Great read.....
Great read.....
Tim Stewart
\"98 Viper Coral 202
\"98 Mercury 225EFI
25 Tempest Plus B&B from Mark\'s Propellers
that's good stuff !i wish it was warmer so i could jump in my 1998 181 150 merc and just drive.
Pat
Please post some more stories . GREAT reading
Modified by ribbit_man at 6:10 AM 6/23/2011
Mike and my Champ
\"The Old Warriors\"
Pat - With all that knowledge you should run for Governor of Texas.
Pflugerville, Tx - Somewhere between a Rock and a Weird Place
To Pat Goff,
This was just great to read. I'm a new boat owner, I bought a 1990 184 18' DCR . This is my first boat and it sounds like I just happened to luck into a champ. I certainly wasnt looking for one specifically.
I just wanted to say thank you for the lesson in where my boat came from. While I dont know the people you mention this was a fascinating read.
If you ever get to des Moines, Let me know it would be my honor to buy you a beer.
Chris Nickell
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Gunnar »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">What was their main issue was Travis boats, they'd whore'd down the once decent cajun name to the point they were the lowest feeder in the pond, very poor quality and travis forcing warranty claims after they'd beat the life out of the boat was the main culprit for Irwin throwing in the towel.</td></tr></table>
Sounds to me like Travis is the Wal-Mart of the dealers...
Being new to BBC but 12 years into a '99 Champion (191SC w/200 Opti-Max), I started reading this and literally could not stop till I finished. Much appreciation to Mr. Goff for caring enough to share the history along with the many "extras"! It provided a wealth of insight and savvy that I likely would never had read or heard anywhere else about Champion. My blue and white babydoll was on display at the '99 Bassmaster's Classic in Greensboro, NC and was purchased through R&K Marine out of Knightdale, NC. I have loved it w/a passion since day one and this intriguing read has served to re-fan the flames. Thanks again to Pat Goff and thanks so much to Bass Boat Central for providing such a wonderful resource.
chubinit<br /><br />
Modified by chubinit at 4:23 PM 3/28/2011
Modified by chubinit at 4:25 PM 3/28/2011
Glad you joined us. My 1999 187 came from R&K. Wonderful friends!!!!
Please stick around...!!!!!
I am the second owner of a '99 181 f/s.
My friends can't believe how much I "baby it".
I' ve had it for 11 yrs. This boat will do everything I need a boat to do.
Champions: they're awesome!
ps; can't find the link to the demo tape mentioned at the top of the thread.
Steve- Indy
Can't find the link to the demo tape mentioned at the top of the thread. Steve- Indy
http://video.google.com/videop...hl=en#
Enjoy
Last edited by Gunnar; 05-16-2012 at 10:24 AM.
This has been some interesting reading. I came here because I am thinking about buying a Champion soon. I haven't read it all yet but some of the things I came across got my attention. I saw the part about when the company was bought and sold and rights to building certain style boats with held. Now that the company is gone and no one is basically building a boat of this style, could there be a possibility of this company resurfacing at some point in the future if the economy picks up, building the traditional Champion boat with the Champion name back in play?
Some of the things that were said about Ranger hit home to. I guess you could say at one point I was one of those sheep. I owned two 300 series Rangers and I found everything said about them in this thread to be true. They rode rough as haites and another thing that I didn't see mentioned was the fact that if you weren't very careful shutting them down coming off plane you were going to get wet from back wash...
Something else I was wondering about when I saw the video posted was the first time I ever laid eyes on a Champion was at a boat show in Monroe, La. back in the 80's . They had an awsome video that I watched over and over again that featured Kenny Loggins back ground music from the movie "Top Gun". I think it was called Highway to the Danger Zone.....I wondered if that video still exist.......
Modified by ogles824 at 7:49 PM 8/21/2011
2012 ZX200 Skeeter
2012 Yamaha Vmax SHO
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Gunnar »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
If I do get trapped in a cajun conversation, the first question is "does it say travis on it?" if so, it's crap, if not it's probably a decent hull. Tempers do flare, and egos are dreadfully damaged, but it's just facts. When you run your hand under the front deck, or under the floor of a travis boat and find bare plywood? Guess which end of the quality meter that boat pegs?
Pat Goff
</td></tr></table>
Pat,
I have to dissagree that this is a sign of lack of Quality.
My 2000 ChampioN has bare wood on the back side of my floors.
Modified by slinkeey at 2:52 PM 9/25/2011
Enjoyed the thread...
Hello Pat,
Great history did I miss your take on the 193?
where did the Mean 16 come in I just bought one and added a rebuilt Merc. 100 on take off if trim is all the way down the boat leans hard to the right when they installed motor they put it in 2nd hole and a 22 pitch prop. after research on here i found it call for 3rd hole 24 pitch prop new to this boat and would like some help
Thanks
John Adams
2000 Mean 16
Mercury 100 hp
Laplace LA
Very nice!
Where does the 1994 Champion 204 fit into all this? Anyone know who designed it or what hull its most similar to?
This has been the best history I can find on this hull so far: Champion 204 Is Big, Strong Fishing Machine - Orlando Sentinel
Last edited by bassburch; 06-06-2012 at 05:18 PM.
I have a 1999 193 anyone can share with me the history on this boat in the Champion world?
Can someone comment on sanding the hook out of a 2007 200 Champion- and comment on all around performance issues