2025 Skeetr ZXR19 Major issues, zero communication

[Jman1959]

I have a 2025 ZXR19. It’s been in the shop 18 days so far since I bought it. Was set up poorly and porpoised all over the place at all speeds with any up trim at all. Two different dealers worked on it. The first dealer here in Tyler added 3 degree wedges, but it still had the porpoising issues. Tried to get it back in locally, but took it in and the boat sat for a week, and they still hadn’t got to it. I gave up on them, picked it back up, and took it to my original dealer up in Shreveport, who moved the engine down two inches. It now trims out well at 35 plus, but at lower speeds it’s still the worst riding boat I’ve ever owned. You have to run slower speeds in rough water, it still rides way too bow high at those 25-30 mph speeds, even when trimmed all the way down, so it doesn’t cut the waves well at all. One little bump up of up trim at the slower speeds results in porpoising. Why any boat would be sent out like mine was with that original setup is still a mystery to me. It’s like their engineers never tested the boat and motor combo, and had no idea about how bad it porpoised. After two very heated phone calls with “customer service”, Skeeter has now ghosted me and will not return my phone calls. Admittedly, it’s partly my fault, because I admittedly lost it on the rep when he told me it was a “high performance boat and was going to porpoise some,” and that ”the engineers said the solenoid was functioning as designed” when it was locking up the brakes in reverse when going an incline. No way I was accepting either of those answers, because I knew neither was correct. The whole purpose of a solenoid is to depressurize the hydraulic system so the brakes DON’T lock up. Luckily, my original dealer has kept working hard for me to try and get it right. The non-functioning solenoid still needs a second try at repair. I also had an improperly grounded main panel switch that needed repair as well. So needless to say I’m extremely unhappy all the way around with Skeeter right now. My 2019 Ranger Z519 rode great, but I live in Tyler so I thought I’d support the local company and give Skeeter a try on my new boat because I had heard pretty good things about them. It’s crazy to me this is an issue, because this boat is 400 lbs heavierthan my Ranger, so I expected it to ride better than the Ranger. I still think the bad ride could be corrected with a jack plate, where you could get the motor down even more when needed in rough water, but they wanted to try the other stuff first. Hope I get it solved. Maybe this post will prompt a phone call from someone at Skeeter that cares about a very frustrated customer.

[SteezMacQueen]

Skeeter bounce is normal. They all do it. A skeeter just can’t ride like a Ranger. One of the reasons I bought a Ranger and sold the skeeter. As for the solenoid, are you 100% positive it isn’t an issue with the tow vehicles wiring? It could also be as simple as checking the connection of the blue wire inside the brake actuator. It could be unplugged or partially unplugged.

[Twray]

I have a 2023 ZXR 20 and it definitely does not have a bounce...

[townsend266]

I somewhat feel your pain, I have an issue with my boat, and haven’t heard back from skeeter or my dealer since February 14th. Skeeter “bounce” is not normal, just have to learn to drive it. Like I’ve said before, I’d consider myself a newbie and even I can control the proposing, just keep it trimmed down. A lot of times I’ll get on pad, keep it trimmed all the way down and ease around at 28mph with no issues. If you’re cruising along and it starts to bounce, either give it throttle or trim down. Once you learn it, it’s a non issue.

[Jman1959]

Townsend, like I already said in my post, at higher speeds it trims out fine. I’ve been running bass boats for 50 years, and don’t need to “learn” anything, geez. You sound like a Skeeter rep: “Oh, it must be driver error.” Nope, this boat has a major issue (which is why they had to put wedges on and change motor positions!) Look, nobody runs 30 in Lake Fork or Toledo Bend chop. In all my other boats I can back it down to 25-28, keep the trim all the way down, and cut the waves instead of riding on the back of the pad in a bow high position. Not this one. I know it’s a bow high position, because I cannot give it even one bump of up trim at that speed without porpoising. The 20s don’t have the same problem, nor did any of my other boats. So help me out here—do you have a jack plate or 3 degree wedges? How many dots are showing at the top of the slide mount, if you don’t have a jack plate?
on the Solonoid, it’s likely a bad ground wire. It’s done it on three different trucks. Just haven’t wanted to take it back in until the weather starts getting hot.

[Bogeypro]

Skeeter bounce is normal. They all do it. A skeeter just can’t ride like a Ranger. One of the reasons I bought a Ranger and sold the skeeter. As for the solenoid, are you 100% positive it isn’t an issue with the tow vehicles wiring? It could also be as simple as checking the connection of the blue wire inside the brake actuator. It could be unplugged or partially unplugged.

They only do it when people don't trim down and hang the motor too high on the jack plate. Wedges are adding extra trim. Your motor is too high.

I have hydraulic plate... You need to measure prop to pad. Try it at 3" prop to pad. Below 35 you really don't need trim. I can easily run mine low 20 with no porpoise.

Has anyone else driven the boat? Not trying to insult your driving... Just curious if others have had issues driving it.

[AndrewM-Fishing]

Townsend, like I already said in my post, at higher speeds it trims out fine. I’ve been running bass boats for 50 years, and don’t need to “learn” anything, geez. You sound like a Skeeter rep: “Oh, it must be driver error.”

First off,
When someone is taking the time to offer advice or give you their opinion, which you asked for, why the hell would you clap back with a rude statement like this. Honestly, I can see why the Skeeter rep doesn't want to deal with you anymore, you obviously know more than them.

Secondly,
To maximize performance from a performance hull you need a jack plate which it sounds like you cheaped out when you ordered the boat.

Thirdly,
Just because someone works at a dealer doesn't mean they know how to set up a boat. Maybe the motor is too high, maybe they put the wrong prop on, maybe it is the driver.

Maybe if you posted something along the lines of "hey guys I'm having a setup issue, what's everyone else running for prop/motor height and thanks in advance" you'd have a bunch of guys with the same boat chime in and help you get sorted out. Instead you come on hear wanting help with a bad attitude. Good luck but not too many guys are going to want to help after you walked in the room and had a tantrum like a five year old.

[kyelkhunter]

I feel your pain I have some of the same problems with my 24 FXR 21 limited it is either wot or plowing water. My dealer has been super trying to rectify the problems, I feel we will eventually solve this problem. No it is not just learn how to drive it, it is a design problem that Skeeter needs to address. I have a major heartburn with the water problems in the dry boxes anytime your caught in the rain, not talking a major storm just a summer shower and water standing in the boxes (boat becomes bucket).

[Jfp3]

You should have added a jackplate my current ZXR20 as did my previous ZXR21 no issues

[kyelkhunter]

You should have added a jack plate my current ZXR20 as did my previous ZXR21 no issues

I have a jack plate it is manual but a jack plate just the same

[Bigcountry35]

Dang I see what the skeeter rep won’t call you back. You may have 50 years of experience running a bass boat but you should know by now with that kind of experience every boat is different and needs to be set up different. Sounds like driver issues to me but hey I’ve never driven the boat so that’s just a guess. Also some are telling you to lower the engine while this may work it’s not guaranteed when I want to put around at 20-25 I raise my plate but that is just my set up as I stated everyone’s set up is going to be different. Get a hydraulic plate and slap a 4 blade prop on there and take the stupid wedges out as they are not needed they are a bandaid you need to learn to drive the boat and set it up correctly for yourself.

[Jman1959]

Big Country, maybe chime in again when you get somewhere close to owning a new Skeeter with a hull made in this decade, and can opine intelligently about the problem. Your boat is eight years old, a totally different hull, so your opinion about driving ability is made out of complete ignorance to the problem. Multiple owners having issues on all the blogs on multiple models says the problem is very real. A brand new boat should be set to run right from the get go, period. So yeah, I’m friggin pissed. The time for experimentation is prior to the model release, not after the sale with pissed off customers. The fact that they haven’t solved the problem and are still sending boats like that out is just sad. AndrewM, you had absolutely nothing to add to the problem, so take your little woke Canadian lecture elsewhere. Kinder, gentler is what got you Justin Trudeau. Bogeypro, the wedges don’t add trim, they remove it by tucking your lower unit farther under. The wedges actually solved the porpoising problem at higher speeds, just not at lower ones yet. But thanks for the solution suggestions on motor height. They dropped it down two more inches, I’m going to measure prop shaft to pad next time out. I still think it’s high, will revert back. And Kyelkhunter, Jfp3, thanks, yes, agree, I’ve been telling them it needs a jack plate all along, but they insisted on solving it with wedges—even though I told them I’d buy the jack plate.

[Jman1959]

And kyelkhunter, yep, my towing cover AND my dry boxes leak like a sieve in the rain. I’m always having to let boxes dry out.

[townsend266]

Big Country, maybe chime in again when you get somewhere close to owning a new Skeeter with a hull made in this decade, and can opine intelligently about the problem. Your boat is eight years old, a totally different hull, so your opinion about driving ability is made out of complete ignorance to the problem. Multiple owners having issues on all the blogs on multiple models says the problem is very real. A brand new boat should be set to run right from the get go, period. So yeah, I’m friggin pissed. The time for experimentation is prior to the model release, not after the sale with pissed off customers. The fact that they haven’t solved the problem and are still sending boats like that out is just sad. AndrewM, you had absolutely nothing to add to the problem, so take your little woke Canadian lecture elsewhere. Kinder, gentler is what got you Justin Trudeau. Bogeypro, the wedges don’t add trim, they remove it by tucking your lower unit farther under. The wedges actually solved the porpoising problem at higher speeds, just not at lower ones yet. But thanks for the solution suggestions on motor height. They dropped it down two more inches, I’m going to measure prop shaft to pad next time out. I still think it’s high, will revert back. And Kyelkhunter, Jfp3, thanks, yes, agree, I’ve been telling them it needs a jack plate all along, but they insisted on solving it with wedges—even though I told them I’d buy the jack plate.

I don’t think you’re gona last long here. Bigcountry in fact does own a skeeter within this decade as you said it’s 8 years old. You keep asking for help but then jumping down peoples throats and calling them names, if you know it needs a jackplate don’t listen to the dealer, order a jackplate and put it on there yourself. Good luck with your boat, and good luck on not getting banned

[Jman1959]

Townsend, with all due respect, it’s the Skeeter Boats trolls that should be banned. They hop around, board to board, criticizing folks with very real problems caused by Skeeter Corp, blaming all multitude of problems on the owner for “not knowing how to drive”. It sets me off because it’s the exact language that the Skeeter customer reps used on me and many others. They even used the same kind of language when they told me the solenoid was “working as designed”, when it would lock up in reverse! You’d be just as frustrated as I am if it happened to you. Either help me solve it or move on for gosh sakes. I.e. what’s your set up, how many dots are showing, jackplate, etc… New decades start every ten years, on years ending in zero. It’s been that way since year zero AD. This decade started in 2020, Big Country’s decade started in 2010. But all that is irrelevant. The salient point is that he has a totally different hull. It’s not going to help comparing his set up to mine. And when 21 foot boats have the same issues, Skeeters clearly have problems.

[slim110]

'22 ZXR 20. Zero issues with porpoising. I can run it down to about 18 mph before it wants to fall off. With that being said, I have lithium's which puts a ton of weight toward the bow now since you lose it in the rear. My brother has the same boat and had bad issues at first. He was still running lead acid batteries. He recently switched to lithium's and now has zero issues. So my thought is to try moving more weight to the bow and try that.

[Jman1959]

Thanks Slim. Dropped the motor down to one dot and solved my problem, but a good idea to going to lithium batteries as well, to offset even more.