I just got a brochure in the mail today with the new Stratos boats. They have Elite series and XL Evolution series. The Elite is basically the Champion layout and the XL Evolution series is the same basic Stratos boat.
I heard that Stratos would have two "high end" modle boats. I guess "seeing is believing". Just thought I would share.

I just got back from the boat show in Dallas and looked at a "Stratos" elite 202 which is the old Champion elite 202. They also had the Stratos series. They have taken a lot of the trim work and finish out from the boat. I have owned Champions and it is just wierd to see the Stratos name on a Champion.

I have heard the Champion hulls are in Arkansas and they are making them under the Stratos name now.

This doesn't make sense to me, but what do I know. I thought the Champion name was a much bigger name than Stratos.

Yes, if I understand it correctly, Platinum Equity owns Ranger, Triton and Stratos-Champion and they are all produced in the Ranger factory together in Flippin, Arkansas!

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I heard a rumor that in two years the champion super v hull will be under a ranger cap.

That is correct.

Thats why my 203 will be staying with me for a lot longer. She is already long in the tooth, but she's a good boat. She'll get a new motor before I get a new hull..

Keep her as nice as I can.

+1 I have a Mountain Home made '99 and will re-power and get a new trailer before I buy a new boat

that's a beautiful Champ.

Actually, the Stratos "Elite Series" boats will have the old Champion Hulls underneath them. It makes perfect sense to Platinum Equity. They need to consolidate some lines, but all Tritons, Stratos Elite Series, Stratos, and Rangers will be built in Flippin.

Thanks crankin-dave. She's old, but still looks pretty good. When she does get repowered a 250 will be her future.

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Stratos is huge out east

To me it takes away from their entire line up by owning so many brands
Hate to see the old champion name go away but

Before it's over you will see things in all the brands change

Triton can't even get 2011 boats to dealers cause ofthe plant change so they are already seeing the effects

Up north also.

I had a Boat Builder tell me something that made sense to a point. He said if you want a quality Bass Boat building staff then why not go to NW Arkansas because there are more prople that know what they are doing and have built boats for years there. And from what I have learned they are building facilities for each brand to be built seperately.
Platinum and its sub companies own a lot of different things and have a huge bank roll and will probably sell off each company after time.
I look for Ranger to be pushed to the forefront of all the companies they own and a push to make them number 1.
I believe that with all this the other boat companies like Skeeter, Legend, Bass Cat and Phoenix will prosper to some degree. But who really knows what the future will hold for any of them and only time will tell JMO