Re: Nitro compared to Triton, Ranger, and Skeeter
I haven't seen a Nitro but I have seen their marketing and in my opinion that puts them more in the cost effective arena of BB's which would dictate area of market for which it was designed.
I do not care for Skeeter personally. I just don't like their design. I am aware of their history, longetivy and popularity.
Triton seems to be a well manicured boat and seem to get things done that Ranger spends a lot more time and money to accomplish. Would I consider one? Probably, but not before I checked out Ranger.
Having had a Ranger, I think this is the Cadillac of BB's. Everything is to the nth detail. Everything is solid and when in rough water, really rough water, it is tight. You never get the feeling that the boat will fail you.
I was caught out in open water in an unexpected high wind once; had been out in rough water many times which it took extremely well....smooth dry ride, but never this bad. Wave crests were very close together which forced me to take them head on at a very slow speed rather than quartering, just at planing speed with the trim way out, as I usually did.
I had pedestal seats and it was so bad that I had to stand and sit as the boat took on the waves. The bow would bury it's self in the oncoming wave. When I say bury, I mean the bow went into the wave all the way to the gunwale. Spray everythere (except on me and in the boat). Then she'd pop out just to do it over again. It took a tricky combination of power and trim to get it just right but I did and the Ranger and Merc "Tower of Power" never missed a lick.
Only problem I had with it was that in Texas, where I boat, there are few launching ramps where their is a pier to tie the boat after launching. Fishing alone usually meant that I had to beach it to park my truck and that meant unavoidable hull damage.....the boat was absolutely beautiful and this was not easy.
I sold it to my son-in-law when I temporarily (10yrs) quit fishing (started farming) who still has and uses it.
Mark