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Can anyone provide a review of this boat? Looking for something to fish with on Lake St. Clair here in Michigan. I would ideally like the 214 sx but I'm not sure it would fair in the rough stuff. Does the hull on the 186 FH have the nice ride of a Champion or does the ride suffer because it's more of an all purpose boat?
The 186 has the great Champion ride!!!!
Am hoping a 214 owner will chime in here!
I have not rode in the 186 Fishunter, but I have rode in the 214. All I can say is that is a really, really nice boat and I think it would get you home safe on the bad days. I currently own a 194 Fishunter and the person I bought my boat from used it on St Clair often and Lake Erie. Since owning it, I have ran it on Lake Michigan as well as Erie and the ride is awesome.. I'd bet that 186 would be close. Granted, your looking a shorter boat but a newer model and design. Are you looking at a totally new rig, or one a year or 2 old? No, I'm not selling you any boats.. just wondering. There are some guys over on Walleye Central that run the 186.. Maybe they can tell you 100%
Have fun shopping and good luck to you....
I run a fishunter 190... I don't run on the big water, but I know the guy I bought it from was an Erie guy, big time. I use mine on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. Not a big water lake, but she gets churned up pretty good with all the 30 + footers blasting around out there!! Awesome boat... absolutely awesome! Cruised to Chuck's for lunch one day with mumma in the boat. Ran about 35-40 all the way across the lake in some pretty good chop and mumma didn't get cranky at all... that's really saying something!! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif
I have a 194 FH and often get in big water with no issues. Great dry ride. Never been in a 186. Do what you can to take it on the water and see for yourself want it can do. Good luck! http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
No suffering with it being a multi purpose boat. With it's deeper sides and windshield (on most of them), the Fishunter has an outstanding ride. Nothing like running WOT in winter and being able to stay out the wind or rain http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif and blowing by most other bass boats that's just getting pounded. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif
We're all not as lucky as LA Champ with that full winshield... but I would like one with a full canopy for when I'm trolling Lake Michigan for Trout and Salmon. That would be the cats meow when the mist and drizzle, and cold rolls around. I'd recommend that if you go with a 186. Good Luck.
Sorry Barry, http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif and I do consider myself lucky.
Do you have a bimini top for yours? Just having that would make a big difference.
If a windshield would go on mine, I'd grab one in a second... I'm not sure the shields do anything except look good...
No Bimini yet.. but I think I will have one this summer..
I'll bring mine if a family member is with me or there's a chance of rain. At times when it's gets over 90 deg., http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/eek.gif it is nice to have the shade though. It just gets in the way a lot of the time. When lad down, I can't open my live well lids all the way.
I don't run with it up. It just looks and sounds like it about to rip off at any thing over around 40 mph.