The widebody update,update

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Ok Tommy and I stopped by Fri,(he will be on here in a little),Joe wanted to show off the new 195 Foxfire,Ill get to it in a min ,and the new widebody 21'3" .It is going to be a beast.Here what I can tell you ,80 inches in front of the cosole,and 70 at the seat post,and40 at the front of the bow.You will be able to stick a 1198 or HDS in the bow.The hull will be a 396 wing pad and the front will be a semi v hull . Tommy will give his you his 2 cents in a little bit. <br /><br />
Modified by TOUCH OF CLASS at 8:43 AM 6/20/2011<br /><br />
Modified by TOUCH OF CLASS at 9:01 AM 6/20/2011


Modified by TOUCH OF CLASS at 9:02 AM 6/20/2011

[Tommy13]

To add to what TOC said, THIS THING IS HUGE!

Not only is it over 80 inches in front of the consoles it keeps that width as you move forward. Losing only 2 inches as you get near the seat then tapering in from about 78 inches just shy of the pedastal to 70 at the seat and 40 at the bow panel.

Storage:

3 HUGE storages boxes between the rod lockers (which by the looks of it will easily swallow 8 foot to 9 foot rods the deck is just over 100 inches long) a storage box that also acts as a step and two big livewells a cooler and two good sized storage boxes on the back deck plus the bilge area. Did I mention its big? I kept saying "Joe this thing looks like a deck boat from the top."

Hull:

The hull itself looks just like any other Charger with the 396's pad in the rear. The difference is they have shaved the "extra deep" bow keil from the boat. Joe even showed us the material that they removed. We know the thing ran in the mid 70's with a simulated tourney load and a 225 pro xs hung on the back. We should see big numbers with a proper 250 or 300 and finished consoles.

I know you all want to know how its coming. I've been right there wondering what is taking so long. The mold is done. We all know that. The hull is dialed in. The top cap is done, we got to see all the lid locations where the seats belong and where the consoles will be located. There may be some tweaks but I would say its 95% or better. Right now the boat is still without primer or paint. Joe said they will be spraying it probably this week and next. We also got to see the mock ups for the consoles and now I know what is taking so long. They are designing all of this totally from scratch. Everything on this boat is new and cutting edge. They aren't repurposing the consoles from another boat. They are getting close to a design they will go with and it looks really good but I'm sure Joe and the guys will be changing some things here and there as they move forward.


I was impressed. Its about 6 inches shorter than my current 596, but with the squared off transom and that HUGE front deck it makes my boat look small.

No pics, too much bondo and unfinished edges. But stay tuned. I'll be visiting regularly to watch things take shape. Seeing the 195 and some of the small graphic and color scheme ideas they are trying makes me even more excited to see the finished product.

[TX-Fisher]

Sweeeeeeeet

[Stompy]

I know I'm ready to see one. Will probably be my next boat if it will handle rough water pretty decent. I don't figure it will be like the 496-596 but the extra room will sure be nice. Hopefully it will be at least a good riding boat.

[lasalle155]

Yeah, only an experienced Charger owner's test ride will be the deciding factor for me. I hate to think they are just building another Ranger or Nitro. TOC, I will be waiting for your text ride results. My 496's front deck may be wide enough. It certainly is not "tippy" like my old narrow Champion hull. My home lake, Falcon, gets too rough for the Nitro's and Rangers of the world. I know first hand. I may just have to keep my 496!

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Ya I know what you mean,the 496 and 396 and 596 or rock solid.Nothing like the Champions (183,187,203s etc.)I know they say it aint tippy,but I have been in 3 models and all were very tippy. They do ride good but I like to have the best of both worlds.The Charger has a wide bottom to correct this and still give a great ride.And the new 195 Foxfire will be fast ,ride very very good and handle like its on rails.If you dont have to have a deck the size of a aircraft carrier than it will be pefect for some guys.

What most guys dont under-stand is the physics of a hull design.A tri hull (basscat ,ranger,phoenix, skeeter etc) can only displace so many cubic gals a sec,once it has reached its max you will trap water under the hull and bam you are hitting a rock wall,with the Charger there are no sides at the front ,just all V it will displace as much water as you can throw at it as the water is always leaving never getting traped in the hull.

The new boat will be for the guys that have to have the widest deck around,they dont care about ride (they never see rough water) .If you were on LOZ this weekend and Memorial day weekend you would just see how good or bad your rig handles the rough stuff.I saw alot of guys in x brand boats that were taking a pounding and some could not even get on plane.I do alot of fishing there and I will be out with biggest boats out there.Thats why I bought the Charger. <br /><br />
Modified by TOUCH OF CLASS at 8:36 AM 6/21/2011<br /><br />
Modified by TOUCH OF CLASS at 8:39 AM 6/21/2011


Modified by TOUCH OF CLASS at 8:50 AM 6/21/2011

[Stompy]

With the length I would think that would help the ride some. I'm not a speed demon anymore. My boat (396) will run about 67 with 2 people and a full load but it rarely sees that. I need a boat that when I'm on Amistad and the lake get rough with 3-4 footers, I feel safe getting back to the ramp. I don't need to get back there at 60mph, just need to feel safe.

TOC,,,My new 396 (2007 model) is squared off in back and the V is cut down some due to it's width. Is the new widebody the same hull as the current 396? If it is, and with the extra 18", that should do fine for me. My 396 is not as good as my old 195, but it ain't bad.

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

No it is not the same,it is tri hull design in the front.No deep v like yours,but it does have your pad which was designed to lift and carrie a load.

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Here is a semi v hull 12 inches deep.The V stops at the deep sides of the boat.Only the black is the only thing that cuts the water,the yellow you see is the sides of the boat,so it is basically flat under there all the way across.




heres a 24inch deep v (comes all the way up to the rub rail.
<br /><br />
Modified by TOUCH OF CLASS at 11:05 AM 6/21/2011<br /><br />
Modified by TOUCH OF CLASS at 11:11 AM 6/21/2011


Modified by TOUCH OF CLASS at 10:58 AM 6/22/2011

[Tommy13]

Time and tests will tell how the boat actually rides. It is different than our current boats and the v isn't as deep. Its not as shallow as the other super wide boats out there. It looks more like the 475 hull.

[lasalle155]

TOC,

Thanks for the pictures. They help a lot. Your 596 looks like a battleship! This is all going to be very interesting to watch play out. Thanks for your help as well, Tommy.

DW

[TX-Fisher]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by lasalle155 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">TOC,

Thanks for the pictures. They help a lot. Your 596 looks like a battleship! This is all going to be very interesting to watch play out. Thanks for your help as well, Tommy.

DW</td></tr></table>

+1

One question when are we gonna see the new brochure and a website update?
Also you hinted before Joe was working on some other stuff like what?

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

[TX-Fisher]

Come on give us something were greedy and nosey

Anyway what about the brochure and web site?

[Stompy]

Sick of waiting on this thing,,,Going out to buy a Stratos

They need to sh%# or get off the pot on this boat,,,,,I WANT TO SEE IT!!!!!!

[bob o]

i hope they didn't go all Basscat on there consoles, damn BCB's are just plain fugly

[Stompy]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bob o &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">i hope they didn't go all Basscat on there consoles, damn BCB's are just plain fugly </td></tr></table>

I agree 100% with ya on that Bob.

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Nope nothing like the cats,they are round.

[bob o]

<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">Nope nothing like the cats,they are round.</td></tr></table>

good call, now all ya need is a dealer in michigan

[Stompy]

And a couple of good ones in Texas