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  1. #1
    Member
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    Apr 2018
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    Bossier City, La
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    270

    Need Help Finding a 196

    Thought I had found the boat this weekend but got there and test drove the boat and it had some slight motor issues The issues were definitely fuel related and most likely very simple but the purchase did not feel right so I passed on the boat. But that being said I fell in love with the 196 and now I’m trying to find another. If anyone knows where one is for sale or is looking to upgrade out of one please let me know.
    Thanks in advance.

  2. Banned
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    Aug 2011
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    Boerne & Three Rivers, Texas
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    18,061
    #2
    Might as well go for the unicorn of the 198. Faster, wider and longer...



    How much was he asking for that 196? What happened to the Skeeter that you were looking at?

  3. Banned
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    Jun 2013
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    #3
    what is so special about a 198?

  4. Banned
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    Aug 2011
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    #4
    Quote Originally Posted by BigJfrank View Post
    what is so special about a 198?

    Faster, wider & longer.

    Nothing wrong with a 196 though, my bud bought one and it’s pretty nice.

  5. Banned
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    #5
    Thx !

  6. SC Club Moderator ChampioNman's Avatar
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    May 2004
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    Crawfordville, FL/Lake Hartwell, SC
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    71,244
    #6
    The 196 really needed the 225 rating to perform so they morphed the 196 into the 198 to get the 225 rating. If I were in the market for a boat in that size class the 198 would be on my list.

  7. Member BOW4UM's Avatar
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    Mar 2015
    Location
    Body in North GA (Lake Lanier) - Heart in KS
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    2,186
    #7
    Nobody gets rid of a 198 when they get one. So hard to find :)
    2008 ChampioN 198 / 225 Opti ProXS! 1999 187 DC Elite / Merc 175 efi & 1989 184 DCR /Merc 175 xri

  8. Member IRONMAN's Avatar
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    Jul 2010
    Location
    Lindale, Texas
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    108
    #8
    Keep an eye out for a 188, too. If you find one with a 3 liter motor, jump on it. It's a beam forward model that fishes 2 from the front deck with ease. 70 mph when set up right.

  9. Member
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    Dec 2008
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    claremore
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    1,685
    #9
    Theres on on Tulsa Craigslist.

  10. Member
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    Apr 2018
    Location
    Bossier City, La
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    270
    #10
    Really wanting a 19.5+ foot boat. Found a very nice 203 DCX elite.
    What happened to the skeeter??? I drove a champion!

  11. Banned
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    Aug 2011
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    Boerne & Three Rivers, Texas
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    #11
    Quote Originally Posted by ColtonM View Post
    Really wanting a 19.5+ foot boat. Found a very nice 203 DCX elite.
    What happened to the skeeter??? I drove a champion!

    Yeah, I get that. I loved my Skeeter and the layout was awesome; but damn it was rough!

  12. Member Royjulius's Avatar
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    Jul 2008
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    Rapid City, SD
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    6,685
    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by IRONMAN View Post
    Keep an eye out for a 188, too. If you find one with a 3 liter motor, jump on it. It's a beam forward model that fishes 2 from the front deck with ease. 70 mph when set up right.
    If I didn't already have my amazing 187, and was looking, that would be my choice right there.
    25th Anniversary Champion 187 SCX Elite
    Mercury 175 EFI
    Perception Pescador Pro 120 Kayak
    Aquos 10ft Pontoon Boat


  13. Member
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    Mar 2013
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    Oakdale, Ca
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    491
    #13
    I have a 196 and love it. It is not a fast rig with a 200 and as stated above the 198 would be a better choice if you could find one. My buddy has a 188 with a 200 Optimax and it is faster than my 196 and fishes just as well. Just some real life info for you.
    Bruce Theriot
    2003 Champion 196 Elite
    200 Mercury Optimax

  14. Member
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    Apr 2018
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    Bossier City, La
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    #14
    I have found a few 196s they are very far away from my location sadly minus one that is way over priced and has zero modern upgrades.
    How do the 188s handle big water?

  15. Member
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    Aug 2016
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    Jefferson City MO
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  16. Member
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    Oct 2014
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    Burlington, Vermont
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    360
    #16
    1999 Champion 186 SC/DC Tournament
    1999 Mercury EFI 150hp

  17. Champion Boats Moderator Lea's Avatar
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    Jul 2004
    Location
    Franklin, VA
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    48,833
    #17
    I checked years FICHT was built. 1998-2001 roughly. The 2004 is not the FICHT. It is a direct injected motor with better engineering than the FICHT failures. Company filed bankruptcy in 2001, I think it was, due to the FICHT problems.

    ChampioNman can provide better info, but the advertised rig has an HO, not the notorious FICHT. I definitely would not be afraid of it.
    Last edited by Lea; 09-06-2018 at 02:44 PM.

  18. Member
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    Oct 2014
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    Burlington, Vermont
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    #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Lea View Post
    I checked years FICHT was built. 1998-2001 roughly. The 2004 is not the FICHT. It is a direct injected motor with better engineering than the FICHT failures. Company filed bankruptcy in 2001, I think it was, due to the FICHT problems.

    ChampioNman can provide better info, but the advertised rig has an HO, not the notorious FICHT. I definitely would not be afraid of it.
    Thanks for the info. I talked to the seller, said it was a FICHT, I didn’t continue pursuing the boat. So I’m not sure what he was referring to then.
    1999 Champion 186 SC/DC Tournament
    1999 Mercury EFI 150hp

  19. Born on th Llano Estacado Tx Champ's Avatar
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    Jun 2004
    Location
    Abilene, TX
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    20,809
    #19
    Funny, the add even says Evenrude DI which is not FICHT. That would be a BRP outboard, not OMC.

  20. Member
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    Jul 2015
    Location
    Missouri
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    25
    #20
    Quote Originally Posted by TL16 View Post
    Thanks for the info. I talked to the seller, said it was a FICHT, I didn’t continue pursuing the boat. So I’m not sure what he was referring to then.
    200 evinrude (2).jpg
    I think this is the ficht that people were having issues with

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