Nitro Boats

The 4 Best Bass Boats of the Year

September 29, 2020 By DeDee

Now is the best time to start shopping for bass boats as the 2020 models are being retired, and the 2021 ones are making their introductions. Here are the four bass boats in 2020, as ranked by TripSavvy.

Please remember if you want to install The Key Captain remote locking system on your boat while at the dealership, we’ll coordinate your installation with your dealer.

Here are the best bass boats.

Best Overall: The Puma FTD

The Puma FTD continues its legacy as one of the most popular models in the Bass Cat Premium category. At 20’4″ in length, it carries the necessary footprint for maneuverability in tight areas. The forward recessed foot pedal positions anglers for pinpoint accuracy and efficiency at all times. When it’s time to head offshore, the 94″ beam will give you the confidence to span waves without sacrificing stability. Twin 26-gallon fuel tanks provide the range to make it out there and back with no worries.

Price: $69,000

Runner Up: Nitro Z21

Bred to be a champion, the NITRO® Z21 is our most advanced bass boat, designed with Bassmaster Classic Champions Kevin VanDam and Edwin Evers. The Z21 is our biggest performance bass boat, but doesn’t it doesn’t sacrifice speed and performance for size. It’s got room at the console and the bow for flush-mounting 12″ fishfinders, plus a heavily-insulated cooler under the step up to the bow deck. Low-profile gunnels feature integrated nav lights, and advanced deck drainage keeps your gear dry in the roughest conditions.

Price: $45,600

Best Under $30,000: Ranger Z175

The Z175’s tournament-inspired design is evident from bow to stern and is complemented by spirited, economic performance. An 8-foot rod box and gel-coat-lined, insulated step cooler, massive starboard storage, and integrated tool holders highlight the front deck. At the same time, power is provided by 115 horses hung on an integrated setback for peak performance. The cockpit features premium seats covered in marine-grade vinyl for sharp looks and all-around comfort, while the cantilevered console delivers more space and houses standard Lowrance® electronics. The timed, aerated livewell is flanked by a pair of oversized storage boxes in front of easy-to-reach battery access. Complementing the on-water performance of the Z175 is a hand-built Ranger Trail® trailer that’s custom made for years of peace of mind off the water. The swing-away trailer tongue makes this compact rig even shorter for more storage options. Each time you back it down the ramp, the Z175 boasts prominent features and a big attitude.

Price: $30, 500

Best Aluminum: Crestliner 1750 Bass Hawk

Whether you’re angling walleye, muskie, or bass, this multispecies Deep-V hull fishing boat can take you where you want to go. You can easily navigate from the dock to the main lake basin, and then over to your favorite shallow water fishing hole from the new, premium console, which features multifunction chrome gauges, space for 12″ flush mount electronics, and much more.

The all-welded wide beam hull adds extra stability, and the variable degree deadrise allows you to make tighter turns and still feel in control. In addition to massive casting decks at the bow and stern, the amount of accessible storage is incredible. The 1750 Bass Hawk comes standard with a large 28-gallon livewell and an illuminated center rod locker that can hold up to 15 rods up to 8′. It all adds up to a zero-compromise, multispecies-catching machine.

Price: $30,700

About Sarasota Quality Products

Your boat is more than a hobby. It’s an expression of who you are. And you want to keep it secure. We understand. We’ve been helping boaters achieve greater peace of mind for 35+ years. Let us know how we can help you by calling 440-899-9820 today!

Keep Your Valuables Safe with a Remote Boat Locking System

October 22, 2018 By Jim Schilens

Is your boat less than 26 feet?

Does it have outboard motor power and rest on a trailer?

If you said yes, beware – you could be a target for theft. A newly released study that looked at five years of BoatUS Marine Insurance claims files shows that 75 percent of all boats stolen matched this description.

According to Bass Angler Magazine:

With the long winter lay-up period nearing, BoatUS has five tips to make your boat harder to steal.

Just one lock? Try another, and another. You simply can’t have enough. The whole goal is to make someone else’s boat more attractive than yours, so the more locks a thief sees – on the trailer tongue, outboard engine, or used with chain around the trailer wheels – the better the chance he’ll move on.
Don’t leave the key on a stored boat. Never assume your key’s hiding place is so good that thieves won’t find it. Remember, that’s what these people do for a living.
Make the trailer impossible to move. A removable tongue hitch, or, better yet, removing the trailer tires if the boat’s going into long-term storage turns your rig into 1-ton dead weight. The little things can help, too, such as not parking your boat in the driveway with the hitch facing the street. Consider using removable trailer lights – with most thieves working the nightshift, they want to avoid attracting the attention an unlit trailer would cause.
Don’t stick out. You may want to think twice about hanging a “for sale” sign on the side of your boat. Use a full winter cover to hide attention-getting, splashy graphics. Store all valuables, removable electronics and paperwork at home during the off-season.
Check out new anti-theft technologies. Devices that send alerts to your cell phone, take photos/video, provide tracking, or kill the motor if your boat moves from its virtual boundary can stop a theft in its tracks. Once a boat is gone, the BoatUS study finds that only one in 10 vessels are ever fully recovered.

Nothing is foolproof, but here is an example of newer technology that can make it more difficult for expert thieves to rip you off.

Our patented Key Captain Boat Remote Locking System protects valuables inside your boat’s compartments with just one click using our remote, waterproof key fob. It allows you to lock all boat compartments simultaneously.

And it works the same as your vehicle remote key fob that locks and unlocks doors. Store your rods and electronics in boat compartments and you’ve made it more difficult for an ill-intention passer-by to steal from you.

Turn On Deck or Cabin Lights With One-Click

March 17, 2018 By Jim Schilens

Remote Boat Locking System Lighting Feature

What’s worse than returning to your boat at night and having to fumble around to turn on the lights?

In the process, you probably stepped on something and broke it. This is a common complaint among boaters and especially professional fishermen.

That’s where the Key Captain remote boat locking system for your boat’s storage compartments comes in. Not only does it offer the convenience to lock your boat with one-click, but it also allows you to do the same with your deck or cabin lights.

Think about it.

If you have 8,10, 12 or even more compartments, it becomes increasing more beneficial to you to lock them all at once, providing a sense security.

Tamper-Proof Control Panel

The system’s control panel is a permanently sealed and tamper-proof unit with a coding technique that protect it from unwanted interference. The transmitters are designed for marine use. Additional transmitters are available that can be added and programmed by the user. The system’s unique sleep mode results in low power energy saving operation, which saves battery life.

The Key Captain Customizable System can also control the engine trim up and down with the touch of a button. You can use another button to turn on and off the boat lights, radio, bilge blower, and air conditioning from up to 300 feet away, before you board. This ensures that your boat will be cool on a hot day and the cabin lights on at night when you return to it.

Recommended by Top Professional Fishermen

Many pro bass fishermen and pro walleye anglers have used the Key Captain system on their boats because of the convenience and security.

Watch Pro Walleye Angler Joe Okada and Pro Bass Angler Shaw Grigsby discuss the Key Captain.

Learn Why Edwin Evers and Shaw Grigsby Love The Key Captain

January 29, 2018 By Jim Schilens

Remote locking and control systems for boats have arrived.

Groundbreaking technology is the reason for the the new remote boat locking and control system called The Key Captain (also called Sarasota Electric Lid Latches custom option). The Key Captain custom option provides anglers with a level of convenience and security that has only been dreamed about in the past.

Find out what Edwin Evers thinks about this new remote boat locking system.

The complete time saving remote control system provides you with the ability to operate the following functions from outside of your boat:

Lock/Unlock Compartment Lockable Latches
Trim Down/Trim Up (trailer position)
Turn Deck or Cabin Lights On/Off
Turn Bilge Blower On/Off (or anywhere you need 12 volts)

The Key Captain System’s control panel is a permanently sealed and tamper-proof unit with a coding technique that protects the unit from unwanted interference. The transmitters are designed for marine use, and additional transmitters are available that can be added and programmed by user. The system’s unique sleep mode results in low power energy saving operation, which saves battery life. It’s also available as an aftermarket product for existing boats.

Shaw Grigsby gives his personal recommendation on the Key Captain.

Call us for OEM order information: 440-899-9820.

Download Key Captain Benefits & Features Flyer

Watertight Locks & Latches For 2.5″ Mounting Holes

November 25, 2017 By Jim Schilens

The watertight SL1000SS stainless steel lock latch (and its sister non-locking latch the SN1000SS) along with the SE1000SS electric locking latch, used with the Key Captain boat remote locking and control system, is a dual function lock latch good for all boat hatch applications.

The open end grip is excellent for storage compartment hatches and doors. When not in use the handle snaps into place over the keyway and lies flush with the surface of the lock. The SL 1000SS is made of high quality engineered plastic composites and stainless steel materials.

The SL1000SS lock latch features:

Black plastic body
Surface mounted
Stainless steel operating handle arm
Positive open and closed feel on detent positioned operating handle
Lock with 2 double bitted keys
Shuttered keyway and rubber seal offers additional protection from the elements
For smooth, upholstered or carpeted surfaces
Installs into a 2-1/2” mounting hole
For mounting surfaces 1/8” to 3/4” thick
Straight and offset cams available
Lock and cam rotate 180°

Screen shot 2015-11-24 at 11.28.10 AM — The SL1oooSS lock latch

The SL1000 lock latch is the same without the stainless steel stem.

Call us at 440-899-9820 if you have any questions or to place your order.