Another ??? for Pat our Resident Setup Man

I looked at Nitro 898 a while back, and after looking at a lot of different
boats that I'ld love to have I'm back looking at the Nitro 898.
One thing I ran across in my various questions and readi Pat Goff's comment
once that a lot of the Nitro glass boats can be tweaked and setup to run
substantially higher than the stock numbers listed on the Nitro Boats
website. As much as 8 mph in some cases. I am wondering if that is only with
the top HP rated motors?

Can the 898 be dialed in to run faster consistantly than its 58-61 MPH with
the 150 HP motor?

I know I know. If fast is my goal then I should get it with the 225, but I
am going to have to look at reality and go with what I'll be able to afford.
At less than $24K I should be able to afford it. (and add a couple $K for
upgrades to fit my circumstances) I want a 20' boat that can handle rough
water, and this is about the only one that I can afford that really falls
well in that category as a bass boat.

One comment I already got, (and have sene many times is) "If its rated for a
225 I can't see where you would be happy with a 150."

LOL. Ok, Whoever that was. Thanks for the stock answer.

My reply:
....and I may be happier with a boat that I can afford and actually buy than
one I can't and don't get. I don't want to sell it. I want to fish out of
it. I already have a faster boat. I have a 20' Baker Tunnel Hull with a 200
on it. Heck if speed were my number one concern I'ld just repower the Baker
with a modern 225. That would also be even cheaper than the new Nitro.
If resale price were my number one concern I would buy a Ranger with its
toprated outboard. The simple fact of the matter is I do not have $48K to
spend on a boat. Rangers have about the highest resale price (not to be
confused with value). On the other hand if I resell a 48k Ranger for 28K
after ten years (highly unlikely) or a 23.9K Nitro for 6.5K after ten years
the Nitro was the better deal financially. The net resale was higher on the
Nitro. It cost me less money, I would have less money tied up in it, and I
would have paid less interest if financed.

What I would really like to know from a good setup man is if the claims
about being able to attain better than spec speeds are true from somebody
who may have setup an 898 before. (Pat's opion is valued on this)

I do appreciate your comments about motor and resale, but I have been around
the boards, groups, and owned more than one boats before, and it has no real
relationship to what I want to know, but thanks anyway. An answer I tend to
give people myself if appropriate is get the most motor you can afford. I
can afford a 150 for that boat, and I do not want a smaller boat.


Bob La Londe

www.YumaBassMan.com