New champion owner

[scotty34]

Well I made the switch from Bass Cat to Champion, we bought a clean 1998 203dcx. Now the learning curve of driving it! We made the long treck from PA to Miss. to get it. What do you guys use your under seat storage for since it's not very deep?
What pad to shaft height measurement ?
Mine has a 250efi Merc with a 4 blade trophy+ I think 25p manual plate of 6"
Scott

[bassin butch]

Scott welcome to the Champion family! Wont take long and Im sure some folks will be along. The Champion ride is something to marvel at.


Butch

[U.S. eh Champ!]

Mine has an axillary gas tank under the seats. You have bought a great boat, but, I hope your sponsored by a major gas station! My 225 efi is striving to break my wallet! Let us know your top speeds.

[brandonb]

I have a 2000 203, under seat storage I use for tools, please release me, cull tags, marker buoys, stuff like that.
Prop to pad for me is 3 1/8 if I remember right, top speed is 70.3 but I have a 225, you should haul the mail with that 250. Enjoy.....

[Lea]

Congratulations and welcome to the family!!!

I kept my registration papers and small odds and ends in the under-seat storage on my 1999. Tank is under-seat in the one I have now...

Starting prop shaft height is usually 3.5" below pad. Work in 1/4" increment to find sweet spot...that is, if previous owner doesn't have it already set there for you. Another thing you might try is a 26p Tempest Plus. Champs like 3 blades real well...and generally, 3 blade is one P higher than 4 blade.

[Derwood]

Wecome to the family!! I use my under seat cooler as either a cooler or a garbage can... I my kid "take out the garbage" everytime we return from a day on the water...

[BRETT]

Tools and a cooler

225EFI
3.25" BTP
8" JP
26P Tempest + BB by Croxton
GPS best to date: 75.9

[pmgoffjr]

Start hunting a 27 Tempest, that will be the right prop for that combo.

[06champ198]

Tape a 100 dollar bill under there. That thing will drink gas. Seriously though it is a great boat. Used mine for tool storage and small things I did not get into everyday.

Welcome to the family.

[scotty34]

Thanks everyone. I have a 26p trophy + not a 25. The previous owner told me his had it to 80mph (speedo) and got out of it because it was to squirly to drive then they found a fractured blade on the prop. That had a 3 bl that fractured so they put the 4bl on to tame it down. I havent measured to shaft to pad yet.
Hopeing to get some pics on Sunday after our club tournament. We spent 2hrs tonight cleaning everything before loading it. I'm afraid to see how much gas it will eat, but with my other boats most of my running was between 3800-4500rpms
because of waves,traffic,tide change etc.

[Hillsreels]

My foot weight is in direct portion to how many $$ I spend on gas. On a good day my old pro max 225 might get 3.3 mpg. WOT,,,,, The 250 ProXS (2008)
cruzs 47mph @4150 rpm and gets 5.479 mpg. That is great for a 20 foot boat. WOT I don't have enough
info to figure but I bet it is better than 3.3 mpg
Regardless you will love your 203 and the good strong engine. Congratulations on finding such a great ride, I have several parked here
when my frinds come by to fish. They love their 1998 203 cx's,,they still look new.
Congrats.
203

[WaYoop]

"but with my other boats most of my running was between 3800-4500rpms
because of waves,traffic,tide change etc."

But now you have a ChamP, pedal to the metal, damn the waves

[Captain Doug]

1998 DCX. 200efi Not the fastest, but it's been adequate. At 64mph I don't have to be concerned about chine walk.

Drivers seat= Boat papers, maps, flashlight, emergency gear.
Middle seat= Small Tool Box, Spare Parts, Tools, Extra Fire Extinguisher.
Passenger seat=Personal comfort items, bug spray, T.P., First Aid Kit, Soap,etc.

You WILL love driving it!

Best boat I have ever had or been in, but:
I am quitting Bass TX and big water so I'm getting rid of mine pretty soon and switching to tin.

[scotty34]

We had it out on 10/4 ran great ,you couldnt smak the grin off my face. I had a small limit to win our club tour. It handled the wind and waves great on the upper chesapeake bay.
Has anyone mounted a Cooks tackle system on there rod locker lids since there foam lined?
Scott
Hit 74 mph (speedo) propshaft is 3 11/16" under pad

[Captain Doug]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by scotty34 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Has anyone mounted a Cooks tackle system on there rod locker lids since there foam lined?
Scott
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I did.
Notice the hump in the center? That's an aluminum stiffener. Screw to that part with short screws.

[Lea]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Captain Doug &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I did.
Notice the hump in the center? That's an aluminum stiffener. Screw to that part with short screws.


</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep...I have the Cooks in my port rod locker.. as said..short screws into the aluminum support....

[scotty34]

Thanks guys