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MERCURY AND NITRO: A WINNING COMBINATION Deadrise
The first of the key aspects of the NITRO performance boat design is the variable deadrise hull design. While a boat that has a very flat deadrise
will run super fast, it will be exceptionally difficult to drive and produce an extremely rough ride. On the other hand, an extreme Deep V design will result in a soft, nice ride, but slower top end. The sweet spot is 16 degrees at the bow
that transitions to 10 degrees at the keel. While most of the bass boats are designed with those measurements, the Z-6 numbers vary slightly, while still keeping the basic ariable design. The combination produces a soft, dry ride, while still allowing for exhilarating top-end speeds.
Extended Pods
Also at the rear of the boat, take note of the “pods” extending past the transom. They add extra flotation to counteract
the heavy motor on the transom, while also adding buoyancy to create level flotation. This way, the boat floats more level and won’t rock as much when anglers are moving around. It also allows anglers to reach areas other boats can’t. “You can trim that motor up and get into super shallow water,” Williams says.
The fact that NITRO boats sit more level
at rest means they present less “sail area.” When the winds are heavy, there isn’t as much boat above the water to get blown around, so the boat tracks and controls better with the trolling motor.
Concave Design
If you look at a NITRO bass boat from the front, you’ll notice how the hull is cupped, or concaved, on either side of the deadrise. This design results in aerodynamic lift, getting the boat farther out of the water while running and adding to the boat’s top- end abilities. “That’s what makes building bass boat
hulls and high-performance boats so difficult,” Williams explains. “When you do airplanes, it’s all air. But when you do boats, you have two mediums—air and water.” It’s a unique set of features that has been
engineered and perfected through years of development, testing and input from
a variety of sources, including the NITRO Professional Fishing Team.
Rick Emmitt, Manager of NITRO
Angler Programs/Pro Staff, is a 28-year veteran of Tracker Marine Group, and one of the few who has driven every NITRO model built. He talks about how the hulls
have evolved through the years. “I drove the very first NITRO Pro
Series boat after we [TMG] purchased the company in 1989. The hull was 18’ 10” and very fast, but pretty tricky to drive,” Emmitt says. “I used to have to go out in the field and teach customers how to drive their boat. We realized we needed to re-design the hull and make them more stable for the average customer. Over the years we have developed a hull that features tremendous all-around performance—good holeshot, smooth and dry rough-water ride, good top-end speed with stability and easy
‘‘
I get a kick out of the expression on the passengers’ faces .. they look at the trail and the helicopter pushing the boat around, and it’s a bit scary at first
e on the water
Z9
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