Question on Javelin 389/ Stratos 201/ Stratos 288

I am trying to decide on my first bass boat for me and my 9 year old son and having trouble deciding. I have found the following - 98 Javelin 389SD with Johnson 150, 91 Statos 201 with 200 Yamaha and another with 200 Johnson, a 96 Stratos 288 with 150 Johnson, and a 94 Stratos 285XL with a Johnson175. All are single console and clean to very clean with sound mechanicals. Which is best package. Are the 389 and the 288 too small. Can you buy an insert to make the 389SD deck a full deck. Thanks for any advice you have.

PS. If anyone has a clean rig like these for sale in NC or SC let me know. I have looked at some other brands (ranger, skeeter, procraft, nitro, triton) but have not found anything in decent shape or my price range.


Modified by wswylie at 11:50 PM 4/2/2010

I love my old 201. After having a boat that size I would never have anything smaller. It's not a speed demon but its a great rough water rig.

Thanks for the input. What year and motor was your 201? Anybody else have any advice or opinions. Thanks

I have a 91 201 Pro DC and I love it. It is a big boat with a huge fishing platform. It has a Johnson 200GT and its plenty of motor for these boats. If it was me I would go with the stratos if it is mechanicly sound.
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s...edic/Boat3.jpg

the 389 is rated for a 175 and thats what i would want on it i would look for a boat that has the largest motor its rated for just my .02 cents the 389 sd is plenty of boat very solid ride and you would be happy with it. as for the deck insert try c&o if they dont have one maybe they could make one for you.

I have a 389 with a SD deck and love it. It is not a big enough deck for 2 comfortably but it is plenty for me and that is the way I like it, my partner can keep his trebles in the back. It still has plenty of storage and rides and handles like a dream, I live on Lake Lanier the summers can get brutal with pleasure boaters but it has no problems.

Back to the deck- I have considered extending my deck glassing it in adding another storage compartment there, it can be done and look factory fairly easy.

I have an 89 201 pro. same layout. and love it dearly. great fishing platform and a great rough water boat especially when you are up and scooting across a good chop. they are heavy boats. mine is a single console and the front deck has plenty of space for me to feel comfortable with my 5 year old casting a crank bait on the front with me.

Thanks to everyone. Sounds like it's hard to go wrong with the Stratos/Javelin family. I also found a super clean 97 Stratos 295 today with a 175. I will be making a decision and an offer on something this week. Thanks again.

How much are you looking at spending? I just traded in a nice Javelin 400TE at C and O, its on their website. Plenty of boat and IMO the best hull Javelin/Stratos had back in the 90's.

I have a 96 285 with A 175 Fast Strike for sale. Sent im.


Modified by dwa at 1:30 PM 4/4/2010

Thanks for all the advice. I have responded to all the IM's.

the 201 with the yamaha (if its a newer motor) gets my first pick.

the 389 is a perfectly good boat with a 175 motor. should do low 60s. a very good choice. will handle very good and have nice storage.

288 is a quick boat with good mileage characteristics, but woefully short-short-short on storage space!

if they are all solid boats then that would just leave your decision on which is the most reliable motor.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dwa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a 96 285 with A 175 Fast Strike for sale. Sent im.


Modified by dwa at 1:30 PM 4/4/2010</TD></TR></TABLE>


I've personally serviced that rig and can attest it is a nice rig. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif

Thanks for you help Cman. We will see you tomorrow to compression test and look over the motor.