Favorite 18 ft boat of the 90's

[dspencer]

My opinion is biased but since I have owned my 1999 boat for 18 years and hope to run it 20 more plus years I say Javelin Renegade 19. They call it a 19 but it is really 18'9". In the early 90's it was called Javelin 389. It was 1999 when they redesigned the top cap lay out and renamed the hull Renegade 19 so a Javelin 389 and Renegade 19 is the exact same hull but different top cap lay out.

Honorable mentions...
Startos 285
Skeeter ZX 185
Ranger 482

They moved the gas tank from the back to under the seats when they redesigned the boat. They had a bunch of the local fishermen who were sponsored by them and they either moved to the 400 or just went to another company when they changed the boat. I believe the main complaint is that they rode differently and were not as fast. The definitely rode good as the 389.

[shrimper]

Bass Cat Eyra

[ford4wd08]

I had both a 181 and a 187 Champion. The 187 had the room people want today...great hull! Most think the 181 was “tippy”, but man will they run if you fish somewhere with lots of creeks or winding rivers.

I’m not sure you can have this conversation without including Rangers 3 seres? They are tanks...but they ride like chit on rough water.

PS I see the OP is from Alcoa. I bought the 181 from Rico Silvera (there’s a blast from the past for you old BFHP guys LOL) up in your neck of the woods.

Believe it or not I grew up in Clarksville then went off to UT and settled in Alcoa when it was all said and done. Love east TN!

[JR19]

My opinion is biased but since I have owned my 1999 boat for 18 years and hope to run it 20 more plus years I say Javelin Renegade 19. They call it a 19 but it is really 18'9". In the early 90's it was called Javelin 389. It was 1999 when they redesigned the top cap lay out and renamed the hull Renegade 19 so a Javelin 389 and Renegade 19 is the exact same hull but different top cap lay out.

Honorable mentions...
Startos 285
Skeeter ZX 185
Ranger 482

They moved the gas tank from the back to under the seats when they redesigned the boat. They had a bunch of the local fishermen who were sponsored by them and they either moved to the 400 or just went to another company when they changed the boat. I believe the main complaint is that they rode differently and were not as fast. The definitely rode good as the 389.

1999 is the year they redesigned the top cap layout and changed the name from 389 to Renegade 19. On the 1999 model the gas tank is behind the livewells. The most noticable difference between the 389 and the R19 is the R19 has a different dash panel, different passenger rod ramp, different seats, cooler between the bucket seats and deck layout is slightly different. All of this is cosmetic changes that has zero effect on ride or performance. Speed and ride are identical on the 389 and Renegade 19 because zero was done to the hull.


As for sponsored anglers moving to the 400 that would of had to happen pre 1999 because in 1999 the 400 also got a top cap redesign and was renamed Renegade 20. The reason sponsored anglers were moving from the 389 to a larger boat was because at one time BASS had a 150 horsepower rule. A lot were running the 389 because of this rule. When the rule was changed so tournament anglers could run 225 horsepower people went to larger boats and that is why they left the 389. This is also why every once in a while you will see a 20 ft 90's boat with a 150 horsepower motor.

[krindgen]

I love my Ranger 461 up until three years ago. Fished with a guy that ran a Stratos 285?? That was a nice fishing and running boat.

[rboren]

My Laser 17'10" was a hot rod, but I did have a 2.5 Merc 200 on it.

I had one of the 17-10 and one of the 19 footers. For a really light boat they rode surprisingly well. Had to be into driving a boat to own one. With a more traditional layout they fished better than either of my Allisons. They were not far behind in speed either! Would like to have one just to play around in but the few I have seen in good shape are not for sale or they are priced too high for me. Roark Summerford could build a boat!

[nowakezone]

STRATOS 285 PRO
JAVELIN 389T

[okiebass]

Stratos 285 pro
Ranger 361 or 461
champ 181
have owned all 3 and were all great boats ---each one did something better or different than the other one

[PolarKraft195]

I owned a 1998 Hydrasports 196 that had the "dreaded" Johnson 150 Ficth outboard. Got it at a repo sale in 2000, and got a great deal on it. Boat was like new. Ficth only lasted 2 seasons, replaced it with a Johnson 200. Boat was FAST!
Also, bought a new Stratos 181 Pro in 1987, that was the cream of the crop back then! Boy did i get looks at the ramp!

My favorite "any year" 18-19 ft fiberglass boat was my Champion 183

[DougL58]

Champ 187

[danover321]

Charger 180 Foxfire. I own a ProCraft but would love to have a 96-99 Foxfire; awesome looking rigs that ride well.

[Lil Mo]

I always wanted. 92-93 BassCat Pantera. My neighbor had one. It was just a good looking boat, especially sitting on a dual axle trailer.

[Casslaw]

90s Skeeter ZX series. They were the coolest looking boats next to a Sterling/Gambler that my teenage eyes ever saw flying across the water!

[like2fish2]

I had a 389T Javlin with a 150 HP Johnson Fast Strike. A great rig for sure.

[printman71]

3 Series Ranger

[bcreek]

Hydra Sport LS 175--150 Evinrude. Probably put over 1000 hrs. on that motor running Ohio River. There wasn't a creek that I couldn't get that boat into and it would float in 6" of soupy mud. Wide front deck by design and very stable.
I would love to have the same hull w/150 merc 4 stroke. Maybe I'll look for one for a project.

[hekistner]

Had a very popular 1983 350V Ranger and it would run with the 150 Evinrude. That motor was the last model before they de-tuned them to run on 87 octane unleaded gas. We used 91 octane plus a booster. OMC sent me a letter on it that if I wanted to burn the 87 octane to take it to the dealer for thicker head gaskets and reduce the timing. I did not opt for the detuning I found out later when I had to change the center exhaust pan gasket that the 150hp gasket would not fit had to use the 175hp gasket. That boat and motor is still running strong for the 3rd owner. Anyway that 300 series Ranger hull was a very popular boat and there are many still on the lakes.

[ford4wd08]

Had a very popular 1983 350V Ranger and it would run with the 150 Evinrude. That motor was the last model before they de-tuned them to run on 87 octane unleaded gas. We used 91 octane plus a booster. OMC sent me a letter on it that if I wanted to burn the 87 octane to take it to the dealer for thicker head gaskets and reduce the timing. I did not opt for the detuning I found out later when I had to change the center exhaust pan gasket that the 150hp gasket would not fit had to use the 175hp gasket. That boat and motor is still running strong for the 3rd owner. Anyway that 300 series Ranger hull was a very popular boat and there are many still on the lakes.

Which evinrude model was that??

[MikeT1973]

Lot of Stratos boats on the water back then in East TN. Surprised nobody has mentioned yet.

[bpicinc]

Champion 184DC