Little history. In 1981, at the age of 18 years old, my friend and mentor Chicken Hodge of Diamond City, AR took me bass fishing from a boat for the first time. He owned a 1981 Champion 184 with a 200hp Mercury (over powered per coast guard plate). I was hooked on Champion from that day on. In 1987 I bought my first Champion. It was a 1985 176 with a 150XR2. In 1989 I traded for a 1987 184 with a 150 (just straight 150) which I later repowered with a 1991 175EFI. In 1994 I traded for a 1993 180 and kept my 175EFI (this boat just about turned me against Champion. Pat knows what I am talking about. LOL). In 1995 I traded the 180 for a 1994 184 and kept my 175EFI. In 1998 I traded for a 1997 202 with 200EFI which I repowered in 2004 to a 225opti. I sold this 202 in 2007 with 60 hours on the opti. In 2009 I bought a 1999 202 with 200EFI. In 2010 I repowered to a 2005 225opti. In 2014 I traded for a 2008 Basscat Cougar with 250 ProXS. In 2017 I sold the Cougar. In 2018 I bought my current 1996 202 with 200 Mariner EFI.
So now the real story. Monday, 09/10/2018, I drove my dream boat. It is a 1997 202DCX with a 2014 250 ProXS. My first 1997 202 with the 225opti ran good. The 1999 202 with 225opti ran good. The Cougar with 250 ProXS ran great but rode terrible (I am a Champion guy). But I can't even describe this 1997 202 with the 250 ProXS. Oh my. Full tanks of fuel, the owner and myself and it being the first time for me to drive it. It ran 78 gps with a little left. It has a 27 Trophy so it is really not propped right. I have a 27 Fury and a 26 Tempest BB by Mark that I can't wait to try on it. I have made an offer to trade my 1996 202 with 200EFI for this boat (will have way too much money in it). Just waiting to hear back from the owner.
Sorry for the long post but I have been waiting for many years to run a 202 with a 250 and this 55 year old guy is more than a little exited about it.