Pat Goff

[slinkeey]

This guy is great.. I have been lurking this forum just to read his wild posts..

I started comming to the Champion forum because I was looking at buying a used one.

I love his opinion on Ranger's holes int he hull and still floats.. I always thought that was gimmicky. Almost like the Sharper Image of boats.

[Lea]

Too bad you couldn't deal with the colors on that SX. Fine boat....but there are some more great Champions for sale...I hope you get to ride and drive one...

[Tx Champ]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lea &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Too bad you couldn't deal with the colors on that SX. Fine boat....but there are some more great Champions for sale...I hope you get to ride and drive one... </TD></TR></TABLE>

I really didn't think it was a bad color combination at all ... of course some think I'm a little off any way I lot of ski boats have pretty loud color schemes as do some bass boats. Tigé which is built here in Abilene, has put out some pretty wild ones ...

[pmgoffjr]

We handled MB wakeboard boats here, the uglier I could color them, the faster they'd sell. Orange, green, pink, flames, whatever garbage they could do, that's what sold.

[Lea]

I think he is reconsidering...That SX is a nice rig....

[pmgoffjr]

One of the funniest impulse buy stories I had...

Second day I was at the shop, mid November out front talking to a service tech...

A big brand new Ford Excursion literally skidded into the parking lot, screeched to a halt, all four doors blast open and kids, dogs, cousins, ma, pa the whole tribe instantly go climbing on everything we had. Teenagers gravitate immediately to the MB's, younger kids to the seadoos, mama decided to browse the Bennington pontoons.

We just sorta stood there watching this wave of humanity..."Les Radcliff, nice to meet you, just bought a condo at Horseshoe bay and we need us a boat!!!" Well, my pleasure meeting you Les, and that's exactly why we're here. Fifteen minutes later the two teenagers decided they couldn't live without this ungodly ugly MB, fluorescent orange and blue flames, ever piece of junk you could hang on it. Ok, nice choice, then momma decided she'd just die without that 25' Bennington with a 225 Yamaha on it, and the little ones would perish without a couple of seadoo boats either.

"Ok kids, don't pester the gentleman" Les hands me a Visa Black card, "do you take these?" Pretty sure we can there Les...Ring em up, and do you deliver? Uh sure thing boss.. $187,000.00 later he was the admiral of his own fleet on LBJ. Entire process was done in forty minutes. Gotta love the instant rich oil guys from Midland.

[slinkeey]

Pat should write a book.

The dude cracks me up..

Hey Pat,

Do you know if the Winner molds are still hanging around? Just curious. You seam to know quite a bit about even the defunct companies..

[pmgoffjr]

Well, that makes me feel young and spry...thanks.

By no means do I know much, just a little about what I know. Todd Morgan or Rick Pierce would have me lapped in about ten minutes.

[mixermarkb]

The winners were good rigs. I understand emotional attachment to a brand based on family experinces, but I highly highly recommend a ride in the next champ you are looking at. Watch the video pinned at the top a few more times, then ride. You *may* decide to give up the winner search. Just sayin. And welcome to our board!

[slinkeey]

Yeah, I opened up to Champion.

I am not super attached to winner.. I just knew the boat well an knew what it could do and not do.. You know..

It's kind of like how I keep buying GM vehicles.. I have good luck with them and know about them.. I am sure Ford is just fine, but It is the unknown.. :)

Actually I might buy a Ford next because GM stealing our tax dollars pissed me off.

Not to slam any of the other forums, but this Champion forum appears to be the most well rounded when it comes to knowledge about the other brands.

Jeff

[slinkeey]

That video was great...

Looks like those champions love the turns..

Jeff

[pmgoffjr]

My limited knowledge of winners came in the 80's. The champ dealer I worked most with took them on for a budget line. He struggled with them for two years and gave them up. Nothing negative about the way they were built, certainly not junk, but they just couldn't give a satisfactory ride on the windy lakes here. Beating your liver loose comes to mind.

[slinkeey]

I am thinking this Champion should be better for me also because I live less than a mile from Lake Michigan. The Winners handle alright, but I hear the champion would be able to take those big waters better if I decide to go out on Michigan on calm days and the water turns on me and gets choppy..

Trust me, I would not get it far away from the harbor.. Well at least not anytime soon. I know that there are boats made for the big pond!

I would mostly use it at the inland lake that my mom is on, but It would be nice to just drive down my road and dock it in the big pond too... :)

Didn't Winner's cost less because they cut corners on the hardware and etc.. Like vinyl pull straps instead of latches and etc? The hull itself was damn solid. Even the teak was nice.. The seats seam to hold up well too..

Jeff

[Lea]

The Champion will definitely be an excellent choice for both of the kinds of lakes you fish!!!

I can't speak for the Winner components, but Champs do have pull straps (not cheap vinyl) on some compartments, but not to save money. They have locks, but not the big latches that can burn you in the sun, trip you if left up, and break when tripped over.

[Bowhunter]

I go out on the big pond without worrying to much. Then again, I have the deep V Champ hull that's made for the big water. I also run in smaller lakes and rivers as well.
Living this close to big pond, it only makes sense (ROI) that you have a hull for it.

ROI = "Return On Investment"

Go ChampioN and you will not be disappointed.

Good Luck in your search!