Nitro 290

NEW REVIEW!!!

There has been a lot of interest in the 290 - I tried to write up my impressions. Todd 

I got my first chance to see the new Nitro 290 in person this past weekend at the boat show in Sioux Falls. My dealer, TyndallMotors.com, brought up their new 290 with a Verado 150. I really shouldn’t say theirs though anymore, it’s already sold!

To say the least, it was a very popular boat with the public. Nitro has hit a home run with this one. The looks, fit and finish, and pricing were all huge “wows”.

The first thing I can say after seeing the 290 in person is that.... it's big. This is a big boat sitting on the trailer. It's deep, wide, long and seems much bigger than the impression I've gotten from pictures alone.

It's also a very beautiful boat, especially if you like sleek designs with some "muscle" to them. The all composite hull construction fiberglass Nitro 290, is over 19' long and 100" wide. It comes on a dual-axle color coordinated trailer and is available in numerous colors. On the website, www.nitro.com/boat/?boat=3110, you can design all of the extra features and colors you want into it.

The hull design is ultra-modern and performance-oriented. The hull carries over a lot of design queues from the Tracker Tundra’s I run. It’s a sharp deadrise V hull with flares. This boat incorporates a wider flare than the Tundra which will probably further improve the dryness and stability of the boat while at rest, cornering or in rough water. Tom Logue, the owner of Tyndall Motors, has driven the 290 and said he was running the boat in mid 50’s comfortably with a 200 hp Mercury and 6 people aboard. At the transom, a new Rapid Planing System (RPS) has been incorporated. When viewing the boat from the rear three things quickly grab your attention.

1. There is a large vertical rectangular hole in the transom in front of the lower unit above the prop and below the waterline. This design relieves “surface water tension”.
2. The transom is cut flat and quite inset underneath, there is not drain plug easily visible as it’s a few feet back under the boat (the plug is accessible easily from under or from inside the boat).
3. There are “sponsons” for lack of a better term on each gunnel side protruding out to the side and to the back.

Together, these three features create an unbelievably quick hole shot, improve boating performance and definitely create another "wow" factor.

From the front to the back:  The 290 comes standard with a 70#, 60” shaft, 24v trolling motor and 2 bank Guest charger. The batteries, charger and other accessories are located in a cavernous fore-deck area just back from the nose of the boat. Lots of other items could go in this area. In the center is the seat receptacle and to the left is a big storage area that would hold perhaps 20 or so Plano 360’s. To the right is a minnow well below deck and another storage area. Just behind the seat is a removable center deck that converts the boat to a bowrider. Pads for reclining and seating are standard.

The consoles are huge and protective. They are capped with a nicely sized sporty windshield. A Lowrance 96 and a ton of gauges and command switches are located there. When equipped with the Mercury Verado, it also comes with Mercury Smarcraft multi-function gauges with all the features (tach, water pressure, fuel, etc.) and full power steering! Underneath the consoles you’ll find shelf storage and on the passenger side there is a cooler, Sirius ready stereo with MP3 jack and cubby hole.

The gunnels are capped with rails and have side hatches. Each side has 3 rod holders with tubes, you could also store other gear.  In the floor is a huge locker that includes 6 rod holders and tubes on each side, the middle is wide open, you can put a ton of things down there. There are also numerous cup holders throughout. The floor also has multiple seat positions and an included courtesy table.

The back deck houses the 46 gallon livewell with minnow bucket insert. It has a 500 gph pump, 750 gph recirculation and a pump out system. It would serve me well in walleye tournaments. There are also two jump seats with storage underneath both, a cooler, and a retractable and storable boarding ladder.

The new Nitro is the boat for fishing and fun families. So many “sport” boats are all sport and no angling, that’s not the case with the 290. This boat could easily be fished from in the morning, take the kids tubing all day and then go out for a pleasure cruise with four couples. The 290 can carry 12 rods in storage, a ton of tackle, and has a great livewell and baitwell system. Rod holders in the cockpit area can go on the rails or the gunnels and the front deck would serve well too. 

As most of you know, I'm a pretty hardcore fisherman and that's my passion. However, my wife has been a boater her whole life too and she was extremely impressed with the looks, the layout, and the price. As we talked, especially considering we have a 3 year old and 1 year old daughter, this boat has a lot of features that really do fit our family and many others.

If what we saw at the first boat show is correct, get to your Tracker dealer soon if you want one this summer! This is the link to learn more http://www.nitro.com/boat/?boat=3110

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