And when I said budget that was tongue in cheek going by what the industry likes to call budget. They consider stratos a "not premium" line and want to call 50k budget, it's rediculous.

Champions , Stratos, still sub a lot of the interior work out , there is a middle man and in turn their cost is higher than for the same thing on a Ranger , which is made totally in plant and they always have the parts, even 20 years later- a Skeeter product is also sub contracted out and I once had a 2 year old boat from them that had 3 different set of keys because as the locks stopped working they would have a new vendor and the new locks had to have a new set of keys - champion's seats are not made in house but subbed out also.

If you think there isn't something against Champion by anyone associated with Platinum Equity then you are mistaken. Randy Hopper was with Ranger before the buyout and is still there and he hates Champion and the market share it took from Ranger. Why do you think they just took the Champion boats and slapped Stratos stickers on them? It was done as a slap in the face to loyal Champion customers. They aren't pushing the boats at all and are just waiting on sales to fall enough they can justify killing them off. They already killed the name and won't sell it to anyone. How many ads do you see on TV or magazines about the new Rangers and how many have you seen on the Stratos Elites (Champions)? If they were really just wanting to sell boats they would be pushing them all and would have left the name Champion on the boat.

I'll be hanging on to my original 203 for a while. It ain't no stinkin stratos.

I have a 2000 Champion 203 Elite that I bought new and love it. Thought about buying a new boat, until I priced them. Decided to upgrade electronics and TM and keep my Paid Off boat. I think I paid 34k back in the day.

Just bought an 06 210 elite 6 months ago. I may never buy another boat again! Gone or not I love my champ!

Sad but True

2000 223 elite and I don't see any reason to get rid of the best riding bass boat ever built in my opinion

for you champion owners there is a subforum on http://www.bassboatmagazine.com/ that is champion one of the threads i can't remember i think it's called the history of champions anyway there's the address of all the vendors they used where you can still get parts.
here's the list save you from going there
Some parts can be bought from C&O Marine.


Seats replacements can be sent to Deans (the original maufacture) and if you give him you SSN of the boat he can match and make the seats back to the original colors.


Dean's Top and Canvas
3748 Hwy 5 South
Mountain Home, AR 72653
(870) 425-6189


Windshilds can be bought from Cutom Mold and Tint (the original maufacture). Call for details.


Custom Mold & Tint Inc
1991 Highway 425 S
Monticello, AR 71655-9797
Phone: (870) 367-7083


Lid replacements can be made by IMS, they are aluminum, lighter and stronger than the old glass lids. Give em your SN and they can match em up.


Industrial Mechanical Specialties
69 Substation Circle
Midway, AR 72651
(870) 481-6275

Your trailer was made by TI/EZ loader trialers.

Good info there. Thanks

That is some very good info, Carol is the parts mom at C&O, she is the best, matter of fact, thats where my champ came from, and they delivered it to Brookshires in Emory for me so I wouldn't have to go to Tenn. to pick it up, while I was on vacation. Greatest people you ever want to deal with. Just one other quick note, you know how the seat pedestals are a pain to get out sometimes, well there's a guy out east that makes an insert that goes into the base so you can use a regular 3/4" pin post, this is what I have gone to, if interested pm me and I will give u his contact info

[IMG]http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o610/Dukdude12/bth_201320new20Champion2021020002.jpg[IMG]
[IMG]http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o610/Dukdude12/bth_201320new20Champion2021020001.jpg[IMG]

a little late to the party but..............

the dealership that worked out the Champion branding package with PE is Anglers Marine out of Anaheim, California (714-666-Boat), they also have a location in Lakeside, California (619-449-3474)

also to add to the manufacturers list posted earlier, Lebroc Industries / helmchair.com made some of the seats for the later Champions, I have ordered a couple of times from them and they make some fine looking seats.

[IMG]http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o610/Dukdude12/bth_201320new20Champion2021020002.jpg[IMG]
[IMG]http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o610/Dukdude12/bth_201320new20Champion2021020001.jpg[IMG]

a little late to the party but..............

the dealership that worked out the Champion branding package with PE is Anglers Marine out of Anaheim, California (714-666-Boat), they also have a location in Lakeside, California (619-449-3474)

also to add to the manufacturers list posted earlier, Lebroc Industries / helmchair.com made some of the seats for the later Champions, I have ordered a couple of times from them and they make some fine looking seats.

2013 Champion. Click link below.

http://www.westernbass.com/forum/new-2013-champion-210-elite-finished-t80696.html

Just read on a couple different forums that stratos officially canceled the elite line for 2014 production.