Skeeter SL210 vs. Stratos 486SF

[agjr200hp]

Buying a new boat in the next month and I was hoping to get some feedback. To be fair, I am posting on the stratos board as well.

Just looking for honest feedback of owners.

Thx.

[mark Z21]

I own a 2006 sl210, the skeeter will be a whole lot faster, now you are compairing a nearly 21' skeeter to an 18 1/2' stratos, 200/225f compared to a 150, so its not fair to the stratos. stratos is cheaper, but the same as a sl190 cost. the stratos has much more boat sitting out of the water, which makes you have to work the trolling motor more. skeeter has 70# trolling motor stratos 55#, floor plans are very similar (with all of the f/s) I do like the stratos cup holder better than my plastic ones, and my wife would like those tall windshields, as the skeeters deflect wind right in your face. also look into the rangers, they are very similar to the stratos, but with upgraded features, however, only the skeeter uses a bass boat hull with a f/s cap, the others use a special hull just for the f/s and thats the primary reason they are so much slower
the stratos is the only f/s (I think) that can hold 8' rods in its locker, the skeeter locker isn't that great, heard they were upgrading to individual tubes soon though, that will be real nice, I have broken several rods getting them out of the rod locker



Modified by mark sl210 at 6:25 PM 3/13/2008

[agjr200hp]

Thx Mark. I heard people adding either socks or tubes themselves. would that accomplish the same thing or are they making the entrances to the rod lockers bigger?

Also, here is some additional information. It is a 2006 sl210 with 200hpdi and a 2008 486sf with 150 4 stroke for roughly the same price ($29K).

Both have basically all options as well.

I did own a Javelin 400TE with 200 johnson. Have a family now and need a calmer boat.

[mark Z21]

you will really apriciate the extra length, in ride quility, speed, and dryness, and I don't know what they are changing to the rod lockers, was just complaining to the dealer after I pulled the third ring eye of a pole and he told me they were updating that. I have heard from other sl owners that they use the socks, I put a rod organizer on the bow instead
http://www.bbcboards.net...61054



Modified by mark sl210 at 6:22 PM 3/13/2008

[mark Z21]

mine also is a 2006, it looks as though you are compairing a new stratos to a 2-3 year old skeeter. I'll assume that the one you are looking at is in the same shape mine was when I bought it 2 months ago, near new, not a scratch on it, just one small stain on the carpet, with 50 hour or less on the motor. Just make sure you check over that used boat with a fine tooth comb, (engine hours, compression, condition of everything, trailer tires, any extras come with used boat) A new stratos might be better that a used anything!!!! mine was like new and I let someone else take about a $12,000 hit on it (paid 26) hope this helps



Modified by mark sl210 at 6:28 PM 3/13/2008

[mark Z21]

found several sl190 brand new for under 25,000, with 6 years motor wrnty, some in new england too, do a dealer search from skeeter site, look in boattrader.com, or ebay if your brave might be worth investigating

[Neilslure]

The Stratos F/S line looks ugly IMO. Never looked at them close enough to compare.

[PSM207]

I just visited the Stratos site to look at the 486. I have to agree with Neilslure on this one. Functionality might be great, but it is odd looking.

[mark Z21]

agjr200 is very lucky, he found a new 2006, great buy with full wrnty...., told him, bigger is better in this case, and I agree, 486 is ugly, but I didn't go there, didn't want to look too biased