285XL... WOW!

[fmm1]

Well I was off today and decided to head down to my local Stratos dealer to check out a 285xl. Well sure enough they have one, same color scheme as what was on the website. (blue/silver/white). It was a dual console with a non-h.o. etec. Had what the dealer called the pro-package, lights in all compartments, hot foot, PTO, third seat (didnt like that option), boarding ladder (the flip down one), hydraulic steering. He quoted me just over 27k, and said there was some room to play due to ordering it along with a bunch of other boats. The boat was gorgeous. He also said that there is not a huge difference between the h.o. and the regular etec. They are an dealer for Rude, but said if I wanted an Optimax he could order it that way without problem but id have to take it to the dealer 2 blocks up the road for motor service.

Let me say this... The fit and finish was incredible. Much better than I expected. The boat was gorgeous, and im taking a very hard look at moving into a Stratos...

[Todd Morgan]

He's right.....not a lot of difference performance wise with the HO or the standard ETEC.

The only physical difference is the stripes on the cowling and the Lightning gearcase.

Pick it up! You'll be very happy with it!

[fmm1]

haha, I was waiting for you to offer me a better price!!!

[mrbassfla]

check out the dealer in st.cloud,advancemarine has some good deals, ask for joe ,tell him Don Hinman sent you,he's a good guy.see ya at the next bbc tour.

[fmm1]

Yea ive talked to AB about it. He's in with those guys over at Advanced Marine also. I will be checking around, but first i'll need to sell my Ranger.

[bassnbuc]

Were you at Accent? Ted, Maxine and Randy are great to deal with. That's where I bought my 294, and they serviced my old Ranger w/ a GT Johson for nearly 10 years. They will give you a good deal. If you buy it now, you can fish in the FLorida Stratos Owners Tourney at the end of April. Accent puts that on pretty much themsleves with little to no help from Stratos.

[AB]

I got my entry form for the tourney a few days ago, wish I could be there this year, but I'm going to be at the race at Tholocco, AL that weekend...

Mike, they are right, Accent is a good dealer with good people. They will treat you right. I'll see what we can do for you as well, and hopefully between both dealers, one will have you in a Stratos soon....or you could just buy mine...

[mrbassfla]

yes they do a great on the owners tournament, i'am fishing it this year, missed it last yr,me and my son won it in 2006 . hope to do good this yr

[fmm1]

Yea, I actually spent probably 45 minutes or more talking with Randy. Great guy! I really liked that he didnt try to upsell me into a larger rig, but talked very openly about the +/- of each boat we looked at. He also had a great way of explaining both the Optimax, and Etec's. I've also been in contact with C&O Marine. If I can move this Ranger, i'll buy one.

[Clint S]

the middle seat is standard with the dual console. it will take 5 minutes to remove it if you don't want it in there.

[fmm1]

Randy told me the same, but what I saw was that the back had been screwed into the fiberglass. Didn't like that. Im not interested in the DC just because the amount of room it takes up. I like to dance on my front deck, and i wouldnt be able to with it on there.

[StratosNCO]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Clint S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the middle seat is standard with the dual console. it will take 5 minutes to remove it if you don't want it in there.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

its one screw, takes about 20 sec. Kind of like Clint

[fmm1]

One screw wouldnt be bad, I could cover that with a nice little sticker.

Damn you and Clint are mean LOL

[JohnM]

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

its one screw, takes about 20 sec. Kind of like Clint </TD></TR></TABLE>

I keep wondering how he knows all this personal stuff about Clint. They can't tell, and I ain't gonna ask.

[Clint S]

i have a single console, but i got the middle seat insert as an option. mine had 3 screws. when i took it out, i just put a little dab of caulking in the holes.

as far as trent's knowledge of my sex-life. it's a lot like fishing. he thinks he knows what he's talking about, but as usual, he's completely clueless.

[fmm1]

I sent Todd a list, just waiting for him to get back to me!

[fmm1]

Here is the website photo of the boat I looked at:

[Musky Mike]

You can take the seat bottom out and take off the bracket off. Then put Velcro on the bottom of the seat/boat and then leave it in when you want it, or leave it a home.