Question about a new Blazer 202

[champion221elite]

Hopefully the BBC group of Blazer owners can help me out on this one.

Right now I'm running an 11 year old Champion 221 hull with a 10 year old Mercury 225 EFI. This rig has treated me well and I plan on keeping her for as long as I can. Right now, I'm exploring other brands to determine what their owners honestly think about the brand and any other pertinent information they could provide to a perspective buyer.

I've done some research and the new Blazer Pro- V 202 seems like a very nice hull. Are there any 202 owners out there who could tell me how the boat rides in the rough stuff, build quality, speed and interior space? I'll be coming from a 22 foot Champion that was certainly built to handle 3 footers with ease... how would the Blazer 202 compare?

I would be considering putting a Merc 225 Pro XS, or 250 XS on it. What kind of speeds can I expect with either of these motors? I have no problem with Yamaha or Evinrude motors, however, nobody in my area sells or services them.

Are these boats fairly easy to drive, or do they develop a mind of their own when WOT? Finally, what kind of $$$ am I looking at with a well equipped Blazer 202? I don't need the huge color screen fish finders, but a Hambys would be nice and a dual console. I don't fish large money tournaments, but I do fish an occasional local tourney 2-3 times per year.

Thanks for any insight you guys can provide.

[tnmark]

[Todd Morgan]

Well..........I'm a Champion dealer and a Blazer dealer...so here's my take. The 202's ride very well.....but you're coming out of one of the best rough water boats ever built and you're in an area you know is going to be rough. While the 202 will be nothing sneeze at ride wise.....it will pale in comaprison to the 221.

Now speed.........the Blazer with the 250 XS will be an upper 80's ride.....my last one did 87 with no tweaking.....I think they drive like a dream but it will chinewalk....my 200 and 210 Champions do also.

As bad as it may seem, I'm probably your local Blazer dealer......I won't go into pricing on the net....but you can list what you'd like on the boat and I'll get you a figure to work with.

[Jason Phillips]

Todd said it. I had an '06 202 dual console. The storage space was more than enough for me and my stuff. My partners always had plenty of room for their stuff as well.

Generally when you have speed, you give up some ride. You're 221 is not a speed demon but it is a Cadillac ride. The 202 is a sports car that is fast, handles great, and the ride is respectable. 90% of the times I fished out of it I was very pleased. I did get out in a couple of tournaments where the wind was blowing 25+ and the lakes I fish are wide enough that those winds make them a nightmare. It would have been rough in any boat. The 202 got me back everytime. It is a great all around boat that will not break the bank.

[Rebel1]

I agree with Todd and Jason on this. If you are wanting the best of both worlds, ride and speed, you might need to check out the Blazer 210. This rig will ride and handle the rough stuff better than a 202, especially when comparing it to a Champion. With a 250, this rig would see 77-80, depending on the load, set-up, and your driving ability.

[champion221elite]

Thanks Todd, and all who have responded to this post. I realize that C and O is likely my closest dealer and I was planning on dealing with C and O anyway. I've read lots of posts on the BBC about happy customers who have dealt with C and O. I mostly fish for fun on my days off, and usually by myself. If the wind is blowing too damn hard, thats a day I just stay home. I love the smooth ride of my 221, but sometimes it just feels a bit too big for the type of fishing I do.

A Blazer 202 with a 250 XS at 87 MPH bone stock Looks like I'll have to learn how to drive all over again!!!