What's crazy about the off brand is it will get out on rough windy days and not kill your back.And a few other things but we will keep it civilized.
What's crazy about the off brand is it will get out on rough windy days and not kill your back.And a few other things but we will keep it civilized.
If they hit $55k then I'm out. Too many things other brands that can compete to us guys on a budget.
If he was selling the 396 at $39k why is the proposed 198, which is essentially the same size going to come in at $50-55K?
Seems to me anybody not selling Charger boats only has Charger to look at as the reason. I recall when this whole new build 210 hull came up that most folks on this board were saying....
Charger? Who are they? How long have they been in business? Who do they sponsor? Why haven't I ever heard of them? Do they build a quality boat?
The companies been building bass boats for 40 years and most bass fishermen don't even know about them. That's sorta sad really. They don't advertise, they don't get involved in tournaments or sponsoring pro's. They're this nice little cottage industry in Richland that builds a very small number of bass boats each year as a side light to their Playcraft business. All I can say is pricing a boat like the 198 way above what you're already pricing an almost exact same size and horsepowered rig you're selling now is likely to get zero interest. Especially when Charger already isn't advertising.
Those prices were as I said was ,now it's back to reality.
The sponsor thing I will agree with they haven't thrown away sponsor money like other boats have and I'm glad they haven't. As far as no one knowing them that's B.S. if your over 18 and fished more then one or two tournaments you're going to have seen or heard about Charger.
I owned a 1984 Charger I bought used in 1989... First and last one I've seen here in Southwest Ohio... It all depends where you fish... Have only seen one Blazer up this way... Just sayin'... Dan
Oh I agree you might not have seen one but you hear about them. I saw my first stroker on the water last year doesn't mean anything against stroker just because I hadn't seen one but I had damn sure heard about them for years.
HI Dan, where in Ohio are you? I'm in Lawrenceburg IN. Mike
You can buy a 21' Phoenix or Skeeter with 250hp SHO motors for the price of a 19' Charger, must be one heck of a profit in the Charger world. I guess when a company builds expensive pontoons they already have the money part figured out though. Oh well, a new 198 is not worth $56k and very few will sell. Maybe I'll be able to buy a used one.
Pretty excited to see a Charger 198 coming out ! I think if you compared to other brands in it's class like the Ranger Z519C or Bass Cat Caracal mid 50's is right in line in pricing. This seems to be a popular size boat right now and should do well. Other brands do offer some value models that may seem like a better deal up front, but maybe not over long term ownership. I hope Charger has great success with these models.
I agree with some of what you are saying Grout. I REALLY want a 198. But, I'm hoping it's more in the 40 to 45 max rigged out price range. My arguement is this---since Charger doesn't WASTE tons of money, like most of the other companies out there which in turn does nothing but drive the prices of boats sky high, why can they not pass the savings on to the customer with a quality boat much lower than the other companies. Personally, I don't give a rat's a-- which boat some pro bass SALESMAN is driving. They will go to and say whatever they're getting PAID to do.
To comment on an earlier thread; I have news for you, buying direct would not save you 30%. Dealers would be rolling on the floor laughing to hear they had a 30% margin in bass boats. What a joke.
The StratoChamps never got supported for two reasons which were put in place by design to kill the brand:
- NO ONE KNEW THEY EXISTED! I am in a 30 man bass club and not a single person even knew that the hulls were being produced by stratos unless i told them.
- They put "Stratos" on the side of them. In my area stratos has a public perception as a cheap junk boat to put things plainly. No offence to stratos fans, but most folks in my area don't see them as a regal high end boat. I have had to go rounds with guys trying to explain that the only difference was the decals on the boat. they still all turned their noses up.
I am not one to turn a away from the fact that we as bass fisherman are very judgmental about our equipment and especially our boats. It is human nature. there is a small club/group of guys in my town that all own ranger and WILL NOT fish out of any other boat. one of their group bought anther brand and was ostracized so bad that he sold it and bought another ranger even though he like his new boat better. branding and image matters to us and people don't want to be seen in what they deem as lesser than. Champion was seen as a classy high end boat. There is much better chance that they can still exist under the Charger umbrella as charger's image is that of a respectful and quality boat builder. All they need to do is put the word out and not shy away from the fact that they are producing a Champion hull.
The people on this board only represent a small fanatical segment of the market, we tend to forget that. Between my bass club and others friends, i know know personally about 50 fiberglass bass boat owners. I am the only one of them that comes on the board. every knows phoenix, triton, ranger, skeeter. They all know champion too, but they just know that they went away in the late 2000's.
'98 187 Elite, 175 EFI (Serial 0G750796)
Mr.Coon you are dead right on the fact that BBC only sees a very very small percentage of the fishing world.1500 guys/gals at any given time is not a lot of people when you look at the 20 million fisherman.I do my part in spreading the word,but a lot of guys and gals don't do the internet thing or just don't care.
So let's talk more about this price. The 210 that's listed for $62k with a merc pro xs 250, how does Charger justify this price? 2 hds 7's, merc is cheaper than Yamaha and no power poles included. Is Charger trying to put themselves in the Ranger market or what exactly? I can now see how Steve came up with his number in the thread and I feel like they will be asking TOC's number or more. Really sad to the common working man what the boat market has become.
Ok rant over.
75-77 grand
Puma
http://www.bassboatcentral.com/Boats4Sale7/Puma1.JPG
Allison
http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boats4sale.htm
Rangers
http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boats4saleranger.htm
The 18 foot saber is 38,000 that is a 18 ft boat not a 21 ft.Yes boats are high but what is not?