1994 168 w/90hp mariner...

[Jasonrs]

My buddy is looking at this combo as his first boat, we need to have some input on this rig and would like any and all info we can get before we take a 3.5-4 hr drive. Boat has a ss 3 blade prop(type unknown) no jp, boat looks like its in very nice cond. from the pics I got. I know its a champ, but how are these shorter models in a good "weekend" chop. We fish a couple of smaller inpoundments and they are nothing but steel seawalls for miles on both sides, and the wakes just bounce back and forth...i am pointing him in the obvious direction because of the conditions on these lakes and dont want him to be dissapointed....and we know its no speed demon, (remeber its his first boat) but im sure someone has got a setup for her...how about some numbers? Can this boat use a small j.p.? thanks in advance, Jason and Rob
PS thanks to Lea for helping straighten out the model of the boat!

[pmgoffjr]

It's a 16' hull...remember that and everything else will follow.

It will ride better (much) than any other similar sized hull, but in severe cruiser wakes, it's going to want to fall into a hole, nature of the way things are. Difference is, it'll be a jolt, but not a kidney busting experience.

168 w/90 will run mid 40's. No need for a plate, just prop to run at proper rpms and go fishing.

[MMosher]

Reminds me of a story. Small thread highjack but 16'8 related. Around 1977 my father took my mother out (who was a pretty good fisherwoman herself) teaching her to drive his brand new hot rod orange 16'8. They were on Norfork in the area of Panther Bay back before the bridges and you had to ride the ferry boat into town. Well she was running WOT as fast as it could run and she proceed to hit a ferry boat wake that she "didn't see" and sent her and pops and the 16'8 airborne. Being scared crapless she then let go of the wheel and covered her eyes. They then went airborne again over the wake . Pops was thrown into the bottom of the boat and was screaming at ma to throttle down. She freaked even worse and wouldn't take her hands off her eyes. Pops finally got to her and got the boat back under control. John Storie and his wife Kathy were at the fuel pumps at Panther Bay seeing the whole thing. They said that they saw the rig left bank out of the warter land then then right bank out of the water with plenty of daylight under the rig. Dad said that was the day when he was convinced that you couldn't flip a Champion. My mother was mortified with embarrassment.

[Lea]

Wow!!!! Speaks volumes about our boats!!!! Funny now, but it had to be terrifying at the time....

[Jasonrs]

now thats a good Champion story! Exactly the kind of info i was looking for everyone thanks a ton!