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Has anyone ridden in both boats? Just curious as to what the difference is in the rides. I don't care enough for the new whiz bang options that come on the elite to pay the difference in money. If there is a difference in ride and fishability then I would consider it.
i have ran both and honestly i couldnt tell anydiffrence in ride personally when its in rough water they boat ride very good.....theres a lot of things i like about the 198 and there is a lot of things i like with the 200 i think you would be more than happy with either
when it comes to interior difference, the cockpit & storage depth are deeper in the Elite models, and both decks are more raised on the Elite. Also more leg room behind the wheel in the Elite, mainly because of the higher set driver's console.
Both are Champs, so I'm sure you'll like how the both ride. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
One reason I went with a 183 over a 188 is because the 183 is built on an Elite style hull/deck. it has the extra cockpit room & deeper storage BIG pluses for me! http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
Modified by OhioChamp183 at 2:01 PM 12/25/2008
Without a doubt the 198 is a little bit faster but when you get 72mph without a passenger on the 200 who cares about speed for me its fast enough? The 200 is a more stable platform when it comes to the ride as well as fishability. I know Jeff said he didnt notice much of a difference on bumpy water but i sure have.
What i do care about is the extra room i have on the 200 and for me it makes it alot nicer because im a big dog with long legs. More dry storage space and extra room on the front deck makes a big difference for me it just feels way longer.
In my 200 i feel almost like i can tractor through the rough water by adjusting my trim and speed which effects how much lift my boat gets out of the water on plane. Having the elite package does add up but let me tell you its only pennys when you figure it through the life of your loan.
I would reccomend you get exactly what you want even if it costs a few more bucks because you will always wish you did if you dont and im very very glad i did! Make sure you get that electronics package you really want and the power for your trolling motor. Dont wish you had when you could have.
I know the 198 is nice but the 200 is awesome!
Good luck; Big Ed!
Just got a new 198 3 weeks ago. Cannot imagine the 200 being much more stable in choppy water since the dimensions are the same. BTW, it is an awesome fishing platform. The 198 console is a little low so I wish I had tilt steering but is is not terrible either. The deck space is huge so the 200 most be enormous. I was next to my buddies 181 in the water and it appears that the new champion have higher side and sit higher out of the water. Anyway, storage is more than I would ever use. I did not price a 200 so I don't know if the differences are worth the extra cost. In the past when I priced the elites to the tournament models the extra money was way out of proportion to the extras IMO. Either way, champion made a very nice hull and I am pleased with it so far. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
Deck space is the same on both models. 37 sq ft front, 19 sq ft rear. Storage space is deeper on the 200.. I own a 198 Elite. I have driven and ridden in a 200. I did not detect any difference in ride or in fishing platform stability...only in instrumentation (BIOS Gauges on 200), etc. There are standards on the 200 that I would want, but some can be added as options on the 198. It's all a matter of personal preference...
Both are great rigs. Check out the features on both, and then decide.... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif
The 200 fishes flatter than the 198....rough water ride is hard to tell the difference...200 has much better storage and an ice chest you can actually put drinks and food in. Speed..I would have to give it to the 198 by 2 mph
Storage goes to the 200. Personally really did not notice any difference in ride. Both boats ride like Champions. The 200 seem to sit maybe just a little flatter in the water but it could have just bee the way we had the boated loaded. The 198 is faster by about 1 to 2 MPH. There basically the same boats with a slight hull difference. The 200 just has some upgrades that should have been put into the 198. I never really understood why they just did not add these cosmetic changes to the 198 and keep it as an elite. Its a proven winner. Both are good boats and offer many features that are required in a tournament boat. If I was buying a new boat today I would not consider the 200 over the 198. I would not gain anything that I personally would benefit from. For that kind of money I would make the move to the 210 which is what I plan to do in the next couple of years. Now thats a whole different animal.
Good luck with search.