TrepMan
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2000
- Messages
- 9,215
- Reaction score
- 2
OK, today was the first day i've been able to realy use/run the Nitro. I took her our 1 hour on Thurs night to test my install of the Humminbird Matrix 77c and caught a dink.
After 5 hours of fishing/running with a full tank of gas (MAN $53 for 1/2 a tank, glad I work from home!!! LOL), 2 guys and all our gear. For those who don't remember my Tracker is a 2000 Pro Crappie with a 40 Merc and the Nitro is a 700LX DC with a 115 Merc (Carb'd):
- Hole shot - About the same between both boats though the bow rises much higher on the nitro then the Tracker ever does, probably because of the heavier motor and more HP on takeoff. Once on plane though the nitro FLYS and the torque steer I feel on take off is nil, at 50mph on smooth water I could take my hands off the wheel (like 1/8 of an inch) and she was dead straight, so I don't see any need for hydralic steering on this one.
- Performance/Speed - WOW 53mph on glass clear water, ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM in the Nitro. The Tracker ran 31 mph on a clear day just me and 1/2 gas and light gear. Didn't expect anything less from this rig. I do need to get a Water pressure guage and fine toon the Manual Jack plate. I'm only getting 5000 rpm at most, and she redlines at 5250, so I have some work to do. I assume raising the motor will give me a few more RPMs?
- Storage - For gear, tackle, rods and stuff Nitro wins HANDS DOWN!! Of course my Tracker is a Pro Crappie so it doesn't have near the storage the Pro team does, but 2 rod lockers a HUGE front storage bin, 2 HUGE rear storage boxes, Glove box and a LOT of room under the consoles as well as 2 empty battery trays in the bildge I can get storage boxes for. I do need to do something (rod organizer or rod socks) in the lockers on the Nitro, my Tracker came FACTORY with rod organlizer/tubes which made it a lot easier. I did have a problem getting tips/rods mixed up/tangled in the Nitro today.
- Rod ramp - It was ReAL NICE to have the passenger rod ramp for my buddies rods, and with the HUGE under console storage there was no problems with his longer rods. Up front for me its a mixed bag. While there are 2 rod straps (one on each side) up front vs. only 1 (I installed, and another one behind the dirver) on my tracker, due to the deck size on the Nitro the rod tips lie 6-12 inches up on the side of the console. No biggie just have to be careful. Where on my tracker i've put 9ft FLy rod and off shore trolling rods on the passanger side with no problem all carpeted space.
- Front Seat - Rich Stern - You are RIGHT, it is darn impossible to fish with the front seat in. Due to the large front center storage lid, the post/seat is too far forward I could barely put my foot on the trolling motor peddle all the way up, so I took it off for this trip. I'll look at butt seats next week, and possibly the off-set seat post. I had more room on the Tracker between the seat post and the front end of the deck, due to a smaller storage box. If any 700lx owners have a suggestion for a type/style of post/seat let me know.
- Rough water ride - This one MAY be due to my inexperience running the boat. The tracker flexes MORE and absorbs more of the chop with the deep V of the Revolution Hull vs. the pad hull of the Nitro. This difference in bottom running surfaces make the Nitro when up on plane seem to BOUNCE more and because it is SOLID it hits harder when comming down on a wave/bump in the water. This makes it seem like the Tracker rides better. BUT the tracker is only going 28-29mph at top end with 2 guys so I think it cuts through the chop better. On plane/pad the Nitro is more succeptible to the wakes of pleasure boats especialy at angles. I know I need some more seat time but right now i'd say at 30 mph on plane the Tracker is a smoother/less jarring ride then the Nitro.
- Loading on trailer - Nitro wins HANDS DOWN! The 4 bunks realy self level the boat on powerloading. MY track
After 5 hours of fishing/running with a full tank of gas (MAN $53 for 1/2 a tank, glad I work from home!!! LOL), 2 guys and all our gear. For those who don't remember my Tracker is a 2000 Pro Crappie with a 40 Merc and the Nitro is a 700LX DC with a 115 Merc (Carb'd):
- Hole shot - About the same between both boats though the bow rises much higher on the nitro then the Tracker ever does, probably because of the heavier motor and more HP on takeoff. Once on plane though the nitro FLYS and the torque steer I feel on take off is nil, at 50mph on smooth water I could take my hands off the wheel (like 1/8 of an inch) and she was dead straight, so I don't see any need for hydralic steering on this one.
- Performance/Speed - WOW 53mph on glass clear water, ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM in the Nitro. The Tracker ran 31 mph on a clear day just me and 1/2 gas and light gear. Didn't expect anything less from this rig. I do need to get a Water pressure guage and fine toon the Manual Jack plate. I'm only getting 5000 rpm at most, and she redlines at 5250, so I have some work to do. I assume raising the motor will give me a few more RPMs?
- Storage - For gear, tackle, rods and stuff Nitro wins HANDS DOWN!! Of course my Tracker is a Pro Crappie so it doesn't have near the storage the Pro team does, but 2 rod lockers a HUGE front storage bin, 2 HUGE rear storage boxes, Glove box and a LOT of room under the consoles as well as 2 empty battery trays in the bildge I can get storage boxes for. I do need to do something (rod organizer or rod socks) in the lockers on the Nitro, my Tracker came FACTORY with rod organlizer/tubes which made it a lot easier. I did have a problem getting tips/rods mixed up/tangled in the Nitro today.
- Rod ramp - It was ReAL NICE to have the passenger rod ramp for my buddies rods, and with the HUGE under console storage there was no problems with his longer rods. Up front for me its a mixed bag. While there are 2 rod straps (one on each side) up front vs. only 1 (I installed, and another one behind the dirver) on my tracker, due to the deck size on the Nitro the rod tips lie 6-12 inches up on the side of the console. No biggie just have to be careful. Where on my tracker i've put 9ft FLy rod and off shore trolling rods on the passanger side with no problem all carpeted space.
- Front Seat - Rich Stern - You are RIGHT, it is darn impossible to fish with the front seat in. Due to the large front center storage lid, the post/seat is too far forward I could barely put my foot on the trolling motor peddle all the way up, so I took it off for this trip. I'll look at butt seats next week, and possibly the off-set seat post. I had more room on the Tracker between the seat post and the front end of the deck, due to a smaller storage box. If any 700lx owners have a suggestion for a type/style of post/seat let me know.
- Rough water ride - This one MAY be due to my inexperience running the boat. The tracker flexes MORE and absorbs more of the chop with the deep V of the Revolution Hull vs. the pad hull of the Nitro. This difference in bottom running surfaces make the Nitro when up on plane seem to BOUNCE more and because it is SOLID it hits harder when comming down on a wave/bump in the water. This makes it seem like the Tracker rides better. BUT the tracker is only going 28-29mph at top end with 2 guys so I think it cuts through the chop better. On plane/pad the Nitro is more succeptible to the wakes of pleasure boats especialy at angles. I know I need some more seat time but right now i'd say at 30 mph on plane the Tracker is a smoother/less jarring ride then the Nitro.
- Loading on trailer - Nitro wins HANDS DOWN! The 4 bunks realy self level the boat on powerloading. MY track