Baxter Area Report

[ksbowhunter]

The REAL reason KVD runs a Nitro?.... I can't imagine it is because Bass Pro is a HUGE sponsor of his... I'm sure it's in his contract somewhere... "We sponsor you and give you anything, and you run our boat..." If he goes with a different boat, he loses Bass Pro Shops, only his biggest sponsor...

I loved the time one of the Nitro reps at BPS tried to sell us on Nitros.. He said, "You know Nitros are number 1?"... I asked "Number one in what category exactly?"... "Bass fishing" is what he replied..and that was it...no other arguments about performance, ride, affordability, customer service... Nope... Just "Bass Fishing"... I chuckled and that was that..

Yup. Pretty sure BP would drop there sponsor with KVD 'the best in the world' if he ran another boat. Hey i run a Bass Cat, had a Champ before this boat. Been happy with both boats. But that's not to say Nitro does not make a great boat also, took a ride in a new Z-8 and was blow away. Nice boat.

[Bill Babler]

KVD runs a Nitro because of a 6 plus figure contract with not Bass Pro Shop, but NItro, a subsidery. You will notice he does not fish BP equipment, for the most part, he just drives a Nitro. KVD made one of the most honest statements I have ever heard either a NASCAR driver or a Pro Fisherman make. He said, and I'm sure his sponsors chringed. "Never buy a product just because I use it or any other pro uses it.." " Buy a product on what you consider its merits to be and how it applies to your fishing application. Can't get anymore honest than that. Also remeber this. KVD fishes a boat for about 8 months, and then turns it in for a new one. KVD does not have to worry about any maintenance issues or any structural problems. Something wrong, he gets a new one. We cannot do this we have to live with our choice, no lemmon law for us. You buy it, its yours. Pretty good reason why guides don't drive Nitros. I have to pay for my boats, I have to have a boat that if I keep it nice and it keeps its self nice I can get a good price for after a few years. Another reason why we might shy away from the Nitros.

At one time Ranger and Nitro were the leaders in sponserships. About every 3rd. Ranger was a deal and about every 10th. Nitro. Those days are gone. Very few deals out there. And with Nitro backing off on a lot of there derby money, I believe you will see quite a few changes in the water. I know that one of the Big Cedar Guides that MUST run a Nitro got a better deal thru a private dealership than his Bass Pro team deal. KVD, Stacy King, Brian Snowden, MIke Webb, Steve Bayou, and a few others still have great team insentives, but not like they were in the past, with the exception of course of KVD.

On the ride of the Phoenix, there are several reasons besides the resign why you get the preformance. The speed of this boat is just a by product of the entire package. It like the BC are both completely moulded boats, meaning there are no droppins. The boxes stringer system and floor are all moulded reinforced fiberglass. Phoenix is the only boat company that not only mounlds them into the boat halfs, but also completely bonds them throughout the entire stringer system to add a very tight rigid package. Phoenix also uses a bonded layered Coosa transom that it also completely bonds and reinforces thoughout the entire rear section of the boat both top and bottom. That boat from bow to stearn are really one solid unit, with the top not only attached but anchored thru the interior box system.

Phoenix also has a very different strake design, with strakes completey from the middle of the hull outward. Where the majority of boats run on a pad that gives the boat lift and set up and back, the Phoenix strakes add quite abit more stability at high speed and in rough water.

You hear folks speak about top end preformance or when you drive a boat at high speed you have to drive the boat. You hear lots of guys complain about their boat preformance, and the factory rep, will say, "He just does not know how to drive the boat." You have to learn how to drive it.

Not so with the Phoenix. You don't have to drive it. It is not going to chine walk it is not going to pull left or right, its going right where you point it. Don't matter if your at 4000 RPM cruising or at 5700 at full trim. It turns and handles like a dream. Same type of dry ride as my old 201 Stratos. Stratos has been for years recconized as the driest ride of any bass boat by far. Unlike the wet ride of the Nitro and the soaking ride of the ranger, the Phoenix has the same downward throw of the water as does the Stratos. No one has yet to duplicate this and to me keeping all the spray off is a blessing. Everyone touts the Champion as a dry boat, but my 20 footer was not nearly as dry as the 201 Stratos and it does not even come close to the Phoenix, even in a choppy cross wind.

As Techo mentioned the boxes are just unbelieveable and the livewell system is fantastic. My 921 has 32 Rod Tubes THIRITY TWO FRIGGIN TUBES. It has a rotating tackle system in the bow and without a doubt the best box storage system I have ever seen. Every stoaway is liffted off the bottom of the storage box to prevent any water from ever getting in any box. There are bag hangers, and crankbait clips. There is a system for every size of box and you can see into stoaway. The LED light system on the boat is unbelieveable, turning night into day, with multiple lights in each box. The Rod Box Pistons are SS and are double on most boxes, it will never fall back on you when you are inside a box.

I am not taking anything away from the Bass Cats, as i just love those boats. The building quality is very similar in both boats. They I will say again are not this. The in and out of the second console is a Phoenix design that almost all boats are using now. They invented it. Takes 20 seconds to add or remove your passenger console. Midship popup tie downs and on and on. This boat has features that I had not even thought of and for cripes sakes the price is very competitive. The absolute highest componets are used and there is not a short cut anywhere on this boat.

They are completely covered up at the factory. I toured it last week and they are turning them out as fast as they can and cannot keep up. Not to many BAss Boat companies can say that right now. They were laying down pieces of the structure of the boat and telling me to try and destroy it with a sledge hammer. NO Could Do.

Call Greg Wood or Rick Lisek and just take a peak at one of these boats. As Edwin says, also take a look at the Kit Kat. Don't believe you would be disapointed in either one of these fantastic boat companies. Both very similar.

[techo]

Every year I look at a bigger boat, but end up staying with the smaller Skeeter and 90 horse Yamaha. I also end up with smaller boat payments and less gas bill.

I look at the Champion and Phoenix the most. Phoenix came up with great ideas for storage and made a smaller boat feel huge. It will probably be my next boat if there is ever one and I can put the pennies together.

Nothing to take away from any other manufacturer as they all have great things and not so great things. Ranger is still the Cadillac of fishing in my opinion as it fishes awesome But it is heavier and not so sweet on the fast ride. Some of the faster rides don't fish as well as a Ranger but nicer ride on the way to the fishing spot. In a Ranger...two fat dudes can stand in the same side of the boat without it tipping too much. Champion and Skeeter are kind of tweeners......not to bad on the ride there and not to bad on the fishing part.

I have only ridden in one Phoenix and sure wouldn't mind owning one!

Nitros and bass trackers let some folks get into boats that sometimes wouldn't be able to. Thanks to them for that!

Seems there is a boat for everyone. If not for my boat....I would fish out of an intertube, skiff, or the bank. I hate driving around and seeing boats sitting in yards day after day. That part is a sin somehow. God made the Earth for us to enjoy.

[Quillback]

I love these bass boat discussions, lots of good info.