2010 Nitro Z-7 Boat Review
Reviewed by Richard Crowder
A Tracker Marine Group company, Nitro offers nine fibreglass models from seventeen to almost twenty-one feet in two series, bass and sport. Make no mistake about it, Nitro builds boats for the serious fisherman. The newly designed for 2010 mid-size Z-7 comes standard as a side console model but a removable dual-console is optionally available.
As with all Nitro boats, the Z-7 bristles with fishing amenities. The helm features three-across upholstered bucket-type seating with storage areas below, drink holders beside, and stepping areas for easier aft-deck access. The modular starboard-side console with a molded, tinted plexiglass windscreen has sport gauges with chrome-bezel instrumentation including tachometer, speedometer, voltmeter, fuel, water pressure, and trim gauges. Central in the dash display is a flush-mounted Lowrance® X96 TX 320-pixel fish finder with surface temperature readout. Rod holders are found on the port side.
Moving forward, a hinged-lid step-up to the bow deck contains a cooler and a trash receptacle. There is a central in-floor storage locker flanked by two, 8-foot long rod lockers with power lid assists. Center forward is a bow bicycle seat with a foot pedal control recess for the standard MotorGuide® 24-volt, 70-lb. thrust, 45” shaft foot-controlled trolling motor. A bow panel contains the trolling motor receptacle, anchor light and trim switches and is wired for either 12 or 24-volt motor harnesses.
The center of the aft deck houses a 34-gallon divided, aerated livewell with recirculator, timer, and pump-out system. To port and starboard are lift-out, molded storage boxes that will accept Plano 3700 tackle boxes. Between the livewell and the motor is a fold-down fishing seat and off the port transom, an integrated fold-down reboarding ladder. A single-axle, powder-coated, welded tubular frame, custom bunk trailer with swing-away tongue is standard equipment.
Notable available options include a custom canvas boat cover, upgraded electronics, hydraulic or mechanical tilt steering, various battery charging upgrades, different choice of trolling motors, plus a jack plate and SmartCraft® gauges. Even a hydraulic pedestal seat! Power your Z-7 SC or DC with up to 200 horsepower and get out to the fishing hot spots in a hurry.
| Length: |
18' 7" |
5.66 M |
| Beam: |
7' 9" |
2.36 M |
| Dry weight: |
1650 lbs |
748 kg |
| Fuel Capacity: |
42.8 US gals |
163 L |