For the most part, impulse buys are typically frivolous wastes of money that we tend to regret or overpay for. In supermarkets, all the candy, and occasionally soft drinks, by the register are strategically placed there because marketers know that when you’re done grocery shopping, you are more than likely tired, worn down, probably dehydrated, and after spending the last hour or two staring at every food imaginable, probably hungry too. So they put things that call out to you, like Snickers and Milky Way, or peanut butter cups or chocolate covered pretzels to entice you to buy them for two or sometimes three dollars, when only five minutes beforehand you could’ve gotten an entire package of them for about the same price.
Sometimes, impulse buying a larger purchase like a home or a car can be a huge, life altering mistake. Mid-life crisis strikes all of us at some point or another, and one of the biggest impulse buys people make, and regret, is buying a boat. The old saying that the best day of owning a boat is the first day you have it, and the second best day is the day you sell it, comes clearly to mind. But, we are here to tell you that sometimes, an impulse buy can end up being a good purchase. And the new Nitro Z17 might just be the best boat you can go out and grab right now.
This 17’ 4” bass boat has a beam of an impressive 8’4” and a dry weight of just 1,450 pounds. It has a weight capacity of 1,100 pounds, and a person capacity of 460 pounds. Nitro designed this boat with the first time (read: novice) buyer in mind, meaning that they tried to make it as complete a turnkey package as possible. Things like a built in cooler, livewell, fishfinder, and even a trolling motor are all standard issue. Oh, and let us not forget the custom-matched trailer too — all for one shockingly low price of just $23,595.
Starting up front, the Z17 has a huge bow fishing area as well as a raised aft deck. The aforementioned trolling motor has a recessed foot pedal and also controls for the outboard motor and anchor light well within reach. There are locking compartments up front as well that can hold 7’ rods on either side and the center locker can handle a rod up to 7’6” while the marine-grade carpet makes every step feel surefooted and the included bungee cords come in remarkably handy for securing rods, and just about anything else when you’re out on the water. You’ll also find the fire extinguisher has its very own bracket mount tucked away in the starboard bow compartment.
in the cockpit, there are two seats standard with the third middle seat being an option, as is the console that comes with a locking glovebox. All of the seats fold forward on hinges to expose more storage space and access to fuel fittings. The console on the port side is more of a placeholder for one lucky passenger and provides the necessities: A windscreen to keep their eyes from tearing up, and a grab bar to keep them in the actual seat when this Z17 rockets off.
And don’t be mistaken, this Nitro built boat lives up to its name. Have a seat at the helm and look down at the VeeThree gauge cluster and you might be surprised at what that tach and speedometer is telling you. Powered by a Mercury ProXS FourStroke outboard motor that makes a serious 115-horsepower, this powerhouse exemplifies what power-to-weight ratio is all about. The Z17 sprints to plane in only 3.7 seconds, runs from 0-20 mph in 6.2 seconds, 0-30 mph in 9.3 seconds, on its way to a top speed of over 50 mph. That may not be powerboat fast, but it’s certainly enough to kick some bass (sorry). But, the Z17 isn’t just about speeding from fishing hole to fishing hole. It also has a massive 24 gallon tank that it sips on quite judiciously with a prudent driver at the helm, with its best cruise coming at 3,000 rpm at about 21 mph. That translates to 7.5 mpg and a range of just over 160 miles on a full tank.
All in all, the Nitro Z17 is a one-stop-shop for all things bass boat. It’s fun, fast, cheap on gas, and even comes with a trailer. To further entice new buyers Nitro also offers a one-year warranty on electrical components, plumbing, live wells, the fuel system and carpet, and even a six year 100,000 mile warranty on the trailer. All of that for less than a new Mazda Miata? Bring on the mid-life crisis, because this boat is one impulse buy that will quell your angry spells better than a Snickers or convertible ever could.
