Thread: new champions

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  1. #1
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    Question new champions

    What seems to be the opinion of the new Charger/Champions. I don't hear anything about them and have never seen one on the water.
    Have they skimped on the finish out, or do they not take rough water as well ? Just wonder why they don't seem to be a big success. Any one have any opinions or facts pertaining to this subject ?? Would love to know the scoop.

  2. Banned
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    #2
    Have you gone to the Charger page? They have sold a few, but there’s several things that I think hurts them. 1 is cost, they are charging a premium for a boat that has outdated features, can’t even put a 12” graph in the console. What are they thinking there????

    2. They (Charger) have a small dealer network, not many dealerships around and they don’t build many boats due to being a small company. But they don’t seem to be hurting for business.

    When the talk of a 198 being built was floating around, I was certain that I was going to buy one. Then I had a dealership shoot me a quote and I thought there’s no freaking way that I’m going to pay what they are charging.


    They are the same hulls, so the ride is the same.

  3. Banned
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    #3
    From the reviews of those who have actually bought one they are the Real McCoy. I'm sure with all the aftermarket mounts out there you could figure a way to console mount any size graph your little heart desires... As mentioned, check out the Charger Page... Charger is a great company with second to none customer service... Dan

  4. Member
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    #4
    Quote Originally Posted by jeffcotten View Post
    What seems to be the opinion of the new Charger/Champions. I don't hear anything about them and have never seen one on the water.
    Have they skimped on the finish out, or do they not take rough water as well ? Just wonder why they don't seem to be a big success. Any one have any opinions or facts pertaining to this subject ?? Would love to know the scoop.

    I have looked over several, and I believe they are built better than the later Champions...I owned one of the last in 09. As far as not being successful...they can't build them fast enough. Lead time is 8-12 weeks.

  5. BOOMER SOONER OkieBud's Avatar
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    #5
    a friend was working @ a dealer here in 2017 and claimed if they had boats on hand they would have been sold..

  6. Member
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    #6
    Hope they sell a bunch! I might need a newer boat one day and they would give me options!

  7. Born on th Llano Estacado Tx Champ's Avatar
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    #7
    I tend to agree with ToledoBendChamp that they are selling about as fast as they can kick them out the door. I definitely get the feeling they are producing more 198/210s than they are the other Charger bass boats. A lot are going to Japan. They are 100% Champ hulls. They've made some changes to the top cap, some really nice like the bilge & pump access and some I have a hard time wrapping my head around like the foot block on the passenger side. To me, it can be a trip hazard if you remove the passenger console. They split the livewell into two separate livewells. I don't particularly care for that, but I don't think it would be a deal breaker.

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    #8
    Charger has sold many 210's and 198's. If you want to get the low down on them call Kelly Power at Ulrich in Branson West Missouri.

  9. Member
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    #9
    I'm glad to hear that Charger is building a quality Champ. Also glad they are selling well. I just moved on Lake Conroe and we have ton's of Champions here but There is a Charger dealer a mile down the road from me. When I moved here in January they had 4 Charger/Champs in stock and today when I went by there they still had 3 of them. That's what made me wonder. I sure want the Champion name to stay as strong as it deserves.

  10. Member
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    #10
    If...the 210 would run...I would be looking at one. I may still look at one with a SHO. They are really nice rigs.

  11. Member
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    #11
    I have driven one 210 and crawled over a couple of others. They are really nice boats. The ride is really good and has a very solid feel to it. Are they a little pricey, maybe, but you are not getting a cookie cutter boat. Pick whatever color, stripe, carpet, seat, you want! You don't just have 6 choices. Looking at the resale value of the older Chargers and Champions, I don't think you can go wrong.

    Charger is a small boat manufacturer with a small dealer network. That's fine by me too. Like Dan said, the customer service makes the difference.

    I have heard of some people commenting on certain things that they don't like about the 210/198, but you have that with ANY boat on the market. As far as the graphs, that is not a big deal either in my opinion. I prefer to have mine removable and anyone running 2 units at the helm will have them on mounts anyway.

    I wish Charger put as much effort into the 6 series as they have to the 210/198!

    Just my 2 cents.

  12. Member
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    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by jeffcotten View Post
    I'm glad to hear that Charger is building a quality Champ. Also glad they are selling well. I just moved on Lake Conroe and we have ton's of Champions here but There is a Charger dealer a mile down the road from me. When I moved here in January they had 4 Charger/Champs in stock and today when I went by there they still had 3 of them. That's what made me wonder. I sure want the Champion name to stay as strong as it deserves.

    The reason that 210 is still there is because it is a god awful color scheme. You order a special boat like that, you always take a chance of it not moving. The 198 they had in there sold within two weeks.

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    #13
    Impossible to be original Champion hulls! The molds are only good for about 5 years based on production use.

  14. Born on th Llano Estacado Tx Champ's Avatar
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    #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Shotgun View Post
    Impossible to be original Champion hulls! The molds are only good for about 5 years based on production use.
    Charger splashed an original Champion hull to build their molds. Can't get any closer than that ...

  15. Member bassin butch's Avatar
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    #15
    Actually looked at two of them 210 and a 198 and I wasn't impressed with what I saw.

    I sent pictures to Kelly Powers
    See ignorance daily

  16. Banned
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    #16
    Quote Originally Posted by bassin butch View Post
    Actually looked at two of them 210 and a 198 and I wasn't impressed with what I saw.

    I sent pictures to Kelly Powers

    Cosmetic quality, fit & finish or what concerned you?

  17. Member
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    #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Shotgun View Post
    Impossible to be original Champion hulls! The molds are only good for about 5 years based on production use.
    I turn molds 2.5 times per week and they'll last virtually forever with maintenance and repairs if they're built correctly in the beginning. What doesn't last is the styling. I can build you a brand new 1978 Glassmaster tri-hull runabout but customer's desires seem to change for some reason.

  18. Charger Boats Moderator TOUCH OF CLASS's Avatar
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    #18
    Charger has molds 20 plus years old still going strong

  19. Member
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    #19
    I used to run a 1985 162 Foxfire. Loved that boat. Now in a Champ. Love this more. If I ever hit the lottery I would be in a 198 so fast Usain Bolt couldn't catch me.