Nitro 290 Sport 2013 vs Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 or the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004?

For trailering, the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 has the edge at 132 lbs dry weight versus 235 lbs for the Nitro 290 Sport 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Nitro 290 Sport 2013 is rated to a maximum of 225 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 tops out at 150 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Nitro 290 Sport 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 measures 94" wide, compared to 1" for the Nitro 290 Sport 2013. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 and Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 43 gallons and 44 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 and Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 and the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 are built by Nitro. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Nitro 290 Sport 2013 vs Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004

Nitro

Nitro 290 Sport 2013

2013

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Nitro

Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Nitro 290 Sport 2013 vs Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Nitro 290 Sport 2013 vs Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 225 hp, the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 has a 75-hp advantage over the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 43 gal and 44 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Nitro 290 Sport 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 19,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeNitro

Model290 Sport

ModelBay 1900 VL

Model Year2013

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam100 in

Beam7 ft. 10 in

Beam - Meters2.54

Beam - Meters2.39

Beam - Inches1

Beam - Inches94

Deadrise18°

Deadrisenot available

Depth - Detail25 in

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters63.5

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches25

Depth - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail15 in

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.38

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches15

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail2,350 lbs

Weight - Detail1320 lbs

Weight - kg1065.94

Weight - kg598.74

Weight - lbs.235

Weight - lbs.132

Height [transom]26 in

Height [transom]25 in

Length - Feet19.42

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 5 in

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 10 in

Length overall - Meters5.92

Length overall - Meters5.74

Length overall - Inches233

Length overall - Inches226

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury®

Engine makenot available

Engine model150 XL OptiMax®

Engine modelnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail43 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail44 Gallons

Fuel tank capacity - Liters162.77

Fuel tank capacity - Liters166.56

Fuel tank capacity - Gal43

Fuel tank capacity - Gal44

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max225 hp

Engine max150 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,000 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people8 / 1,100 lbs

Maximum people6

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailNitro? color-coordinated single-axle drive-on

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - WeightPackage: 4,000 lbs

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - WidthPackage: 8 ft. 6 in

Trailer - Widthnot available

Nitro 290 Sport 2013 vs Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 or the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004?

For trailering, the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 has the edge at 132 lbs dry weight versus 235 lbs for the Nitro 290 Sport 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Nitro 290 Sport 2013 is rated to a maximum of 225 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 tops out at 150 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Nitro 290 Sport 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 measures 94" wide, compared to 1" for the Nitro 290 Sport 2013. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 and Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 43 gallons and 44 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 and Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Nitro 290 Sport 2013 and the Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 are built by Nitro. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Nitro 290 Sport 2013 full specs ← Nitro Bay 1900 VL 2004 full specs