I am looking to purchase a new boat sometime next year. I am looking at a Skeeter SX180 or a Stratos 275XL. I do not fish tournaments at this time. I am not interested in running 80 MPH. I just want a boat that I can afford and keep for the next 15 years and fish 2 or 3 people comfortably. Both have Yamaha (which I want.) The Stratos is 5" wider than the Skeeter, and they are about the same length.

What are your opinions on the two?

The tech I use on my boat and motor cusses Stratos. He says the boat is very hard to work on because of a plate covering the gauges under the console.

From what i have heard stratos is about to go under again. I heard this from a very reliable source in the fishing community. I would investigate this before buying a stratos. Betwwen the two skeeter is a much better choice. Any of the big 3 will make you a satified customer, the big three being Triton, Ranger, and Skeeter.

I had not heard that about Stratos. Guess wait and see.

I agree with the previous responses. I have never heard anything good about Stratos boats. I owned a Skeeter for a long time and it was a great boat. I now own a Triton and it also is a great boat. If you are only looking at Stratos and Skeeter - Skeeter all the way.

I had the same delima last August. I had narrowed my search down to the SX200 or the 294 Pro XL. I liked the speed with which the Strtos planed out and the overall speed, but the stability of the Skeeter was way better, at least between these two models. They had the same exact price, but the Skeeter came with GPS and turn signal trim for that price. I am very happy with my Skeeter so far.

I think Skeeter would be the way to go also. If you think there will be any chance of having to sell later, Skeeter will hold value better.

Mat,

Quit changing your mind, and buy a DAMN boat already. Last week it was an Xpress...

Just make sure you get one that can haul my big [censored] around in.

Stratos is owned by Genmar who also owns Ranger and Champion. Going under? Plate under the dash? Goodness gracious. Ride and decide. Both Skeeter and Stratos are fine boats.
http://www.genmar.com/

Loyal stratos owner and will have a hard time ever leaving. Why? My boat is 11 years old now, and it still looks great. I try to baby everything I own, but sometimes you're left with no choice and you have to put your equipment to the test.

My boat has never let me down, even when I would completely understood if it had. Quality construction, good looks, and headed up by a management team that's second to none.

I liked my boat so much, I asked my wife to marry me on the deck of my 201 pro xl. Redneckish? Maybe. My point is this: When the president of Stratos heard my story, he picked up his phone and called me. Our pictures were plastered all over their website, and they loved every minute of it. Not too many other boat manufacturers would have taken the time to mingle with the common folk.

My boat will hit 70. It's never let me down. It didn't cost my father a 2nd mortgage when he originally purchased it. They back their product with pride, and it keeps on getting better.

I'll proudly stand behind (or on the deck of) any boat they build.

Champion and Stratos have both been in the rumor mill since Genmar bought them. I wouldn't put any faith in any of those rumors until it happens. Not saying it couldn't happen but what I am saying is this particular rumor is about 4 years old and they both are still in business. So that wouldn't factor in a decision of mine.

The last sentance is also not true. I personally know that 2 of the 3 he has listed there I would NEVER be happy with and I owned 1 of them and couldn't get rid of it fast enough.

Bottom line is you need to get what YOU like after all YOU are paying for it. Since you are asking for opinions between those 2 boats I would pick the Stratos. I would rather have the Stratos over a Skeeter but for sure an SX Skeeter.

I don't own any boat mentioned in this thread so I have no dog in this hunt. If you are open to other brands...then you need to PM me and I will talk about the other brand

I just have a hard time believing any boat company would go under being underwritten by a company as large as Genmar.

I have seen several advertisements and reviews that pit boats against each other, and which one has more bang for the buck. The last one I saw was the 17ft or 18ft Stratos, and it won hands down. Many standard features not found on similar models.

I personally don't know but the guy that told me is on Team Ranger and he is an FLW pro. He told me that they were gonna quit making both Champion and Stratos to focus more on their bread and butter which is Ranger.

Couple of things. 1 - No company out there would completely screw their dealer network (especially if they are selling another line of boats that the company makes) with their existing inventory of Champions and Stratos by letting a rumor out like this.

2 - Genmar bought and closed the doors of Cajun but there was a lot more to it then sales.

So in other words I am not saying it is unheard of but it normally isn't released until it happens. I know for sure that a Team Ranger guy wouldn't know for 100% sure. But it is a good marketing ploy for him to sell some Rangers

Total misinformation.

They just spend several million dollars re-tooling and upgrading the facility in Tennessee, not a move a company does to shut it down.

tell your lemming friend to quit listening to randy hopper, he's just wrong.

Like the previous advice said, ride in each yourself and buy on your dealers service.