Champion or not??

[Fishitifyoucan]

Looking at the Champion Elite 200 and wondering what current Champion owners like/dislike about their boats. Sure would like to hear some input on this boats pros/cons. Thank you.

[Lance]

Notice he said CHAMPION guys, he didnt mention any other boat maker.....TOM and JIM

[Rod Martin]

I,ve owned four Champions a 201, 186 and 2 16 footers. I have always felt safe and that my boat fit my fishing style. 3 of those boats came from Bobs Marine in Modesto. My last boat is a used Mean 16, Bought with the intention of lasting the rest of my life. I could not have a better boat for me. like buying a car when I sat in my first one ,I knew Champion was the boat for me.

[Andy Giannini]

I have a 191 year 2000 model with a 200 opti hanging off the back. This boat was really supposed to have an EFI so it sits a little nose up at rest while fishing. The following year Champ came out with a new hull to address this issue, and made several other changes that were great, making me cringe that I had bought last years model. I guess the jackplate could be removed to even it out at rest a bit, but I never did it.

Other than that, I can't complain about the boat. It rides great, and really sticks in the corners. While not being the greatest rough water pilot, I think the boat helps me get there. (You can get wet in any boat, no exceptions here.) People that ride along, remark about the smooth ride, or the way it sticks in the corners.

Its plenty big enough for two big guys to fish on, and carries plenty of fishing stuff. It has a 48 gallon fuel cell, and I think 30 gallons in the split livewell.

By now, a few electric things have bugs, I just haven't fixed them, like my fuel gauge.

The gelcoat has no cracks, carpet is in great shape, the whole package has held up rather well. And the trailer tows great, the brakes work properly, and its easy to get the boat on and power load.

Top speed with a four blade Trophy was 73 on GPS with a full load, haven't checked my new prop yet, but it is fast enough for me. (With a slow prop.)

I really like it. The new boats look sharp, but I am pretty much done buying boats. This one does just fine for me. I am that satisfied with it.

more than .02 A.G.

[benthebassman15]

I,ve owned four Champions a 201, 186 and 2 16 footers. I have always felt safe and that my boat fit my fishing style. 3 of those boats came from Bobs Marine in Modesto. My last boat is a used Mean 16, Bought with the intention of lasting the rest of my life. I could not have a better boat for me. like buying a car when I sat in my first one ,I knew Champion was the boat for me.

rod is my partner ive been in two of his boats and they are really awesome boats u think they arent durable but man they are really great boats

[buddy brown]

I've got an 06 187 cx w/ 175 optimax.

Likes:
Handles well and is responsive
great ride in rough water for a 18.5 footer
huge livewells
fast enough/ good classic styling and fit and finish

Dislikes:
not the most stable fishing platform but good
small back storage, not layed out w/ storage as priority
flasher in console should be at least an x-135
Step up cooler or flipping deck should be standard on the cx

Over all it is a great 1st boat. The 200 you are looking into is way nicer, should handle way better and I think the storage is better as well. I bought mine at Bob's Marine because angler's didn't have one in stock. When I buy a new boat in a couple years it will be another Champ.

[Rick G]

My son Kyle and I have fished out of a 200SCX all year and IMHO it is the perfect Calif. boat. Great ride, turns on a dime, big rod storage for swimbait sticks, more storage than ever needed and with a 225 Pro Xs runs about 69.5 GPS loaded. Great boat that will never go out of style. If you are looking to save a few bucks, Champion has re-released the popular 198 which is just like a 200 but about 4-5k less. Rick G.

[optichamp]

I have a 96 195 Elite with a 2001 Optimax 200. It's my first "real" bass boat, and overall I'm pleased with it. I bought it used off Craigslist about a year ago, from a guy who lived in Disco Bay.

This boat is an 85" beam; I can see why newer Champs went to wider beams to help support these bigger motors. Where I store it I have to carefully maneuver between trees, so I'm fine with it being narrower than later models. I get a lot of compliments on its looks. There are gelcoat cracks around the TM mount, and the transom, but everything is still very solid and strong on the boat.

It's needed TM batteries and a new circuit breaker, and I should probably replace the other as well. The tachometer and lake water temp sensor don't work, probably have loose or corroded wiring. I need to update the front sonar to a GPS model. I guess I'll leave the flasher in the dash for the time being.

The Opti is really heavy for the boat, and to get it on plane you have to trim all the motor all the way down, then back up once it's running. Depending on trim and load it falls off plane at 25-30 mph, sort of a headache if you're in an area where you want to go easy to avoid other boats.

Where it shines is at cruising speeds, where you just loaf along at 40-60 mph, with the Opti sipping gas, able to spin on a dime and yet still handle chop well. Above that speed, depending on load, wind, & trim it may chine walk on you. I have seen 66 mph on my handheld GPS unit, and it was still accelerating at that point. The prop is a 25 pitch Tempest Plus.

No gripes at all about fishability, storage, or other convenience features, and later models have only gotten better in that regard. I've heard some say other boats are more stable, but I've stood on mine through some pretty big wakes without getting nervous. I like the hull design, and to me it looks like the current models are similar, just wider. Were I in the market for a new boat, I would definitely check them out.

[Tome]

*NM*

[Tome]

*NM*

[Tome]

*NM*

[Tome]

I was sold back in 1990 when a friend of mine took me for a ride. I rode in a Stratos and a Ranger at that time and a couple of other makes at the time and the Champion in terms of ride blew the doors off of them in terms of handling and ride.

So I bought my first one new in 1992 from Galaxy Marine (when they sold them).... and I have to confess, I still own the boat!

I can't find a reason to replace it. It has been so good to me! Eventually I will replace the engine but I will keep this boat probably forever.

I have never had a day in this boat that scared me. If you know what I mean. I have had only one maybe two waves come over the bow (barely sprinkling some water in front) when I got caught in some huge (and I mean huge) rolling waves at San Luis Reservoir.

I have run side by side with a Ranger and have watched the Ranger bury his nose into a rolling wave as I gracefully bounced over the top.

When you sit in a Champion and you are in some rough weather. It feels like you are sitting snug in a giant and fast flotation device - very safe!

I still believe Champion makes the most dry and smoothest running hull in the industry. You will have differing opinions from all sorts. There will always be Ford people and GM people. But I can tell you this with a 15 year track record with the same boat and 15 more to come, you simply can't go wrong with Champion! It's just never a mistake to purchase a Champion.

Incidentally, I have a 191 with a 200 HP Johnson, black with blue trim. Go used and save big... Here is one that looks good...

http://www.westernbass.com/forum/ads_item.php?id=3331

[Andy Giannini]

Optichamp,

Check for loose play in your steering regarding the chinewalk.

Walk over to the big motor and try to turn it side to side by the cavitation plate, on the driver side there is a big plastic lockring right behind the hyd slave cylinder on the motor. If that plastic lockring has any play in it while you try and wiggle the big motor that is the problem. Some motors have a metal lockring with set screws, those can get loose just like the plastic ones.

Its easy to check, easy to tighten, and I'll bet you a bag of Senkos that's why your boat gets squirrely.

A.G.

[optichamp]

Cool! I will give it a try! Thansk for the advice!

Optichamp,

Check for loose play in your steering regarding the chinewalk.

Walk over to the big motor and try to turn it side to side by the cavitation plate, on the driver side there is a big plastic lockring right behind the hyd slave cylinder on the motor. If that plastic lockring has any play in it while you try and wiggle the big motor that is the problem. Some motors have a metal lockring with set screws, those can get loose just like the plastic ones.

Its easy to check, easy to tighten, and I'll bet you a bag of Senkos that's why your boat gets squirrely.

A.G.

[Rick K of Ca]

You have PM

Rick K of Ca

[Fishitifyoucan]

Thanks for all the input from current Champion owners. I am sorry if I misled anyone that I was just asking Champion owners for a review, but I did not want this thread to be a bashing thread on other boat mfgr's or open it up to "what I should look at". I have looked at most of the others and seem to be pointed at the Champion for its ride in rough water.

Now, for those who would like to convey their recommendations for a Delta/Clear Lake boat.......shoot! Thanks again!

[YZKEN250]

Sold my 181 Champion over the weekend and looking at all boats. The Champion was great in rough water compared to a buddys nitro. But those are the only 2 boats I've been in. I am in Lodi also. We should hook up and fish sometime.

[201Pro]

One big drawback (especially true for the smaller Champions) is that they are not the most stable of fishing platforms. I fished out of a 181 a few years ago when my ABA partner had one. That made me decide not to buy one. On that 18' boat, when may smallish partner was moving around in the back while I was running the bow, could throw you out of the boat.

A good friend of mine have had his 203 Elite for a number of years ... that's a nicer boat. But comparing that to others in the market, I would still pass ... just my $0.02 ...

[fishwithron2]

201pro

if your running the front of the boat and your partner is in the back and moving around and it could almost throw you over. Then he must be jumping up and down or he's 250# plus to make you fall out. You can make that happen in alot of boat unless your in a tri-hull or a whaler.

[ash]

Every boat is give and take and the Champions give tons in terms of ride, bigwater boat and handeling. What they took was a little of the fishing stability, the bow sits a little higher and comes to the sharp V. This isnt good or bad it just is. I own a BassCat - but when I was shopping for used boats Champ was my #2.

I have been in lots of champs and have enjoyed them all.

Regards,

[Max]

I have an older Champion , a '91 190 DC with a 200 Evinrude on the back and love it. It handles the big water in Clearlake and the Delta with no problems. The hull is in great shape and not because the boat gets "babied", I've made all the rookie driver mistakes (rocks, trees, sandbars) and still made it back to my weigh-ins on time. If and when I sell my Champion, it will be to replace it with a newer Champion.

Max

[MIKE TREMONT]

I have a 2001 206 elite. I've been in lots of boats. Now my boat is pretty much loaded with all the goodies of the day. It is the smoothest boat I've been in and have not thrown my back out or chaffed a raw spot in my skin as I have in some other mfg's boats. I also don't get soaked unless there's a stiff wind blowing. I have a ton of leg room and plenty of storage.
I will say that it's not the fastest boat out there. I'm running a 225 which was the biggest motor available in Calif at the time. I do notice it when my backseater moves around back there, but it's minimal.
Good luck with whatever you end up with.