Nitro ZV21 Review

Often times in life we have to compromise to make things happen. But when it comes to a big water, multi-species fishing boat there are times when compromise just won’t do. And that’s when it’s time for a serious tournament rig like the Nitro ZV21.

Let’s just cut to the chase – all the expected goodies are there, and right where you expect to find them. Huge elevated bow deck where a couple of guys can fish side-by-side without constantly jabbing elbows? Check. Big deep cockpit with plenty of space for trolling? Of course. Raised stern deck with more room than you think? Naturally. But what really sets the ZV21 apart are the surprises that you find throughout. Some of them are little things that just delight by being there. But others are very big deals, and they’re what really set the Nitro ZV21 apart.

A new touchscreen automates everyday chores and puts them right at the driver’s fingertips.

For starters, new with the 2020 model year is a brand-new five-inch touchscreen on the dash that’s set up to provide one-touch control over all the boat’s major functions. What’s more, this new digital switching system totally automates entire series of operations into a single step that you activate with just a tap of the finger. That includes Nitro’s awesome First Fish function, which really is a bit of engineering genius. Tap the First Fish button on the touch screen when you or your buddy hook the first fish of the day. With that simple gesture, the boat will automatically fill the live well and start the recirculation pump going – while you’re still busy fighting the fish.

A huge in-deck rod locker protects expensive rods in individual tubes.

Up on the bow deck and can’t get back to the helm to do this? No sweat – a handy key fob controls many of the same functions. How sweet is that?

The Nitro ZV21 also offers one-touch control of things like lighting, boat controls, you name it. The little touchscreen automates all of the things we tend to do every day, making your time on the water just that much easier.

There’s storage everywhere in the Nitro ZV21.

Up on the dash you’ll also find a standard Lowrance Elite-7 Ti2 Combo fishfinder with GPS on a RAM mount, plus plenty of room for additional electronics. Seats are all-new Attwood Centric X types with shock-dampening cores. And just to pamper the owners a little more, there’s even an anti-fatigue deck mat below the bow and cockpit carpet. That’s full 24-ounce carpet by the way, so say goodbye to that sore back at the end of the day.

Thoughtful touches like an integrated tool tray just make everything easier.

Up on the massive front deck there’s a standard Minn Kota Terrova 36-volt 112-pound trolling motor with a composite shaft. The bow panel includes the expected trolling motor receptacle, along with the navigation light, anchor light and trim switches.

A handy step compartment between the bow deck and the main cockpit accommodates two 3600-series boxes.

In the Nitro ZV21’s deck you’ll find plenty of storage space for gear, a 5.5 gallon bait well, and a three-level rod locker with individual organizers. Little niceties, like three stainless steel drink holders and four stainless steel pull-up cleats, are thoughtful touches anyone can appreciate. Look close and you’ll notice the storage compartments are lit by LEDs, making it a lot easier to retrieve stowed items in the dark, and there’s even a ventilation fan in the bow storage area to protect gear from mildew – because let’s be honest, on a fishing boat things get put away wet all the time.

As you step into the main cockpit you’ll notice there’s a handy foldout storage drawer between the consoles, which is big enough to hold a couple of 3600-series tackle boxes.

Huge storage compartments in the aft deck accommodate up to seven big 3700-series tackle trays each.

The aft deck didn’t get left out when they designed this boat, and has almost as many tricks as the main one. For starters, it houses the 26-gallon Guardian live well, which features an anti-slosh design and a removable divider and bait bucket. It even has rounded corners to keep the fish from getting bumped in rough seas. Look closer still and you’ll see the aft deck also includes a pair of lift-out, molded storage boxes, each big enough for seven 3700-series tackle trays.

So the boat is rigged to fish. It will also get to the spots in one heck of a hurry. The Nitro ZV21 rides an aggressive deep-V hull with the company’s Rapid Planing System for super-quick hole shots and better overall performance. It’s rated to handle outboards of up to 400 horsepower, but the truth is that the Nitro hull is so efficient there’s really no need to break the bank on a massive outboard. Standard power is a 250 Mercury Verado Pro, which at full throttle pushes this boat to about 57 mph. Jumping up 100 horses to a 350 Verado buys you five, maybe six mph more, but sets you back an additional $4,600 in the process. Is it worth it? Maybe yes, maybe no. But I can think of a lot of tackle and upgrades that $4,600 could go toward instead.

Need to get there in a hurry? The big Nitro runs 57 mph with a 250 horsepower outboard. Stepping up to a 350 gets you 63 mph, but adds almost $5,000 to the sticker price.

There are a ton of upgrades available for the Nitro ZV21, of course – everything from better electronics to electric motor upgrades to you name it. The fun in getting a boat like this is having it exactly the way you want, after all, so the only thing you won’t find on the option list is compromise.

Looking for the ultimate big water multi-species fishing rig? This might just be it.