Nitro Z19 Review

If there’s one thing the Nitro Z19 confirms, it’s that it’s tough to beat the comfort and performance of a bass boat. With its sprawling raised casting decks, abundant storage for gear, comfortable accommodations and unrivaled stability, it’s hard to imagine a more capable casting platform. And with the ability to handle powerful outboards that get you to and from even distant spots quickly, bass boats open up a world of new opportunities for enterprising anglers.

Aimed at the core of the market, the Nitro Z19 is a mid-sized fiberglass bass boat that packs a ton of big boat features into a more compact footprint that’s easy to tow and can be stored in a standard garage. That’s a heck of a trick, so let’s take a closer look at this capable fishing machine.

The Z19 hits the sweet spot being big enough, fast enough and light enough to go anywhere.

Stretching 19 feet, 4 inches in overall length, the Nitro Z19 takes outboards to 200 horsepower and weighs in at a svelte 1,850 pounds. Those numbers speak to just how capable the Z19 really is – big enough to handle bigger waters with ease, fast enough to keep up with the bigger boats at the weekend tournament, yet nimble enough to launch easily at even rough back-lake ramps and sneak into those super-shallow bays that are off-limits to the bigger, heavier boats. That’s quite the balancing act, and Nitro gets full marks for some bona-fide engineering excellence here.

The large fore deck has plenty of space to fit both the trolling motor and a large MFD display.

The Nitro Z19 follows the proven bass boat layout of massive raised front deck, compact midships cockpit with plush seating, and a large raised aft deck. But look closer and you’ll see there’s more to this boat than first meets the eye.

Massive in-deck storage compartments feature interior lighting, twin gas rams on the lids, and an available ventilation system to protect expensive gear from mildew.

Step aboard and right up front you’ll notice that Nitro has wisely installed an oversized fore deck on the Z19, large enough to easily accommodate both the standard 24-volt Minn Kota Maxxum electric trolling motor and a flush-mounted fish finder with a screen up to 10 inches in size. Anglers have been gravitating toward larger displays on the bow for a while now, and it’s nice to see enough real estate here to accommodate a big display, whether flush-mounted or installed on a bracket. Look closely and the fore deck also includes the power connection for the electric motor, an anchor/light switch, and a trim control for the main engine.

The all-new helm console was designed from the start to accommodate a large flush-mounted multi-function display.

The bow deck is huge for a 19-foot boat (it’s an astounding 34 square feet, to be precise), allowing plenty of room for two anglers to fish in comfort in spite of the Nitro Z19’s trim 7-foot, 10-inch beam. Open the floor hatches and you’ll find a ton of storage space below, most of which is lighted. Twin rod lockers handle sticks to 8 feet in length. Hatch lids are self-supporting with double gas rams to leave both hands free for accessing gear, while the storage compartments themselves can be equipped with an optional ventilation system to protect gear against mildew.

The bow deck step lid opens to reveal a cooler with a convenient trash bin. Drink holders, tool holders and other aids are always within easy reach.

Step down into the cockpit and you find more evidence of Nitro’s attention to detail. The deck step lid opens to reveal a cooler with a convenient trash bin, while lifting the step between the seats reveals a secure storage space for keys, wallets and cell phones. Look around and you’ll note strategically-placed drink holders, tool holders, a tournament ruler and other accessories that ensure whatever you need is always within easy reach.

Lifting the step between the seats reveals a secure storage space for keys, wallets and cell phones.

For 2021 the Z19 gets an all-new aerodynamic helm console built with around the idea of having a big flush-mount display front-and-center. Twin digital multi-gauges mounted low on the console – a tach to the left, speedometer to the right – frame the flat center panel, which can accept flush-mounted screens up to 10 inches.

A gap between the seat backs and the aft deck provides the ideal space to stow a landing net, keeping it out of the way yet readily available when needed.

Another nice trick to the new cockpit lies behind the seats, in the form of an intentional gap between the seat backs and the aft deck that’s intended as a super-convenient place to stow the net. It’s brilliant.

A pair of lift-out storage bins in the side storage compartments each hold seven Plano 3700 trays.

The big aft deck hides even more storage space, highlighted by a pair of lift-out storage bins in the side storage compartments that each hold seven Plano 3700-style tackle trays where they can be easily accessed. In the center, a pair of 19-gallon aerated live wells with digital timers handle the catch. Nitro’s attention to detail can be seen yet again on the inside of the live well lid, where a small rack provides the perfect spot to stow culling tags when not in use. Someone was thinking there.

The Z19’s live well lid even provides a small rack for stowing culling tags when not in use.

Although the Z19 comes ready to fish straight off the showroom floor, Nitro knows that anglers can be a fussy lot so there’s an extensive option list with some truly appealing upgrades on it including various jack plates, power anchors, foot throttles, phone holders, a snap-in sandwich tray, oxygen generators, battery chargers and more.

The Nitro Z19 hits a sweet spot among bass boats, being just big enough and just trim enough at the same time. Buyers looking for a versatile, capable fishing rig needn’t look any farther.