BASS: Yamaha, Skeeter are in 1/22/2008
BASS announced today that Skeeter and Yamaha have become official boat and motor sponsors of the organization and its tournament structure.
As part of the agreement, the companies become premier sponsors of the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens and the Women's Bassmaster Tour. They'll also sponsor the six BASS Federation Nation Divisionals and Federation Nation Championship, with additional commitment to BASS' youth initiatives: the Bassmaster CastingKids Championship and the Junior Bassmaster World Championship.
Also, Yamaha will be the title sponsor and Skeeter the presenting sponsor of the BASS Federation Nation Club World Championship.
Because Yamaha owns Skeeter, it was logical (and anticipated for quite some time) that the companies would enter this venture in tandem. Triton and Mercury formerly held exclusive sponsorships with BASS before cutting back their levels of support this year, and the word "exclusive" did not appear in today's announcements.
"By becoming a sponsor of BASS, Yamaha promotes its brand and supports boating and fishing, which are activities we truly believe in," said Ben Speciale, the company's VP of operations and planning. "Reliability and innovation are at the core of the Yamaha brand, and the demands of competition have taught us how to make our outboards even better."
Said BASS VP and GM Tom Ricks: "We applaud Yamaha's loyalty to its anglers and devotion to growing the sport."
Skeeter and BASS are both marking anniversaries in 2008 – Skeeter has been building boats for 60 years and BASS is celebrating 40 years of doing business.
"This is a great way for Skeeter to kick off its 60th anniversary as both Skeeter and BASS share a rich heritage in the bass fishing industry," said Skeeter VP and GM Jeff Stone. "It is only fitting that we combine our passion for the sport to embrace and further enhance the success and growth of tournament fishing."
Added Ricks: "We are delighted to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BASS with Skeeter Boats as an official boat sponsor. We know their reputation in the industry and applaud their devotion to growing the sport of bass fishing."
Hope the Classic is never held on Erie, as riding in a Skeeter could put all contenders on injured reserve :D :D :D
1Jav
I think any bass boat can make you wish you were not on erie but I agree my skeeter doesnt do well in anything over 3 ft.
My FX210 rides great in the big stuff. I get compliments all the time from co-anglers. My nephew has been a co for 7 years now and has rode them all. He has told me time and time again that my Skeeter has on of the best rides of any bass boat he has been in. I must admit that my previous Skeeter was smaller/lighter and did not have near the ride of the FX210.
Still my next boat will most likely be a multi species type boat as the bass boat just does not cut it in the really rough stuff. I am seriously looking at the Ranger 621 but I would like more fuel capacity. Something in the neighborhood of 65 gallons. Nitro puts this much fuel in the Z-9 so I don't understand alot of the lower fuel capacities. Ranger has 51 gallons on the 620 and 55 gallons on the 621.
Skeeter puts 64 gallons in the 2100 so that is an option. Either way I am most likely not purchasing a bass style boat next time.
Many boat manufacturers seem to have gone to smaller tanks to save weight and space considering that the newer outboard technologies are so much better on fuel and oil. On the Great Lakes though, it never hurts to be overprepared for anything :o
The 'walleye' style boats a slowly, but steadily chipping away among the Great Lakes Bass anglers. Of course, most of us know the guy or gal behind the wheel has a lot to do with boat ride too!! ;D
Boat ride does have a lot to do with who is driving the boat. I do well in my little old Champ on Erie. But I also try to stay off when it gets rough too. Anything over 2 feet out there is rough anyway. The waves never come at you the same way twice.
BD ;D