Been watching you a long time Ken. I figured you would already know all of the numbers for all of the brands by now.

Don’t you think most fellas will be a bit disgruntled and therefore not give weight to your analysis if they don’t agree? Not that it makes a hill of beans but we are a biased lot.

You’d have to have Ranger #1 and Skeeter right behind them or the TFF servers would explode. I’ll rent you a Ballistic 223 for the day really cheap when you’re ready. You have to pay in Rayburn spots.

I think you’ve got a great idea.

Neal, definitely interested in screwing up your life insurance...

Taking the Puma hybrid out this week, and I am probably going to hurt some guys feelings, but if you think a 2018 Ranger has the same fit and finish as a 2015.... well I don’t think your being honest with yourself (I’ve had both). Im going to give my most unbiased because i don’t have a boat affiliation, and if I like or dislike something I’ll give my honest opinion! I suspect they’ll be things l like and dislike about all, we shall see soon!

You can drive a basscat with 1 finger with the right prop and setup

I have found your videos useful so I am looking forward to your series. The only other thing you might consider is cost and difficulty in routine maintenance. I think this will be very popular series.

i am a Ranger guy and have a 2015 520c, so I am very interested in hearing all the good, bad, and ugly on your findings with all brands including mine. I think you do a hell of a job with your videos. Very informative and appreciated.

The perfect bass boat has not been made yet. All of them have little quirks. Here is my two cents worth on the older Champions.

I agree that the old Champion 201, 202's had the best rough water ride of all bass boats. However, the very thing that made them so seaworthy also made them list badly when three guys were standing on the same side of the boat fishing down a bank. Their narrow rounded hull bottom that made them ride so well in 3 footers also made them unstable at rest.

The way the transom angled in toward the motor also contributed to their rough water ride. Look at the transom of a newer Skeeter and how it is designed compared to a Champ. The Champs had small back decks due to the design of the transom but it helped make the boat ride like no no other bass boat. I am not saying a Skeeter is a better boat but the Skeeters have the best at rest stability of any bass boats due to the wide beam & sponsons on the transom.

Personally I do not like the look of the pontoon-like sponsons on the transom of the Skeeters but they serve their purpose. First, they add stability at-rest. Secondly, they minimize backwash when you come off plane quickly. Skeeters used to be notorious for wetting down your backside if you chopped the throttle and let the boat settle down into the water quickly. They also help the holeshot.

I've spent many hours in an older 202 Champ and will agree it is the best rough water hull in the industry but the at-rest fishing platform leaves a lot to be desired. The beam is 86" on the old 202's. A buddy of mine being a loyal Champion guy, sold his 202 and bought the (then) new 206 "Widebody hull" that had a 95" beam. The very first thing he noticed was that it did not have nearly as good of a rough water ride. The 206 was still a great boat with bigger decks and more stability at rest but the 206's are not as sought after as the 201's & 202's.

Hope you are able to try an Xpress and Vexus. Be interesting to see how they compare in terms of performance and price/value.

Ken, I bought a new 97' 202 from Fun n Sun and kept it 20 years. Finally let it go 2 and a half years ago. Def best ride, and I guess I never had 3 guys in the boat all that often so the "tippy" part of that never bothered or affected me at all. The beam was smaller but the layout on the front was awesome. The two rod lockers were big enough that you could literally lay down in them if needed. (Ask me how I know...lightning storm on Ray Bob in the back end of Wolf!)

Moved into a Legend and like it ok, but it does not ride like the Champ. I'm very curious as to how the new Hybrid Puma/Champ is gonna ride and handle. I love BC speed, but my buddys Pantera will beat the kidneys out of ya. Still considering an Eyra as it's the only 20 footer that will fit in one bay of my garage. But if that hybrid rides like the old Champ the truck may have to park outside! Good luck.

Ken,
I think you've got a pretty good criterion. As we talked about earlier, I'd add something about the trailer - it can really be a plus or big detractor to a rig. Good back-up lights? Steps? Bunk board size (2x4 or 2x6)? Speaking of rig, is it easy to rig with electronics? Are the gunnel traces large enough to get cables down easily? Will it handle big graphs in the console and bow panel? Stability of the company as we said is a big deal, especially in this economy - it will take out some of the manufacturers. Finally, I'd look at resale. Look at the new versus 1 year, new / 3 year, and the new / 5 year prices.

You've got to know this will be a melt down. "My Charger/Sheeter/Ranger/Triton is faster/smoother/louder/quicker/quieter than a Ranger/Nitro/Skeeter/Charger/Phoenix".

Let me know when you're ready to test them, I can do camera boat stuff. By the way, you also need to be sure the trailer wheels come with blinking valve stem caps!

Ballistic is the only boat that currently may sway me out of my Phoenix, if you get on one of those Ill be very curious about your thoughts.

Every boat has something they don't do well, And somethings they do very well. Fishability is all about the same considering the newer wide body boats. Layout is all personal preference, Fit and Finish is something I think we can all agree on.

To me resale can be a myth. What I have found in a 5 year period we all loose the same amount on most boats. Now greater then 5 years, well that can be a different story.

My new Nitro will be up there in a few weeks, All I know is there are things I would like them to improve on, and a few things they do better then the others boats.

Great cirteria. Look forward to following and tallying the results!

Really surprised that nobody mentions the Chargers with the Champion hulls (Charger Elites). Charger is a Texas company and seems to build a quality product. The few I've been in (just kicking the tires) I liked their layouts.

I've been in a CHampion since 2005. Weakness is how high it sits makes it catch the wind more. I'd think the Charger would have this same characteristic.

I've heard that since JM acquired Ranger the quality has gone downhill.

If you aren't keeping but 5-6 years then I definitely wouldn't sweat the choice too much. Fishing Rayburn I'd have to put performance/ride at the top of my list.

Anyone with any experience with Falcons? We have a new local dealer who is advertising on TV a lot.

Buddy just bought a new Ranger and it is one of the best looking boats I’ve seen on the water but he is NOT happy with it.....had all kinds of issues with it?
I couldn’t believe some of the stuff he’s having to mess with

May be what Ken was talking about with the fit/finish of the older Rangers vs the new ones?

It would be nice if they were a Texas company, then there might be more around here, but I believe they are from Missouri...