honest opinions of ride, all skeeters

[mark Z21]

Not trying to start a pissing match or anything, but question is:

I have an SL210, and even though its over 20' and plenty fast enough, the ride is almost the worst of any boat I've ever been in, I am looking to up grade to a bass boat, and I have rode in a ZX250 and thought it was exeptable, and currenty TX fish out of a Nitro Z911 CDC (better ride than the ZX, the owner bought it after 1 trip in mine, said he'd never get in mine again) and a Ranger z519 (about same ride as ZX) I have found several I-class. is the ride of the I-class better/worse/same as the other boats I am familiar with? PS, I fish Sam Rayburn, and have fished in 4 footers with my SL so ride is of top concern for me.

[LaCajuninNC]

I have a 2005 ZX 250 with 250 HPDI. My boat is a great ride, even in rough water I get compliments from non boaters in the BFL about how well my boat rides in a good chop..it's all about who is behind the wheel. Don't care what boat brand your in when the waves get to 4 ft all boats and people will take a beating, especially when the person driving dosen't know what they are doing. Not saying that is you but anyone who says this or that boat is smooth in that kind of water is lying..

[fishingmike]

I've got a ZX300 and I'd put the ride up against anything. The next closest would be a Gambler 2200 with the trim tabs.

[go-fish]

Mark, I've fished Sam Rayburn almost every day for to last 8 years. From the first of Jan. to the first of April. I'll say, if you want a rough ride in any boat that's the place to do it. In the 4 footers you speak, NO bass boat will give anyone a ride that you want to repeat over & over again.
I'll say that my ZX200, in the big stuff, is the driest ride you'll ever find. I would only thank all ZX & I Class models are as good.
From the boats you have compared. The ZX250 or ZX225 would have to be the one to go with. Just my 2 cents worth.

[go-fish]

Mark, I forgot to also say, that the other 90% of the time you're on the water, you'll not find a easier driving boat... Donut in one hand & cup of coffee in the other at 60+ is not a joke.

[mark Z21]

thanks for the replies guys, I don't mean to sound like I'm in 4 footers all the time, just that it can be a rough lake most of the time, and I'm tired of getting beat up, my back can't take it any more! just researching the best options before I spend my dough. obviously, I plan on staying in the skeeter family.

[Doug Vahrenberg]

I been in some pretty knarley waves in the Skeeter I Class and some double digit ones. The I Class is the best ride I ever been in and have riden in many brands and models but can't wait to test out the new FX hopefully this week she will be here.

[jejb]

Wow, really surprised by this. My SL210 is a fantastic riding boat. I fish on Beaver lake and we get a LOT of wake board and big boat traffice. Big, rough water is as smooth a ride as I could hope for, and I see most other bass boats having a lot more issues in that kind of water. Totally dry ride, too. Every other bass boat owner I've had in my boat rave about the ride. One handed (heck, I even drive with just my knee) steering, no problem at all.

I wonder if there is some issue with your hull or setup? Or is there some hull changes between your 06 and my 08?

Very odd.

[Ranger391v]

Honestly, in 4'er's, the only thing that's going to ride smooth/great is a center console saltwater boat ..... generally +24' w/twins

Smooth, rough, great, good, terrible, sweet, bitter are all relative terms.

Some of it is definately hull design and motor combination, but a lot of it is boat set-up, props, and driver.

Case in point, my boat is night-n-day difference just between props .... both are the right pitch, but it's in design

[mark Z21]

your def. right about the props. I have a M23 reworked for speed (68mph) and a 24p bravoI reworked down to a 23 for rougher water and better holding (64ish) I normally run the bravo, it's like putting my boat in 4x4 mode. The problem I see with my hull, is at 45 and above, there is only like 10" of boat left in the water so the more V'ed part of the hull can't cut the waves, trimming down makes it worse than running flat and ridding the tops. the other problem I see, is the seats are much further forward than a bass boat, the ride in the back seats is really pretty good, but I was just looking for opinions from you guy, I've tried everything over the last 4 years woth my boat, but have very little experiance with the others.

[Phnx#22]

Case in point ...I run my ZX250 on Lake Conroe...which on any given weekend you will encounter 2ft chop upwards of a rouge 5ftr in the mix of any set of waves. The worst part of Conroe is that 75% of the lake is bulk headed so you have no one set direction of waves.

That said....I can take you out on my boat with the 27p Yam T1 prop and run along the 3ftrs all day and you will feel them and have to drive the boat. I can take you to the ramp and replace that prop with a 26p Tempest plus and run 10 mphs faster over the same stuff and you will feel like you are on air...driving with one hand. Now you have the other hand free to give the bird to the pleasure boaters, the ones who are watching the tube behind them and not seeing anything in front of them.

You will not be unhappy with a ZX250 a great riding boat, with a proven track record.

[bass-coach]

I've got an '08 ZX250 as well and think it has an awesome ride in the rougher water. And I'm sorry, but in my opinion, the Ranger 19 is of no comparison to it, but jmo i guess. Now for a little better ride, the I class will give you a touch softer ride in the bigger waves than the ZX. My partner has a 20I and you can tell that when it hits one of those bigger waves it takes it a bit softer. I have no idea what the FX is going to be like, but time will tell there. So if you want the best ride for bigger water I would say go with the 20I or maybe even the 21I. My local dealer has an '09 Demo 20I for sale right now or they have an '06 or '07 (can't remember which) 21I for sale. They also have one new '09 20I left with a good price on it. Im or email me if your interested.

Or you can look at the one listed for sale on this forum.

[reelman]

Boat handling is something we all have to learn...there are common problems...the modern boats have the bugs out of their hulls unless its a new year model hull thing...handling is hard to explain without an actual U-Tube in-boat video on different wave levels...here the party barges throw 3 foot waves and they are out by the dozens May-August...I just slow to 40 and come on by with medium trim so to speak...we are spoiled here because the lakes are generally calm by most standards.

[ewallstate]

I had an 04 TZX 200 before my current boat which is an 08 20 I. I loved my 200 but the 20 I is a great riding boat. The TZX 200 wad a good riding boat, but the I class is in a different league. My father has a ZX 250 and I believe in a rough chop my 20 I will out ride his. Now I will say in a real real rough water situation the extra 10 inches that his ZX 250 has does help strech the nose out to the next wave a little better. But the overall ride I would have to give to my 20I.

[mark Z21]

thanx guys, all these post have been helpfull, I'll just have to deside based on the boats extras, and goodies, found several zx250s and even a couple zx300s but so far have only found 20I's not any 21Is close by, kind of looking for a 05-08 as they seam to be in my price range, you know, let someone else take the big hit the first 2-3 years :)

[Neilslure]

When the going gets rough, my ZX250 would be my first choice. Rides great, like LaCajun says, I get compliments from my co anglers all the time. I would put mine up against any boat out there on a rough day.

[wildkat7]

Hard to get a better all around ride than a ZX225....

....or any other 20fter or better Skeeter.

[jejb]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by mark sl210 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">your def. right about the props. I have a M23 reworked for speed (68mph) and a 24p bravoI reworked down to a 23 for rougher water and better holding (64ish) I normally run the bravo, it's like putting my boat in 4x4 mode. The problem I see with my hull, is at 45 and above, there is only like 10" of boat left in the water so the more V'ed part of the hull can't cut the waves, trimming down makes it worse than running flat and ridding the tops. the other problem I see, is the seats are much further forward than a bass boat, the ride in the back seats is really pretty good, but I was just looking for opinions from you guy, I've tried everything over the last 4 years woth my boat, but have very little experiance with the others.</td></tr></table>
Looks like the board hosting address change ate some posts. That sucks!

I run stock 25 inch Yamaha props with my F225, a 3 blade and a 4 blade. Not sure if the heavier motor or bigger props make the big difference or not, but I kind of doubt it since this is the first I've ever heard of any kind of ride issues with the SL210. And I researched it pretty hard before buying mine last summer.

But you seem to be in the market for a new boat. I hope you find the ride you're after!

[Kenneth L.]

Can you tell me what kind of price is on the boats you describe.

[EL Skeeter]

Case in point,My ZX210 I left my I-phone on top of port rod locker.Drove to
Lock 8 miles encountering slight chop & boat wakes,both large and small.Saw phone after we got in Lock. How's that for a smooth,dry ride?