WideBody and 195 Update

[Tommy13]

I talked to Joe this afternoon and here's the latest "approved" scoop on both boats.

Sorry if any of this is a repeat but here goes....

WideBody:

Like our early name suggests it is WIDE! I've not seen it yet but should get my chance tomorrow.

Joe says its wide enough at the TM pedal tray to comfortably accomidate to grown men. He said the middle of the front deck is somewhere around 7 to 8 inches wider than a 496 (you do the math)

The removable passenger console will be along the lines of what is in the Phoenix boats. Very quick and easy to install or remove.

There will be a place for a recessed HDS-10 or 1197 in the dash and an HDS-8 on the bow.

They are working right now to get the consoles set up properly and finalize details on the cap. Joe said tooling and details are the big issue right now. The hull design is locked in and he would like to put some pics out but there are still details to finish. The decks are basically done they are working out the details like guage placement and such. He's really excited about the totally new boat and know's we're all waiting so stay tuned.

195 FOXFIRE:

Less to report here but I can assure you all that pictures will be coming out soon. They have just installed an HDS-5 in the dash and a HDS-7 at the bow. After a few minor detail changes the official pics will be out. I'm hoping to talk Joe into letting me leak some pics. Cross your fingers.

Hopefully this will help hold us over until we get more. I'll update you all with more info after my visit tomorrow.

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

I cant wait to get a ride in that new boat,It is going to suprise alot of guys that have never rode or seen a Charger.
And that 195 is going to be a steal at 35,000 ish.Guys will throw away their 20 footers once they ride in a 195 with a 200 pro xs on it.

[Tommy13]

Joe said they are their own worst enemy. Folks don't want to let go of those old 195s but the new boat will convince some of them it's time to upgrade.

[Stompy]

What are the lengths going to be on the new wide bodys?

[TX-Fisher]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Tommy13 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I talked to Joe this afternoon and here's the latest "approved" scoop on both boats.

Sorry if any of this is a repeat but here goes....

WideBody:

Like our early name suggests it is WIDE! I've not seen it yet but should get my chance tomorrow.

Joe says its wide enough at the TM pedal tray to comfortably accomidate to grown men. He said the middle of the front deck is somewhere around 7 to 8 inches wider than a 496 (you do the math)

The removable passenger console will be along the lines of what is in the Phoenix boats. Very quick and easy to install or remove.

There will be a place for a recessed HDS-10 or 1197 in the dash and an HDS-8 on the bow.

They are working right now to get the consoles set up properly and finalize details on the cap. Joe said tooling and details are the big issue right now. The hull design is locked in and he would like to put some pics out but there are still details to finish. The decks are basically done they are working out the details like guage placement and such. He's really excited about the totally new boat and know's we're all waiting so stay tuned.

195 FOXFIRE:

Less to report here but I can assure you all that pictures will be coming out soon. They have just installed an HDS-5 in the dash and a HDS-7 at the bow. After a few minor detail changes the official pics will be out. I'm hoping to talk Joe into letting me leak some pics. Cross your fingers.

Hopefully this will help hold us over until we get more. I'll update you all with more info after my visit tomorrow.</td></tr></table>

[lasalle155]

I have been told 21 foot, 3 inches long. Beam will remain the same, 95-96 inches. I have seen pictures of top and bottom sections. I still need a finished picture to make my final appraisal. I need to see a VEE that is still deeper than a standard bass boat hull. I could not tell from the pictures I saw from Joe. I love the idea of 7 inches wider at the trolling motor pedal, but not at the expense of my current 496's rough water ride.

[lasalle155]

Hey, Mr. Touch of Class, will you be our official "ride and decide" man on the new wide body? Please get a windy day to do your test and give us all an honest report on the new hull. Me personally, I'd like to know how it compares to the 496, which I think is the "almost perfect" bass boat already. And I need to see a picture of the hull at an angle that shows the new VEE in relation to the back pad. Count me out if there's not much drop up front. Your appraisal could be very valuable to my decision to possibly be one of the first to order the wide body. Thanks

[E73bass]

Will storage remain the same?

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by lasalle155 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Hey, Mr. Touch of Class, will you be our official "ride and decide" man on the new wide body? Please get a windy day to do your test and give us all an honest report on the new hull. Me personally, I'd like to know how it compares to the 496, which I think is the "almost perfect" bass boat already. And I need to see a picture of the hull at an angle that shows the new VEE in relation to the back pad. Count me out if there's not much drop up front. Your appraisal could be very valuable to my decision to possibly be one of the first to order the wide body. Thanks</td></tr></table>


By looking with the eye,it is 7 to 10 inches of less V.The sides of the boat come all the way to the front(basscat ,ranger,and even Chargers own bay boat and the 475 fish and ski)

.Now I know it will not ride like the DEEP Vs that Charger has now and has been said many times in magazines and on here that there is no other ride like a Charger.And as some have found out ,they will run as fast if not faster than some of the other boats on here(195 w 200 pro xs 75+)now I dont know of to many running that speed witha 200 and evn a 250.

Now with that said even in the magazine right ups the bay boat was one smooth rough water boat,and very fast for a 23 foot boat.So this new boat might really supprise us.

So having been in just about every model that Charger has made,and owned 3 different models for 20 + years ,I will give my opinion on this model,but its going to be hard to beat the deep Vs of now.

[Tommy13]

I'll be sure to update you all again after I actually see the boat today. I'll be twisting Joe's arm for a ride. I only live about 20 mins from the factory so hopefully I can report more as things move along. I know ToC will be talking to Joe as well.

Things are moving along and Joe is more than willing to talk about the boat and show it off. He just isn't ready to post pics of an unfinished boat. We talked about the size storage and other aspects and he assured me it would compare favorably to the Z9 and big rangers for deck space and storage, plus ride better and run faster.

[foxfire496]

Make sure you get some pics.

[TX-Fisher]

Soooooo????? Where's the review and pics? So is the hull gonna be like the one on the bay charger?

[tae73]

Maybe they can work on updating the trailers. Need to get rid the box tubing go with channel. My last boat was charger and was bought new, was rusting in less than a year.

[wishitwasbigger]

Tube or box, everyone has a bitch about one or the other! Half of the trailers are made by the same hand full of manufactures. Good luck with the rust on you cast iron C channel frame

[E73bass]

Just pay extra to have EZ-Loader---Line-X it and be done.

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

yep mine is a 2000 and no problems. plus box is alot stronger the c channel.

[tae73]

First off you all need to calm down, I am not here to start a pissing match. I have meet Mike at the plant several times. I really like Chargers but the 296/396 wouldn't fit in my garage.

I have had my cat which has the channel frame, no rust and its 3 years old and have over 300 hours on the boat. Secondly tube or box are the same thing, the problem with them is that there is no protection from rusting on the inside. Unless you have a hot dipped galvanized trailer. Maybe mine was the last one to be painted on friday before a 3 day weekend.

[Stompy]

I went down a chipped sealed road at night last year and it sand blasted my trailer. Had it lined with a product like Rhino for $700 and problem solved...Oh yea, insurance paid for it..

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by tae73 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">First off you all need to calm down, I am not here to start a pissing match. I have meet Mike at the plant several times. I really like Chargers but the 296/396 wouldn't fit in my garage.

I have had my cat which has the channel frame, no rust and its 3 years old and have over 300 hours on the boat. Secondly tube or box are the same thing, the problem with them is that there is no protection from rusting on the inside. Unless you have a hot dipped galvanized trailer. Maybe mine was the last one to be painted on friday before a 3 day weekend.</td></tr></table>


not pissy here all trailers will rust,if you have more salt and humid you might be more prone to rust,and were you trailer (gravel etc.)