Starter Boat

redfalcon30 · April 12, 2011, 01:43:20 PM

I am new to this site and was hoping for some thoughts/advice on the 2011 Nitro Z6 boat. This seems to be the boat of my choice giving what I want to do. I have checked out other options that are comparable (Triton 17 Explorer and Skeeter ZX 170) To me, the Nitro seems the best considering what I want to do and pay for... I have rode in all 3. Like the Nitro the best.

Needs: Be able to fit in a 20 ft garage, take 2 1/2 to 3 people fishing/pleasure riding. Has to be Fiberglass.

The boat will be used 70% of the time fishing and 30% time pleasure riding. I love to fish on the weekends and on my time off. I have fished in nothing but aluminum boats before and this will be my first fiberglass/starter boat. I don't need anything fancy, just something reliable, safe, fun, and enjoy my family with. The Nitro Z6 seems to fit all my requirements.

I just want to hear from some experienced boat owners... Thanks

MaineSkeeter · April 12, 2011, 02:18:21 PM

IMO I would not buy a New Nitro Z6. If this is your first fiberglass boat and you want a smaller one thats great. Look for a good used one for allot less money. I will tell you from experience that once you make the jump from aluminum to fiberglass you will be impressed. In fact you might be so impressed that you will want to get into an 18' or 19' boat with a bigger motor in a year or two. If you find yourself in that situation you are not going to recoup enough of your investment on a new Z6 to make it worth it. My advise would be to go used and if you are set on new go at least with a Z7 with a 150. The Z7 with a breakaway tongue should fit into your garage. As far as what brand you should go with only you can tell. Everyone has their own opinion and there are pro's and con's with each brand. Do your homework and don't jump into a long term commitment on something you might outgrow in a short period of time. Just my $.02 Good Luck

redfalcon30 · April 12, 2011, 04:36:16 PM

Thanks MaineSkeeter. I appreciate it. I have considered a used fiberglass boat but the ones around here from private owners (2 of which come to mind) would not let me test drive it or take it to a certified marine to check it out... Kinda raised a red flag with me... The Z7 is a NICE ride but I have tried to place one in my garage and will not fit. I really like the deck space/room the nitro boats have versus comparable other models. The Mercury 115 Pro XS seems to have plenty of power and goes faster than I want to. I do plan on keeping the boat for 8 plus years. I tend to buy things for the long term and the advice I have read is to max out the horsepower on any model you get. Don't really know if that is true??? I was also looking at the X5 class as they seems to be very close but also have read were the hulls were different? The dealer here has ASSURED me that the Z6 is totally different than the X5 was???

Again I appreciate any/all advice

Camden · April 12, 2011, 05:39:41 PM

You will definitely want to get the max horsepower on the boat. the Z6 rides great. it sounds like you have thought out just about everything. like you said you plan on it being a long term investment so you should get the use out of it.
I'd say go for it

redfalcon30 · April 14, 2011, 10:51:24 AM

Thanks Camden,

I believe I have thought about everything but it's always good to ask more experienced people their view. I kinda thinking I have over analyzed the hole thing.

I going to buy it.

coldfront · April 14, 2011, 11:04:06 AM

Quote from: redfalcon30 on April 14, 2011, 10:51:24 AM
I kinda thinking I have over analyzed the hole thing.

this is not possible!

the better you define your needs, the easier it is to find the boat that best meets those needs...that Z-6 is a wide boat for sure...

FishRocker · April 14, 2011, 11:21:40 AM

Redfalcon...have you ever owned a boat? If not I would really recommend a used boat. Look for some thing 3-4 years old....U might be able to find something with some warrenty time left! The price will be substantially lower too! That gives you a chance to see what it takes to own a boat, maintain it, how much it costs, etc. Then if you decide that you like all the things that come along with owning a boat after a couple years, buy that new Z-6 then! Good Luck!

redfalcon30 · April 14, 2011, 12:08:59 PM

Thanks coldfront... You are correct, it is not possible... Out of the 3 boats that I believe are comparable Nitro Z6, Triton 17 Explorer and Skeeter ZX 170, the Nitro has more storage space and a bigger deck than the other two plus it seems more stable walking around and driving. I have talked at length with the dealer here about upgrades that would be solid investments: (keel guard, upgrading the trolling motor, charger, spare tire kit and whether or not to get rack and pinon vs dual or hydraulic) just to name a few.

Thanks coldfront and keep any advice coming!!!

redfalcon30 · April 14, 2011, 12:16:38 PM

I appreciate it FishRocker...

Yes, I have owned about 4 boats over my life but all aluminum ones. I am not opposed to a used one but I have had a few issues with private parties that will not either take me out in the boat or get it looked at by a certified marine tech... One in fact said he would let me get it checked out but only by the guy he takes it to. The guy ran a garage and was not certified mechanic. If I am going to buy a boat whether it is used or new, I want a professional to check it out. I don't think I am being too anal about it but that is just my opinion...

Again FishRocker, I thank you for the Good Luck wishes.

flying wasp · April 14, 2011, 04:05:42 PM

Speaking from experience, i had a Tracker 175 aluminum for about two years. Went to look at the new ones and picked up a Z-7 back in 08'. I absolutely love this boat. The options I would put on the Z-6 are the hot foot(a must have), keel guard, hydraulic steering & three bank charger from the factory. I was able to get a spare tire with cover & mount for about $100 after the fact. You don't need to finance a spare tire with the boat. Depends on what lb thrust TM comes with it but you definitely want a 24volt unit. I have a 70lb on mine and it does the trick.

I too was looking at the Z-6 but the salesman kept saying that I would be back in less than 2 years to buy a bigger boat. My next step will be a Z-9 one day, but not anytime soon. Good luck with the boat, hope you get what you want.

redfalcon30 · April 15, 2011, 02:38:11 PM

flying wasp, I appreciate the advice and good luck.

I looked very hard at the Z7 but it will not fit into my garage. I hate to pay for a storage unit ($150 to $175 per month) to house it. That would be $1,800 to $2,100 just to park it every year. Since I will be keeping the boat 8 yrs or more. That would represent $14,400 to $16,800 just to park it when not in use...

I would like your opinion on why the 24 volt is better than 12 volt? The answer I got from the dealer was that if you plan on fishing 8 hrs for 3 to 4 consecutive days then Yes to upgrade to the 24 volt TM... The only thing to me is that he told me that it will add an additional 80 pds to the boat. Since it is another battery as well.

By NO MEANS I am trying to be difficult, but I appreciate the advice you have given me. For a FACT 99% of the time as far as anything I purchase I go by this quote: I rather have and not need than to need and not have. - LOL

Thanks again flying wasp and good luck fishing to you.

redfalcon30 · April 15, 2011, 02:40:31 PM

BTW: The Z6 comes standard with a 12V 54 pd thrust and the upgrade is to the 24V 75 pd thrust.

Would the 75 pd thrust TM last longer due to it is bigger???

Ron Fogelson · April 15, 2011, 03:02:54 PM

You answered your own question with the quote you posted about wanting and not having.

The Z6 might be a smaller boat but it is a lot more boat to move around than an aluminum of the same size so with a 24 volt you will be able to stay on the water longer in the wind and or current because you won't have to run it as high to get you/keep you where you need to be to fish.

While yes it will add some additional weight, the trade off in fish ability is well worth it. Couple other things to do is make dang sure you have a brake away mount and that the pulleys on the foot control are not plastic. If you find they are plastic, order the aluminum ones or you can avoid all this and get a MK, no bent shafts to worry about, the spring in the mount takes a lot of the punishment and the shaft on a MK is good for a life time or until you power load your boat and forget to stow the TM,,,,, learned that the hard way.

redfalcon30 · April 15, 2011, 04:52:30 PM

Thanks Ron,

I am leaning on the 75 pd thrust TM just because of having and not needing... If you don't mind, Do you really think I will need hydraulic steering versus rack and pinon?

I appreciate it...

(On a side note: I've seen how a TM can EXPLODE if you forget to pull it up while motoring) I still laugh about it today...

tmlrock2001 · April 15, 2011, 09:47:49 PM

If you want to stick with Nitro ( which I would too) get yourself a used 482. Same boat as the Z-6 but they were rated for a 150. I have one and couldn't ask for anything more. It fits in my 20ft garage and has a ton of storage and deck room and it goes 64 mph/gps. It is a sweet ride and you could probably pick one up for a really decent price. I would go with the bigger TM too. Mine came with a 46lb MG and I bought a 70lb MG last year to put on it.

Ron Fogelson · April 16, 2011, 06:17:22 PM

Not sure, what size motor are you getting redfalcon30

IMHO I'd say a 150 or bigger go for hydraulic anything smaller it's a nice to have option.

redfalcon30 · April 18, 2011, 11:11:40 AM

The motor used to come into 2 sizes (90 & 115) Now, it comes in only one option: 115. You can either get a 115 optimax or 115 Pro XS Optimax for $300 more. I have pretty much chosen to go with the 115 anyway due to getting the max hp that the boat is rated for. The Pro XS 115 is what dealer recommended... (For $300 bucks more is a deal compared to if I had to buy a 115 optimax versus 115 Pro XS optimax...

Dealer stated that I would want hydraulic if I was looking at Z7 with 150 hp. It is an option on the Z6 to get hydraulic steering. Don't know if it would be worth the upgrade cost???

Thanks again!!!

Ron Fogelson · April 19, 2011, 12:50:08 AM

I don't know that I'd spend the $$ for it with a 115 but it sure is nice to have.

jitterbugman · April 19, 2011, 05:38:33 PM

Hope this is not to late in your decision factor. Some guys will reccomend a used boat; I look on Bass Boat Central all the time. Most of the boats are in great shaape, but you can still beat the price for used boat with a new Nitro, also you will be able to option it out the way you want it; and everything is under a new warrenty. I would however let you know in a 17 ft boat the ride will be a little rough on windy days. Get the 115hp and go fish.

redfalcon30 · April 26, 2011, 02:33:09 PM

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions! I really like my new Nitro... Space is great, very stable, very pleased!!! Good Luck to everyone fishing...

Ron Fogelson · April 26, 2011, 03:05:44 PM

Quote from: redfalcon30 on April 26, 2011, 02:33:09 PM
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions! I really like my new Nitro... Space is great, very stable, very pleased!!! Good Luck to everyone fishing...

Sounds very cool,,, now when you can post some photos for us

redfalcon30 · April 28, 2011, 09:41:00 AM

I'm working on that Ron. Thanks again for the advice and everyone else. I hope to get them up soon!!!

Ron Fogelson · April 28, 2011, 09:21:22 PM

Quote from: redfalcon30 on April 28, 2011, 09:41:00 AM
I'm working on that Ron. Thanks again for the advice and everyone else. I hope to get them up soon!!!

Cool looking forward to seeing it