Where will 2025 take us as far as new bass boats? Trends we are seeing include the return of touch screen controls on the helm, padded foam cockpit floors, bow panels built to accommodate stacked depth finders and fewer boats for under $75K but some competition for your money between Skeeter and Nitro. Here’s what you can expect to see at area shows and W2 dealer showrooms.
Caymas
Earl Bentz is back in the boat building business with Caymas. The company was founded in 2018 and the boats are built in their own Ashland City, Tennessee plant. Bentz was a pioneer boat racer/boat builder that created bass boat companies like HydraSports, Stratos, Javelin and Triton and he’s taken all he’s learned over his many years in the industry and produced the Caymas fresh and saltwater hulls.
Caymas offers two lines; the XS and CX. The XS consists of the XS 21 and the XS20. The CX bass boat models are the CX21, CX20, CX19 and CX18.
Bass Cat
Mountain Home, Arkansas is also the home of Bass Cat boats and there are a couple new rigs to check out. The 2025 Bass Cat EYRA SP is an updated model area anglers will want to check out as well as the Jaguar STS.
Eyra SP is 20’2” long, 94” wide, weighs 1,890 pounds, holds up to 300 hp and 52 gallons of gas. This is a boat intended to address anglers desire to own a Bass Cat but not have to sell a kidney. Don’t be mistaken, Bass Cat is a premium brand and they don’t do bargain boats, but the Eyra looks to be a popular option among larger pool of buyers.
On the other end of the line the Jaguar STS is luxurious boat at 22’ long, 94” wide, weighing, 2,205 pounds, holding up to 500 hp and 60 gallons of fuel! One of the main objectives during the redesign of this original big body bass boat was overall performance starting at 250 or 300 horsepower. The added length and BCB signature hull design chews up waves with the new Soft Touch Hull. It comes with a 900-lumen docking light, billet aluminum rails and vents. The safety lights and wake light will give the pack behind you LED lighting to follow. This flagship model is improved all over as the Jaguar exudes luxury from every aspect.
Other Bass Cat boats include the Puma STS, Cougar FTD, the Caracal STS, the Pantera, Pantera II and the Bobcat. All feature Bass Cat’s distinctive throw-back styling.
Bullet
Down in Tennessee they know how to make bass boats and one brand has been setting the speed standard for the past 44 years – Bullet.
For 2025 Bullet has 11 bass boat models from nearly 22’ to 20’. The 21SXT is the newest flagship model. This is the latest offering from the long-time Tennessee manufacturer (one owner since 1980) of small batch, high performance bass boats. The boat tapes 21’10” long, 91 inches wide and weighs just 1,380 pounds. It is actually not rated for a specific horsepower limit and said to be able to achieve speeds in excess of 85 mph when properly rigged with a 250.
The area Bullet dealer is Propeller Dynamics in Disputanta, Virginia (near Petersburg), operated by well-respected high performance boat guru, Robby Patterson.
Patterson shared some insight into the new Bullet.
“The 21XST is the same hull as the XRS with an updated interior and top cap. Bullet created more deck space by moving the console back and reshaping the bow deck to be wider forward.”
Patterson also told W2 that anglers can choose traditional opening rod lockers (open to the sides) or gull wing opening lockers than open toward the bow.
Other notable choices by Bullet on the new XST include push button analog controls (no more rocker switches and no touch screens to fail), oversize mounting spaces for today’s marine electronics, clean power wiring (heavy gauge wire for modern electronics), an option to pad the entire deck, standard SeaDeck material in the cockpit and other high wear areas (like along the passenger rod ramp), floor, deck, livewell and compartment LED lighting and two day box compartments in the front deck.
Falcon
Hailing from Newberry, South Carolina, Falcon Boats has a new F20 Predator for area anglers to consider. This boat is 20’2” long, 99” wide, weighs 1,890 pounds, will run up to 250 hp and holds 50 gallons of fuel.
The F20 Predator joins the F21 Predator and has a number of standard features including a padded front deck, foam padded cockpit floor, fiberglass compartment liners, two 12v power outlets, hydraulic jack plate, LED lights in every compartment. LED livewell light, LED lights on the front deck, dual bilge pumps and comes with a Humminbird 12 MDI at the bow and a Humminbird 12 MSI at the helm, Minn Kota Ultrex 112, 36v trolling motor, Minn Kota 460 PC 4x 15 amp on board battery charger.
You’ll find the 2025 Bullets at Propeller Dynamics.
Lund
This Minnesota-based boat manufacturer has perhaps more models than any other boat builder in the world. There are boat options for bass, crappie, muskie, walleye, bay, great lakes, utility and hunting.
The most intriguing options for area anglers are the Pro-V Bass XS, the Renegade and Predator lines.
The Pro-V Bass XS is available in 18 and 20 models. The 1875 XS was made popular by Jon B of the Googan Squad, who used it during the filming of many of his popular YouTube shows. The 1875 XS is 18’9” long, 96” wide, holds 39 gallons of fuel and will handle up to 200 hp. The 2075 XS 20’10” long, 96” wide, holds 49 gallons of fuel and up to 250 hp.
The Renegade Lund line is positioned to compete against Tracker with 17, 18 and 19’ models. The 1975 is 19’9” long, 95” wide, holds 32 gallons of fuel, weighs 1,520 pounds and takes up to 150 hp on a modified v hull. The back deck has unique, dual pop-up seats set just outside the passenger and driver seats that also serve as lids to rear storage compartments. The cockpit floor is covered in vinyl and there is a center rod storage box in the bow.
The Predator line has models 16, 17, 18 and 20’ with the 2070 center console at the top measuring 20’ long, 96” wide with a 20-gallon fuel cell and able to hold up to 150 hp and available in an olive drab or marsh grass exterior.
Virginia’s Lund dealer is The Dry Dock at Lake Anna. 540.302.3142
Nitro
Johnny Morris’ designers have created a new Nitro Z20XL and Z20XL Pro for 2025. These boats are 20’2”, 96” wide, weigh 2,000 pounds and hold up to 250 hp and 50 gallons of fuel.
The redesign includes touch screen controls at the helm,
A 250HP rating is the beginning of the Z20 XL’s performance, with top-end speed punctuated by chop-busting strength, and superior handling—even at speed. The front deck features anti-fatigue padding, an enormous center rod locker that keeps your sticks safe and handy, and twin storages with moisture-busting seals that keep your gear safe from the elements.
The Z20 XL is $61,715 with a Mercury 250 hp Pro XS Torque Master. The Z20 XL PRO is $68,995.
Supremely outfitted, expertly crafted, and ready to dominate describe the NITRO Z20 XL Pro. The Z20 XL Pro comes standard with twin Garmin® LiveScope™ Echomap units giving you the same edge that today’s top pros have. Up front, a Minn Kota® Ultrex trolling motor delivers silent thrust and pairs with the wide, stable beam for unsurpassed stealth in the shallows.
The Z20 XL is the rig that many touring pros choose year in and year out, whether it’s for its all-around performance, superior layout, or clever amenities. The console carries the NITRO Z-TOUCH™ touchscreen control unit gives you realtime data on the boat’s critical functions as well as simple, reliable gauges, and responsive steering. A huge port rod locker carries scores of sticks safely and conveniently, while the monster center stow can be divided any way you see fit, to best tailor it to your style of fishing.
You’ll find the 2025 Nitros at Anna’s Marine Center. 540.894.9222.
Phoenix
Gary Clouse has a couple new bass boats for 2025 – the Phoenix 919 ZXL and the 721 ZXL. According to the Tennessee boat builder, the 919 ZXL is similar to the Phoenix 721 and 919 Pro XP, however Clouse and his designers took front bow area and redesigned it to accommodate a fiberglass stacked option. The 919 ZXL includes all of the same beloved standard features from the 919 Pro XP with the addition of the vinyl dual dash shroud as a standard feature.
The new boat measures 19’8” long, 96” wide, weighs 1,800 pounds, accommodates up to 225 hp and holds 43 gallons of fuel.
The 721 ZXL is Phoenix’s flagship. Designers took the 721 Pro XP and raised it to a new level by narrowing up the front deck rails and giving the angler a larger fishing platform. This model is also Phoenix’s first 21’, three-lid boat on the front deck with a rod box on each side and one massive center tackle storage box. The bow area is completely redesigned to accommodate the Phoenix fiberglass stacked bow option, as well as, multiple large graph setups. It also comes standard with the new vinyl dual dash shroud.
The 721 ZXL measures 20’11”, 96” wide, weighs 1,850 pounds, will run up to 300 hp and holds 44 gallons of fuel.
Phoenix makes five other lines besides the ZXL Series; the Elite Series, the XE Series, the PHX Series, the Pro XP Series and the Pro Series.
Ranger
The folks in Flippin, Arkansas have new 19, 20 and 21’ models for 2025. The Ranger Z521, Z520 and Z519R are new hulls that area anglers will want to check out at boat shows.
The Z521 is 21’9” long, 96” wide, weighs 2,300 pounds, accommodates up to 300 hp and holds 54 gallons of fuel. Rigged with a Mercury 250 Pro XS Torque Master outboard the Z521 sells for around $84,995.
The Z520 is 20’11” long, 96” wide, weighs 1,850 pounds, handles up to 250 hp and holds 54 gallons of fuel. Rigged with a Mercury 250 Pro XS Torque Master outboard the Z520 sells for around $79,995.
The Z519R is 19’9” long, 96” wide, weighs 1,750 pounds, holds up to 225 hp and 50 gallons of fuel. Rigged with a Mercury 225 Pro XS Torque Master outboard the Z519R sells for around $68,995.
Also new is the Ranger Alpha 208, a 20’ aluminum boat manufactured using a new process said to offer fiberglass-like performance. The Alpha 208 measures 20’8” long, 99” wide, weighs 1,937 pounds, handles up to 250 hp and holds 40 gallons of fuel.
The boat looks like a fiberglass rig complete with sleek lines, fiberglass bow panel and fiberglass inset trolling motor pedal well, massive center rod locker, three across seating and storage everywhere. There’s traction foam on the cockpit floor and touch screen controls on the console. The boat, rigged with a Minn Kota Maxxum trolling motor and Lowrance Elite FS7 on the console and a 200 Mercury Pro XS on the stern sells for around $62K.
Skeeter
Skeeter manufactures their popular boats in Kilgore, Texas and has three bass boat lines for 2025: FXR, ZXR and ZX. The FXR and ZXR are the most popular among area anglers.
The 2025 FXR 20 Pro and FXR 21 Pro are probably the most common Skeeter you see on local waters. There’s also a top-of-the line FXR21 Apex, a FXR20 Apex, an FXR21 Limited and an FXR20 Limited.
The ZXR boats are available in ZXR19, 20 and 21 models and are also quite popular.
The FXR 21 Pro measures 21’4” long, 97” wide, weighs 2,275 pounds, holds up to 250 hp and 48 gallons of fuel. The FXR20 Pro hull is 20’4” long, 97” wide, weighs 2,175 pounds, holds up to 250 hp and 48 gallons of gas. The FXR boats have a fully padded deck, while the ZXR boats have a padded front deck. The ZXRs also have switches vs. touch screen controls (on the FXRs) and metal fenders on the trailer.
Skeeter also just introduced a ZXR20SE and a 21SE package that includes many popular options at a “budget” price. The 20SE is around $66K and the 21SE is around $69K.
You’ll find the 2025 Skeeters at Anna’s Marine Center. 540.894.9222.
Tracker
With boats to fit just about any budget the Tracker line up is diverse and varied. New for 2025 is the Bass Tracker Classic Limited. This boat is 16’8” long, 77” wide, weighs just 780 pounds, holds up to 50 hp and six gallons (in a portable tank) of fuel.
The boat features classic Bass Tracker graphics in an Army Green Diamond Coat finish. Rigged with a Lowrance Hook5 Reveal GPS depth finder, 13” black trailer wheels, Minn Kota Edge 12v, 45-lb. thrust trolling motor and 50 hp Mercury FourStroke sells for around $17K.
Other popular Tracker models include the Tracker Pro Tam 175, the Pro Team 190 and the Pro Team 195 Tournament Edition. The Grizzly 2072 CC and 2072 Sportsman models are popular center consoles among area anglers, too.
You’ll find the 2025 Tracker boats at Anna’s Marine Center.
Triton
The 2025 Triton 20XP Patriot is 20’5” long, 95” wide, weighs @2,220 pounds, with a 50-gallon fuel capacity and handles up to 250 hp. The total package weight comes in at under 3,000 pounds.
According to Triton it will run past 70 mph. To accomplish this, designers moved the center of gravity back nine inches to get the boat up and moving in a hurry. Inside, the cockpit features a full roster of innovations including the TriTouch™ touchscreen control unit that offers insight into critical engine functions and performance and proven rocker switches for accessories. An integrated console shelf lets you mount two big screen graphs at the helm. The cockpit floor is covered in hydro turf instead of carpet and features a Pro Pedal foot throttle.
The 20XP Patriot sells for around $76,995.
Vexus
This is the company made up of ex-Ranger engineers and executives after the acquisition a number of years back by Bass Pro Shops. The Vexus AVX is their aluminum line and the VX is the fiberglass line.
The flagship VX21 is 21’11” long, 97” wide, holds 58 gallons of fuel and up to 300 hp. The boat sports a number of exclusive design features, perhaps the most noteworthy is the Infused Composite Construction process that eliminates spraying layers of gelcoat and offers a much more exact molding process drive by vacuum.
The AVX2 line is topped by the AVX 2080. This aluminum/fiberlass hull is 20’2” long, 95” wide, holds 35 gallons of fuel and up to 200 hp. All the Vexus aluminum rigs look like fiberglass boats with the curving lines their exclusive manufacturing process permits. Neither the VX21 or AVX 2080 has a published hull weight.
War Eagle
This Arkansas-based aluminum boat manufacturer continues to offer six model lines for 2025; the Sportsman, the Blackhawk, the Predator, the VS Stick Steers, the Tomahawk and Renegade.
War Eagle Boats has built a reputation of having the toughest aluminum boats on the water. All models are built using all welded aluminum and the wings transom design that creates superior handling, even in choppy waters.
Since 1992, War Eagle Boats have been a force in the duck hunting industry, providing customers with the best camo paint jobs in the business. Each boat is individually painted using a tested process that produces HD camo results that blend perfectly with your environment. The Sportsman Gladiator model is a regional favorite with duck hunters that install mud motor type outboards on them.
If you are looking for a boat that can fish as hard as it hunts, then check out the Blackhawk series. These models come fully loaded and are built on an 18°V hull that not only provides a smoother ride but will keep you dry. The best feature of the Blackhawk is that the layout can be customized with either a side or center console.
The 2170 Blackhawk is a center console fishing and hunting rig that measures 21’6” long, 98” wide and holds up to 150 hp. The 961 Blackhawk is 19’5” long and 89” wide and is rated for 115-150 hp depending on the console choice.
Stop by Tomahund Marine on Rt. 5 near the mouth of the Chickahominy River for a look at the 2023 War Eagle boats. 804/829-9888
