Intro/questions/opinions

[No hot foot]

I think now I can finally start to participate here more. I finally got my 98 191 DCX Elite w/Suzuki DT200 efi in the water. Just got home from 5 day trip and because I've finally spent some time in the boat I feel now I can introduce myself as a Champion owner. So....I'm Jeff and I hibernate in MN. I did my stint as a tourney angler for 7 or 8 yrs starting back in 89 and quit that scene in 96 or 97. I have always been a bassin' guy since I was about 10 though (now 48). I sold my 1990 Cajun Elias in 2000 and have been fishing from Alumcraft until this season. I just couldn't do that anymore .

Ok, so my 191 Elite..... While I've ridden in other brands, oh hell....do I even need to do this?? This boat carves a corner beyond anything I've even imagined! What would seem considerable "whitecaps" to some are nothing but chop in this boat. Very impressed, very happy with boat performance. If there is a better Champion hull in this length I'd like to ride in one to see the difference. I can tell longer is better in rough at spanning waves as this is the longest boat I've owned, so I've no doubt some of the longer Champs are even better.

Just before my trip, I removed the MG Brute 67 and installed a Maxxum 80 w/52" shaft. I thought maybe the 52" would be a tad long but so far I'm getting along with it really well. I have always been a Minn Kota fan, no room in my life for anything but. 80lbs thrust is plenty enough for this rig, I would only want 101 if I was a river rat I guess.

Lowrance 332 w/gps at console is driving me batty. Doesn't read gps speed or temp. Flashes 32 deg for temp at all times and I have no idea about the speed?? I'd really like that speed reading though because I don't know if my speedo is working right and the temp is something I watch religiously this time of year. Was kinda pissed about that and I need to figure out a solution. Will those accurately read temps with shoot thru hull pucks? I seem to remember it working when I test drove the boat last fall but it doesn't now. My 1240A in the console dash doesn't work, it spins but the red diode doesn't light up. I gotta have a flasher too!

I was told the boat would run 70 mph with driver and his gear. I am 240, my oldest boy is 240, my youngest about 60. Lots of rods and tackle on board, full tank of gas = 55mph @5150 rpm. It did seem like we were going faster than 55 mph but I'm not going to say we were. It got really humid on Friday and it would only turn 4800 rpm. It seemed to run fine though, but the plugs are showing me it's running rich (fuel to air, not gas to oil). Even on the driest day (least humid) it was running rich. I was running 91 non oxy premium gas. Ok, so not impressed with speed, but I really don't care how fast it goes since I'm not competing anymore. Although slow (and I will work on getting more) I was really happy with it, it ran good.

Prop to pad is 4". Has 8" Slidemaster jackplate. I do not know what brand/model/pitch the prop is. I think the guy told me 23 pitch. It is a 3 blade and can't find anything on it. I will take it to local prop shop and see what they can tell me so I can try something else. Holeshot is pretty good, no gripes there but I wouldn't mind if it jumped a little harder.

I'm happy to be here, lovin' this boat and want for nothing more than this one. The ride is just....wow! Ok, so now I'm gonna start bugging you guys about getting this thing to run just a little bit harder.

[Lpolk]

Congrats on your Champion Boat. need pictures though. Try working on your setup and your RPMs and you should get a little more speed. Check over on the Suzuki boards and someone can maybe help you on your motor problems. Try different motor heights and props to get the best performance out of your hull. Champions are very weight sensitive also ,so shifting your loads and balancing it is also critical.

[No hot foot]

Thanks! I'm very happy with the boat. I know it should run a little harder but it was really loaded down this trip. I will test it solo and see what differences I find there.

Right now I'm more concerned with the 332c. GPS is new to me, never had that in my tourney days. I'll buy something else if I have to and honestly wouldn't mind something a little better. Having the speed reading would come in handy.

I'll get some pictures sometime. It is in excellent shape for a 98.

[pmgoffjr]

Weight=speed...100 lbs is easy 1 mph...

All that said, zukes are hard to setup right, prop choices are difficult and the gear ratio is whacked in them... like to know what prop they stuck on that thing.

Without an external temp sensor, a transducer mounted inside can't find a temperature...

If you're getting a GPS signal, you should find the setting to display speed. Keep punching buttons...

[Lea]

I have the 332c and ground speed is tucked into a spot called Overlay. Hit menu and scroll down to overlay. Also check Lowrance site on line for manuals. You should be able to download the manual for that rascal.

[No hot foot]

Mr Goff,

I will be sure to let you know which prop is on it when I find out. As for the GPS speed reading. I have it "overlayed" on my screen but it just stays at zero. When I start up the unit, I get a little window that says "position aquired". So, it is apparently getting a reading. I had to add speed to the overlayed info list, so I did figure out how to do that, it just doesn't read.

Lea, I have the manual and will dig through it before bed tonight and see what I can find out. As mentioned above I had added it to the list of overlayed info on my screen.

[siskiyoucrash]

Good deal on the 191, mine is a 98 191dcx also, great boat and I have had it since 99. Learned a hard lesson with sealing the transom,, do your self a favor and have your motor mount holes resealed with a quality silicone. The guy who did the transom told me that everybody should reseal at least every other year!! I repowered from a 200 merc EFI to a 200 Opti in 07,,do not hesitate to do this either. We plan on recarpeting and seats next year,,I do not have new boatitis!!! I also added a 52" Fortrex and an HDS5 Lowrance on the bow. The 52" troller is absolutly the way to go. Good Luck to you!!

[No hot foot]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by siskiyoucrash &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Good deal on the 191, mine is a 98 191dcx also, great boat and I have had it since 99. Learned a hard lesson with sealing the transom,, do your self a favor and have your motor mount holes resealed with a quality silicone. The guy who did the transom told me that everybody should reseal at least every other year!! I repowered from a 200 merc EFI to a 200 Opti in 07,,do not hesitate to do this either. We plan on recarpeting and seats next year,,I do not have new boatitis!!! I also added a 52" Fortrex and an HDS5 Lowrance on the bow. The 52" troller is absolutly the way to go. Good Luck to you!! </td></tr></table>

Your transom issues were the result of the repower, right? I'm going to look into a hoist to pull the engine and seal that up myself. If it should be done that often I might as well buy the equipment to do it.

My factory carpet and seats are still in great shape, except for maybe driver side console area, and it's not that bad there yet, just where most noticeable wear is.

If I fell into a good deal on a 'rude I'd sure try to find the money, but I'll live with the Suzuki for now. I honestly would not mind finishing my fishing days in this boat. It rides/handles sweet, loads and unloads great and with new electronics, in time, will be all I need.

[No hot foot]

Ok, I got the GPS reading speed now. Still only about 55 mph @ 5000- 5200 rpm. Manual says I can spin it up to 5600. I still haven't solo tested it yet though. I'm going to do 2 things at this point.

1)check for a dead cylinder. I saw Pat mention this to somebody else here but I don't suspect this at this point. Before I bought, some dealer tested all cylinders at 114/115 psi and all plugs look to be firing. Engine seems to run really smooth.


2) try to get some verification on what prop is on it. Holeshot is ok but if I can run lower pitch to bring up rpm, I'll get better holeshot, right? Doesn't fuel consumption climb with rpm increase? I mean, wouldn't it suck more gas running 5600 than 5000 WOT? Or, is that a negligent concern? I'm not sure I care that it goes any faster but I wouldn't mind better holeshot.

Anybody have any links to tutorial on when/why you'd want a 4 blade over a 3 blade? I need some education on that AND engine height changes.

[siskiyoucrash]

Yep the shop that hung the new motor on did not reseal or even put any new sealer in the holes! And I aggravated it by not checking it out and letting it sit in the garage with water in the bilge! Like I say BIG lesson learned the hard way! Have fun with it , it is a great boat!

[siskiyoucrash]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by No hot foot &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Ok, I got the GPS reading speed now. Still only about 55 mph @ 5000- 5200 rpm. Manual says I can spin it up to 5600. I still haven't solo tested it yet though. I'm going to do 2 things at this point.

1)check for a dead cylinder. I saw Pat mention this to somebody else here but I don't suspect this at this point. Before I bought, some dealer tested all cylinders at 114/115 psi and all plugs look to be firing. Engine seems to run really smooth.


2) try to get some verification on what prop is on it. Holeshot is ok but if I can run lower pitch to bring up rpm, I'll get better holeshot, right? Doesn't fuel consumption climb with rpm increase? I mean, wouldn't it suck more gas running 5600 than 5000 WOT? Or, is that a negligent concern? I'm not sure I care that it goes any faster but I wouldn't mind better holeshot.

Anybody have any links to tutorial on when/why you'd want a 4 blade over a 3 blade? I need some education on that AND engine height changes.</td></tr></table>As for the difference between the 3 blade and the 4 blade,,pretty near everybody on here will tell you to go to the 3 blade, except me&gt; The three blade is a couple miles faster if that matters to you OK,,but I like the 4 blade Trophy 25" on my 191. It has great hole shot and handling especially in rough water is alot better. Also if you ever go with more than two in the boat it will handle the weight. At Brownlee Res. in Idaho the other day we were fishing 4 guys in mine and it still came out of the hole in good shape,,at 2100 elevation. It really depends on what you do with the boat and what you value the most! IMHO

[No hot foot]

Thanks for your replies Larry. I'm lost on propping this thing. Trying to figure out how to prop for more rpm AND speed at the same time is confusing the heck out of me. I don't need to go faster but it seems it should. Normally, I'd be willing to give up a few mph for better holeshot but not when I'm only getting 55 mph. I'm sure not wanting to give up holeshot for speed right now and my limited knowledge of this crap is telling me I'm stuck right where I'm at.

I pulled my prop and it's a 14 3/4" x 23 pitch (3 blade) Suzuki Thunder. Found a brand new 25 pitch but thats going to drop my rpm and I need to gain 400 there, not lose it. So, a 21 would do that for me but then I'll be going even slower.