2008 Z-7 Nitro

[psbass]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the 2008 Z-7 Nitro's. I am looking at buying one and I was wondering about the pros and cons of the boat. I have never owned or even rode in a bass boat before. I have fished out of my Alumacraft Navigator for years and just need alot more deck space and rod storage, and of course a little more speed can't hurt

Also any info on the Mercury 150 EFI would be great!
Thanks!

[mechanxipearl]

i own a z-7 and i liked it up until i got to know it.The efi drinks gas like crazy.If it were me i buy i different brand.Im actually selling mine now to buy a legend

[Dchance]

The EFI is Mercury and has nothing to do with Nitro. 

Z7's are nice boats.  Best boat for the money in my opinion.

[BassBUFF]

The EFI will run good but the fuel economy, while better than an XR6, will not be great. The Optimax will beat them all.

I haven't been in a Z series boat but the layout looks nice.

i own a z-7 and i liked it up until i got to know it.The efi drinks gas like crazy.If it were me i buy i different brand.Im actually selling mine now to buy a legend

What about the Z-7, other than the EFI, don't you like? I agree you can't beat a Legend, but I'm biased!

[Scott K.]

I own a Z-7. Have had no problems whatsoever with it. I also have the 150 optimax. I bought it brand new and had that option added. All around the boat has a smoother ride than a Triton of equal size. That's just my opinion though. I'm happy with mine.


Scott

[psbass]

That's good to here, because I am picking up my new Z7 Friday!!

[Scott K.]

GL with the boat. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I like mine.

Scott

[mechanxipearl]

A little late but as a reply to bass buff.I actually own the 150 opti i was just stating that it drank gas so the guy that was looking to buy one would look at outting the opti on his rig.The main reason i wouldn't buy one is the workmanship,it is poor compared to other brands not just legend.Loose screws on rub rail ect.Great strter boat but i would have bought a diffrent one jmho.

[psbass]

Well I got my new boat on Friday and at this point I am very happy with it. I have not had a chance to put it in the water yet so I can't comment on the ride.

A little late but as a reply to bass buff.I actually own the 150 opti i was just stating that it drank gas so the guy that was looking to buy one would look at outting the opti on his rig.The main reason i wouldn't buy one is the workmanship,it is poor compared to other brands not just legend.Loose screws on rub rail ect.Great strter boat but i would have bought a diffrent one jmho.

As far as the quality of the boat I have looked it over pretty close and I do not see any flaws in it. I would not say that it is poor quality. The center seat has had some beefed of hardware added as I have read that that use to be in issue. I also heard that there was a problem with fiberglass splinters under the console but i do not see any. The only thing I have found is on the trailer. Some of the welds have a few pin holes but since I work in a welding shop and was purposely looking at welds I do not think most people would even pay attention to that.

[JBuxton]

I hope you enjoy your new Z-7 ... I like the Nitro line personally but I'm also a little bias as I owned a Savage 884 Summit Edition a few years back.  I sold it due to the military moving me to Va then overseas, but I have full intentions of buying a new one when I get back in the the states in 2011.  I've been eyeing the Z-8, dual console but I'm still in the looking stage until I get to test one ... that will have to wait due to no Bass Pro Shops in Germany!

Good Fishin 

[Kitz]

I hope you enjoy your new Z-7 ... I like the Nitro line personally but I'm also a little bias as I owned a Savage 884 Summit Edition a few years back.  I sold it due to the military moving me to Va then overseas, but I have full intentions of buying a new one when I get back in the the states in 2011.  I've been eyeing the Z-8, dual console but I'm still in the looking stage until I get to test one ... that will have to wait due to no Bass Pro Shops in Germany!

Good Fishin 

Where you at in Germany? AF or Army?
And you're right on about the Z-8. To me thats the PERFECT boat. Maybe in another year or 2 I'll be able to afford it.

[hperk]

i have a z6 with a optimax wouldn't trade it for anything except maybe a z7 8 or 9. good ride even in rough water. i bet the 7 8 and 9 are even better. whatever you do get a optimax

[nitroman]

Thise Z-7's are really nice but if you want the best boat... go for the Z-9.

Stick with the opti-max though.

[denis]

I rode in a few nitro z9s  I was VERY impressed.  That and Jami Fralick and a Couple other guys I fished with you would all know are good drivers.  I was tying a hook in 30+ gusts on Texoma as well as a few other lakes, I have been in bad bad water but we got air a few times ( yes the motor reved to the limiter) and it settled so nice.  It was a higher seating position that I wasnt used too.  I have been in them all and the one boat that stood out to me was the Nitro, maybe it was because of the press you hear on them.   The Legend was ok, but my only complaint with that one was the passenger rod locker, other than that it seemed on par with the other boats out there except 2 brands that you couldnt give me.  Couple of guys I know didnt know it doesnt latch and had broken rods to show for it.

[psbass]

Well so far I love the z-7. I have never been in a bass boat before and I was really skeptical about selling my Alumacraft Navigator as I really liked that boat. I read allot of forum talk about learning how to drive a bass boat and just getting seat time, so that made me nervous as well. I will say that this is the smoothest dry ride boat that I have ever been in. I am still breaking in the motor so I have not had it wide open throttle yet other than a few seconds at a time. I have never been in a boat that went over 45 mph before and I can tell you that at 4800 rpms this boat is cruising at 56 mph. Not scary at all and I have had it out on some pretty windy days. I can not wait to go on a long run at WOT. Once you learn that magical spot of were the motor needs to be trimmed so the steering wheel is not pulling to the right with motor torque it is very easy to drive.
I did not opt to pay more for an optimax as I was on a budget for this boat. So far this motor seams great. As far as fuel milage I do not think there is much of a difference between the 150 opti and the 150 EFI until you start puttering around at slow speeds, from my understanding that is were the opti is much better (correct me if I am wrong).

[JBuxton]

Where you at in Germany? AF or Army?
And you're right on about the Z-8. To me thats the PERFECT boat. Maybe in another year or 2 I'll be able to afford it.

In the AF at Spangdahlem ... at my mid-point now.  A year and a half and I'll be back in the states, somewhere!  I'm saving my pennies for the Z-8, hopefully I end up back in Louisiana.

[E5Zero]

psbass, glad you like the Z-7.  I bought a used 2008 this spring with the 175 Opti Pro XS, it flies.  One comment in this thread is true, the screws behind the rub rail will get loose, but I have read on other boards that this is not unusual for other brands as well.  On mine I just pop off the rail for a few screws and tighten them up.  Here in the next week or two I am going to go around the complete boat, back them out and put on some silicone or something to keep them in place.  Fit and finish on my boat is good.  I did take it to BPS for a couple of warranty items, the biggest being the seat seams on the driver and passenger seats.  They have new seats on order for me, so cannot complain about that.  Holler if you ever have any questions I can answer.

[coldfront]

i own a z-7 and i liked it up until i got to know it.The efi drinks gas like crazy.If it were me i buy i different brand.Im actually selling mine now to buy a legend

just asking...but what specifically did you not like about the Z-7?  Layout?  finish?  ride?  I'm not interested in the EFI piece of the equation...

[BHubb]

Like COLDFRONT I'd like to know what the Z7 owners like and dislike about the boat.  I'm considering a Z7/8 and the EFI vs the optimax isn't much of an issue other than what type of speeds the Z7 is running with the 175hp? 

Does anyone have the Z8 with a 200 optimax?  How does it run, is the 200 enough power for the boat? 

Just looking to get all the info before I press with possibly buying a new boat, looking to upgrade from the PT175 Bass tracker.

Thanks
BHubb

[E5Zero]

Bhubb, I have the 2008 Z-7 with the 175.  I am currently running a 24p Trophy Plus 4 blade prop and can run 62, where I back off until I learn to drive through the chine walk.  The boat came with the 24p Tempest, I need to put it on and run it some more.  Not sure about running the Z-8 with a 200, saw a few with 225 on them.  You might touch base with BMCD on the Nitroowner's board or on Bass Boat Central.  He runs a Z-9, but has driven the Z-8 I believe.  I would like to upgrade to a Z-8.

[BHubb]

E5Zero, THANKS,  I've been looking at both and wondered about the overall performance.  What kind of RPM's are you turning while running 62? 

I'll check into the Z8 with the 225, that's actually what would want but that depends on total performance.  I'll continue to shop but think it's just about time to upgrade.  Good luck, let me know what you think about the boat after you get a little more throttle time.

BHubb

[E5Zero]

BHubb sorry I did not get back to you.  I will be out tomorrow I hope and will try to make notes on the speed and RPM's.  I raised the JP 1/2" today due to running the 4 blade Trophy Plus.  More later.