Beautiful boat!  Much prettier than mine!. I'd be crying for sure.  I'm actually selling mine too.  I need a smaller, more open boat for big water, with a kicker for HP restricted lakes.  My buddy has a nice Lund tiller that fishes three comfortably, so long as they all know how to fish.  Good luck in your search!