With the amount of knowledge in these forums I'm sure someone knows this. I'm looking at some used Champs and was wondering when they stopped using wood in their decks and went to all glass? Thanks in advance!

pat goff is the one to ask, he is the champion expert.

you could try the bbc boards and the champion forum, they would know too

I know they still had wood in 1999.

+1 on the 1999 model. Had a 225 EFI merc pull the 2" washers thru the transom on that year model... Came off at 74mph. One hell of a ride.

I've got an 04 model. I think there is wood construction in the front deck.

Depends on the model. Some models started in 2000. Some in 2002.

Mike Halfmann the boatmann ~ that's crazy!!! I hope no one was hurt!!

Michael Bristow ~ do you know which models were 2000 and which were 2002?

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Mike that is how we know as well. I still have the piece of balsa wood on my desk that they used in the transom.

Yeah! The 225 was setting on a 10 offset plate. Never shown any signs of being loose or any problems that were developing. Then rpi/crackle, bloosh! The kill switch landyard is wayyyyyyy too long. Did you know it stretched from the drivers seat to the front deck to the rear deck to the passangers seat to the floor. And never came off. Champion said (now get this), "Yeah, that happens every once in a while, But we are under new management and won't warranttee that anymore." The crappy part was that Champion rigged that pertickular boat at the factory with the 225. They forgot to put transom stiffeners on the inside........ Oh. By the way.. That was the last Champion for me. $7500 damage to the boat, $3500 damage to the motor, $375 wrecker charge, and one new pair of whitey-tighties.

WOW - I thought there was more of a story to that ~ thanks for sharing!!

Looking at a 2001 196 Elite now ~ does anyone know if it falls in the 2000 and up or the 2002 and up group?

I don't know either. Are ya sold on this particular boat? Champ's got some other models that are more nimble.

2001 would have been a Mt. Home boat, and it would have had a baltek core laminate. Mikes experience besides, it's a good process and has held up.

Previous statements are correct, 196 is not the queen of the fleet that year, it needs a 225 to run right, but rated for a 200.

Good info ~ thanks ~ I assume Mt. Home was the location made?? Also id the Baltek Core mean it's a wood transom with fiberglass over it? I'm probably more ok with that than if the deck has wood in it. So just to be sure - does anyone know if the deck would have wood in it?

Sorry for all the questions but this will be my first glass boat and I don't want to get into something and regret it!

I don't think that wood in the deck would be a problem. I would rather have it in the deck than in the transom! I know that Ranger still use wood in the front decks.