Starting planning on newer boat...

[bensford66]

I am getting the itch for a new (new to me) Champ. The problem is that I only have a little space to work with unlike my last garage. I have a 20'x20' garage with a small section on the back right that is 5'wide and 6'deep. What I need is a 2000 to 2003 model that will fit this stall. I need a breakaway trailer and from left wheel to right side of motor can only be 5' wide at max.
I have a 181 (no break away tongue) and it fits if I turn the boat around but with the drive on a slant it is all the wife and I can do to turn it around and push it up hill into the stall bow first, so I want one I can back in the garage, position the boat, break the tongue away, park the Explorer in and close the door.
I am thinking it has to be a 19' or less boat for this space. I want the wider model options from those years. Can anyone tell me what models from those years will fit that area?

[JohnM]

Good luck dude. this is the MAIN reason I had to leave Champion. The 187 with the rear off set and standard 10" JP is 22' straight back, same for the 183. You can whittle 4" off that with a shorter JP but not much more than that before you start getting steering tubes into the back (no splashwell) when trimming full up.

The new wide body boats are REALLY wide at the back, I literally drug em home and stuck them in the garage to test before adding them to my short list.

Duane Harper is the KING of fitting 10 pounds of taters in a 5 pound sack. He uses go jacks and has a flat driveway though. If you are like me and have a hill it can be a sumbuck.

I never looked at a 186 maybe it has a splashwell? That would save you a bunch of room on steering tubes when trimmed up like it does on your 181.

Good luck.

[Lea]

IM me this evening, but not late....I'll check brochures...Not sure when they began making the break-away trailer tongues, but think it was later than '03. The measurements across rear to motor side will not be available. Hopefully, some owners on here can help with that. Remind me to also check for wider models. Most were 90", but I know the 188, 196 & 206 were wider..

[getfished]

My 04 187 needs about 22' I think. I took it to a metal fab shop that my marine dealer uses and had my tongue hinged with a pin. Solid , easy to use and works good.