Buying a new tournament caliber boat - need some guidance 2024
lknbassman reply :
Bassmasters, I am getting ready to pull the string on a tournament class bass rig. I have the cash for it now and have been testing out several new models & makes. So far I have it narrowed down to Basscat, Ranger, and Triton. My preference so far has been the Triton 20X2 over the Ranger Z20 & Z520 as well as the Basscat PUMA for price to performance ratio considerations. Would love some insight from you guys, not just opinions but real insight on why any one of these might be better than the other. The engine frontrunner right now is the 250 Pro XS over the Evinrude E-Tec. OMC upset a lot of boat owners back in the old days when they went under and bailed on supporting older Evinrude models. Technically speaking, I'd like your opinions on the engines also. Thanks for any help. 
Tin reply :
I have been in the Triton's, Ranger Z-Comanche's, and older Bass Cats. They are all great boats and you would be happy with any of them. As for the motors, I like Mercs, but the E-Tec's are great engines as well. Either way go test out each one of these boats to see which one you like best.
cart7t reply :
As much money as any of those 3 boats are going to set you back, the only way to make a wise choice is to spend time in each of them and decide for yourself. The boats and motors are all fine choices and all you'll get from here, or anywhere for that matter, is opinions swayed towards whatever that person owns.
Ride and decide for yourself. You're the one that will have to live with the boat.
Jig Man reply :
Of the three you listed Bass Cat will have the better ride and Ranger will have the better fishing platform. Look at the little things like storage boxes and rod lockers, trailers, dash layout, fishing deck room, back deck room, etc. You will probably be spending a lot of time in this rig and should have things the way you want them.
I wound up with a Champion 206 when I did all that. I looked for a year at 100s of boats on lots and in boat shows. I found that I wanted storage for all my junk and a big box for the guest as well as dual consoles, dry storage, no box locks to trip on, and a big deck for me. I found all that in Champion. I did have them change the engine and upgrade the tmotor and df before I took delivery. So far I have spent over 3000 hours in my boat and would only change a couple of things if I had do overs.
Good luck.
Catt reply :
Basscat hands down
Al Wolbach reply :
I faced the same delima 10 years ago and ended up with a 20' Champion and have never been sorry. That said, of your choices I would choose the BassCat. I have only heard positive feedback on BassCat.
Two problems with the Triton 20x2 that I have heard:
1- The seat pedestal mounts have been breaking, not the fishing seat but the drivers and passenger seats. Apparently the pedestal does not support the seat adequately and have been breaking. I heard this from a friend that is a Triton salesman.
2- When they moved the fuel tank forward in the x2 it totally changed the handling of the hull at high speeds especially in turns while on the pad. I do not know any other details and this is really unconfirmed rumor. My salesman friend had not heard of any handling problems with the x2. He said only positive feedback except for the seats breaking and Triton was addressing this problem.
As far as motors go, I believe they are all good. I would let the lenght of available warranty and price help with this decision..........Good Luck........................Al
I'm not knocking the Triton, only repeating what I've heard. I believe you would be happy with any of these boats.
jdw174 reply :
First off, let me just say that if you have the cash to plop down on a fully equipped Z520, my hat's off to you
That said, my opinion is this:
Go and climb over, under, around, and through every single one of those boats you mentioned. Next, take every one of them for a test run, preferably with at least some chop on the water. Look at the interior layout, storage bins, the works. Pay close attention to the items that are most important to YOU. You'll find one that suits you more than the others. Buy it. Of the three you mentioned, I would lean towards the BassCat. I would also take a gander at the Skeeter I-Class boats, Champion, and Legend.
For engines, I've had good service from Johnson/Evinrude for over 20 years and see no reason to change. It would be the E-TEC for me.
Garnet reply :
Get a Skeeter ZX and all your choices are good.
Make sure you get over kill trolling motor,Charger,batterys, front and console gps/fishfinder and make this part of the deal. If these toys are not cheaper than BPS find another dealer.
Buying a boat like this they will have dealer pro staff deals you get this and more.
And write everything on the contract free coats,hats the correct prop for you, don't pay in full until everything is met.
Garnet
Nick_Barr reply :
I would say BassCat, support the smaller, better bass boat company. Among those 4 I think you would be more satisfied with the BassCat
Along those lines, if you have never heard of Legend, give them a look. www.RidewithaLegend.com
-Nick
lknbassman reply :
Fellow anglers, thanks for sharing your wisdom. This is a frustrating but also a very fun process as it's taken a long time to get to the point of having this problem of having to choose but is of course a blessing to be able to have this as a problem so I'm not complaining believe me! Here's the score so far: 2007 & 2008 Ranger's are out, I can't fit in their boats with a hot foot period. The local dealer and I have tried every way to make it happen and my bigness is too much for em to tangle with. Too tall and too big so I'm done. Basscat is out too at least the 20 foot PUMA is as the TM footpedal recess was so far forward on the bow that I felt unstable in rough windy conditions which I sought out for my day on the lake and I felt more worried about being tossed vs focusing on fishing. The boat felt narrow to me also for some reason even thought the beam is sizeable. It was made to go fast which is awesome of course but not my only motivation to buy. The lean post/seat was helpful with the TM position issue but the boat overall just did not turn my crank as much as I needed it to for 44K the styling was a little dated. The Triton 19X2 gave me the same feeling as the PUMA did - cramped when on the TM for a guy my size. The bigger Triton's; the 20X2 and 21Xhp both are the overall front runners right now and are both rigged with 250 Opti Pro XS's which I really like and come with lots of electronic goodies. I did speak with the co owner of Legend boats today and really like what they have to offer and thier philosophy on business and customers. I also think they are the sharpest looking boats on the market with their fade gel coat schemes. They are just beautiful looking boats and trailer packages. But how does a legend fish? I don't know because there is not one in NC that he or I know about and there is no dealer here in NC so I'm stymied in that regard and may actually have to travel to Arkansas to see the real product and demo it. This is asking a lot and then I of course still have to fork over 42-45K and wait 6-10 weeks for it to be built if I pull the string on one. So it's kind of a stretch but is still a consideration... Champion is next to be considered so that's where I'm off to once I can locate a dealer and set up a lake test. All of the dealers are very helpful and they all have excellent boats to offer. For that price range they should right? So at this point it's a matter of the little nuances between them now that will get sway decision so I'll keep you posted. Thanks to each of you who have taken the time and care to provide your input, it's been very very helpful and I really appreciate it. I'm very lucky to be able to do this and don't take it lightly, I want it to be right and to the right the first time so your help is greatly appreciated. If you have additional thoughts or things I should look out for please point them out to me. Again, thanks to each of you. If anyone can comment on the Triton X2 hull vs the XP hull I'd love to hear from you in terms of driveability and controlling chine walk or if you need to worry about it. Thanks again to each of you.
Catt reply :
Now that's what I'm talking about someone who does as much research as me 
First off I can't stand those little trash catchers called TM footpedal recess; really every thing in the world will end up in there.
Compare the Triton X2 hull vs the XP hull; I've driven both and all I can say is buy a good rain suit cause you gonna get wet in rough water; they both chine walk something I will not put up with.
I have a friend who just traded a Legend LE-21on an Alpha 21; both are outstanding in rough water and both have massive front decks. Both boats had Yamaha's 300 HP V MAX Series 2 on the back which I would choose over anything black. I've considered the LE-186 & LE-195 both are in the same class as Skeeter.
For the money you will be spending I would highly recommend you give Skeeter a close look.
lknbassman reply :
Catt, that's great feed back. Thanks a ton. Do you (or any of you other anglers) feel as if one boat brand has a tendancy to chine walk more than another? I know how to drive those that do so I can control it but is it symptomatic of a particular brand more so than another?
Re: Skeeter, I like thier boats from what I've seen, never been in one, don't know if I fit or not so I'm hoping to see them at the upcoming boat show in a couple of weeks. I don't know much about Yamaha outboards as I've never owned one other than that they are expensive to repair just like the other brands are. My thinking is that Merc is a safe buy for resale as I'm thinking exit strategy on anything high dollar that I buy as I might want to upgrade or fall out of love with it in a few years and don't want to be stuck holding the bag for too many pennies. Also service in my area is easy for a merc as there are not a lot of bass boat dealers around here for soe reason and the ones that are sell evinrude and merc almost exclusively. Regarding the Legend boat, I think the thing is just incredible (the alpha 211) so I have some thinking to do on how to approach that one as far as going to Ark to visit the factory, meet the owners, test drive one, etc but will be giving skeeter a good hard look. If yamaha will pony up the warranty that merc has on the table and I just loved the skeeter boat I'd definately consider it. Thanks again guys for your insight on this process, it's helping more than you know. Will keep you posted as I'm supposed to drive an 07 Triton TR21X HP w/a 250 Opti Pro XS and some kind of custom jack plate on it next week. Will most definately bring my rain suit with me. ;D
Brian_Reeves reply :
Just my take on triton...I rode one a few weeks ago in rough water. Might as well have been on a submarine. That thing plowed through and speared waves about as gracefully as a rock.
If my dad doesn't give me his old boat, I'm probably going to be going with an xpress. I have a fondness for their boats, even though they are aluminum.
Oh, about engine size. If you're going to be fishing ABA, FLW, or BASS tournaments, be sure that a 300 isn't too big. All the ones I've seen have a 250hp cap.
Catt reply :
Triton boats are notorious for chine walking and a wet ride
Skeeter & Champion boats are probably the best rough water ride out there; they both rule Toledo Bend which is known for rough water. One more consideration is how tough the hulls are and Skeeter is rock solid, so are Bass Cat's.
I have 5 friends who own either boat dealerships or outboard shops and they all have more Merc's in the yard than Yamaha's.
Like Brain I'm also looking closely at the Xpress boats, they handle rough water very well and despite what other say they are not prone to being blown around by the wind. I don't plan on buying any thing with over a 150HP, don't plan on doing the tournament trail thing cause I've been there and don that, I will fish some open tournaments.
lknbassman reply :
Had a great conversation with a Skeeter dealer in my area who also happens to sell Triton as of last year so he gave me the skinny on the two boats. Clearly he's not going to bad mouth one or the other as he sells them both but instead point out the subtleties between them. He did say the Triton would run faster than the Skeeter all things being equal particularly the HP hull. That's not really a selling point for me if I'm soaking wet or scared to death running it wide open... However he did say that the Skeeter will in fact ride better in rough water due to it's hull being lower and knifing through the chop more so than the Triton which also is why it's a bit slower (makes sense from an engineering stand point to me). He also mentioned that when fishing, the Skeeter boat would sit much lower in the water than the Triton which I like as I skip a lot of jigs, senkos, and other soft plastics under docks as that's our primary pattern post spawn and into summer/early fall. Getting up close is required on this lake if you want a big bite so that might be a good thing to think hard on. I'm going to go ride a ZX225 w/the Yamaha 250 HPDI on it. He's got a couple of 06's that are trades and some 07's that he did not move as well as 08's so he's got inventory and wants to sell a boat something bad. All things considered, is the Yamaha/Skeeter package among the top boats in the opinions of you tournament anglers who have seen and ridden in the others? Is there a huge difference in the i Class Skeeters than the ZX series? Anything I might want to look out for or steer clear of regarding Skeeter boats? How about things to ask for that should be included? Right now my must haves are dual 520c's ethernet'd together, a 36v TM (either brand is fine as I've had both and they are both OK), cover, keel guard, oxygenator, hot foot, pro tilt trim, etc. Thanks for any added input.
Catt reply :
I would argue with your dealer about the Triton outrunning the Skeeter
The difference between the I Class & the ZX series to me is like buying a Lincoln over a Ford it's mostly creature comforts.
You will be impressed with the ZX225 and the Yam-A- Hammer
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Garnet reply :
The Iclass is a about 8K for eclectronic dodads. The ZX225 is a weapon thats runs big water and fishes dirt shallow. I fish out of 1 for 2 seasons.
Get that dealer to pull out storage lockers and show you how thw hole deck comes off. Running wires just a breeze.
Garnet
GeorgiaSpotSticker reply :
Have you rode in a Champion yet...
Al Wolbach reply :
I like the options you have chosen. I would consider a black light package if you fish any at night and a dual console if you fish with friends, especially in cold/wet weather. Seventy MPH in an open cockpit sucks.
I have tried to avoid pushing my favorite brands but couldn't keep from saying at least look at the Champion powered by Yamaha. I ordered a 203DC in 1998 with a 225 Yamaha VMAX. I have not had a problem with either in almost 10 years of year round fishing(Tennessee). Enough said.
Good luck with your decision......................Al
Al Wolbach reply :
By the way, don't overlook trailor options, ie., oil bath hubs, disc surge brake etc. These can save you a big headache several years down the road should you decide to keep that long.
I would avoid any trailor with fiberglass parts. IMHO, this is asking for problems. They look great but parking lots at boat ramps are great places for people with no experience manuvering trailors to practice............Al
-hydrillagorilla- reply :
Like Spotsticker said....before you buy you owe it to yourself to ride in a Champion.
I am a little bias cause I own one (granted it's older) but she is still in great shape and they like big water.
Fished out of an I-class last year and liked them as well- but not a Champ. Nice boats none the less.
I like your style - you are doing it right!
frogtog reply :
I am lucky enough to own a Triton TR20x and ZX200c Skeeter. I would feel bad to bad mouth either on the web. If you were to PM me
I would give the pro and con's of the two I own.
Also welcome to BR.
thetr20one reply :
TRITON WITH A MERC. I admit I am partial though. I owned a Ranger previously and traded it in on a 01 tr-20 w a 225 Opti 4 years ago. I would not trade 4 a x-2 or z-series. The new Tritons are nice but I love my older tr. It handles like a slot car and is an absolute rocket but It also handles Lake Erie's weather n waves great. It's all about finding the right boat for YOU my friend!
eyedabassman reply :
I have had 3 Triton's and I still have one. I think that the Triton boat is a very good ride and you DON'T get wet in a Triton!!!!!! As for plowing into the water, he maybe had the trim on the motor all the way down! I love all the storage the big and wide deck. The one thing I did not like is that on one of them I had alttle gas smell in the rod lockers but Triton sent me a vent kit and they paid to have them installed.Triton has the BEST Customer Service anywhere!!!!! As for the motor I would take the Merc.
I know that there are many good bass boats out there and I am not putting any of them down, I just like the Triton and I will buy another down the road.
PDB reply :
I can't offer any useful insight on your choices, but I can on the state of the boat market right now. The boat market nationwide is depressed right now. It is a buyers market. Don't be afraid to wheel and deal, shop around and lowball offers.
lknbassman reply :
Guys, thank you all so much for the help. This is a huge deal for me and my family and as you guys are well aware this is a ton of money at least to us it is and we just want to do it right the first time and make sure we don't have buyers remorse. I've tried and tried to get a look at Champion and like Legend which I also want to see they are not in my area and I'm not sure a trip to Arkansas to see Legend is in order but I have not ruled it out. Right now it's really a foot race between Triton and Skeeter although one of the dealers in our area is being courted by Champion to pick up their line so I may have a shot at seeing one before too long which I'd really like to do.
The note on the condition of the boat market is certainly true as these guys are all calling me and emailing me several times a day doing thier best to earn my business. In that regard it's a good problem to have but is overwhelming to a rookie bass boat buyer like me. I'm taking my time although trying not to take too much as our pre spawn bite starts shaping up around mid february depending on the weather. The test rides resume next week with the TR21X HP w/the 250 Opti Pro XS and the ZX225 w/the HPDI 225 going at it side by side on the same day. I'm towing one and the dealer is towing the other and we are going to run them head to head and understand every nuance between them before we leave the lake. It'll be a great test for those two boats anyway which is going to be great. I'm really eager to see if the chine walking is unique to the Triton vs the Skeeter.
Let me know if there are things to look out for or be aware of feature wise that I might otherwise over look. The oxygenator article mentioned by Al Wolbach earlier in this post is definately worth reading and thanks so much Al for pointing that article out. Again guys, thanks a ton for all of your help, this continues to be the best place to get good sound advice from the most experienced anglers.
cart7t reply :
The closest Champ dealer is in Monroe NC. South of Charlotte. If you're a big guy like you say, you owe yourself a ride in a 210. The consoles are exceptionally roomy underneath and getting in and out of the cockpit area is very easy.
Catt reply :
Let us know how the test goes; I'm looking into something in the 18' class
I just love this stuff; I simple love running a bass boat, gets my adrenaline going like a kid in a candy store. When one of my buds buys something new for their boat we'll go out and run it, heck sometimes we go just for the adrenaline rush.
Jig Man reply :
I can only speak for the dealerships around here but this may be in your area also. They try to operate on a 25% profit basis. That is 25% after all the setup and rigging charges are factored into the retail price (usually around $800 per unit).
With the market like it is you should have no problem keeping a healthy deal breaker in mind (electronics or tmotor upgrade for example). You should also be able to negotiate on price if you opt for an extended warranty as the dealership gets a substantial amount of that.
Good luck on your search and purchase.
thetr20one reply :
CHINE WALK IS MAINLY CUASED BY A POORLY SET UP RIG. THE RIDE IN A TRITON IS VERY DRY. MY TR-20 WILL TOP 78 GPS WITH LITTLE NOTICABLE WALK.THERE IS NO "DRIVING THROUGH THE CHINE WALK" YOU MUST LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR CRAFT AND SET UP PROPERLY. TOO MANY HATERS TO TAKE ADVICE FROM THIS THREAD FRIEND. GO WITH YOUR EXPIERIENCE IN THE BOATS YOU ARE TESTING!
GeorgiaSpotSticker reply :
I dont know how far you are from Lake Lanier, GA. but I've got a Champion you can ride in...
I'm 6'3" 250lbs. and I can fit in my 203 Champion just fine...
eyedabassman reply :
QuoteI can only speak for the dealerships around here but this may be in your area also. They try to operate on a 25% profit basis. That is 25% after all the setup and rigging charges are factored into the retail price (usually around $800 per unit).With the market like it is you should have no problem keeping a healthy deal breaker in mind (electronics or tmotor upgrade for example). You should also be able to negotiate on price if you opt for an extended warranty as the dealership gets a substantial amount of that.
Good luck on your search and purchase.
Well Put, Also if your going to spend that kind of money, get every thing that you want on the rig now! Don't try to cut corners an other area's. up grade your trolling motor to max power and get good electronics, GPS,Keel guard. And have the dealer throw in the cover and maybe some life vest free. If you do any night fishing a black lite kit, lights in yor live well,or maybe the dealer could kick in a extra prop. just some thing to think about!
Good luck in your test run and I hope every thing works out for you. Don't let anyone push you into a sale just go home and sleep on it. you have the bargining power!!!!!!
Triton Forever!!!!!
CJ reply :
There's more than a couple good boat brands out there.
I think it really depends on the person.
There is alot to take into consideration that will effect you in the long run.Ride,speed,fishability,MPG!,etc.
Good Luck!CJ
lknbassman reply :
Update time men (and ladies if you are out there); I spent the day with the champion dealer in Monroe, NC and took a good hard look at the 210 and the 200. The 200 is too small for me to get behind the wheel comfortably or else it'd be a contender. The 210 elite is a beast, that is one massive big water bass boat. I think in some regards it's more bay boat than bass boat since the hull is so huge and deep. The angler is 24 inches above the water when fishing from the bow which is pretty darn high up there and also in synch with where you'll find the price tag on that dude. I'm going to ride it this week so I'll put up some data on that afterward but know by looking at it that the ride will be superior to the others just based on size and deep V hull design alone. However the fishability and the sheer magnitude of it are in some respects not as attractive as the lower profile boats so I'll let the lake test do the talking. Jason Quinn just pulled the string with Champion and got his rig(s) from the same dealer so he's had enough Nitro it seems and passed on Ranger too as Genmar owns both Champion and Ranger boats which does say something to me when a mans annual income is on the line, he's got to be able to get back to the scales on time or it's all for nothing right?
As for dealing, there's not much going on with this dealer, he's at around 56K for the 210 elite and high 40's on the 200 which is a good 9-10K higher than the 07 Skeeters and Triton's I'm considering. I'll be shopping around the country to see how consistent his numbers are. The fit finish on that boat is second to none I'm sure but I also have to ask the question, how many guys can really justify almost 60K (which is almost to the number where it will be after I put on dual GPS systems, livewell lights, buy a cover, etc) on a customized/personalized bass rig? I'm sure a few but at what point do you reach diminishing returns due to the bling bling factor such as painted/gel coated under sides of consoles, etc? Not sure yet but my initial impressions are that it's just overkill to the limit and the gap in money over the other brands is a real big one to over come unless one is navigating the great lakes on a daily basis.
This lake is a bruiser, we live on it year round and we also have a 26' bow rider that weighs over 6,000 pounds and it gets the crap beat out of it all summer long as we have 40 and 50 foot cruisers running this lake all summer long so I really wonder if any bass boat is going to be any better than any other in those conditions which is where the lake test comes in so I'll let you know. Heck I've almost been thrown off of my own dock while fishing from it when those monster cruisers come plowing by because they are NEVER on plane and just crush boat docks but it is what it is so...
One thing is for sure, I love the 250 Pro XS the more I learn about it. That thing is clearly the best bass boat engine out there, hands down. I've talked to countless technicians, Mercury Marine racing guys, and other motor owners and power heads on Yamaha's and Evinrude's particularly the new ones are prone to failure at a much higher rate. This does include the new version 2 of the HPDI per the technicians at numerous dealers and they all sell both motors. The Merc is a superior product from an engineering stand point, that much is pretty hard to argue when you get into the technical underpinnings of them all and take time to really see how it's built and on what premise so I'm on the right path in that regard.
I will be driving the Skeeter ZX225, Triton 21X HP, Triton 21X2, and Champion 201 elite this week, it should be a blast and I don't plan on working much this week if I can avoid it.
I'll keep you all informed on how it goes. Thanks again to each of you for all of your wisdom and help!
NorDoor reply :
My best freind has a 2005 TR 21 with a 225 E-Tech.That boat is not a wet ride.We've been out on Lake Michigan,and Green Bay a ton of times.He's also fished it on Erie. All boats are suseptible to chine walk if the motor is not set up correctly.
I've had the oppertunity to fish out of various brands of boats as a non boater in tourney's.Not gonna bash any brands.Will say the Tritons are amongst my favorites.I my self have'nt been able to spring for a big dollar boat. I run a 2000 Stratos.
lknbassman reply :
Drove the TR21X HP Hull w/a 250 Pro XS this weekend on smooth water and decided it's not the unit for me. Likes; speed is amazing, looks are first class, it has a super smooth ride.
Dislikes, storage is way too small compared to the X2 series, lists a lot when fishing near the gunnels and far up on the bow, has a really small rear deck, livewells are seperate vs one large one with a divider (better for big fish - striper, catfish, etc), motor back wash when coming off of plane was severe, chine walk tendancy is way too severe even for an experienced boat driver in my opinion compared to the newer techology that's out there. No reason to have to fight it so hard if you can accomplish the same thing with a different hull. You will give up some speed however I'd suspect.
That is a great boat for an angler seeking really long distance high speed runs for tourneys but it's not what I'm looking for.
-hydrillagorilla- reply :
Thanks for your continued postings and opinions of all the new rigs. I have been really enjoying your reports! Looking forward to hearing your comments after this week of testing the boats mentioned!
BillyBob reply :
When all your testing is complete, and the deal is done...lets see how close I come.
Triton 21 X2 Elite package , ProXS 250, Motor guide 109 36v, Lowrance 420in the bow, Lowrance 27x indash.
Make sure to put a Tempest 26 on your Merc
chicobass reply :
I'm a Ranger / Merc man myself. That being said, Skeeters are excellent boats and more affordable than Ranger. My best advice would be to take a look at the pro's. They wouldn't use junk, well maybe some would because they're being paid by big retail co's .
One issue I haven't heard anyone else mention is the trailer. That is actually what gets you there in the first place. Good luck my friend.
lknbassman reply :
Thanks guys for all of the feed back and help. It's been a really great process and thanks a ton to Anglers Choice Marine up in Martinsville, VA (2 hours each way from me) who are making this process as smooth and professional as they can.
Billy Bob, you are real close, that's a darn good prediction for sure. I'm running the 20X2 next week and then it's decision time. Will keep you all posted.
Al Wolbach reply :
QuoteThanks for your continued postings and opinions of all the new rigs. I have been really enjoying your reports! Looking forward to hearing your comments after this week of testing the boats mentioned!
X2...........................Al
BillyBob reply :
LKN, I have went through the very same thing myself, just thought you might go for the 21 being a somewhat bigger guy than me...for the record I think Triton wasted their time and money building the 21-X2...my 20-X2 has been on order for a month now. If you custom order your colors go to the factory, like I did, you'll love it!
lknbassman reply :
Billy Bob, thanks for the input on that. I'm not going with the 21X2 as it's just too much boat for what I need to be doing and a lot more money than my budget will allow plus I don't think I have anywhere to store that thing as it's so HUGE!!!
The 20X2 and 19X2 are the finalists for me for certain, I'm running both again side by side mid week this coming week now that I've eliminated everything else I know that I don't want. I will do the final comparison with them both in the water and stepping from one to the other and hitting the hot foot until I figure it out. I can't think of a better way to do it, not even going to put them on the trailer, it's in the water from boat to boat until I'm satisfied. That is my game plan.
The people at Anglers Choice Marine www.anglerschoicemarine.com up in Martinsville, VA have been super patient with me as I have gone through this process and have also shown me the utmost in professionalism and legitmate make the customer happy guidance.
They even sacrificed one of their main guys to ride with me in the TR21X HP w/the 250 Pro XS. Now I know they pulled straws for this lake test since it involved me getting my first real taste of chine walk with me behind the wheel (fortunately nobody was hurt; just scared to death a time or two, or three as I tried to figure it out). Thanks Mike, you are the MAN!!!!!!! The guy is the quintessential "Braveheart" in my book for riding with me in that missle.
Now, if you guys know anyone that needs that requires high 70's to low 80's & wants to haul a** in a super hot looking 2007 TR21X HP rigged like none other (I mean this thing is LOADED) with less than 10 hours on it, call Anglers Choice up and ask for Sandi or Nick Loganadan and go buy that boat, it truly is flawless and is a ROCKET SHIP. The former owner traded or bought something else and this boat is literally in new condition which is why I have been struggling with my decision to go new or buy that beauty. The bottom line as others have mentioned to me and a belief of my own is that it's just not only about the money, it's about getting the best boat for me.
I've really come to conclude that it's not right for my specific application plus I'm scared of it. Hey I'm not a liar and it's better for a man to know his limitations sometimes, this is one of those times at least for me. I learned that at the Richard Petty driving school a year or two ago as well; NASCAR looks pretty easy on TV sometimes. I say go get in one and see how you do... because it's not and I had that same feeling of terror driving that tuned down stock car out at Lowe's Motor Speedway and I was the only one on the track! Now try it in traffic? No thanks and that what driving that super fast Triton would be like for me as we have a TON of boat traffic out here and if I have the power...well let's just say I might try to force the issue and you all will be reading about me in the paper going "I knew that boy should have bought the X2 hull, he's no professional boat driver, what in the world was he thinking?"
So all that said, next Saturday (Feb 15th) will be decision day for me weather permitting. I look forward to sharing with all of you my final decision and how I came to it so that it might help you or somebody you know down the road go through the process. There is no question that I certainly would not be nearly as educated as I am now as a buyer without everybody's help on this forum.
Thanks again guys for all of you honesty and input. Will update you soon with the good news.
Catt reply :
Thanks for the updates you'll be happy with either one
You got me pumped; we're having a boat show in town this weekend so I'll be drooling over em but one thing that is sweet the boat show is on the water so it's easy to dump one in and run it.
Triton TR20 reply :
I would have to say it's personal prefrance all mentioned are good boats. I went to Nixons Marine and found a good deal with a used Triton TR 20 just a few years old but the cost was alot lower than new.
The boat had only 50hrs on it but was thousands less than new. It came witha Yamaha V-Max motor and boy does it hall *** gets scarry at around 70-75.
lknbassman reply :
I bet that thing is scary. That TR w/the HP hull is a rocket and the pad makes that boat a driver. I'm going for the X2 hulls for sure and tomorrow is the big final test drive day then it's decision time. I'm putting the 19X2 and the 20X2 both with max hp on them in the lake at the same time and will be stepping from one to the other on the water to drive them within a few moments of one another to get the best possible feel for both vessels. Should be fun, I'll get you guys an update when I get back. Thanks for all the insight gentlemen, this has been great.
bassdocktor reply :
Good luck and have fun tomorow. Can't wait to see the final decision.
lknbassman reply :
Guys, it's done. The decision has been made. The deal has been structured, and the testing is over.
Before I reveal the finalist of these intensely scrutinized boats, dealers, supporting people etc, I just want to say thanks to all of the dealers I've dealt with as I traveled down this path toward my final decision. I'll also say that it's really even more evident now with this caliber of boat than say a high end bow rider or ski boat (both which we've owned) that a person is EXTREMELY comfortable with the people he or she is dealing with as there is a lot more "hands on" with a bass boat than other categories all things being equal. Due to the heavy use things may need more attention/repair than they might on another category of boat. This does not mean that they are inferior quality wise at all, just the contrary, all of these boats are built to tournamet specifications and are solid units, the fact that they get used and so much is demanded of them immediately is what I'm getting at. I rarely got into our cobalt and put hammer down to get to a location, cut the engine, allow momentum to carry me forward, all while I race up front and quietly drop a trolling motor down. This super aggressive start and stop has to wear on the whole rig so it's a safe assumption that something might give on a bass boat before another type simply due to the type of use it's under.
That all being said, I am very happy to say that I will be in a Triton boat, I'm buying it from the most customer focused marine business I've ever been involved with (and I've owned a lot of boats, types, sizes, categories, etc over the years).
Anglers Choice Marine in Martinsville, VA is staffed with genuine hard working people who will put your needs before theirs in order to make you happy. They did me anyway. This is not a shameless plug for them, they earned this commentary and provided me with guidance unlike any other dealer I've worked with regardless of boat brand or type. They have a man there (Mike) who took time out of his own personal day off to run a boat with me. Probably does not sound like a big deal to some, but would you do it? Woud you do it if you knew this? Mike is not a sales guy, he works in the service and parts area, it at the end of the day is not measured on which boat I buy or how much or little I spend. There is no commission on the table for him, he did this because he genuinely gives a hoot about how this thing comes together for me and for that I am very grateful. He and I went through the entire process together, he was with me on every test drive, endured about 1000 questions, some over and over...., and maintained a true professional demeanor while having fun showing a seasoned boater but absolute green horn at bass boat driving how to put a bridle and a harness on a dragon and control it. Not an easy chore and not one that he does every day. Take note of that, he is an exception to the rule as are all of the people who make that business so successful.
Now on to the decision....(drum roll please).....
After careful evaluation, numerous test rides, too many conversations with boat owners to recall, input from fellow anglers and experienced bass boaters (ALL OF YOU) via this, my final 3 boats were a 2007 TR21X HP w/a 250 Pro XS, a 2008 20X2 w/a 250 Pro XS, and a 2008 19X2 w/a 225 Pro XS on it.
I've decided to buy the 2007 TR21X HP /250 Pro XS boat package.
OK, I know you need it as the team at Anglers Choice did as well so I'll give you a minute............
Ready?
OK, here we go:
Here's the deal, I love both of the X2 boats as if any of you have read this thread must surely know. The decision came down to these elements:
1) Chinewalk - This is a bigger deal to me than most of you since I've got no real experience with a bass boat of this magnitude. I have over 1000 hours of boating experience with other high powered boats but these are unique to themselves as you all know. Regarding Chine Walk, they all do it, some more than others but there is no boat that I've driven (all brands included) that did not do it to some degree once you get near 70 MPH. Therefore that decision criteria became a moot point since it applies to all of the boats I'm looking at. Bottom line; I need to learn how to drive a bass boat. It's not a cigarette boat, it's not a ski/wakeboard boat, it's certainly not a bowrider or a cruiser, it's a rocket and I need to learn how to do it the right way. I'm committed to it and will get it figured out in time.
2) Platform - I really thought the 20X2 would fish a lot differnt than the 21 or the 19 and the reality is that they all fish pretty much (not exactly) the same even though the beam is narrower on the bigger boat. The difference is noticeable meaning the 20X2 has the more stable base by a SLIGHT margin but it was not that much different in the end.
3) Space - The 21 actually has more room (go figure right? It is 21 feet...) Here's why I bring it up; I intially thought just the opposite after riding them on different days but my last lake test was done with them literally side by side and having driven them on the same day within minutes of each other, I concluded the 21 is bigger where I needed it to be (total length, TM to seat post distance, rod lockers can accomodate 7'6" single piece rods w/no problem), 3rd passenger seat for the rare occasion that I take 2 people with me (most likely a buddy and his son) for some bass or crappie fishing.
4) Speed - The 21 blew the other 2 away. Enough said, it's faster. This was not a key critera for me, but it very well might be for the guy that buys this boat from me down the road. Here's how I see it. At 68 MPH they all started to chine walk some so you gotta drive them all. Top end WOT on the 19X2 was 74, Top end on WOT on the 20X2 was 73 (probably will go up 1 or 2 after break in), and top end on the 21X HP was 79MPH. Here is how I view speed and horsepower; I liken both to say ammunition or money, it's thought that one can never have enough of either. However if you don't have enough of one or the other when you do need it, you just might find yourself in some real trouble.... This sounds cliche like but it's pretty accurate; Just because you have it does not mean you have to use it but man it's much more comforting to know it's there than not....
5 Cost - The 2007 is a used boat. This was a critical factor and unique to this situation as this 2007 is a once in a lifetime find in my opinion. It has 7 hours on it., is in mint condition, and is loaded with every gadget and accessory Triton offered as well as top notch electronics, a 36v TM, top end trailer, etc. The motor is actually still breaking in (double oiling) as the Pro XS's do that up to 10 hours of use. Another angler bought it new last year from this dealer and decided a few months later that bass fishing was really not his deal and instead went for another boat suited for another type of fishing application. This means that I'm buying a new condition (and it is immaculate) boat while someone else finally gets to take the depreciation hit. If I buy either of the 2008 models I will take the hit (which I had resigned myself to) and that is not sound economic thinking from a pure price stand point if you can avoid having to do it. If you can always get more boat for the same money, it will make the back end of the transaction (sale) go that much better for you. To comparably equip either of the X2 boats in this particular situation would mean spending a LOT more money for a smaller boat. Again, not a good idea in general when buying a boat regardless of brand.
All scenarios come with a give and take right? So what do I give up by going this route? A little bit of deck space width wise (less than 2" overall), a little bit of hole shot that I make up for in top end speed, I don't get to pick the colors from the factory. I can live with all of these considering I'm not skilled enough to run 70+ MPH, fish alone most of the time, and I'm actually very fond of the color scheme on the boat which is a bonus.
So now, what do I gain? Full motor warranty, a more well equipped larger boat for less overall money than I'd spend on a well equipped 19 foot, a bigger engine, more hp, a greater range of travel distance, more overall room, an in flight education in how to drive a rocket ship, a quality relationship with a first class dealer and service center, a much better economic position on the back end when it's time to look at another boat down the road. My research shows me that a 21 foot boat with a bigger motor will always bring more $$ resale wise than a 19 or the 20 foot boat with a comporable or smaller motor. This is a well known function of the marine industry and a lesson I've learned the hard way in the past.
So that's it. These particular circumstances say buy the bigger boat for the same money. It's a no brainer. Is it my first choice? No. Is it the smarter choice? Without a doubt.
So now the question comes up; Chuck what would you have bought had this 2007 TR21X HP boat not been available and this unique opportunity presented itself?
I would have purchased a 2008 19X2 w/a Pro XS and top tier electronics without a doubt. I just love driving that boat and I can deal with the shorter TM to seat post issue after really fooling around with it some and getting it just right. The 19X2 is the most enjoyable boat I've ever driven and believe it or not it does fish like it's bigger. Nothing against the 20X2, I just liked the 19X2 better, it's just plain more fun to drive to me, is very easy to maneuver around docks and tight spaces, and will be MUCH easier on the wallet when at the gas pump!
I plan to take delivery of the boat this week coming around mid week. Thank you all for all of your input and guidance. I hope that if a new buyer is looking to do the same that they find this thread and have a chance to see how somebody else went about it from a practical, financial, and technical stand point. At the end of it all, you've gotta love what you buy regardless of price and I'm sure that I'll be happy with my decision and also become an even more proficient boat driver and tournament fisherman along the way.
Good luck to each of you this season. May the Lord bless each you with tight fishing lines, good health, and prosperity.
My best to each of you and yours, and please have a safe and happy boating season.
Please support our fighting men and women in uniform, try (yes it takes lots of patience) to take a kid fishing like somebody did for each of us, and most importantly thank Jesus Christ for your salvation. If you don't know HIM, email me and I'll introduce you.
Thanks again to every one of you.
lknbassman
-Chuck Daymude
cdaymude1@windstream.net
bassdocktor reply :
Congratulations. Sounds like you've made the right choice for you. Having followed the thread you really did you homework. I'm sure with the work you put in you'll be nothing but satisfied. Plus everyone seems to love a Triton once they own one.
Good luck with the new boat and learning to drive it. Make sure you post some pictures of it once you take delivery.
Catt reply :
Now you've made one critical mistake!
Now I've got to add looking into a Triton to my list of possibilities but what's nice is I have nephew with one close to identical to your choice and even better his being transferred to Japan for 3 years.
Thanks to making your research public and giving us such detailed input
Tommy T
Triton TR20 reply :
You made a good choice. I own a TR 20 loaded running a 225 Yamaha I have fished out of the best and my top two are Triton and Ranger. The batteries and charging system are top notch on the Triton also. My Pro Charger went bad after it was three months out of warranty but they had no problem sending me a new one. I know you will be happy with the triton people.
chicobass reply :
all that and you didn't even buy a Ranger ?......... Strange !
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