Times are getting tough. Regardless of the official numbers, we all know inflation is hitting us hard at the grocery, gas pump, and elsewhere. If you’re in the market for a new bass boat, you might be at the point where you are no longer dreaming of that fancy Ranger and instead trying to find one that fits the budget. As one of the main “budget brands” out there, Nitro bass boats are probably on your radar. However, you’ve probably heard some stories that have you wondering if Nitro bass boats are any good. Well, let’s figure it out.
Do Nitro Boats Have a Bad Reputation?
Nitro bass boats don’t have the best reputation, but this is likely explainable in a large extent by the fact that it’s usually someone’s first bass boat. As I mentioned in my post about Mercury Outboards (which also have the same issue), I’d wager a good number of the “problems” that give Nitro boats a poor reputation have more to do with user error than manufacturer defect. I know when I first bought my boat, I had very little idea what I was doing. There were many “issues” that were honestly easy fixes when I got a little experience under my belt.
As a “value bass boat brand,” Nitro is going to have a large number of people who are simply new to boat ownership, and this is going to cause issues. Batteries might not be tightened down enough. One might not understand trim, or how to effectively drive through rough water. With trailering, perhaps that boat isn’t secured properly, or had its transom adequately protected. Lots of issues can contribute.
For what it’s worth though, there is some anecdotal evidence that this brand did go through a bit of growing pains after Bass Pro bought it years ago. That makes sense. They were, after all, trying to make fishing more affordable for everyone, and that would have caused some corners to be cut. However, it does seem from reading various forums that this is a malus from the past, long since removed. Even so, it’s worth a chuckle at what folks are entitling their posts. Here’s one that asks, “Are the newer Nitro’s still trash?” (For what it’s worth, most had favorable things to say about them).
What About Issues with the Warranty?
Another reason that many Nitro boats get a bad reputation is that their warranty group does a good job of inciting the internet. It’s not very hard to find stories of folks relating their experience with Nitro / Tracker warranties and how they had a hard time getting them to pay up. Granted, this might not be the manufacturer’s fault always. I’ve been in insurance for well over a decade now and there are certainly people out there who can’t accept responsibility and won’t listen to reason. Surely some of the issues on the internet aren’t Nitro’s problem but user error. Nonetheless, there are enough stories out there, especially from the mid-2010s or so, that makes you wonder if perhaps the company needed a little training on “smiling through the phone.”
With that said, in fairness to the brand it should be stated that many of the complaints aren’t so much that an active warranty won’t pay so much as the warranty expires or changes for 2nd or 3rd owners. I’d argue this is the purchaser’s issue. One of the main things you need to do when buying anything used (and I don’t care if it’s a used fishing rod!) is to understand what warranty, if any, transfers. If you buy a boat that specifically won’t have a warranty any more because you’re the third owner, it’s hardly the manufacturer’s fault you didn’t call and ask.
Are Nitro Bass Boats Reliable?
To put it plainly, a bass boat hull is going to be reliable so long as it isn’t compromised. It’s all the electronics and motors that you put on it that have reliability issues. The issue with Nitro boats is that they are almost always going to be equipped with a Mercury outboard. These engines have gotten a lot of flak over the years for not being reliable, but that really isn’t fair. As stated above, it’s mostly going to come down to user error in many instances. For example, I had the hardest time getting my motor to fire up initially, but come to find out it’s due to my simply not tightening my batteries enough! Little things like this can cause big issues.
What Sorts of Problems Do They Have?
Many of the folks complaining about Nitro boats have to do with issues with the fiberglass. Some complaints are fairly minor, such as minor spider cracks and other chipping. There are, however, some scary stories out there of the hulls completely delaminating due to manufacturer defect. What this basically means is the hull is peeling off like layers of an onion as one drives. Definitely not ideal! Unfortunately, the warranty of various years doesn’t transfer as well as you might like, so there are some heartbreaking stories of guys out there buying boats that quickly are worthless.
Aside from those scary issues, Nitro’s are going to have similar problems as other boats. They’re a value brand and to get that price means they aren’t using the highest quality materials for everything. Is that really going to make a difference on a fishing boat that’s about to get covered in worm guts? Well, that’s for you to say. Cheaper latches will wear out quicker than higher quality ones. Less durable boat carpet will wear out before a better one. These are mostly cosmetic issues, but they might be important to you.
More important, I’d argue, are things like livewell pumps and such as a breach there can cause major flooding issues. I once named a boat “Sinky” because of this (no, it wasn’t a Nitro). Definitely something to consider looking at closely!
Are Nitro Bass Boats a Good Value?
The main thing driving folks to buy Nitro boats is their value. They are significantly less expensive than the major name brands, such as Ranger. For example, as of writing (January, 2024), a top of the line Nitro Z21 XL Pro had a “no haggle, no hassle” pricing of $74,815 USD. Compare that to the Ranger Z521R Ranger Cup’s $93,870, and you’re saving nearly $20,000.
Granted, if you’re looking at a Nitro you probably aren’t looking at a top tier one, so let’s compare an entry level price. To keep it apples to applies, let’s look at Nitro’s Z18 vs. the Ranger Z518. The Nitro will run you $42,815. The Ranger goes for $53,870, over $11,000 more. Nitro also has a small Z17 (Ranger has no equivalent) that runs $35,815, though in my mind, that is a ridiculous price to pay for a 17′ bass boat and I’d definitely encourage buying the Z18 instead as it has a better motor and tournament possibilities.
Now, value does go beyond the simple price of a boat. You have to consider what kind of boat you get for the money, and these “Pro” series come with a lot of extras for the price. Depending on the model, you might have very solid graphs and trolling motors included as well as other options like a hot foot and jack plate. This makes these boats even more enticing as you’re getting everything you might want in a boat, all for the sales price.
Do Nitro Boats Hold Their Value?
Nitro boats do not hold their value like some of the top tier brands. First, they’re a dime a dozen. Being the best selling bass boat means there’s plenty of them out there to purchase and supply vs. demand is going to decrease the price. Secondly, like it or not, they do have that reputation that is ever so hard to overcome. Not everyone is going to want to purchase a used one. If you’re buying a Nitro boat you’re buying it for a value to yourself but not necessarily with the intent of preserving resale value like a Ranger or Lund would.
Should I Buy a Used One?
Used Nitro boats can be a screaming deal, but you need to be very careful. While it’s always best practice to bring along a mechanic to check out a new boat you’re interested in, it’s all the more important with this brand. This is because many people who are new to boating and fishing are likely the original owner of these boats. Is that always an issue? No, of course not. But it does imply that there may be things that went wrong with the boat simply because they didn’t know any better. If you’re buying a used Nitro bass boat, make sure you give it a good look over.
Having said that, if you’re able to find someone who has had boats for some time and has kept it nice and clean, you’re probably going to get a better deal on a used Nitro bass boat than pretty much anything else you could find. These are less expensive to start and don’t hold their value very well which means you could find a good deal. These days, with the economy being what it is, this might really be your value. Just make sure you’re careful about things so you don’t get burned!
Can I Get Parts for Older Nitro Boats?
While there is a great website for older Nitro boat parts, bear in mind that there aren’t many parts for the extremely old boats from last century. The site is interesting in that you’re basically emailing a person who will do the sleuthing for you to find a part and will then let you know what they can offer. Of course, if you know the actual part number you can always do this yourself by putting it in Google, but you’ll be at the mercy of whatever is listed on the internet. With this website, you might have access to parts you otherwise wouldn’t be able to easily find.
If you need specific Nitro parts for a much older book, you’re going to need to check various auction sites or perhaps even Facebook groups to see if you can find something. However, once your boat is that old, wouldn’t you be OK with a generic replacement anyway? For example, you can find just about any color of boat seat you need if you want a replacement, and it’s not like restoring that Nitro to showroom condition is going to do much for its value!
Where Can I Buy a New Nitro Boat?
One of the best things about Nitro bass boats is how prevalent their dealers are. They seem to be everywhere, which means you’ll never be far from one. Go check out their “find a dealer” section on their website to find one near you.
In Conclusion
If you want to get a lot of boat for your money and aren’t that concerned about “trim” or “status,” then a Nitro bass boat might be great for you. Just remember that if you buy a used one you might want to get an idea of how much experience the person has with boating as many of the issues Nitro has could have been caused by inexperienced boaters.
Hopefully this article was helpful to you!
John Paxton
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