Looking at getting a new boat on a budget. Found a 2000 Champion 171 with a 135 Mercury. Never had any work done to the engine. Compression checks are good. Everything in the boat works. Very clean. Has anyone owned this model that can tell me how the liked it. Pros/cons?

Had 1999 171 with a 125 merc. Awesome boat. Takes rough water like a much bigger boat. Can get into tight places the bigger ones cant. I miss that boat.

Champions a good boat. I got a 181

Looks like you found somthing your interested in, have you test driven it? I would'nt take it to rayburn during a windstorm though!

Great boat, but I bet you can find a bigger one if you look around they pop up here often.

That thing outta scoot!

I had a 2000 193 champion with a 200 optimax and I just loved it! The only issue I had was my partner had a 2006 206 with a 250 and it was hard not to be jealous of that extra foot he had! I loved that champ and one of the biggest mistakes I ever made was selling it!

Champion makes a solid hull for sure.

Go to Bass Boat Central. They have a Champion thread. I used to have a Champion 202 and I loved it. Good luck!

I have a 2001 Champion 171 with a 115 Merc, great little boat. Ive had it going on 5 years but I'm ready for something bigger. It had a Hot Foot when I bought it and I added a recesses tm plate.

Pros are the cost and gas
The biggest con is the size, but for 10K, its hard to beat.

I drive a 171 w/ the 135. It rides better than any other short boat, it can be very difficult to fish in big wind and waves.

along with compression check the bleeddown on each cylinder.

i had a 1995 171 for ten years and absolutely loved the boat. it runs rough water like anyother 19 foot boat, except champions.

i had mine in rayburn, richland chambers, tawakoni, ray roberts, and texoma during 20-25 mph winds and it performed fine. it is small enough to drive in the swales not over them when going down wind. fishes great too especially in timber the hull will rock off stumps easier than a flat bottom hull.

make sure you check your rod lengths with the boxes and there resting position on deck. the tips will ride on the console and damage the last eye.

I've owned a 181 and a 193. The 171 will be the best boat for that size that you can buy for taking rougher water, but I would look for one that's at least a foot bigger if you can afford it. I loved both of my Champs I had. Great boats all the way around.....

Thanks for the input guys. I will be test driving it in the next week.

Buy the legend johnathan and Casey are selling!

To the OP. the 171 is a great little boat but it is little. One my favorite champions ever built was the 187 (I think that's right model).