Looking to buy a new Stratos

[UtahAngler]

Im looking to buy a Stratos just from recomendations from friends that have been in them. They tell me they handle the rough water as well as the champion. Can anyone varify this? We dont have a local Stratos dealer here so Im trying to get as much info about them as I can before I go to another state to test drive one. I currently have a 1998 201 cobra which is a pretty solid boat but if you get in rough water youre going to be soaked. Is the stratos a drier boat? Here in the west we commonly get some huge waves so I want something I can trust to get me back to the ramp.

[Neilslure]

I will say my Stratos provides a dry ride. Only time you get wet is when it rains and when the wind blows the spray back on you at low speeds. Everyone who has riden in mine says it rides nice too.

[stratos22ssextreme]

Like mine too.. would not trade it for anything.

[dukhntr]

I agree with Niel. They ride nice, but I drove a 200 Pro XL yesterday, and just idling into the no wake zone, I got sprayed and totally drinched my Oakleys. And NO!!! They do NOT ride as good as an equal in length Champion. Not very many people will disagreee with me though. You just gotta weigh your options. Better rough water ride, or faster boat???? After driving the 200 Pro XL, I am debating.....

[UtahAngler]

Im not as concerned about speed as I am with rough water handling. I know my friends little 19 foot champion handles the rough stuff a lot better than my 20 foot cobra so I can just imagine how well a 20 foot champion would do. I just like the looks of the Stratos a lot better than the champion. And Ive heard rumors that Genmar is going to quit making the champion. These two are the only two boats I have been considering.

[Ohirolina]

I have owned all three boats in question, although different lengths.

2002 201 D Cobra: Good lay out , great attention to detail, stupid cooler location, WET ride. Decent rough water handling. Fair seats.

2006 Stratos 201 Duo Pro XL: Very good rough water ride, Great storage, Great attention to detail. Slow customer service from the factory. Good for speed. Fair seats.

1998 Champion 186 Bass N Bay: Excellent rough water ride, Excellent attention to detail. Decent speed. Great layout, Great seats.

The Champion handled rough water better than the Cobra and close to as good as the Stratos. The Champion was as good as the Stratos in the dry ride comparison also. Don't get me wrong, I love my Stratos, but if Champion still made a Bass N
Bay with the old reliable hull design, It would have been my first choice. You will be happy with either choice. Just make sure it is your first choice (if you can afford it) even if there is only a few thousand difference in price.

[UtahAngler]

Thanks for the info guys, Im definatly going to go test drive a Stratos. Now I just need to get rid of the cobra. Might be easier said than done.

[H2O_Fowl]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by UtahAngler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Im not as concerned about speed as I am with rough water handling. I know my friends little 19 foot champion handles the rough stuff a lot better than my 20 foot cobra so I can just imagine how well a 20 foot champion would do. I just like the looks of the Stratos a lot better than the champion. And Ive heard rumors that Genmar is going to quit making the champion. These two are the only two boats I have been considering.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't think Genmar is going to quit making ChamPions anytime soon. I'm sure they will be around when you and I are worm food.

[dukhntr]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rngr481 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I don't think Genmar is going to quit making ChamPions anytime soon. I'm sure they will be around when you and I are worm food. </TD></TR></TABLE>


That is kinda what I was thinking.

[UtahAngler]

Im with you guys I dont know why they would quit building a great product its just what Ive heard around the tournaments.