Today Skeeter Boats announced that it's coming out with a new, high-end, high-tech model of bass boat called the i-Class. This represents a complete ground-up creation, the first for Skeeter in a couple of decades. "The i-Class is the most exciting new product in our company's history," said Jeff Stone, Skeeter's senior VP and general manager.
The "I" in i-Class stands for innovative and intelligent, and Skeeter makes it clear that both of those qualities are front and center in its new boat – especially in the new Digital Multifunction System (DMS). The DMS, which is exclusive to Skeeter, controls all the electronic functions of the boat.
In a nutshell, Skeeter engineers used sophisticated digital switching technology from Carling Technologies, a leading manufacturer of electronic control systems, to design a system that controls every onboard system, including power, horn, navigation and anchor lights, courtesy lights, fuel switch, livewell fill and re-circulation, bilge pump, trim and more.
It also controls the new i-Force keyless locks, which are activated from the driver's side touch panel, and are used to lock and unlock all storage compartment doors.
Not least, the DMS can be programmed by the boat owner with a personal access code. "This level of security, standard with each i-Class boat, provides owners with confidence their boat and fishing gear is safe," Skeeter noted. Once the DMS is armed, an LED light on the dash panel flashes to indicate the DMS is in lockdown mode. (The DMS draws only 50 milliamps per hour while armed, which ensures ample battery power.)
"This is like the trend that cars went down, where you have automated locking," said Ben Jarrett, Skeeter's national sales manager. "That's part of everyone's truck these days, and we're basically going down that same path. We're bringing some of that automotive technology into bass boats. Things that are part of everyday life can now be part of our everyday fishing life."
250 for 20
Another big deal with the i-Class is that the all of the boats in the series will have a 250-hp rating – including the 20-foot (20' 2") version, the 20i. "Our customers have asked for a 20-foot boat rated for a 250, so we've created this new category for a 250," Jarrett noted.
"We took the running surface that's been perfected with the ZX series and made some adjustments to maximize the 250 hp rating," he added. Speed? Seventy-plus mph with tournament loads, he said.
Additional Features
The i-Class allows anglers to mount a trolling motor foot pedal at any angle.
> A recessed trolling motor foot-control pedal mounting area that allows mounting of the control pedal at any angle and any height.
> The cockpit area is "the largest cockpit area and seating arrangement we've ever had," Jarrett said. "There's a lot more legroom."
> The seats integrate poured foam, "which gives higher density to absorb shock and vibration. A shock-absorbing suspension system exclusive to the i-Class and automobile industry, uses what can best be described as a bottomless seat, giving the sensation of riding on air." The seats are also deeper and wider, "to help reduce fatigue."
> A vertically adjustable center seat back. The adjustable backrest moves up and down 5 inches.
> Lowrance's LowranceNET, a package for multi-station sensing and display of boat systems, is standard on the i-Class, which "gives owners easy installation of 'plug-and-go' expandability."
Skeeter says these seats feel like 'riding on air.'
>Stylin' items – Italian-inspired polished aluminum steering wheel, and an elevated full-view dash is trimmed in chrome.
> Functional items – Molded pockets, deep/center ice chests and coolers, and more.
> The i-Class Touring Trailer – The i-Class "features a new Euro Step Polymer Fender, including a distinctive rear frame enclosure specifically engineered to provide high-impact resistance, with toughness and rigidity." Plus it has custom-designed wheels emblazoned with the Skeeter logo, an aluminum frame-mounted step and LED lights. And it's "lighter-weight and more impact resistant than other boat trailers on the market."
The Buzz
Asked what he'd like BassFans to know, Jarrett said: "The first thing is that they need to get behind the wheel of this boat and drive it because this boat truly answers things fishermen want. It's a fast boat, it's stable when you fish out of it and it's excellent in rough water.
Here's a shot of the new polymer trailer fender.
"It's a real challenge to put all those things in one boat, to try to get that magic combination, and we feel like we've done a real good job. It's a soft, dry ride, it's fast and it's built to take it."
He added: "We started doing a lot of little things in boats that made them more user-friendly years ago. We were the first to have a driver's-side glove box, retractable rod stays, a foot-down center bench – we've had a lot of firsts, and we've upped a lot of those with this boat.
"People need to see all the details to understand the engineering that went into it. The next step in our industry is not a 26-foot bass boat with twin 200s. We have size and limit restrictions based on what people can tow behind a car and put in their garage. It's important for our industry to deliver within those length restrictions, and we feel like we've done a good job with the i-Class."
Last but not least, there's why – meaning why do it and why now? "We did a complete redesign to give our customers something new to see," Jarrett said. "Our customers are hungry for something new coming out of Skeeter.
"We also had a lot of new technology coming out, that we wanted to introduce, and there's no better way to do it than with a brand new boat to show off the new technology that's out there."
Obviously Skeeter is not releasing a picture of the whole boat yet. When can you see one? Skeeter dealers will see it at the national dealer meeting during the last week of August, and boats should start appearing at dealers in September. To learn more for now, click here to go to the official i-Class website.
Notable
> The i-Class isn't replacing the ZX, which will have a lot more features on it for the 2006 model year. But Skeeter said the i-Class will likely be more expensive.
> Jarrett on what will probably be the inevitable comparison between the i-Class and the Ranger Z-series: "It's two industry leaders positioning their boats as top of the line. That's the nature of the business, of what we do. We come out with new, innovative things that enhance our customers' experiences on the water."
> Quick specs:
2006 20i
Length Overall – 20' 2"
Beam – 94.5"
Max hp – 250
2006 21i
Length Overall – 21' 1"
Beam – 94.5"
Max hp – 300
2006 22i
Length Overall – 21' 10"
Beam – 94.5"
Max hp – 300
