We interrupt our regularly scheduled boat reviews to bring you this news flash: OOPS! We haven’t covered a bass boat in years, and there are gobs of anglers in our region who find these finely honed angling machines ideal for the way they fish. Mea culpa—now let’s solve the problem by taking an up-close look at the Skeeter ZX200.
Why the ZX200? First off, while the ZX line has been around for decades, the current model has been through so many updates and tweaks it’s a far cry from what it once was. Secondly, the 2026 model year pricing is eye-opening for a turnkey dedicated bass boat with 200 horses and a trailer. While we eschew printing boat prices since they change so much and so fast, the thing to remember here is that the MSRP is notably less than the sticker price for a decent midrange pick-up, like the Ford F-150 Lariat or the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ. And as we FishTalkers all know, your boat is one heck of a lot more important than the boring old land vehicle it’s being towed by. So, common sense dictates that we spend at least as much on the boat as we do on the truck. And third, despite falling into a relatively restrained bass boat cost bracket, the ZX200 delivers better performance and more features than you’ll be expecting at its price point.
The ZX200 is packaged with a Yamaha VF200LB, part of their V6 V MAX SHO series. These outboards are designed specifically for the bass crowd, with a blazing-fast hole shot and top-end thanks to tweaks like a Kevlar-infused cogged timing belt, chain-synchronized dual overhead camshafts, automatic belt tensioning, and an exhaust pressure reduction system. Now combine that with Skeeter’s hull, incorporating a 20-degree deadrise, combined center pad and inner strakes, concave reverse chines, aluminum deck grid, and aluminum Torque Transfer transom and stringer system. The net result is going from a dead stop to 20 mph in 4.8 seconds. Cruise at a mellow 4500 rpm and you’ll be running just a notch over 50 mph. Run for the hotspot at a bassier 5000 rpm and you’ll be in the upper 50s. Or send the hammer down and run at a hat-stripping 66 mph.
What about those unexpected features? The trailer is probably the biggest surprise. Rather than being a basic single-axel model (which would be easy to get away with for a 2000 pound, 19’6” boat) it’s a custom-matched Skeeter tandem axel trailer with a bow step and a swing-away tongue. Stock goodies on the ZX200 include a Hot Foot throttle, Hamby keel protector, and manual jack plate. The larger deck hatches swing up on gas-assist struts, locking rodboxes in the foredeck have protective tubes for the rods, and the standard-issue Minn Kota Fortrex puts out 80 pounds of thrust. Note that one more standard feature you probably weren’t expecting is a three-year parts/components, 10-year transferable, limited lifetime structural warranty.
Whether the plan is to buzz across the northern Chesapeake in search of bass, snakeheads, and stripers, to go running up the tributaries, or to hitch up and haul to one reservoir after the next, for many anglers a bass boat will be the top pick. We apologize for letting so much time pass without putting one into the spotlight, and we promise that it won’t happen again. In the meantime, if what you need is a serious bass fishing machine that overdelivers for the expense, it’s time to check out the Skeeter ZX200.
Skeeter ZX200 Specifications
- LOA – 19’6”
- Beam – 7’11”
- Displacement – 2020 lbs.
- Draft (min.) – 1’4”
- Transom Deadrise – 20 degrees
- Fuel Capacity – 36 gal.
- Max. Power – 200 hp
- Area Dealers – Beacon Light Marina, Middle River, MD, (410) 335-6200