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01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question #12503898 11/15/17 02:48 AM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2
D.Cosner_Fishing Offline OP
Green Horn
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Green Horn
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Posts: 2
Hello fellow TFFers!

My name is David Cosner and I am the proud owner of a SPOTLESS 2001 Champion 203 currently powered with a Mercury 225 EFI turning a 25p Trophy Plus with an 8" Hydro Dynamics Rapid Jack Magnum plate. I am checking off a childhood bucket list dream of fishing as a pro in the 2018 BASSMASTER Bass Pro Shops Central Opens as a PRO! I am very excited for this opportunity and I am proudly running my 01' Champ for the year.

That being said I have been blessed to gain the support of some great companies that makes some products that I am going to add to my boat for 2018. Here is what’s being added:

>8'-10' Power Pole Blades
>4 New Optima Blue Top D31 Series Batteries
>3 new Helix Units (a 9" Helix Mounted in the dash, a 10" Helix Mega on a Ram Mount right of the console, and a 10" Helix Mega DI Unit at the bow)
>1 TH Marine Hydrowave
>1 New Minnkota Fortrex 112lb thrust 36v 52in shaft trolling motor

So here is the meat of my question, with my unique position (I have been diagnosed as terminally ill due to a lung disease i was diagnosed with at 16) I have been considering selling my classic automobile to afford a new Mercury 250 Pro XS or 250XS. I am concerned with all the added weight and running a full tournament load with a full tank of gas, full live wells, a co-angler, and all my tackle and whatever he brings, I feel that my 203 will be very much underpowered running my 01’ Merc 225 E.F.I.

I was just wondering if there are any Champion 203 owners who have re-powered their rigs with a new 250ProXS or 250XS (the 250xs is a Mercury Racing 250) and how much of a performance upgrade did you notice?

I'm having a hard time convincing my dad that running a new 250ProXS or 250XS would provide a significant performance in both top end and fuel economy vs running my older engine.

With my current set up I can turn a 25p Trophy Plus and bang the rev limiter no problem, but if I was to run a 250ProXS or 250XS I know I could turn a much more aggressive prop both three and four blade. I was thinking a worked 26p Tempest Plus 3 Blade and maybe even a 26-27p worked Brovo 4 blade or Mercury Fury 4.

Any and all advice would be much appreciated. The engine I currently have has VERY low hours on it. I bought the boat from the original owner who was a crappie fisherman and never fished a bass tournament out of it. The boat was garage kept and used just a few times a year for short outings. Believe it or not he said when he bought the boat it came with a case of oil which had 6 gallons. He gave me 3 of the original 6 gallons that came in that case. Needless to say the boat is BEAUTIFUL! I'm wanting to build my dream boat to fish the OPENS out of next year and that would include selling the 225 EFI and 69 Chevelle SS 396/325 Numbers Matching Big Block Chevy (which has been frame off restored and has only 2,000 miles on the restoration) and has 71,500 original miles.

Anywhoo, any words of wisdom or advice you guys could provide me would be much appreciated! Thank you all so much!

I added a hyperlink to my angling webpage if anyone was interested in my interesting story and dream of fishing as a pro. I will tease you with this, as I type this message now, since I was 16 years old I have undergone 342 lung surgeries, yes that number is correct three hundred and forty-two lung surgeries.

God bless and tight lines,

David Cosner
DavidCosnerFishing.com




Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12503973 11/15/17 03:51 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,349
scruboak Offline
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I wish you all the luck in the world.I would use what you have and keep upgrade money for those unexpected things that happen on the road.

Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: scruboak] #12504044 11/15/17 05:38 AM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2
D.Cosner_Fishing Offline OP
Green Horn
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10-4 good advice. After doing some thinking, I believe with the right prop and motor height and loading the boat in regards to weight properly, I should not have any worries running right where I need to be. $16,500 dollars is not a justifiable expense for what I would get in return.




Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12504065 11/15/17 10:50 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 11,971
tmd11111 Online Content
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The 203 is a great fishing platform and will handle some nasty water with ease but a speed demon its not. Before dumping 15 grand or more on a new motor to only gain a few mph at best you're better off trying a 24" Trophy Plus prop first. You'll loose 2-3 mph on top end but it will definitely get up on plane and haul a heavy load.

Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12504102 11/15/17 12:40 PM
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TLW Offline
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'01 3.0 normal efi motor is gettin' on up there... I would think fuel economy would come more into play than mph... know tha big boys sometimes cover lotsa water... tough choice!.. can always change it later if it doesn't work out for ya....

Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12504429 11/15/17 06:09 PM
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Bobby Milam Offline
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If it were me and my engine was good, I'd have a hard time justifying the cost for very little return in power. Something is always going to go wrong and I'd rather have the money to use on other things as needed to keep things going.

Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: Bobby Milam] #12504577 11/15/17 07:50 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
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tmd11111 Online Content
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Originally Posted By: Bobby Milam
If it were me and my engine was good, I'd have a hard time justifying the cost for very little return in power. Something is always going to go wrong and I'd rather have the money to use on other things as needed to keep things going.


^^^This^^^
Yes the newer motors may be more fuel efficient and use less oil but you'll never recoup the savings. Also the old 3.0L EFI motors are practically bullet proof and will run for a very long time. If anything the $$$ to repower would be better spent towards a new boat.

Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12504598 11/15/17 08:10 PM
Joined: Apr 2015
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Curtbass Offline
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Take advantage of Pat Goffs advice & prayers for your health, traveling &seeing you do well.


ELITE POWER SYSTEMS/ Elite Fishing Products
Lithium Battery & Charging Systems, Soft Plastics, Tackle,Tokyo Rigs
Tight lines & stay safe out there.Gods blessings
Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12504853 11/16/17 12:43 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
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SteezMacQueen Online Happy
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Keep the Chevelle....

I'm in the middle of a full frame off on a 68.'the costs are skyrocketing past $75,000 pretty fast. The Chevelle isnt mine, it's a customers. No way in hell would 25 more Hp on a boat EVER be worth a really nicely restored muscle car.

Use the savings and forego the Fortrex and make it an Ultrex.

I have fished as a co in those events. You do not have to have a 21ft boat with a 250 to be competitive. One of the best boaters I went with had a 19ft Bullet with a 200 on it.

The boat DEFINITELY doesn't make you any better or worse. I prefished out of a 16ft Nitro. No shame in my game. I also caught more fish from the back of the "pros" boat than the pro...more than once. Haha.

Your worries are better spent concentrating on practice days, tackle, and learning the lake.....not getting to a spot 30seconds sonner.

If it makes you feel better.....I'm fishing as a pro this year and I'm gonna be in a 19ft Skeeter with a 150. I'll be fine. My money in in graphs, Ultrex, poles, and tackle.

Again.....the boat only has to be a boat.


Eat. Sleep. Fish.
Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12505126 11/16/17 10:37 AM
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Gamblinman Offline
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That 225 EFI is as good a motor as Mercury ever made. Dependable and strong. Have fiber reeds installed.

Once you add those power poles, be ready to re-prop. For fishing tournament loads, a worked Bravo is hard to beat. Good luck with that Champion.

Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12505261 11/16/17 01:48 PM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,476
T-racer @ Mallard Marine Offline
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Champion 203 is a gorgeous boat. As a bunch have stated above, I wouldn't worry too much about that 225 EFI. Being the guy I am always trying to be as efficient with money as I can, if I really wanted a 250 and DFI I would sell the EFI and buy a used 250 ProXS... maybe mid 2000s. Get you the fuel economy of the newer optimax and the HP, but also wouldn't cost near as much money. Now I know, nothing is as reliable as a brand new motor. But also as some above have said... keep that chevelle!!! I think in your position, keep that 225 EFI and run the snot out of it. Propped correctly it'll do what you want it to.


Mallard Marine Nacogdoches, Tx
936-225-3244 - Authorized Sales/Service
Mercury Outboards - Allison Boats
Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12513504 11/23/17 03:40 AM
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bayoubob Offline
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Good luck on your venture. I am in the process of re-powering my 221 Champion(looks like new). I had an EFI 225 but have had quite a few issues. It's 20 years old. I expect things to need to be replaced. If mine was running well without issues, I would run that sucker til it gave me lots of grief.


Crappie the true White meat!!!!!
Re: 01 Champion 203 RE-POWER Question [Re: D.Cosner_Fishing] #12513986 11/23/17 06:09 PM
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gary purdy Offline
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Too many unforeseen expenses in Pro Tournament fishing. I would have to go as is. A lot of the fuel economy your speaking of comes from these new props. Have the boat pad treated with bed liner. Upgrade the trolling motor to the Ultrex, try the different Fury props 4 blade and 3 blade. Don`t worry about the 225. If it starts giving problems deal with it. Ask you mechanic about putting the 250 PCM on your motor. Best of Luck


The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Remember what He has done and remember that He is not done yet!-- GOD IS GOOD
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