Nitro’s Z20 XL Pro is a pure fishing machine, built to get to the fish quickly. Rigged with a Mercury 250 Pro XS outboard and 23-inch-pitch Mercury Fury propeller, our testing produced a top speed just under 75 mph at 6,250 rpm. Testing was conducted in high winds and whitecaps, so we’d expect up to 3 more mph running in calmer conditions.

The Nitro was dialed in for top speed, but acceleration didn’t seem to suffer. We rocketed to plane in 3.6 seconds, and 30 mph in 5.4 seconds. It’s not bad when it’s time to fill the tank either. A best cruise of 34-plus mph and 3,500 rpm yields 4.7 mpg—good for a 211-mile range from the 50-gallon tank (leaving 10 percent in reserve). 

The Z20 XL is a performance package, and it drives and handles like one; speeds above 60 mph require experienced drivers and close attention. The standard Bob’s Machine Shop hydraulic jack plate and foot throttle make it endlessly entertaining to eke out that last mile per hour and learn its handling traits, but the Z20 XL is capable of more than many drivers will be able to wring out.

The bow casting platform is padded to reduce fatigue, and our tester featured a Garmin EchoMap 93sv with a LiveScope Plus system gimbal-mounted to the bow. A second EchoMap was flush-mounted in the driver’s console. A Minn Kota Ultrex 36-volt trolling motor is standard. Twin rod-storage lockers handle rods up to 8 feet long, flanking a center storage locker with Nitro’s tackle management system.

The driver and copilot sit comfortably on Nitro’s Z-Core seating system with Force Flex seat suspension and roto-molded seat frames. The step up to the bow deck features a built-in 62-quart insulated cooler with a removable trash container and snap-in sandwich tray. A portside rod ramp keeps often-used rods handy and secure with an organizer and hold-down strap.

Twin 19-gallon aerated, roto-molded livewells with rounded corners and timed aerators keep fish safe. Aft deck lockers have lift-out, roto-molded boxes to stow tackle boxes. There is excellent access to the batteries, chargers and plumbing.

High Points

• Foot throttle, power trim and a jack plate are standard, plus controls on the steering wheel.
• Multifunction 5-inch touchscreen switching and engine data.
• Z-Core seating with Flex seat suspension adds comfort.
• Timed aerated livewells.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 250 Pro XS FourStroke outboard
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 23″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 38 gal. Crew Weight: 250 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2025 Nitro Z20 XL Pro appeared first on Boating Mag.

Nitro resides at the apex of professional tournament bass boats, and Kevin Van Dam has kept it in the spotlight with his many tournament wins on this boat. The new Z21 XL enhances its looks, fishability and competitive edge. At a suggested list price of under $85,000 as tested, it features a Mercury 250 Pro XS outboard and SeaStar hydraulic steering. Engine trim and jack-plate controls are “blinker” style on the tilt-wheel column.

With our setup, we ran this Nitro a tick over 70 mph at 6,000 rpm with a 23-pitch Mercury Fury propeller. That’s pretty swift with 500 pounds of boat testers and a nearly three-quarters tank of fuel. Handling-wise, the Nitro clipped the tops off foot-high wind chop at 65 mph without losing stability. The 18-degree multistrake padded -V-hull makes for a dry ride. With both hands on the wheel and the trim/jack controls in fingertip reach, the 16-degree deadrise hull was easy to handle. Hard-over wheel exercises yielded clean turns. 

Outside, the sharp black and red gelcoat gave a sleek and crisp appearance. 

Aboard, the foredeck is fitted with an optional Lowrance Ghost trolling motor with autopilot and GPS lock. The foot pedal is recessed in a drop-down mount to keep down deck clutter. A second 12-inch Lowrance HDS graph could easily accompany another if desired. Dual rod lockers carry a full quiver of seven rods each, plus 18 Plano 3700 tackle boxes. The step to the cockpit conceals a cooler, sandwich bin and trash receptacle. Another 20-tube dual-tier rod-storage system is in the portside compartment; the starboard compartment is for bulk dry storage.

The helm provided plenty of space for the optional 12-inch Lowrance HDS Live surrounded by Mercury electronic analog gauges. The brand-new-for-2023 7-inch digital touchscreen controls all electrical features on board. An optional Hot Foot throttle is on a sliding plate for custom adjustment. 

This Nitro converts to a dual-console boat with an optional console that quickly bolts into place.

Anglers looking for a complete package that performs at a competitive price will be hard-pressed to ignore Nitro’s Z21 XL.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 250 hp Pro XS FourStroke
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 23″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 38 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Nitro – Springfield, Missouri; nitro.com

The post 2023 Nitro Z21 XL appeared first on Boating Mag.

With bass boats, the buzz starts behind the helm, with a hand on the throttle and an extra snugging of the life jacket. We set up the Z18 that way for our test. I jammed down the gas, expecting the bow to stab skyward before settling into a running attitude. But it didn’t. Oh, it shot forward with head-snapping acceleration, but that bow lifted gently, barely obscuring the horizon immediately forward — an experience that bass boats don’t often give. This gentle step to plane and blistering acceleration come from a new hull that engineers call Nitro Vortex Technology (NVT).

What makes it work are longitudinally curved parabolic bottom surfaces that are so different, Nitro won’t even label them strakes. These are “parabolic curved surfaces” that meet every 6 inches or so in a crisp peak. With the throttle still firewalled, the Z18 continued to rise in flight until only the pad — a long, flat surface about 6 inches wide extending from the transom to amidships — touched the water. The boat topped out at 64 mph, an impressive bass-boat speed on 150 ponies.

Even more remarkable was its stability. Many bass boats begin to chine walk, or rock from port to starboard, an experience that also yaws the stem back and forth, creating an uncomfortable handling experience difficult to correct. We had none of that belly-wrenching experience as the Z18 glided along on its pad. And how did it turn? Oh my. Nudging back on the throttle just a bit, we eased down to 50 mph and cranked the steering wheel to starboard, then to port. The boat turned crisply, heeling slightly to center in arcs that showed off a hull so perfectly balanced, a coffee cup could stay put on the casting deck. We proved it was also stable at rest by walking back and forth; the boat settled only slightly with the shift in weight. A recessed pedal pocket eases any back or leg strain while operating the electric motor. There is room for an optional 12-inch sonar/GPS display at the bow; a Lowrance Mark-5x Pro fish finder is standard.

Nitro’s tackle storage is exemplary. A portside rod locker holds 8-foot sticks, and you can stow life jackets and the mooring cover in the starboard compartment. A center deck locker offers dedicated storage for tools, utility boxes and tackle bags, and it even includes a drink holder. Dual lockers aft stow more utility boxes. The forward step has a cooler and trash bin beneath, and the aft step gives access to livewell plumbing and storage.

Our take is that the Z18 is not just a boat at a great price point — it’s a great boat.

Comparable Model: Skeeter ZX190

The post Nitro Boats Z18 appeared first on Boating Mag.

The Nitro ZV 18 tracks down bigger fish on bigger waters.

When you are hunting for walleye on more open waters, the Nitro ZV 18 has all the tools needed to master rough conditions and reach any offshore hot spot.

Relying on the recommendations of the world’s top walleye anglers, Nitro introduced the multispecies ZV 18 as a downsized version of its ZV 21, Nitro’s flagship big-water multispecies boat. Built with a deep-V performance hull with a lifting strake design, the ZV 18 easily handles the challenge of big lakes by smoothly slicing through choppy seas.

Upon arrival at a hot spot, the ZV 18 continues to excel, with its wide beam providing a stable fishing platform. We stepped from port to starboard on the bow and aft casting decks, and the wide-beam boat maintained its stability as we shifted weight. A bow-mounted Minn Kota PowerDrive 24-volt, 70-pound-thrust trolling motor has the power needed to keep the boat on a hot spot even in rough water. A recessed foot-pedal pocket gives added control relief to the back, should one opt for the foot-controlled model. The recess drains to the bilge.

Stowage for rods and tackle abounds throughout the boat’s interior, and compartments are lighted for night angling. The front deck features a three-level center rod locker with organizers for rods up to 8 feet long and port and starboard stowage lockers with lid assists. Aft stowage includes two lift-out, molded bins capable of holding seven Plano 3700 utility tackle boxes. There’s a built-in cooler forward of the port console.

The ZV 18 standard package includes a Mercury 150 hp XL FourStroke outboard but is capable of supporting the added power and speed of a 200 hp motor. The composite transom also has plenty of room and strength to carry a kicker motor. Our test boat, equipped with a 200 hp engine, sported plenty of power, leaving lots in reserve for a full load of fuel, fishermen and gear.

Buyer’s Spotlight
*Spacious 30-gallon livewell and 5.5-gallon bow baitwell with removable bucket keep both your catch and bait lively.
*A port net holder carries a net close at hand.
*A bracket-mounted Lowrance Mark-5x Pro depth finder finds the big ones.
*Bow cooler has a removable tray.
*Pull-up cleats keep the gunwales smooth while battling fish.
*Nitro’s glossy metal-flake finishes add head-turning pizazz at the ramp.
*Aluminum hatches are reinforced with aluminum beams for some added strength.
*A dedicated bait-bucket socket is located forward of the helm.

How We Tested
Engine: Mercury 200 hp Verado
Prop: Enertia 18
Gear Ratio: 2.08:1
Fuel Load: 28 gal.
Crew Weight: 405 lb.

Price
$37,995 (standard)

Contact
NITRO Springfield, Missouri; 417-873-4985; nitro.com

The post Nitro ZV 18 appeared first on Boating Mag.

Your personal Nitro Z-8 might not hit this top speed after you load up the dedicated storage compartments with tackle, gear, gas and everything else bass anglers keep on board, but our test team would expect you to hit the low 70s. We also think in midrange cruising speeds, you’ll be impressed (maybe surprised) with the remarkable fuel efficiency of the OptiMax engine.

In bass boats, like most performance rigs, blistering hole shots aren’t the objective so we didn’t punch the stopwatch, but we did appreciate the short amount of horizon loss — a byproduct of a hull that’s aggressively speed-oriented. More important to us were the midrange speeds and comfortable driving position. Cruise speed is relative for bass-tournament contestants, who are often more concerned about minutes of casting than gallons per hour, but we skimmed the boat around our test lake taking in the dashboard view at stately 40, 50 and 60 mph throttle settings anyway. “Easy to control, comfortable in chop,” was scrawled in wind-driven, tear-stained notes. Even quartering across wakes at 45 degrees left us “hanging on loosely” to either the throttle and wheel or the chicken handles conveniently mounted near the passenger seats.

Next, we went into a cove and kicked out the trolling motor, and then pulled it up again to see how easily it found its place. It was set up well, and steering it was eased by recessing the pedal in the deck. Our Nitro tech guy showed us how the foot-pad pocket was removable to ease changing motors, servicing cables or other connections.

Dual rod lockers gave so many rod slots, we’d be tempted to just throw life jackets and other gear in the starboard compartment. Tackle compartments below the deck gave easy access to utility tackle boxes — you could leave them locked in the boat 24/7 with the heavy-duty hatch locks or tuck them in a utility bag and cart them home at the end of the day. They’ll drop back into their dedicated slots in a heartbeat.

Nitro has eased the climb to the deck by supplying a step. Underneath, it is a wastebasket and cooler. Aft, dual livewells with automatic controls were easy to access while kneeling on the seats.

None of the Z-8’s practical applications would be much fun to own without the bling we’ve come to expect from bass boats. So, it sports a racy metal-flake finish and plenty of crisp striping and color accents. We’d say it’s stable but speedy, with just enough flash for fun.

Key Note: The Z-8 helm station gives a clear view of instrumentation over the steering wheel and offers comfortable ergonomics for easy control.

Standout Features
• Instrumentation pods to the left and right of the depth finder are easy to read at high speeds.
• Centered Lowrance fish finder is ideally positioned to search for fish-holding structures.
• Reboarding ladder increases angler safety and enhances recreational opportunities.
• Recessed trolling motor foot-pedal pocket makes steering the electric motor comfortable.
• Blue-finished livewell interiors make culling easier by improving visibility inside.
• Step pads between the three-across main seating preserves the upholstery.

Vital Stats
* Length Overall(w/platform): 20’1″
* Beam: 8′
* Dry Weight: 1,950 lb.
* People/Weight Capacity: 4/1,000 lb.
* Fuel Capacity: 55 gal.
* Maximum HP: 250
* MSRP (w/Mercury Optimax 250): $42,585
* NMMA Certified: Yes

Test Drive
* Test Engine: Mercury Optimax 250
* Test Prop: Tempest 26
* Test Load: People (400 lb.); Fuel (20 gal.)
* Top Speed: 74.2 mph @ 5,800 rpm

The post Nitro Z8 appeared first on Boating Mag.