How are the smaller boats?

[Stratosguy0725]

I'm looking into some new boats and the charger has caught my eye.
The closest dealer is 200 miles away from me. Trying to get some info before I make the drive to check them out.
I'm interested in the 186 but i don't like the duel console. The 19' is a little out of my price range.

[wishitwasbigger]

I had a 186 for 17 years and loved it. Its a good size for towing and fishing docks but yet still handles the rough water quite well. Mine ran 62mph all day long. Sold it to a friend and its still going strong.

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Check out a single console 296 with a 150 sho.

[Stratosguy0725]

I definitely will.

[jarhead175]

Ran a 2001 186vf with a 175 sold it last week. Has to be one of the best all around boats on the water. Would run 62-63 loaded and a little over 65 light. The layout makes the boat feel bigger then it is.

[MMosher]

The 17'6 is a rocket with a 150 and really fun to drive.

[thurman]

There is a dealer in Lumberton Texas South Eastxsports, they have a 186 and a 296 coming.

[STLBassBuster]

The 17'6 is a rocket with a 150 and really fun to drive.

I second that. Owned one for a short while.

[MMosher]

^ It's the only hull I can find that runs anything like the old school Mt. Home skinny Champs. Fun hull fer sure.

[Stratosguy0725]

Is the charger hull like the old champs? Don't know much but heard all great about the champions. Also how fast are these boats compared to others

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Yes very close

[MMosher]

They splashed the 86 inch beam Champ in the 80's and put their twist on it. Then again last year with the 210 elite and soon to be 19'8. The 17'6 is as close to a 86 inch beam Champ hull you can find made today. Charger is the only company still making a deep V wedge hull anymore.

[wishitwasbigger]

They splashed the 86 inch beam Champ in the 80's and put their twist on it. Then again last year with the 210 elite and son b 19'8. The 17'6 is as close to a 86 inch beam Champ hull you can find made today. Charger is the only company still making a deep V wedge hull anymore.

Kickin' it old school! :)

[STLBassBuster]

Here was my 2006 176 150hp Merc. optimax. Size was very similar to the 181 Champions that I had. My only complaint is it would start to hop in tight turns. Mine did not have a jackplate and I did not have it long enough to play with props. Wider or sweeping turns it was fine.

[jarhead175]

My Charger with a jackplate and the Champion before it both would hop in tight turns. Bump the trim down a couple times and it stops once out of turn trim up and go on. Had to be a tight turn to make it hop. Used to run a section of the Caney river just to drive the S curves as fast as I could.

[PowerFish]

I have a 186vf, older model, but I actually believe it rides a bit better than my old 195vf did, has to do with how much of the hull sphere (v) actually takes the waves vs. the flatter, further back sections of the hull. But, that being said, I'm a much better boat pilot now than I was back then...

The 186 is a good amount of boat for general fishing, smaller tournaments etc. I would not want to fish the tour with it, but it's plenty adequate for it's purpose... I had 3 21ft boats before this one, and the big ones are really nice, but the 186 tows great, manuvers great, fishes tight docks and timber and will get ya there and back... No rear deck storage though, which still bugs me, but my boats paid for, so don't plan to let that make me buy something else...