Everyone E-mail luke! Platinum Equity

[E73bass]

Todd;
Isn't the recent change to the 202 the replacement of the 200---basically a rename-due to the bad rap the 200 got from the early production '07 200's that had hull issues? I agree with the 210, 202 (200-rebadge) 214 and 190 FS---I would throw in the 183 though as there has been a big movement back into the 18 foot/150 motor market of late. And no doubt about it the 183 is the best 18 footer out there for ride.
I think all the boat companies that enjoyed the years of the 2 lines of boats like
Champions CX and Elite line and Ranger's VX and Z line are going away for the time being and there will be more consolidation into one line and pricong will follow suit by limiting colors and havng the basics needed for a tourney grade fishing boat at a very good price--kinda like what Nitro has done recently and you will have to pay for the niceties like paddded deck, removeable consoles, etc.

[Todd Morgan]

With Stratos gone there is a hole left open........we were the largest Champion Bass Boat dealer for a few years...only our disdain for management made us leave.

Cajun Outboards was the 1 dealer and did it with Bay Boats.....between the 2 of us we accounted for almost 200 units per year.

Our customers will buy from us no matter what line(s) we have. Have several offers from other brands I don't have faith in....hard to sell something you don't believe in. I've had comms with IJ about Champion.......so we'll see.

[Mizzou211]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd Morgan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've had comms with IJ about Champion.......so we'll see.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Now THAT just makes my friggin' mouth water!!!!!

[jbabin76]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd Morgan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">With Stratos gone there is a hole left open........</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here kitty kitty....

[Darth VMAX]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mizzou211 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Now THAT just makes my friggin' mouth water!!!!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

What that IJ could buy Champion back?

Or that C&O would sell them again?

I agree with the "Kitty Kitty" statement

[bassin butch]

And I agree with this statement: "And no doubt about it the 183 is the best 18 footer out there for ride."

Would add: About the best storage space going as well


Butch

[Lea]

I totally agree...the 183 needs to be near the top of the list!!!

[rid 05 198]

You go Mr. Todd Morgan!!

[SteveDyer]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd Morgan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'll elaborate.......as long as Randy is at Ranger, Champion has no chance of fair and equal marketing......we've already seen this for the past 3 years at Genmar. Randy wasn't over Champion, Roger Cloutier was and Hopper still had the umph to make Champion a 4th class citizen. PE has NO boat building experience and hasn't really brought anyone on board who does......so......they'll listen to the builders they have. Builders who aren't willing to admit their old ways helped bankrupt Genmar.

The sooner Champ is dead in PE's eyes the sooner the possibility of resale. Champ has basically 4 good molds to build off of....the 210, 200, 214 and the 190 FH. That means they're not in the same shape as Phoenix having to try to do all the work to make a fresh design......

I don't think PE will keep Hopper....as soon as they figure out he doesn't build the boats and the guy who actually runs the show can be had much cheaper he'll be picking up tin cans off the side of the highway.

I've said it before...Champion needs ownership from a family like the Pierce's at BassCat who care about a quality product not made for the masses.

All my opinion mind you......</TD></TR></TABLE>


Todd, while this makes some sense, I don't see any stated reason why emailing PE would do any harm??

Regardless if they keep Hopper or not what they absolutely need to be made aware of is our opinions as the costumers.

If PE is working with a perspective buyer then any costumer support would definitely bolster a sale, and If there is no buyer then it might help to bring to question why they are not being built.

I just don't see the point of sitting around, doing nothing while hoping Champion gets sold when we can at least get our opinion out there to them....doing nothing seems too much like giving up to me. I doubt PE would pay any attention anyway, but they might...and that I think is worth the effort and it out weighs any negative I can see that might be out there.

[H2O_Fowl]

What if.......... PE sold Champion to someone and fired Hopper and Hopper became the new CEO of Champion boats. What would ya'll do then.

I mean there are alot of dreams going on why not this one????

[Lea]

Jack...

Hopper is Forrest's SIL. He won't be going anywhere....

[iron banks]

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

Hopper is Forrest's SIL. He won't be going anywhere....</TD></TR></TABLE>

I heard him called a SOB but never a SIL

[Lea]

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

I heard him called a SOB but never a SIL </TD></TR></TABLE>
Too funny!!!!!!

[dave cance]

I've been watching this whole PE thing play out. I don't post on here much, but I do follow whats going on in here regularly. I prefer to keep my comments to myself and let the folks who know what the real deal is do the talking. This also keeps me from being banned!!!!!!. When it comes to boats I bleed ChampioN, anyone who knows me will tell you that.
I have a reason for watching closely as my boat is still under warranty, with that said I would rather see ChampioN stay out of business than be treated as 4th class and built in the same factory as ranger. Hopper already bled Champion dry once why give him a second chance.

[Bassin Bob71]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dave cance &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've been watching this whole PE thing play out. I don't post on here much, but I do follow whats going on in here regularly. I prefer to keep my comments to myself and let the folks who know what the real deal is do the talking. This also keeps me from being banned!!!!!!. When it comes to boats I bleed ChampioN, anyone who knows me will tell you that.
I have a reason for watching closely as my boat is still under warranty, with that said I would rather see ChampioN stay out of business than be treated as 4th class and built in the same factory as ranger. Hopper already bled Champion dry once why give him a second chance. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Dave, I couldn't have said it better myself. To Lea's point though, lets just wait this thing out and see what happens.

[rdrakeinOK]

My question to all of you who keep saying "Let's wait and see what happens" is this... Are you still going to be saying it a year from now when nothing has changed? It seems to me that what is going to happen has happened. The deafening silence doesn't say anything to you?

[FEARTHETURTLE210]

Dave, i called ranger and spoke with there customer service area and they told me that Ranger/PE was going to honor Champion warranties and that a letter was being drafted to be mailed to affected buyers. I havent received it yet but they did confirm there intentions. Right now the warranty is the prime objective for all owners who have one or anyone who wants to buy a left over boat on the showroom. As far as future production this is where we need to wait and see, i am sure they are getting organized with stocking parts and putting a game plan together to move forward.

[Lea]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rdrakeinOK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My question to all of you who keep saying "Let's wait and see what happens" is this... Are you still going to be saying it a year from now when nothing has changed? It seems to me that what is going to happen has happened. The deafening silence doesn't say anything to you?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The events leading up to the Genmar bankruptcy did not happen overnight. We just heard about it when the CH 11 was filed, but we heard nothing about what was going on in the months/years leading up to it. Additionally, the bankruptcy itself went from a "re-org" event to a dissolution event. That took many months after the original filing. And from dissolution to "sold", took even more time. That being said, PE has not owned us very long and they are in it strictly for the $. They are in a position to hold out for a good while before selling. A year or more? I hope not, but it's only been a couple of months since PE acquired the Genmar lines.

Looking at the big picture, it really has not been that long, tho I know it seems so to those of us who love our brand. Don't lose faith...

[rdrakeinOK]

I hope your right!

[Mizzou211]

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

What that IJ could buy Champion back?

Or that C&O would sell them again?</TD></TR></TABLE>
That C&O could sell (and maybe PRODUCE) them again. I don't think there would be anyone better suited to bring Champion back to the forefront of the boat market than Todd. Just my opinion...