New Nitro Z18

WTodd · August 09, 2018, 08:24:56 AM

Okie dokie boys and girls I'm the proud owner of my first glass boat; 2018 Nitro Z18 (4 pics attached). I know this may get moved (or copied to the Nitro Board) but since we're all FL baws (if you don't know what that word means, ask a Louisiana guy) I thought it would be an appropriate place to start. I wasn't really looking to upgrade from my Lowe ST 175 BUT the wifey put the idea in my head about going "bigger" and well, the rest is history; she was referring only to the boat.

Main specs: 150 Merc 4 stroke (I'm a 4 stroke fan), Minn Kota 80 lb. Fortrex, 2 8' Power Pole Blades, 3 bank NOCO Genius charger, Lowrance Hook 5 on the console and Lowrance Elite 7 TI on the bow (I'm an electronics idiot to begin with so I'm even more so with new electronics), LOADS of storage, the seats set way up so no need for a cushion to see over the windshield & bow at idle speed. The trailer is single axle BUT the hubs are virtually maintenance free; Vortex hubs with a 6 yr/100K mile warranty before you need to do anything. With that said I'll probably inspect and install new grease after 2 yrs just because I'm anal and I have a single point of failure and I don't want that single point to actually fail.

OK I've had it out the past 3 days breaking in the new motor (thanks Barry for coming along for the ride yesterday); it took 3 days because as we all know rain (with the flashy stuff) happens in FL.....daily. Coming from an aluminum boat to this is almost relearning boating; I'm up higher above the water, it's a ton more smoother riding and it goes pretty damn fast. I'm still in the process of finding the "sweet spot" trim-wise to max out the speed but I'm not a speed guy on the water so "speed" isn't that important. It also came with a Hot Foot so that's an adventure at slower speeds like parking it next to a dock or putting it on a trailer but I'll get good at it soon because I have to. The first 2 days getting it parked at the dock and trailering it was pretty uneventful but yesterday it was windy and therefore and adventure. I'm new to Power Poles too; I had Talons on my Lowe. No issues yet and I'll have to remember that I need to give myself a little room to deploy them if I'm backing into a spot.

I ended up getting it from Bass Pro (I never thought I'd buy a boat from them but they were closing out the 2018s and it was dressed to fish and the price was good). It came with the wrong prop (installed by Mercury) and I realized something was wrong pretty quick on Day 1 when it didn't want to get on plane. Barry pointed me to a forum where a guy had the same EXACT boat (a year older) and the same EXACT problem and both had the same EXACT prop; Fury 24P. The discussion also told me which prop I needed (Tempest 22 or 23P) so I called Bass Pro, they had the Tempest 22P on the shelf and they swapped it out that day. With the new (and correct) prop, BOOM right on plane and it steers easier. I'm still learning where everything is and everything I need to turn off (think Power Pole switch) but in a month everything should be old hat. Anyway let me know if you have any questions OR if there's something I should know.

SFL BassHunter · August 09, 2018, 08:48:42 AM

Wow very nice! That's a pretty big upgrade there! I'm sure you'll learn everything about the boat soon enough. Hope you enjoy it!

Polaris425 · August 09, 2018, 08:49:07 AM

congrats!

SFL BassHunter · August 09, 2018, 08:56:49 AM

BTW did you sell the Lowe?

Jared LeBlue · August 09, 2018, 09:10:30 AM

Welcome to the Nitro Family. Great looking boat and I know you going to love the platform.

WTodd · August 09, 2018, 09:23:47 AM

Quote from: SFL BassHunter on August 09, 2018, 08:56:49 AM
BTW did you sell the Lowe?

I traded it in at Bass Pro. They gave me a little less than what I wanted or was offered elsewhere but when looking at the total bottom line price with all factors considered, it was a push.

WTodd · August 09, 2018, 09:27:26 AM

Quote from: SFL BassHunter on August 09, 2018, 08:48:42 AM
Wow very nice! That's a pretty big upgrade there! Hope you enjoy it!

YES it is

WTodd · August 09, 2018, 09:31:54 AM

Quote from: Jared LeBlue on August 09, 2018, 09:10:30 AM
Welcome to the Nitro Family. Great looking boat and I know you going to love the platform.

Thanks and so far I do; the height off the water will be an adjustment from a casting standpoint. It won't be as easy to cast it under docks/laydowns, etc.

LgMouthGambler · August 09, 2018, 09:53:02 AM

Nice boat. Good luck with it.

Mike Cork · August 09, 2018, 11:12:31 AM

Congratulations on a beautiful ride. Nitro has come a long way in the boats and you now have a very tournament-ready rig.

From a Louisiana Baw to a Florida Baw, be careful but enjoy the hell out of her

The biggest thing I remember when I went from aluminum to a glass rig was "I didn't have to always be WOT" the best cruising speed for all of my glass boats (I've had dozens) is always between 45-4800 RPM. After the break-in, I bet you'll find this to also be true. It's usually an easy steering and wave taking speed. Very comfortable.

That said, WOT is fun

so spend some time there too

Enjoy, I'm jealous, nothing like a new boat, the smell, the feel, the shine. Make sure to share the first fish you put in her. On my current boat it was a 2-pound crappie that hit a frog

thought it was a bad omen but things worked out...

Again Congratulations!!

Lipripper · August 09, 2018, 11:22:32 AM

That's a sharp looking boat.

Now go catch some fish in her and break it in right.

big g · August 09, 2018, 11:31:42 AM

Congrats on the upgrade. May you have many years of problem free enjoyment.

WTodd · August 09, 2018, 11:36:53 AM

Quote from: Mike Cork on August 09, 2018, 11:12:31 AM
Congratulations on a beautiful ride. Nitro has come a long way in the boats and you now have a very tournament-ready rig.

From a Louisiana Baw to a Florida Baw, be careful but enjoy the hell out of her

The biggest thing I remember when I went from aluminum to a glass rig was "I didn't have to always be WOT" the best cruising speed for all of my glass boats (I've had dozens) is always between 45-4800 RPM. After the break-in, I bet you'll find this to also be true. It's usually an easy steering and wave taking speed. Very comfortable.

That said, WOT is fun so spend some time there too

Enjoy, I'm jealous, nothing like a new boat, the smell, the feel, the shine. Make sure to share the first fish you put in her. On my current boat it was a 2-pound crappie that hit a frog thought it was a bad omen but things worked out...

Again Congratulations!!

From the safety standpoint it helps that I can be rather frugal and I read that the most economical speed is about 3500 RPM but you're right stepping on it ain't bad

. I tried to catch some yesterday at the river after the break-in but I had no takers (the Hillsborough has been kinda bad for a year now). I needed to use the trolling motor to make sure it was set-up the way I needed it to be and make a few casts from a few feet higher than I'm used to.

WTodd · August 09, 2018, 11:38:48 AM

Quote from: Lipripper on August 09, 2018, 11:22:32 AM
That's a sharp looking boat. Now go catch some fish in her and break it in right.

I tried to break my cherry

yesterday so I'll have to wait until Saturday for that.

Lipripper · August 09, 2018, 11:41:02 AM

Quote from: WTodd on August 09, 2018, 11:36:53 AM
From the safety standpoint it helps that I can be rather frugal and I read that the most economical speed is about 3500 RPM but you're right stepping on it ain't bad . I tried to catch some yesterday at the river after the break-in but I had no takers (the Hillsborough has been kinda bad for a year now). I needed to use the trolling motor to make sure it was set-up the way I needed it to be and make a few casts from a few feet higher than I'm used to.

Well now I guess we can let you slide on getting a skunk in your new boat for the first trip out but don't let it happen again.

WTodd · August 09, 2018, 11:45:52 AM

Quote from: Lipripper on August 09, 2018, 11:41:02 AM
Well now I guess we can let you slide on getting a skunk in your new boat for the first trip out but don't let it happen again.

Don't tell me, tell the bass

Captsteve · August 09, 2018, 11:54:57 AM

Congratulations, hurry up and get some slime on it.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Lipripper · August 09, 2018, 11:57:11 AM

Quote from: WTodd on August 09, 2018, 11:45:52 AM
Don't tell me, tell the bass

I tried that the last time I went out and they didn't listen. So I had to print myself one of these.

Princeton_Man · August 09, 2018, 12:33:22 PM

Congratulations on the new ride!

WTodd · August 09, 2018, 12:37:56 PM

Thanks guys

Capt. BassinLou · August 09, 2018, 01:08:50 PM

Congratulations Walt. Beautiful boat bud!!

SFL BassHunter · August 09, 2018, 01:42:21 PM

Quote from: WTodd on August 09, 2018, 09:23:47 AM
I traded it in at Bass Pro. They gave me a little less than what I wanted or was offered elsewhere but when looking at the total bottom line price with all factors considered, it was a push.

Ah ok, cool, well at least you got close to what you wanted.

FlatsNBay · August 09, 2018, 03:31:35 PM

Beautiful rig! Please take me fishing!! LOL

Capt. BassinLou · August 09, 2018, 03:55:11 PM

Walt... you coming to the Classic? I don't think you have said yes or no.

BarryFL · August 09, 2018, 04:20:33 PM

He scared.

~Barry~