Best hulls ever made...period, it's not up for debate!

Champions were great boats! I actually had one when they fell under the stratos/genmar/ranger fallout back 10 years ago. My only bad thing on the old champions was the high bow rise. It was extremely hard on your back when fishing. It was like standing on a BMX ramp all day. They had narrow decks and really unstable with a big guy in the back. However they were still solid boats and looked really awesome.

Where are all my Champion guys at?

Agree with everything in this video! You nailed it Andy

I’m the proud owner of a 2004 Champion 196 dual console and I love this boat. Great layout, plenty of storage and tops out around 63 mph with the 200 Optimax. The boat still looks amazing and I often get compliments on it wether I’m at the lake, gas station or anywhere else. I understand these later models don’t have the wood transoms (2003 and later) and mine is still solid. I have a friend who bought an older model and the transom was rotted so he had it replaced. Looks and runs great now. Merry Christmas.

My grandad has a 97, 18 foot Champion with a Mariner 175. Solid boat to this day. Will run in the 60's, I'm sure could hit 70 in glass water. It's been an awesome boat. Everything is still original, carpeting, seats. We love it. Plan to take care of it and keep it for years to come. My grandad bought it brand new, he will be 88 in January and can still drive that boat like no one else.

Thanks for the Holiday Cheer Andy! Your video was a great Christmas present. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Andy, here's wishing you a merry Christmas a prosperous 2022. Great show, look forward to getting that notification cause I know it's going to be a great show. Thanks again

HAPPY HOLIDAY’S! Keep up the awesome work!

I have a '96 191 SCE. Bought it 8 years ago and still running strong. Love it!

Champ owner here! Always wanted one growing up as a kid…that or a Ranger. Glad I grabbed the Champ - best riding boat I’ve ever been on.

On point!!! I’ve owned 2 champions boats and boy do I miss them and I’m going on record to say Champions & Legends were the two best boat ever built hands down

Bought a new champion in 1989, 184 with 175 Mariner. Got rear ended by a Dodge minivan, broke the engine brackets and motor was hanging by steering cables. No damage to transom. Loved that boat. Out ran my friend in his 361 ranger with a 200 on it and definitely out cornered him.

In 1989 I left Louisiana and made a trip to the champ factory in Mt Home and picked out a 186 DC blk with red and silver flake. They delivered it to a dealer down the rd. It had 150 merc. 6 yrs later I exchange it for a 200 Johnson changed out some props where it did 72, what a ride. Years later I bought the 203 have spent some bucks on it but proud to have it. The best riding boat I have ever been in and I have been in quite a few over the yrs. I have had people tell me if I ever sell it they want it. Merry Christmas to you and others

When I was 15 years old bank fishing and first saw a bass boat floating it was a Champion. Told myself I will own one when I can mustard up some serious cash. On my second Champion. The 210 Elite. I’m happy now.

My 1rst bass boat was a 2000 202SC tournament edition, blood red in color with alil silver pinstripe... she was a REAL looker and i got so many compliments on it. Partial traded it off for my '17 520C Ranger ( moreless just to get more up to date stuff on a boat) Great series... keep'm coming👍

Awesome video! Glad my suggestion worked. Owned a 98 203 and only sold if for my 2008 210. Loved them both

You nailed it in this video. I own a 98 202 and absolutely love it. No transom or trailer issues yet but if/when it happens I'll fix it to keep the boat. I fish Lake Erie a lot and this is an incredible rough water boat. Thanks for posting cool content.

Champion #1

mine is an 87 ,18ft. love it. great boat, no issues ,best ride on the lake.

Merry Christmas to all you guys at Team Marine and here’s hoping for a great New Year!

Merry Christmas! Can't wait to get my boat out on the water 🎄⛄

Currently running my 1996 180 fushunter. It's the first champ that I've owned but I've been fishing out of my older cousins 210 fishunter since it was new in 2004. Always loved champion boats ever since I rod in it for the first time when I was 9 years old.

2008 198 bought new. No need for anything else. Mid-sixties boat with 225 optimax, loaded. No problems at all. When the wind blows and the waves roll, I just cruise with 1 hand on the wheel. Great boat! Friend of mine has a 202……it’s like driving a Ferrari! Handling is unbelievable.

One of the best qualities was how great it rode at 16 mph going to the next close spot. It rode not only amazing fast but also just enough on plane to get to the next point

I am lucky enough to own a 2003 champion 203. Absolutely love it! Smooth ride and 70mph plus boat. Wanted a one since 1987 and finally got her in 2017. Still beautiful boat and can be shined up to new boat equality. Best friend got a 18.5 champion in 87 brand new and a champion was all I wanted from then on LOL

My 96’ 191 is still goin strong. Gel coat still looks like she rolled off the show room floor back then. Transom so far is still good, no flex and that ol 200merc still fires up on the first turn. I love my girl!

Champions must have been an awesome boat for Basscat to offer the 203 hull in Cougar and Puma line as an option starting in 2019. People still seek these boats out, too. Matt Allen did a review about buying a used Champion on the Tactical Bassin Channel. Thanks for sharing 🍺 🎣

have had my 2004 188 since 2010 no major issues. Top cap kept getting loose around 2016 but i resealed with sikaflex and still holding tight until this day. Also cleaned up and resealed the transom cap and jackplate / jack plate bolts for preventative measures.

Merry Christmas team marine!

First off, I would like to say that I love your channel, especially the Over/Under. I owned a 2000 Champ 193SCX for 16 years. Best rough water ride ever! I did not have any transom issues, or any other structural issues at all. It sat on a Dri Doc Trailer which was total garbage. Broken leaf spring and several broken swing away tongues, axle problems ect… How about a “GOOD, BAD & UGLY” on the 2020 Ranger Z520L? Keep up the great work!

I picked up an '88 champion single console. It's only been in 2 Texas lakes since new. Stored inside when it wasn't in water. It has a few scuffs, solid transom, great design. It was my choice between it and a gambler intimidator. Powered by a Yamaha proV 150. It needs some minor tlc; switches, fuses, oil injection system cleaned our replaced, new live well pumps and aerators, nav light bases. The trailer (ti) needs come cosmetic attention. Wood under carpet is almost gone. Replacing it with aluminum diamond plate. Running boards seem to be in good shape. The emergency breaking system seems outdated but still working. The jack location is in the worst spot ever. That will be relocated to the drive side of town vehicle. Great video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Merry Christmas! Love my ‘96 202

Got a 2003 196 with a 2.5L 200 EFI. Definitely not the fastest boat, but fishes great, rides unbelievable in rough water, and I can fit behind the console....haha 6’5” limits you on certain brands and sizes in the older boats. Still looks better than most boats only a few years old when at the lake and definitely agree with how the boats still look modern and up to date for their years. They are Timeless.

I rocked an 85 184 SC for a few years. She got me home in some sketchy situations I had no reason being in!! Quality of that boat is why I went Gatortrax. I appreciate quality, and need to have faith that the boat will get me home safe.

Merry Christmas team marine . Love my 202 don’t ever see me letting it go ( solid transom still 97) the people that I know of that know the stories best are Matthew snooks (worked at mountain home and built all the special hulls) and pat Geoff I have read many articles from these 2 and have even asked set up questions over the years and they are spot on. I hope they see this video and chime in .

Never had any experience with the bass boats but I've fished out of a 2006 24' bay champion with twin Yamaha 150 4 strokes inshore and offshore. Still the best riding boat I've ever been in.

I have owned my 2004 Champion 206 dual console since 2013. Love the boat with its great ride & storage. Repowered it last spring with the great Suzuki 250 SS matt black. In the next few weeks will be rebuilding the transom

I have a 98 187 champion that I picked up in Mountain Home. It's a dual console elite and has been repowered with a 2010 175 Mercury Optimax. Boat is in fantastic shape, still has same carpet and seat backs. Dean's replaced my seat bottoms, which match perfectly. Trailer was plagued with the monolith springs breaking and the hollow tubular frame rusted from the inside. It now has a McLain's aluminum trailer. Never an issue with transom or hull. Seat bases were changed to stainless and seat posts are springfield snap fit. The old tapered seat posts were a nightmare.

Do any of you know the real story on what happened to Champion? Let us know in the comments

Love your videos. Purchased a 1992 190Dc 2 years ago. Love it, took some TLC but its getting there. Miss my 1987 184DCFS. If i could afford to replace that 200 Evinrude. Runs great even with tge hard startibg and smoke. Keep up the great work. Darrell

I've owned a number of bass boats over the years and after retiring, I looked long and hard to find and purchase a 184 dual console. It was a 1 owner boat with a 2017 Merc 150 PRO XS that has been a tourney warrior since day one. IMO, the 184's are the best handling boat ever designed.

You hit the nail on the head

Im on my 2nd champ , first was 79 16' super v with a 150 , crazy fun to drive , i actually just picked up a 87 176 with a yamaha , over all boat is in great shape. Love the content , get that champ built you had in the shop . Peace

Great video! I’m a Champion owner. I haven’t seen a better bass boat yet.

Champion had transom issues in wood transom boats ( pre 2004 ) composite transoms are very strong . Having had both and being a champion fan I have learned a lot about them over the years . A lot of guys like the narrow boats for the ride but fishing wise the wide body champs are far superior. Very stable platform and can run in pretty rough water

Merry x mas and hope you guys have a very blessed New Year,

I had an 88 Champion custome orderd from the factory, with a supped up Merc XR6 and I honestly did a 180 degree turn at 60 MPH. The G force put my passenger to the floor. That boat was amazing. I had people at tournaments take the VIN number because 150 HP was the max at the time and they couldn't believe I was legal. That was one fast Mercury. I loved that boat. I lost it in a divorce.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TEAM MARINE SERVICE. Hope y’all have a SAFE & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!🎣😉🇺🇸👍

I have a Elite 193 haven't since 1999 best bit ever and yes the transom was rebuilt but she still looks new

I got a 17’ 1986 champion. Probably the biggest negative for me is: compared to modern bass boats the front deck is small. I had a problem with fumes from the rear gas tank. Seemed like it was a design flaw from day one. I took my time to think about how to repair it. I actually found a Sea dog gas cap just like the original, installed it directly to the tank, pressure tested and took care of all the leaks. Overall I keep believing that the hull is just heavily built and still rides better than any other boat I’ve ever been on. So I’m going to re-gelcoat it to the tune of $7000. February I should be getting 150 hp Yamaha put on to the tune of $15,000. At $22,000 I believe it’s gonna be worth every penny. The trailer is built with channel iron and still seems to be rock solid! In PA you don’t need an inspection on a 17 foot trailer, so we removed all of the surge brake components and welded the tongue. I may eventually retrofit it with two axles and disc brakes. That will probably cost just close to a trailer replacement, but I feel retrofitting the older trailer is a better decision.

Happy Holidays! Speed, money, no brakes, and I am sure I will be in soon with the Gambler.

Merry Christmas to. You all!

My buddy bought a 187 the same year I bought a Ranger 350v. That 187 was the best riding boat I ever rode in, hands down. My Ranger always out ran it but you had to be a 'bullrider' in the slightest chop. Lol! I still have my Ranger but he sold his 187 after 6-7 years. Never did find out why, I would've bought it, too!

Merry Christmas TEAM MARINE Speed , Money , No , Brakes !!!!!!!!!

I’ve got a 2000 202 and it looks brand new. The transom is dry as a bone but but I seal it every 5 years. It stays in my shop when it’s not on the water. The main thing on any boat care is to remember it’s a boat not a submarine. Keep it out of the weather.

So I’m going to look at a 79 on Tuesday. She’s been completely overhauled and the transom has been done, she’s a decent looker as well. Everything I just heard made me feel more at ease with her being the age she is, thanks!

The Champ 203 was a great boat for sure....a great riding boat as I remember. As far as stress cracks go, none of my BassCats ever had a stress crack ( with plenty of use in Lake Erie) just sayin

Merry Christmas, hope to see Return of the Champ again soon.

Don’t forget about the Mean 15, those boats were wide as 19ft Bass Cat back in 1990 , also I saw a 150 on one, they were rated for a 85 or 90 horse!

Andy I’ve owned 2 champions. One was the 1980 “champ” which rode great for an older boat on the smaller side. I currently have a 1993 204 DCX, which has an unbelievable ride in rough water. Can’t say enough on how much I like running a Champion. No transom issues yet. If there ever is I’m sure I’ll replace the transom and keep running it. Too nice of a boat not to!

I have a 2006 22 bay champ and I absolutely love it

Happy holiday!!!’

The fishhunter Champs have the gunnel to gunnel transom. My 1996 180 fishunter has a rock solid transom. Still running the original 175 efi mariner.

196 owner. Love it! Abused it and she's stil here! l

I worked in Murfreesboro near the end and yes you're right

I just wanted to say I got my first champion boat this because of your page and reviews of it. I bought a 98’ champion 202

2005 196 with a gas luvin 200 Merc EFI here. Good boat, only ChampN I've ever owned but rode in several others. Appreciate the review on Champs. I'll never sell mine but do need a new trailer desperately as the tube trailer is like sitting on a grenade with the pin pulled.

My 2004 206 dual console champion should have an all composite transom right. Shouldn’t rot? I’m asking because I’m having it rebuilt in a week & the service guy told me it was rotten. Also any advise on propping my 2004 206 with the 2020 Suzuki 250ss. Have 4 blade 27p Suzuki prop running 69mph 6300rpms. Tried scorpion 29p and ran 67mph at 5700rpms.

Bought new 98 186dc. Absolutely loved it. White with black neon stripes. Everything you said spot on. Springs broke champion replaced free. Transom small issue I fixed. No problem. Had to sell when wife got cancer in 2016. She fought hard but lost her battle. I’m retired now and would love to find a 202 or 203 project. What would be a price for one. Thanks love your channel.

Merry Christmas Andy, to you and your family. I was living in Little Rock, AR at the time during the late 90's early 2000 time frame. Our neighbor at the time was a federal employee, working for the department of labor. He knew I was a bass fisherman, so he came over and talked to me about the Champion bass boat factory in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He had explained to me that the company was in the process of filing bankruptcy and he was involved in that case indirectly due to the fact that most of the employees were not getting paid by the company anymore while still working at the factory despite being told by management that they would. He told me that he had to seize many of the bass boats and the federal government was going to figure a way to sell the boats and get the employees paid for their labor that they never got paid for. He stated that management was very difficult to deal with as management knew the company was going to be filing bankruptcy so he and his team had to go into the championship bass boat factory and seize a lot of their boats along with other items in there as well. As far as I know, all the employees eventually got paid their money that they deserved and earned once the government sold enough boats and other assets from Champion boats

Happy Holidays

I still remember the first time my grandpa and I saw a 223 while we were out on Fork in the 90s. Thing was like seeing a battleship.

Merry Christmas to everyone at TMS

I just found your videos today OMG you're hilarious and super informative. I'm going to buy a used bass boat in the next couple months and I'm researching what to buy and what not to buy, thank god I found you. But this is my question if you were budgeted with 5-10 grand what would be some of your choices. I'm looking at fiber glass boats but to be honest theres so much. I've eliminated some boats and motors after watching some of your videos, but if you could do a video on some top 10 starter boats in that price range that would be great. Thanks

Hi Sir, I have a 2007 Champion 200 Elite with a 225 Evinrude HO motor and I love this Boat?

What are your thoughts on 2000 203 anniversary edition DCX. I am going tomorrow to look at one that I may buy. I was going back and forth with a 96 488vs ranger. Which would be better for the money?

Merry Christmas to all of ya and your family's!

I’m hoping to find a good used champion in the spring to buy. All because of your video’s. Hopefully I’ll get lucky lol

have a 97 191 elite, 200 vindicator, planning to do the transon in spring. love the boat, not sure that i would change anything. got here looking for the transom pour on the 202??????????? maybe do a direct comparison of 2 stroke 200 (any brand) and then put a 200 suzuki on it and see what she does???

I got a 1987 champion 187 fish and ski, with. 200 merk. Love it. Gonna go look at a 1999 187 dc .

My dad has an 89 champ with a 175. He bought it new and has always been garage kept. Probably hasnt ran in 15 plus years. If I was to get the boat, is there any precautions to keep the transom in good condition?

I’m looking at a ‘97 201DC with an ‘06 Evinrude E-tec 225, Gorilla Hull. Am I crazy for considering this with the known transom issues? Was told this one is solid but have yet to see it.

I saved a 1984 18ft champion from a barn, guy just gave it me. Currently in the process is cleaning it up and getting it running. It's rough but I'll breath life into her.

I had a 176sc Champion with a 150 Suzuki. Chine walked like crazy until I learned how to drive. Fun first bass boat and was scary fast.

Happy holidays

I bought and restored a 1991 184scr and love it...I believe the transom is good, but not totally sure to be honest. The only way I know to check the transom is pushing motor back and forth and watching to see if transom has a lot of flexing. If there are any other ways to do a better job on checking your transom can you or anyone on here let me know? Thanks... Wow just noticed B-Lat commented right below me,,, pretty cool 😎

My dad had a 206 up until a few years ago still the best looking boat and best running I've been in

I have a 1999 203 Elite I got it in 2000 and its still as clean and looks likes new in 2022 that is the best boat in the boating world hands down the hull is one of a kind no slip in the water.

I love my 1989 Champion 21'

I know this isn't the topic but what about a crappie theme glass boat that will double as a bass fishing boat. I agree with the Champion hull. I have my eye on the Pantera 2 Bass Cat.

Had a question on getting parts for 1997 202 Champion. In need of wind shields.

I love my 1996 202DCXE still looks awesome

I owned a 98 202 DC. Hands down best riding bass boat I've ever been in. "Semi" fast is accurate. I did have trailer issues with mine. The whole frame of the trailer rotted out which I can probably blame on salt water use down here in S. Louisiana. Last year I bought a 2001 22 Tunnel Champ (bayboat), and am currently rebuilding it. I have videos of some progress on my channel. Feel free to check them out.

I have a 94 201 and the transom is still solid. Had a 2016 opti. Im sure one day ill replace the transom but as of now its solid

Happy Holidays!!

Tell us about your shop 203 build? Seems things have stalled on getting that one back on the water.

Ok andy. I am a champ guy. My 96 186 with 175 efi. Runs 61+-. Its a handfull above that. Cruises 55 like a beast. Handles rough water like a much bigger boat. Omg handles like a Porsche. Now i think MH Champs are a "Drivers" boat. The Tn boats (ie 210) is more cabin cruiser ish. Less driver input. Id love to see the MH vs Tn vid. What changed? Yes wider and composite transoms. Ride? Qaulity? Speed? . My next champ will prob be a tn 210 unless you really poopoo it andy😁

I’m the original owner of a 2004 Champion 198 Elite Dual Console. Its a great riding boat out on rough water in the Potomac River and Upper Chesapeake Bay. I’ve had only minor issues with the boat like electrical and other components that you could expect to fail over time. The trailer finally had some spring and shackle issues 3 years ago - luckily I was only a few miles from my house when it happened. My Champion is getting to be near 20 years old and it is in great shape. I still get comments about the way it looks since I’ve kept great care of it through the years. After owning a Champion all of these years I’m not sure what I would purchase next - what would you say is top of the line these days for fit, finish and quality.

Dear friends, I need your input and advice. I need to redo the entire livewll panel and switches and new windshields. Is this easy to do or do you recommend to take it to a shop?