2018 Skeeter ZXR21 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $38,000–$55,000. There are 3 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
Skeeter builds serious bass boats for serious anglers. The ZXR21 is a high-performance fiberglass bass boat — fast, well-equipped, and purpose-built. Used bass boats get fished hard. Inspect the hull, lower unit, and trolling motor carefully.
What we checked
Not checked against public records
Boats are the Coast Guard’s, not NHTSA’s. It publishes a Cases and Campaigns file, but its model and year fields are free text and the recent entries are mostly hull-ID and capacity-label paperwork, so we have not been able to join it to a specific boat honestly yet. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2018 Skeeter ZXR21
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
High-speed fiberglass bass boats stress the hull in choppy water. Check the hull interior and bottom for stress cracks, especially at the bow.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$2,000 depending on extent
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Trolling motors get abused — hitting submerged structure, gravel, and logs is normal in bass fishing. Check the trolling motor for bent shaft, prop damage, and bearing noise.
Repair cost (estimate): $200-$1,500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Skeeter runs Yamaha — great engines, but annual lower unit oil and impeller replacement are required.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$2,000
Source: not yet checked against public records.
High-use fishing boats cycle livewells constantly. Check all livewell fill and recirculation pumps function and no plumbing leaks under the deck.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Stress cracks in the hull interior or bottom
- ✗Bent trolling motor shaft
- ✗Yamaha outboard with no service records
- ✗Livewells that don't fill or recirculate
Good Signs
- ✓Yamaha dealer service history
- ✓Trolling motor running smoothly with straight shaft
- ✓All livewells functioning
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Found a specific Skeeter ZXR21?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2018 Skeeter ZXR21 in general. A free read looks at the one you're considering— it checks that seller's asking price against the market and names the issues that matter most for this exact year.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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