Manufacturers Offer Updated New Boats for 2010
Photos and Text By DARRELL TAYLOR
Following a disastrous year for the boating industry that included consolidations and the discontinuance of some brands, we actually found some manufacturers who not only survived, but fine-tuned specific products to make them more desirable for 2010. Interestingly, they did not cheapen products; instead they focused on targeting specific customer needs and providing more value. Here are four boats among some of the surviving brands we think you will like.
G3 Boats 1860 SC Shadow Grass
The redesigned 1860 Side Console from G3 Boats boasts a new wider body and a 20-gallon mid-ship fuel tank to improve handling, fuel efficiency, time to plane and top end performance.
It has Faria gauges in a molded console, new front deck, 30-gallon quick drain livewell and two lockable storage boxes. Interior features include bench seating, storage below the passenger's seat, premium marine grade vinyl flooring, courtesy lights and a bilge pump. The trailer is custom powder coated three-inch tubular steel with a removable tongue.
This all-season .100 gauge aluminum boat is 18-feet, 1-inch long with a beam of 86-inches and is rated for a maximum of 90 horsepower. See it at www.g3boats.com or call 800-588-9787.
NITRO Z-7
The Nitro Z7 sports a restyled hull and deck on its 18-foot, 7-inch frame. Considered a mid-size bass boat, it sports a patent-pending Rapid Planing System to provide speed, stability and ruggedness.
Fishing amenities include a MotorGuide 24-volt, 70-pound thrust trolling motor, a low-profile hull design for easy flipping, a Lowrance X96 TX fish finder and a Mercury outboard motor. Creature features include three-across seating, an optional removable dual console, easy-to-read instrumentation, a tinted windscreen and a fold-down reboarding ladder.
The custom-matched trailer has GalvaShield corrosion protection, a swing-away tongue and EZ lube hubs. Total weight is about 3,000 pounds. The manufacturer's suggested retail price in the US is $27,995 with a 150-horsepower Mercury OptiMax outboard and trailer. See it at www.nitro.com.
Ranger Z521 Comanche
Following the rich lineage of Ranger's most popular series of bass boats, the Z521 Comanche received the "Excellence in Design" award from Trailer Boats magazine. Among the features cited were redesigned consoles that allow flush mounted large screen electronics with concave beveling on the outside to allow anglers to stow their rods more securely.
The redesigned hull maximizes performance with both two- and four-stroke outboards even with their significantly different weights. Abundant storage lockers are triple-lip-sealed to keep gear dry. Checking in at 21 feet, 3 inches long with a 95-inch beam, the Z521 is rated for 250 horsepower and has a 52-gallon fuel tank to keep the ponies fed.
Included is a custom-built RangerTrail trailer equipped with LED lights, aluminum wheels with COOL Hub lubrication and Road Armor finish. See the Z521 at www.rangerboats.com.
Tracker Pro Guide V-175 Walk-Thru
The 17-foot, 3-inch Pro Guide V-175 Walk-Thru has a wraparound walk-thru windshield passenger console, a two-piece all-welded Deep V hull with a 19-degree deadrise and reverse chines to improve handling and provide a dry ride.
Check out the optional Fish Package, which includes a Minn Kota, 55-pound, thrust PowerDrive trolling motor, Interstate battery and Lowrance X-51 Pro fish finder. Standard angler amenities include two lockable rod and gearboxes, fore and aft aerated livewells, three fishing seats, two and storage compartments in the bow and one aft.
Included is a custom factory-matched trailer with EZ-lube hubs, swing-away tongue, retractable safety cables and GalvaShield on the all-welded frame. Total weight is about 2,300 pounds. The manufacturer's suggested retail price in the US is $17,995 with a 90-horsepower Mercury EXLPTO outboard motor. See it at www.trackerboats.com.