Back in 2007 a veteran team of boat builders announced the formation of Phoenix Bass Boats, which rose from the ashes of Bumble Bee Boats after a fire at the manufacturing facility.
At the time, President Gary Clouse said: “Phoenix will produce bass boats with special attention to customer service. Our plan is simple: we’ll build a company people trust because we design and manufacture high-quality boats that are offered at competitive prices without compromising customer service.”
Now, nearly 20 years later Clouse’s company continues to produce highly regarded bass boats and has avoided being gobbled up by a large corporation.
Clouse had help in his venture by Hank Baker and Teresa Johnson, both of whom served on the management team of Stratos Boats with Clouse until leaving in February 2006. Rounding out the initial Phoenix executive team was Greg Strahm, previously a part of the Stratos design team.
“We didn’t buy Bumble Bee, but we were able to acquire their equipment and molds, and lease their modern 50,000-square-foot factory where they had previously been,” Clouse said.
That allowed Phoenix to get up and running quickly, putting out a boat line based on the acquired molds.
Their first boats were built on Bumble Bee’s Bee Line series, which included eight models ranging from 15 to 21 feet long.
That first Bee Line series was built by many of the same employees who worked for Bumble Bee, and will be priced for the entry-level angler. The a 21-foot Bee Line with a 225-horsepower outboard sold in the $35,000 range.
The first all-original, performance-based Phoenix Bass Boat designs were ready for market by the spring of 2008, with 18- and 21-foot versions released first. Two new models were then marketed every nine months for the next four years to bring the Phoenix stable up to 18 models.
“We’re going to design these boats for serious bass anglers,” Clouse, a one-time professional angler said. “My experience goes back to using the product, and I am constantly looking for new ideas to make our day on the water better. We’ll be introducing innovations not seen before in the bass-boat industry and these won’t be cookie-cutter, mass-produced boats.”
When he started Phoenix, Clouse had more than 30 years of experience in the bass fishing industry. He started with Genmar, where he served as president of Stratos Boats and Champion Boats. Clouse led design, manufacturing, marketing and sales at the two Genmar subsidiaries. After a four-year stint in the early 1980s as a professional angler on the BASS, U.S. Bass and Operation Bass Tours, he joined Stratos Boats in 1988 in customer service and worked his way to national sales manager by 1997. In early 1998, he became national sales manager of the newly formed and ultimately highly successful Triton Boat Co. In 2001, he took the reigns of Stratos and assembled a team that took the company to a respected position in the industry, before leaving to start Phoenix Boat Company.
Today, Phoenix is still led by Clouse and likes to say they are “still building boats one relationship at a time.”
The brand consists of four lines (LXE, Elite X, ZXL and the Pro Series) with 13 models ranging from 21’6” to 18’6”.
The hottest Phoenix Boat for 2027 looks to be the new ZXL with 721, 720, 919 and 819 models. For this W2 Boat Review we looked at the ZXL 720. This boat measures 20’5” long, is 96 inches wide, is rated from up to 250 hp, holds 50 gallons of fuel and weighs in at 1,850. Incredibly, with a Mercury 2050 Pro XS Phoenix says this boat starts at $69,195.
The 720 ZXL is all-new for 2027 however it is built on the design of the same running surface that made the 721 Phoenix’ best-selling hull for 20 years running. At 20’5”, the 720 ZXL trims a few inches off the overall length, making it easier to get in and out of tight fishing areas without giving up the speed and handling Phoenix anglers have trusted for two decades. The shorter footprint also gives the 720 ZXL a sportier feel behind the wheel .
The new ZXL features a wider front casting platform, Lowrance Eagle 7 flush mount in bow, Lowrance Eagle 7 on a fiberglass dual dash shroud at console, Phoenix E2 Electronics Wiring System, Minn Kota Fortrex 80 24v, 45” shaft, 3×10 amp battery charger, 10” adjustable jack plate with hole shot plate, auxiliary and USB power outlets, Hot Foot, all composite construction, padded front deck, travel cover, port and starboard independent livewells, under seat net storage, stainless steel lid assists, locking hatches and pull-up cleats, drop in rear storage trays, LED courtesy and compartment lights. LED livewell lights and rod buckles.
The Phoenis trailer has the GatorHyde finish, 14” ZXL wheels with matching spare, self-latching actuator with swing tongue, step pads with diamond tread plate, lazer cut Phoenix step pads, LED trailer lights and comes in your choice of tube or channel frame.
You’ll find the 2027 Phoenix line at Rock Outdoors in Hardy, Virginia.
