Champion Boats

[shrapnel]

Runnin a 1999 193 on LOZ several times a week usually.  I will say it rides noticeably better than several other new models I have ridden in recently.  I'm afraid she's gonna start costin me a payment foe updates / upgrades needed soon though.

[176champion]

I have passed a lot of 18 foot boats in rough water with my 17'6" champion...my 190 rides as good as a 20 footer if not better.

[mixermarkb]

Another Champion Fan here.

Watch the boats from around 95/6 to the 2001 timeframe. They are great boats, but used a balsa core product in their transoms. Most of them are sound, but if you see brown goo dripping from any bolt or screw hole, be aware that you are in dangerous territory as far as rot goes. Have said that, I own two 203's a 98 and a 99, and both have been very good to me. Absolutely fantastic riding boats, and they will flat go where you point them, with no sliding or slipping in turns, no matter how tight. They are a little narrow compared to the barges of today, but I like that. I don't ever have a camera man on the deck with me, and I like being able to lean on the butt seat and not slap the side of the boat when working a spook or jerkbaits.

great boats, and hold their value very well for 20-30 year old floaters.

[fishinwrench]

I don't think anyone with experience in different boats will deny that Champions/Chargers ride the smoothest in rough water.  But they aren't the most manuverable boats when it comes to fishing behind/between docks, or on a tight and shallow stump flat.   

If you're truly gonna be the best bass fisherman possible then a boat that does it all well should probably be your goal.  That's why I don't understand the popularity of 20+' bass boats with 225+ ponys.  There are way better places to fish besides mainlake points and offshore structure 90% of the time.  

[mixermarkb]

I have no problems putting my older narrow beam champ where I want it when I'm fishing LOZ or Twain, but I will say that they get blown around a bit more because the bow sits a little higher than some brands. They are also a slight bit tippy, so if you have a big ol boy as your back seater, and they move, you might feel it rock a bit more.

I like the length of my 20' boat, but I don't understand the craze for wider and wider boats for those who don't have a camera guy standing on the deck getting in the way. Simple physics says that a narrower hull with more "V" has less surface area to smack against waves while running and will be smoother than a wider, flatter hull. Every boat is a trade off, but for me, I like the balance of attributes the older champions have the best. 

I think quite a few others do as well, as I continue to see late 80's through 90's champs being repowerd and getting new seats and carpets rather than being traded in on new boats. Granted, new boats are silly money, but there are more than a few that could afford it and choose to stay with their old champ just because it fits their fishing needs better than a new rig.

Honestly, boats are tools to get on the water to make casts. We fisherman are way, way to easily impressed by pretty shiny things. Makes us an easy mark.

[fishinwrench]

31 minutes ago, mixermarkb said:

I have no problems putting my older narrow beam champ where I want it when I'm fishing LOZ

No problem getting in behind docks for a few quick shots, but getting spun around or backed out so you can go hit another one takes twice as long with every foot of boat it seems.   A 16' is perfect behind docks but a 16 may not get you there without getting you wet, so for me an 18' gets the nod.   I even hesitated to install a jackplate for that very reason.

 

[176champion]

I can put my 17'6" champ in some pretty tight quarters and move in and around trees and stumps with ease. My 190 champ isn't to bad to get around in but im not totally use to it as i'am my 176.

[slothman]

8 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

If you're truly gonna be the best bass fisherman possible then a boat that does it all well should probably be your goal.  That's why I don't understand the popularity of 20+' bass boats with 225+ ponys.  There are way better places to fish besides mainlake points and offshore structure 90% of the time.  

Sees like there is a lot of wisdom in that statement. 

[Mark rapino]

I worked for champion boats for six years. Drove a semi truck delivering champion boat to west coast and Canada. Hauled 6 to 7 boats depending if dealer ordered them with motors. There wasn't a trip i took that I didn't have to pickup up one or two on the way back for warranty work on the cracked hull.