396

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Heres the top view of the 396,19'9" 95.5 inch beam rated for a 225...
This is a great size boat not to big,and with a pro xs 225 you will see mid 70s very easy.

[Stompy]

Good looking boat. Bout decided to keep my 396 for a couple of years before I check out the new wide body. Heck, I just got it the way I want it. Besides, bout talked myself into spending that money on some out of state hunts..

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Yep out of all the boats they build this is my favorite....they really did a good job of designing this 19 footer.....I looked for one when I boughtt the 595 but none were to be found....I would love to have one with a pro xs on the back..speed and a good ride...I guess the dealers really never played with it since they all were pushing the 296 and 496.

[Stompy]

You keep calling it a 19 footer, it closer to 20 than 19..

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

19'9" which is a nice size maybe we will call it the mid size 19 footer

[Stompy]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by TOUCH OF CLASS &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote"> 19'9" which is a nice size maybe we will call it the mid size 19 footer </td></tr></table>

Mid size would be a 19'6" boat...Lets just call it a 20 footer I do...

[Wild Heethen]

Mr. Touch, this is my first posting on BBC. I get on BBC many times daily and have been doing so for a long time. I absolutely love this place. I've owned 2 Bass Cats and now own a Ranger. To be quite honest, both brands left something to be desired overall. From what I've heard from you here and what I've heard from other owners, I am ready to seriously look at Charger. I'm very interested in this NEW 195 you've been talking about. Please, as soon as you can get pictures and all the details about it, I'm dying to see them. I would love to try one out with a 200 SHO hanging on it. Thanks.

[Stompy]

I had a 195 for 11 years Mike and it was a GREAT rough water boat. It cut waves like a hot knife thru butter. I got the 396 because it's a little longer and wider for more storage and deck room. If you can deal with a little less storage ( and it's really not that bad) you will love the 195.

[Snoopy Rod]

I owned a 195 for 9 years and loved that boat, if the rod locker lid would have been a little longer and it had some rear storage I would still have that boat. Sometimes I wish I did.

[Wild Heethen]

Thanks. I'm really looking forward to seeing the new 195. I really don't need anything but a 19 foot boat with a 200hp. As I get older, I'm really looking for something that has a Cadillac ride in the rough stuff, run in the mid 70s with just me in it, and all the storage I can get. Plus, built by a company that takes pride in building pure quality and durability. The more I learn about Charger, the more I think I've found the right people.

[Stompy]

I'll tell you a story about my old 195. My fishing pard and I were on Lake Fork back in the 90's and I was running about 30mph. I hit a stump so hard that it thru him on top of me. I just knew I knocked a hole in the bottom, had to, I mean I hit it HARD. Got to the ramp as quick as I could and loaded it on the trailer. To my surprise I had a hard time finding where I hit the stump. Finally found a small area where the gel coat was spider webed a little. Pushed on it, beat on it and it was still as hard as the rest of the boat. Put it back in the water and fished the rest of the day with no problems.
When I got ready to sell it in 03, my fishing pard bought it and still has it today. I ordered it in 93 and the only thing he has done to it was replace all the pumps. Funny thing is, they were all still working. He just figured pumps that old should be replaced. I had it 10 years and NEVER had to put a tool to the boat. The only thing ever done to it was repair the area where I hit the stump. And that was just gel coat. That is one tough boat.

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Hey Stompy you bring up a good point these hulls and top caps and decks are so
hard you will have to drill a pilot hole or you will never get the screw into it.I know Ranger talks about the pultruded glass,but this is one hard glass system Charger uses.Is it bullet proof I cant answer that but it is hard and thick

[bruce180vf]

I am amazed that my 1989 180vf only has 2 small gell coat cracks in the top cap at the corners of the transom. They are only 1/4" long. I found them when I bought the boat and marked them to see if they would move. I have had the boat 6 years and they have not moved any. Who knows how they got there and how long they have been there. I use the boat too. Lets just say I dont normally get passed by many 150's and very few 200's. I will never own another brand of boat. I am a Charger owner for life. I have been fishing tournaments for over 25 years and have rode in most brands. I have seen the quality come and go on the popular brands out there but never on a Charger.They definately build the highest quality boat.