Nitro 189

[ScottWilt]

Hi All,

I am really thinking hard about buying 2010 model Nitro 189 (Sport/Fish). I am wondering if anyone on here has any experience with this boat? I have a wife and kid, therefore the bass boat option at this time would not be the best choice for enjoying family time on the water. I originally checked this boat out at Bass pro shops. I think I am going to go with the Merc Optimax 150 2stroke motor. Any recommended options that are a must?

Nitro owners/Tracker owners: Do you feel you got a good value for your money given the fact they have the "No Haggle, No Hassle" pricing?

Thanks for any feedback anyone can provide.

Thanks

Scott

[cart7t]

Back a few years ago, when the kids were younger and smaller and we did the whole "family fun" thing with the boat, the wife and I looked at one of those new 18 1/2 ft Nitro Ski and Fish boats along with a few others. I emphasize the Ski part because the room available for fishing sucked. There wasn't any. From the postage stamp back deck to the front deck that wasn't much bigger to virtually no storage mostly due to the interior space being compromised for those back seats and those snitzy swivel captains seats.

I just went over and priced one of those. You're going to be looking at 30 Grand for one of those boats when you're done planting the 150 on the back.

You can get a heck of a nice 19-20ft bass boat which you and your family can enjoy just as much as that Ski and fish AND you'll have a great fishing platform for the whole year. I skipped that fish and ski and never regretted it.

BTW, if your heart is set on one of those type boats, I wouldn't even consider anything smaller than a 20 footer.

[Hot Rod]

I gotta agree with Cart.

I think its easier to have "family fun" (i.e. ski, tube, cruise, picnic, etc.) in a bass boat than to try to effectively bass fish from a fish/ski type.

I guess it just depends on what you want to do most often and best.  If you are skiing/tubing 90% of the time, the fish/ski and is probably the way to go.  Not so much if you want to do much serious bass fishing.

My family and I have a great time on my 18.5' bass boat when we are all out together.  Though I spend far more time fishing on it than anything else.

JM.02

[ScottWilt]

Thanks for the input guys keep it coming.

[Bigs]

Its actually a decent fish ski boat , tops out around 55 or so with a 150 on it. But for that kinda money you can get a great used boat. A fish ski less then 20 feet is not a good idea imo. Even my dual console 20 foot bass boat gets awkard sometimes with 3 people in it. You're family is gonna feel cramped when fishing and moving around alot on there. On the other hand if youre gonna do other water sports most of the time then go for it. I still think a bassboat is just as fun but opinions vary. Good luck.

[midnighthrasher]

I looked at the nitro 189 and the ranger reata 186. I ended up with the ranger and i love it. Its amazing. Another guy that i met on my lake has a 189 and its a good boat but the reata 186 is a awesome boat. Plus you can put 7' rods in the locker.

[centxfisherman]

I have a 2004 Nitro 288 (same as the 2010 289 from what I can tell...little if any changes) and really like it.  If you can spend the extra money to step-up to the 20' 289 model I would.  It offers a 8' beam and you will find when fishing on either front or rear casting deck there is virtually no sway when stepping or kneeling at the edge of the boat.  Mine has the Mercury 200HP 3.0 litre with a 4-bladed stainless prop and will top-out around 62-63 mph.  Not super fast but fast enough for me.

As we all know when you get a hybrid type boat it does neither (fish or ski) perfectly.  I'm the first to admit that mine pales in comparison to a true bass boat (I've owned a Champion bass boat) as it pertains to size of casting decks, rod storage (although mine holds 8 or more easily and 7 footers too) and windshield interference (but very nice to duck behind on cold, damp mornings).  Mine does offer live wells fore and aft and the same for fish finders and offers a lot of storage space.

It does a really nice job for pleasure boating and sking/tubing.  It has really heavy-duty ski pilon that anchors into the floor for sturdiness.  It offers padded seating in the bow for two that like to lounge and stretch-out and comfortable padded seating for 5 possibly 6 in the back.

I have to disagree that a true bass boat offers enough comfort to be used as a family and ski boat.  Will it do the job, sure.  With my Champion bass boat I tried to convince my wife and friends that when we took a late evening boat ride that sitting on rod storages and casting decks was comfortable enough...wrong! 

You have to decide which purpose is most important and most frequently used.  If you are a serious bass fisherman first, get a bass boat and try to make it as comfortable as possible when used on a family outing.  If sking/tubing and family time is most important, get a pleasure boat with an open bow and you can rig it to fish out of on the few occassions you go fishing.  But if you are like me, where both are equally important (and keeping the wife happy is Very Important!) the Nitro 289 I think does a very nice job of doing each pretty well.

Now as far as quality goes you get what you pay for and the Nitro delivers a pretty good bang for the buck.  Does it have the quality of a Ranger, Champion or Triton fish/ski boat, honestly, no.  I thought it did the best job however of addressing both needs (fish/ski) equally while saving a few dollars as well.  Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it...lol.

[retiredbosn]

I have a ski and fish and agree with the statements so far about no room to fish.  The next one will be straight fishing, the kids and wife don't use the boat near as much as I do.  Plus the straight bass boat will do skiing just as easy as a ski and fish.

[toothdoc]

I have a 2009 Nitro 290 Sport, which was a new model this year.  It is 19'6" and has an 8'4" beam.  I have a 200 Optimax on it and it is a great boat.  For 2010  they discontinued the 288 so the 189 and 290 are the only Nitro F&S's now.  There is a ton of room in the 290 and it will hold 7' rods.  It is a heavy boat though, but I wanted a deeper V because I do a lot of fishing in Lake Michigan.

[ScottWilt]

Toothdoc,

What options did you go with?  Any you wish you would have?  What about fish/depth finders?  Did you go with the Lowrance that Nitro does as an option or did you install your own?

Thanks

Scott

[hugehits]

Looks like these posts are a few years old. I bought a 189 tracker and have the 115 optimax. Top end would be 50 mph when boating alone. The only issue I have with the boat is the low bow and having water constantly coming in the front. I usually flood this boat every time I go out. It does get cramped with four people. I use it for fishing mainly and tubing. I really like the boat, it performs what I need, lots of space storage etc. The speakers are awful, distorted and muddy. It is an easy to maintain boat, starts every time. The other thing I am not crazy for is the boat cover. So hard to put on in the water. I had a snap on one made and it works so much better and quicker. I would have bought a real Bass boat if I would have known there was only going to be minimal water sports.

I need to remount the fish finder, and I am looking for suggestions for a bow fish finder as I use a lot of trolling motor fishing. Suggestions anyone?

[Nitrofreak]

As far as the fish and ski its AWESOME for family fun and not too bad to fish from at all.

The only thing I would suggest is get the largest engine you can, a 150 is a great performer for lighter loads but if you get several people on while pulling a skier it does do ok but works a good bit harder to get up out of the water.

You can change props to help aid with that at the time you place your order for the boat unless it already comes with the performance prop but if there is an option to go with a little larger engine package I would go that route, but if you know for sure that it will always and forever be just you and your family on board its a great package, once you get the boat you will most likely have some new friends too.

Good luck the 189 is a fun boat for the family and be safe!!

[NBR]

With one child you could have a third seat mount put in the floor between the front and rear deck. Or you could just have one of the others fish with you off the front dect or with your wife off the rear deck. While the fish/ski sounds good I think they are like any other compromise not the best at either. My boats have always been straight fishing but I have hauled skiers and tubers and we had a great time. Kids are now grown and gone and I'm real glad my fishing boat is a fishing boat. I haven't looked up the specs on you model but I'd go with the largest hp motor rated for the boat. With good care and baring accident both motor and boat will last a long time. Mine is garaged (heated) and looks new but is 20+ years now. I only wish it was a bit longer with the lasgest motor according to rating.

I think the Nitro's are in general a good value.

[Mct010]

I have a 2003 188 nitro fish and ski, and it has a wireless motorguilde on it, which helps out allot for fishing and I took the ski pole used for skiing, and added (manufactured) my own fishing pole holder to it for trolling up to 6 rods, My son and I fish on it with no problems, and when the wife and daughter want to go boating,  it works great for them too.

 

When the kids are gone though, I'll upgrade to a bass boat and might even be a guide in retirement....... that's the plan anyway

[Al Wolbach]

I know that 4 adults in a 20' bass boat does not work and I know bass fishing in a ski boat does not work well. Have you thought about looking at a walleye style fishing boat? They seem to be a lot more roomy as far as seating and floor area and are available with 150+HP yet have good livewells and must fish pretty well. Just a thought................................Al

[(='_'=)]

I looked at the nitro 189 and the ranger reata 186. I ended up with the ranger and i love it. Its amazing. Another guy that i met on my lake has a 189 and its a good boat but the reata 186 is a awesome boat. Plus you can put 7' rods in the locker.

 

 

hahahahahhha i bet its a great boat... in spanish that is one word used to refer to the thingy, and it is commonly used to refer to great things.... for example if i say "eres una reata pescando" (you are a reata fishing) means you are very good at fishing... so i bet your reata boat is a great boat...