Nitro’s Z20 XL Pro is a pure fishing machine, built to get to the fish quickly. Rigged with a Mercury 250 Pro XS outboard and 23-inch-pitch Mercury Fury propeller, our testing produced a top speed just under 75 mph at 6,250 rpm. Testing was conducted in high winds and whitecaps, so we’d expect up to 3 more mph running in calmer conditions.

The Nitro was dialed in for top speed, but acceleration didn’t seem to suffer. We rocketed to plane in 3.6 seconds, and 30 mph in 5.4 seconds. It’s not bad when it’s time to fill the tank either. A best cruise of 34-plus mph and 3,500 rpm yields 4.7 mpg—good for a 211-mile range from the 50-gallon tank (leaving 10 percent in reserve). 

The Z20 XL is a performance package, and it drives and handles like one; speeds above 60 mph require experienced drivers and close attention. The standard Bob’s Machine Shop hydraulic jack plate and foot throttle make it endlessly entertaining to eke out that last mile per hour and learn its handling traits, but the Z20 XL is capable of more than many drivers will be able to wring out.

The bow casting platform is padded to reduce fatigue, and our tester featured a Garmin EchoMap 93sv with a LiveScope Plus system gimbal-mounted to the bow. A second EchoMap was flush-mounted in the driver’s console. A Minn Kota Ultrex 36-volt trolling motor is standard. Twin rod-storage lockers handle rods up to 8 feet long, flanking a center storage locker with Nitro’s tackle management system.

The driver and copilot sit comfortably on Nitro’s Z-Core seating system with Force Flex seat suspension and roto-molded seat frames. The step up to the bow deck features a built-in 62-quart insulated cooler with a removable trash container and snap-in sandwich tray. A portside rod ramp keeps often-used rods handy and secure with an organizer and hold-down strap.

Twin 19-gallon aerated, roto-molded livewells with rounded corners and timed aerators keep fish safe. Aft deck lockers have lift-out, roto-molded boxes to stow tackle boxes. There is excellent access to the batteries, chargers and plumbing.

High Points

• Foot throttle, power trim and a jack plate are standard, plus controls on the steering wheel.
• Multifunction 5-inch touchscreen switching and engine data.
• Z-Core seating with Flex seat suspension adds comfort.
• Timed aerated livewells.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 250 Pro XS FourStroke outboard
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 23″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 38 gal. Crew Weight: 250 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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Nitro resides at the apex of professional tournament bass boats, and Kevin Van Dam has kept it in the spotlight with his many tournament wins on this boat. The new Z21 XL enhances its looks, fishability and competitive edge. At a suggested list price of under $85,000 as tested, it features a Mercury 250 Pro XS outboard and SeaStar hydraulic steering. Engine trim and jack-plate controls are “blinker” style on the tilt-wheel column.

With our setup, we ran this Nitro a tick over 70 mph at 6,000 rpm with a 23-pitch Mercury Fury propeller. That’s pretty swift with 500 pounds of boat testers and a nearly three-quarters tank of fuel. Handling-wise, the Nitro clipped the tops off foot-high wind chop at 65 mph without losing stability. The 18-degree multistrake padded -V-hull makes for a dry ride. With both hands on the wheel and the trim/jack controls in fingertip reach, the 16-degree deadrise hull was easy to handle. Hard-over wheel exercises yielded clean turns. 

Outside, the sharp black and red gelcoat gave a sleek and crisp appearance. 

Aboard, the foredeck is fitted with an optional Lowrance Ghost trolling motor with autopilot and GPS lock. The foot pedal is recessed in a drop-down mount to keep down deck clutter. A second 12-inch Lowrance HDS graph could easily accompany another if desired. Dual rod lockers carry a full quiver of seven rods each, plus 18 Plano 3700 tackle boxes. The step to the cockpit conceals a cooler, sandwich bin and trash receptacle. Another 20-tube dual-tier rod-storage system is in the portside compartment; the starboard compartment is for bulk dry storage.

The helm provided plenty of space for the optional 12-inch Lowrance HDS Live surrounded by Mercury electronic analog gauges. The brand-new-for-2023 7-inch digital touchscreen controls all electrical features on board. An optional Hot Foot throttle is on a sliding plate for custom adjustment. 

This Nitro converts to a dual-console boat with an optional console that quickly bolts into place.

Anglers looking for a complete package that performs at a competitive price will be hard-pressed to ignore Nitro’s Z21 XL.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 250 hp Pro XS FourStroke
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 23″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 38 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Nitro – Springfield, Missouri; nitro.com

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With bass boats, the buzz starts behind the helm, with a hand on the throttle and an extra snugging of the life jacket. We set up the Z18 that way for our test. I jammed down the gas, expecting the bow to stab skyward before settling into a running attitude. But it didn’t. Oh, it shot forward with head-snapping acceleration, but that bow lifted gently, barely obscuring the horizon immediately forward — an experience that bass boats don’t often give. This gentle step to plane and blistering acceleration come from a new hull that engineers call Nitro Vortex Technology (NVT).

What makes it work are longitudinally curved parabolic bottom surfaces that are so different, Nitro won’t even label them strakes. These are “parabolic curved surfaces” that meet every 6 inches or so in a crisp peak. With the throttle still firewalled, the Z18 continued to rise in flight until only the pad — a long, flat surface about 6 inches wide extending from the transom to amidships — touched the water. The boat topped out at 64 mph, an impressive bass-boat speed on 150 ponies.

Even more remarkable was its stability. Many bass boats begin to chine walk, or rock from port to starboard, an experience that also yaws the stem back and forth, creating an uncomfortable handling experience difficult to correct. We had none of that belly-wrenching experience as the Z18 glided along on its pad. And how did it turn? Oh my. Nudging back on the throttle just a bit, we eased down to 50 mph and cranked the steering wheel to starboard, then to port. The boat turned crisply, heeling slightly to center in arcs that showed off a hull so perfectly balanced, a coffee cup could stay put on the casting deck. We proved it was also stable at rest by walking back and forth; the boat settled only slightly with the shift in weight. A recessed pedal pocket eases any back or leg strain while operating the electric motor. There is room for an optional 12-inch sonar/GPS display at the bow; a Lowrance Mark-5x Pro fish finder is standard.

Nitro’s tackle storage is exemplary. A portside rod locker holds 8-foot sticks, and you can stow life jackets and the mooring cover in the starboard compartment. A center deck locker offers dedicated storage for tools, utility boxes and tackle bags, and it even includes a drink holder. Dual lockers aft stow more utility boxes. The forward step has a cooler and trash bin beneath, and the aft step gives access to livewell plumbing and storage.

Our take is that the Z18 is not just a boat at a great price point — it’s a great boat.

Comparable Model: Skeeter ZX190

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The Nitro ZV 18 tracks down bigger fish on bigger waters.

When you are hunting for walleye on more open waters, the Nitro ZV 18 has all the tools needed to master rough conditions and reach any offshore hot spot.

Relying on the recommendations of the world’s top walleye anglers, Nitro introduced the multispecies ZV 18 as a downsized version of its ZV 21, Nitro’s flagship big-water multispecies boat. Built with a deep-V performance hull with a lifting strake design, the ZV 18 easily handles the challenge of big lakes by smoothly slicing through choppy seas.

Upon arrival at a hot spot, the ZV 18 continues to excel, with its wide beam providing a stable fishing platform. We stepped from port to starboard on the bow and aft casting decks, and the wide-beam boat maintained its stability as we shifted weight. A bow-mounted Minn Kota PowerDrive 24-volt, 70-pound-thrust trolling motor has the power needed to keep the boat on a hot spot even in rough water. A recessed foot-pedal pocket gives added control relief to the back, should one opt for the foot-controlled model. The recess drains to the bilge.

Stowage for rods and tackle abounds throughout the boat’s interior, and compartments are lighted for night angling. The front deck features a three-level center rod locker with organizers for rods up to 8 feet long and port and starboard stowage lockers with lid assists. Aft stowage includes two lift-out, molded bins capable of holding seven Plano 3700 utility tackle boxes. There’s a built-in cooler forward of the port console.

The ZV 18 standard package includes a Mercury 150 hp XL FourStroke outboard but is capable of supporting the added power and speed of a 200 hp motor. The composite transom also has plenty of room and strength to carry a kicker motor. Our test boat, equipped with a 200 hp engine, sported plenty of power, leaving lots in reserve for a full load of fuel, fishermen and gear.

Buyer’s Spotlight
*Spacious 30-gallon livewell and 5.5-gallon bow baitwell with removable bucket keep both your catch and bait lively.
*A port net holder carries a net close at hand.
*A bracket-mounted Lowrance Mark-5x Pro depth finder finds the big ones.
*Bow cooler has a removable tray.
*Pull-up cleats keep the gunwales smooth while battling fish.
*Nitro’s glossy metal-flake finishes add head-turning pizazz at the ramp.
*Aluminum hatches are reinforced with aluminum beams for some added strength.
*A dedicated bait-bucket socket is located forward of the helm.

How We Tested
Engine: Mercury 200 hp Verado
Prop: Enertia 18
Gear Ratio: 2.08:1
Fuel Load: 28 gal.
Crew Weight: 405 lb.

Price
$37,995 (standard)

Contact
NITRO Springfield, Missouri; 417-873-4985; nitro.com

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Your personal Nitro Z-8 might not hit this top speed after you load up the dedicated storage compartments with tackle, gear, gas and everything else bass anglers keep on board, but our test team would expect you to hit the low 70s. We also think in midrange cruising speeds, you’ll be impressed (maybe surprised) with the remarkable fuel efficiency of the OptiMax engine.

In bass boats, like most performance rigs, blistering hole shots aren’t the objective so we didn’t punch the stopwatch, but we did appreciate the short amount of horizon loss — a byproduct of a hull that’s aggressively speed-oriented. More important to us were the midrange speeds and comfortable driving position. Cruise speed is relative for bass-tournament contestants, who are often more concerned about minutes of casting than gallons per hour, but we skimmed the boat around our test lake taking in the dashboard view at stately 40, 50 and 60 mph throttle settings anyway. “Easy to control, comfortable in chop,” was scrawled in wind-driven, tear-stained notes. Even quartering across wakes at 45 degrees left us “hanging on loosely” to either the throttle and wheel or the chicken handles conveniently mounted near the passenger seats.

Next, we went into a cove and kicked out the trolling motor, and then pulled it up again to see how easily it found its place. It was set up well, and steering it was eased by recessing the pedal in the deck. Our Nitro tech guy showed us how the foot-pad pocket was removable to ease changing motors, servicing cables or other connections.

Dual rod lockers gave so many rod slots, we’d be tempted to just throw life jackets and other gear in the starboard compartment. Tackle compartments below the deck gave easy access to utility tackle boxes — you could leave them locked in the boat 24/7 with the heavy-duty hatch locks or tuck them in a utility bag and cart them home at the end of the day. They’ll drop back into their dedicated slots in a heartbeat.

Nitro has eased the climb to the deck by supplying a step. Underneath, it is a wastebasket and cooler. Aft, dual livewells with automatic controls were easy to access while kneeling on the seats.

None of the Z-8’s practical applications would be much fun to own without the bling we’ve come to expect from bass boats. So, it sports a racy metal-flake finish and plenty of crisp striping and color accents. We’d say it’s stable but speedy, with just enough flash for fun.

Key Note: The Z-8 helm station gives a clear view of instrumentation over the steering wheel and offers comfortable ergonomics for easy control.

Standout Features
• Instrumentation pods to the left and right of the depth finder are easy to read at high speeds.
• Centered Lowrance fish finder is ideally positioned to search for fish-holding structures.
• Reboarding ladder increases angler safety and enhances recreational opportunities.
• Recessed trolling motor foot-pedal pocket makes steering the electric motor comfortable.
• Blue-finished livewell interiors make culling easier by improving visibility inside.
• Step pads between the three-across main seating preserves the upholstery.

Vital Stats
* Length Overall(w/platform): 20’1″
* Beam: 8′
* Dry Weight: 1,950 lb.
* People/Weight Capacity: 4/1,000 lb.
* Fuel Capacity: 55 gal.
* Maximum HP: 250
* MSRP (w/Mercury Optimax 250): $42,585
* NMMA Certified: Yes

Test Drive
* Test Engine: Mercury Optimax 250
* Test Prop: Tempest 26
* Test Load: People (400 lb.); Fuel (20 gal.)
* Top Speed: 74.2 mph @ 5,800 rpm

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At 17 feet, its deck space was ample for at least three anglers. Its gelcoat glowed thanks to an optional metal-flake accent. Like other bass boats, this one had plush carpet, and when I stepped aboard, it kept the sound of footsteps in the boat instead of transmitting them to the fish. I’m no chipmunk in size, and yet the boat held its stance, giving me a secure feeling as I stepped from gunwale to gunwale and from bow to stern. Anglers could easily walk around in this boat for ideal casting positions. Livewells, electronics, trolling-motor batteries — even a built-in charger are all standard. This boat was fish ready.

So I turned the key on the 50-horse outboard and slipped the dock lines from the stainless-steel cleats. Fifty horsepower? On a fiberglass bass boat? The boat idled steadily out of the no-wake zone and, when I pushed the throttle forward, it stepped onto plane smartly in 3.7 seconds. Top speed was surprising and beautifully fishable in the 30s. Sure, the X-4 isn’t a performance bass rig ready to take on the FLW or Bassmasters Classic, but it proved itself capable of carrying two or three buddies to their favorite bass or crappie holes in fiberglass style.

Key Note: Standard equipment includes depth finder, trolling motor, two batteries, an on-board charger and a trailer.

Standout Features
• Aft storage compartments are lined with removable molded storage tubs to make it easy to move gear back to the house at day’s end.
• MotorGuide trolling motor is standard with the X-4, along with two batteries.
• Color-coordinated single-axle trailer with a swing-away tongue is standard.
• Livewells are ample for active angling and buddy tournaments.

Vital Stats
* Length Overall: 17’4″
* Beam: 90″
* Dry Weight: 1,300 lb.
* Seating/Weight Capacity: 3/1,100 lb.
* Fuel Capacity: 26 gal.
* Maximum HP: 60
* MSRP (test boat w/ Mercury 50 hp two-stroke): $14,995
* NMMA Certified: Yes

Test Drive
* Test Engine: Mercury 50 hp two-stroke
* Test Prop: 10.5 x 13, aluminum
* Test Load: People (235 lb.); Fuel (20 gal.)
* Minimum Planing Speed: 15.1 mph @ 3,500 rpm
* Top Speed: 30.5 mph @ 5,500 rpm
* Time to Plane: 3.7 sec.

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“The idea is to get all the weight on the centerline. That makes the boat more stable regardless of passenger load,” Clunn told us. He throttled up and hit a top speed in excess of 70 mph with one of the steadiest rides we’ve tested in bass boats. We switched seats and did the same.

Traffic patterns in bass boats matter as much as performance. In a day of fishing, tournament anglers who have to wait for each other to pass through the narrow passage between consoles lose time and casts. Fish in the livewell are a function of the number of casts an angler executes. Really, it’s about winning.

“When I’m standing in the bow and hook a fish, I want to swing it aboard. Here’s my swing zone,” Clunn said, sweeping his hand in an arc over the open walkway between gunwale and console. “In a side console I have to swing a fish over the helm.” That’s a risky move that costs lots of anglers lots of money.

Another benefit Clunn likes is enough space behind the helm to allow stand-up driving at slow speeds. “That way I get a better view when picking my way through sunken timber.”

Most anglers don’t swim, but the CDC is equipped with a boarding ladder for safety. Clambering aboard with a load of soggy clothes is not possible for many anglers without the ladder. Tackle storage abounds for both anglers. Digital livewell controls make it easy to keep big catches alive through the weigh-in and release process. What’s not to love?

Who should buy it: The Z-9 CDC is for the serious angler who enjoys tournament-level fishing or who aspires to compete for prize money in leagues. The boat is visible on some of the most prestigious bass circuits.

Vital Stats * Length Overall: 21′ * Beam: 8′ * Dry Weight: 1,975 lb. * Seating/Weight Capacity: 4/2,150 lb. * Fuel Capacity: 55 gal. * Max HP: 300 * MSRP: (w/ Mercury Pro XS OptiMax 250): $51,895 plus freight and prep * NMMA certified: Yes

Power Picks
* Mercury OptiMax 225 — $47,995 plus freight and prep
* Mercury Pro XS OptiMax 300 — $56,395 plus freight and prep

Also consider …
Z-9
Length: 21′
Beam: 8′
Max HP: 300
A traditional deck plan with a single console and enormous forward casting deck is all many anglers need.

929 CDX
Length: 20’9″
Beam: 8′
Max HP: 300
Available with a dual console, the 929 is total tournament power and the deck is devoted to one thing — hard-core fishing.

Test Drive * Test Engine: Mercury Pro XS 250 * Test Prop: 26P Tempest * Test Load: People (400 lb.); Fuel (45 gal.) * Top Speed: 73 MPH @ 5,950 RPM * Time to Plane: 5 sec. * Time to 30 mph: 9.1 sec.

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Glastron SX 175

Nuts and Bolts
Boats in the entry-level market use either plywood or fiberglass in three critical areas: stringers and frames, transom, and cockpit sole. Although both materials have their staunch supporters, rot-resistant plywood should prove just as durable as the more expensive fiberglass if it is installed properly. Both Bayliner and Stingray use a wood grid encapsulated in fiberglass. Nitro, Rinker, and Glastron have a fiberglass grid system. Glastron and Nitro also feature a composite material in their transoms; Rinker, Bayliner, and Stingray opt for wood.

Glastron SX 175 Specs

For boaters, the greatest difference will be seen in the cockpit sole, where marine plywood is covered with glued-on carpet. Carpeting is soft and looks nice, but it traps dirt and moisture. It also shows its age faster than fiberglass. Only Glastron has a standard fiberglass cockpit sole; Stingray offers a full fiberglass liner as an upgrade ($762).

Glastron’s SX 175 is one of the first boats to use Virtual Engineered Composites (VEC) construction. A finished VEC hull includes stringers, flotation material, and sole, all molded into one solid unit. This construction technique also produces a smoothly finished engine compartment, ski locker, and stowage areas. You won’t find any rough fiberglass. The VEC hull features a rare lifetime, limited, structural hull warranty. In terms of warranties, Bayliner recently followed suit, offering a similar warranty on its Capri line. A five-year warranty is the industry standard.

As stated, the use of rot-resistant plywood is typical of many entry-level boats, but Bayliner uses slightly more of it than the others. Both the seat bases and ski locker hatch have exposed wood. This may work, but we’d rather see a composite, as these areas are vulnerable to moisture. Stingray, Glastron, Rinker, and Nitro all feature seat bases made from either a composite or roto-molded plastic. The Bayliner 175 Capri’s stowage areas reveal the hull’s raw fiberglass interior. It looks less finished but eliminates the dampness and dirt you get when the locker is lined with carpet.

Cleats are often overlooked-until the first time you tie up and the wind and current are against you. All five manufacturers chose high-quality material and adequate size. Both Bayliner and Rinker have three cleats total but give you only one bow cleat. Nitro offers two cleats-one on each gunwale perched amidships. Glastron incorporates four that are well placed, with the two forward ones able to be used for bow-or spring lines. Only Stingray comes close to our preferred six-cleat layout with five: a pair at the stern, a pair amidships, and one at the bow.

Nitro 175

Elbow Room
With a scant 18′ or less to accommodate up to seven people, layout is one of the most important considerations in this class, particularly when it comes to the bow cockpit. Some manufacturers tackle the issue head on, carrying the beam as far forward as possible to keep things roomy. Others surrender the battle of the bulge in favor of a sleekly tapered bow. This compromise results in a forward cockpit suitable only for kids.

Both Glastron and Bayliner stand head and shoulders above the pack for their expansive bow areas. The Glastron SX 175’s seats maintain a minimum of 1’6″ in depth throughout the cockpit, and their 4′ length lets occupants stretch out. The Bayliner 175 Capri betters Glastron by 2″ in depth and offers 3’6″ of length. The Rinker 180’s bow seats max out at 1’3″ in depth, tapering to only 2″ over their 2’10” length. The Stingray 180LS also has less space. Its bow seats taper from 1’4″ to 6″ over a 3’2″ span. The Nitro 175 Sport is the exception to the traditional bowrider layout, offering a raised casting deck with two removable bow seat pads. A foot-controlled trolling motor comes standard.

Nitro 175 Specs

Once in the main cockpit, there are two basic layouts. Rinker and Bayliner both chose the traditional back-to-back foldout lounge seats, complemented by hi-lo aft jump seats bordering the engine box. Bayliner’s seats, however, only adjust fore and aft. Stingray opts for a swivel bucket seat for the captain, a back-to-back port lounge, and hi-lo aft jump seats. That helm seat felt too high, however, resulting in the windshield frame falling in our line of vision. Taller captains will be exposed to the wind. The throttle is also placed relatively low on the inwale.

The Glastron SX 175 had optional sport seating ($250), which featured an aft bench with sunpad and two comfortable buckets forward. The Nitro 175 Sport took a unique route, choosing buckets for captain and copilot, then a row of three removable buckets sitting bench-like across the stern, followed by a rear deck area that houses a large, aerated livewell.

Standouts? The Rinker 180 features an exceptionally deep cockpit, which provides more security for a family with little ones, but makes it less easy to climb in and out. Unfortunately there’s no nonslip on the gunwales.

All five boats offer decent engine access. Bayliner, Rinker, and Stingray have a removable motorbox, Glastron a lifting sunpad, and Nitro an outboard. Rinker’s engine cover is heavier than average, whereas Bayliner’s is refreshingly light. Stingray’s cover requires more fiddling to get it into place than we liked.

For ski lockers, Stingray, Rinker, Glastron, and Bayliner all feature a minimum of 6′ in length and average at least 2′ in width. Not bad, especially considering today’s towables, which will most likely be fat wakeboards. Nitro is the exception, offering only 11″ in width but extending nearly the entire length of the boat. All the lockers are fairly shallow, with less than 1′ being the norm. Stingray’s 6″ depth is the shallowest.

Rinker and Bayliner are the only manufacturers in this group to offer three-step boarding ladders. Nitro, Stingray, and Glastron use only two. Of course, the lack of a third step makes boarding more difficult.

Stingray 180LS

Need for Speed
While you can’t expect go-fast performance at these prices, the speeds we saw were all pretty impressive. Almost every boat was powered by the smallest engine option available. The I/Os were 135-hp models from Mer-Cruiser or Volvo Penta; Nitro chose a 90-hp Mercury outboard.

The Stingray 180LS, Bayliner 175 Capri, and Nitro 175 Sport all topped the 45-mph mark; the Glastron SX 175 and Rinker 180 averaged around 41 mph. Pulling power has undergone a vast improvement over the years – every boat could pull a 150-pound wakeboarder from a deep-water start with relative ease.

Stingray 180LS Specs

The Stingray 180LS was the speed king, wringing out an impressive 48.7 mph. It has a notched transom, an idea taken from offshore racers, which allows the drive to be mounted higher, thereby reducing drag. This boat also liked a lot of trim, which made it feel a bit loose on the water. It came with a 23″-pitch, stainless-steel Mercury Laser II propeller ($389). Our experience shows that this prop can be worth at least an extra mile an hour to the top end.

The Bayliner 175 Capri finished with a respectable 45.9-mph top end, using a 21″-pitch aluminum prop. The boat’s time to plane was slightly slower than most of the competition, typically finishing around 0.5 seconds above the four-second mark. It also peaked at 5000 rpm, about 200 rpm above MerCruiser’s suggested 4400-to-4800-rpm safe maximum power range. A higher-pitched prop would have brought the engine back into range, boosting top speed, but slowing time to plane.

The only outboard in the group, the 90-hp Mercury-equipped Nitro 175 Sport, finished in the 45-mph range and planed in just under three-and-a-half seconds. Nitro replaced the 23″-pitch aluminum prop with a 22″-pitch stainless-steel model, about a $300 upgrade.

The only outboard in the group, the 90-hp Mercury-equipped Nitro 175 Sport, finished in the 45-mph range and planed in just under three-and-a-half seconds. Nitro replaced the 23″-pitch aluminum prop with a 22″-pitch stainless-steel model, about a $300 upgrade.

The Glastron SX 175 had the lone Volvo Penta, the 3.0L GS with a 19″ aluminum prop. Top speed reached 41.2 mph, but the boat posted the fastest time to plane, just over three seconds. This may be attributed to its 1,980 pounds, the lightest of the group.

The Rinker 180’s top speed was 40.6 mph, and it took nearly five seconds to get on plane. It also pushed outside MerCruiser’s suggested operating range, peaking just shy of 5000 rpm with a 19″-pitch prop.

Bayliner 175 Capri

Turn ‘n Burn
The Bayliner 175 Capri had the best overall handling, exhibiting excellent top-end stability, holding its line through the corners, and suffering little when forced to contend with chop. That’s a good combo for first-time boaters. A minor problem was found in hard starboard turns at high speeds – the engine occasionally felt starved for fuel, something we also noticed on the MerCruiser-equipped Stingray 180LS and Rinker 180. Mer-Cruiser says the reason is pure physics: The 3.0L has a sideways-mounted carb, and hard right turns cause the fuel to uncover the jets. Of course, most owners will never drive these boats as aggressively as we do during our tests.

Bayliner 175 Capri Specs

The Stingray 180LS and Glastron SX 175 featured similar cornering abilities to those of the Bayliner 175 Capri. Stingray’s hull eschews conventional protruding strakes in favor of horizontal Z-planes – flat channels cut into the hull. Our experience? Stingrays tend to be fast, although when pushed hard, both the Stingray and the Glastron occasionally felt light and not in touch with the water. The likely cause is that these hulls have a lot of lift. The truth is, some people find this fun; others don’t. The Glastron boasts an impressive agility through hard corners. It also smoothed out the wind-blown chop on our test site with relative ease.

Being longer and wider and having a deeper cockpit, the Rinker looks bigger than the rest, so we thought it would have the smoothest ride. It cornered admirably but showed the most bowrise during acceleration, and its ride wasn’t as soft as we had hoped. On the plus side, it was the lone model to come with power-assist steering, so you won’t have to muscle it around. Glastron’s and Stingray’s power-assist is optional.

Finally, the Nitro 175 Sport handled like a bassboat. Turns were smooth, and it manuevered our wind-blown lake with a relatively calm ride.

Rinker 180

Bang for the Buck
Don’t base your decision only on lowest price; value is a better standard. So what makes a good value? The Bayliner 175 Capri offers solid performance, a lifetime hull warranty, and a roomy interior. A 12-volt accessory outlet is a nice extra, as is the JVC stereo. A negative, however, is its omission of a trim gauge. Experienced skippers may adjust trim by engine rpm or feel, but entry-level buyers aren’t nearly as well versed. We also consider a trim indicator a must for launching and loading at the ramp. The Bayliner’s helm seat is also the only model with just two positions. Still, the boat does most things quite well, and the entire package – boat, motor, and trailer – comes in at $13,795.

Rinker 180 Specs

The Stingray 180LS includes several nice extras – an hourmeter, 12-volt outlet, convertible top, and cockpit lighting are all standard. Power and tilt steering, two seating layouts, and a full fiberglass liner are appealing options. Then there’s its speed. Stingray boasts a mark near 50 mph while using an economical 3.0-liter engine; the others may leave you performance hungry after the first season. The bow cockpit isn’t very big, however, and that light feel at high speed could unnerve some novices. Stingray’s pricing is both a low and a high point. At $13,550 without a trailer, it’s on the upper end of the market. But the company periodically runs advertised specials on the boat/motor package (try the fall and boat show seasons) for $10,995. Add $1,300 or so for a decent trailer, and it’s still a bargain.

The Glastron 175 SX’s greatest value may be its lifetime hull warranty and all-fiberglass VEC construction. Saltwater boaters especially will appreciate the ability to simply hose down the cockpit at day’s end. It also features the roomiest bow cockpit in the class, the option of a tilt wheel, and a choice of two colors. Although the boat displays the quickest acceleration time, its 41.2-mph top-end speed tested at the low end of this group’s range. Its price, though, is impressive: $13,983 for boat, motor, and trailer. The company also advertises specials down to $10,988.

The Nitro 175 Sport offers a well-rounded package that finished right on target – $13,995, including a removable trolling motor, depthfinder, and trailer. It plays both skier and fisher, but its fishing side wins out.

Overall, the Rinker 180 is another good deal. It features fiberglass stringers, power-assisted steering, a choice of hull color, and a convertible top. A deep cockpit offers security, but it can be a challenge at the dock. The boat’s performance numbers, ride, and bow space were a bit off the pace of the frontrunners. Its price is a $12,995 – add another $1,300 if you want a trailer.

Obviously, no boat, particularly in this size and price range, can be perfect. Tradeoffs are a given, and manufacturers have placed their greatest value in different areas. As we discovered with our tests, each of these boats has strengths and weaknesses.That said, it’s worth noting that a lot of boat, motor, and trailer can be had for a reasonable price. In other words, you won’t go wrong with any of these boats. The ultimate choice boils down to which offers the best features for you, your family, and your boating environment. In the end, though, we give the nod to the Bayliner 175 Capri for its ability to combine a spacious layout, confident ride, limited lifetime hull warranty, and with solid performance numbers in a package with an extremely competitive $13,795 retail price. We just have one favor to ask: Put a trim gauge on that baby, okay?

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