After years of borrowing my dad's Kingfisher I'm about to buy my own bass boat. I'm looking at an 84 Champion with a 150 Johnson on it. I'm comfortable with the motor, dad's is an Evinrude, as long as it's a good one. Anyway my son knows the guy and he is trustworthy. (I went to school with his dad and uncle.) The boat seems in very good condition other than needing some carpet. He is getting it tuned up right now cause it's been sittin for about 4 years. He had it on the water a few days ago and said everything worked well other than didn't idle right. (To be expected) Anyway is there any advice as far as things to look for on a Champion that might go un-noticed to the untrained eye? Don't remember the model # but he said it's a 17.5' Not an extreme bargain, just a fair price for what seems an awesome 84 model Champion!  thanks

I can't help with any opinion on that boat,

but I can tell you that there are plenty of

"extreme bargins" on used boats, especially 25

year olds!

8-)

Go to the lake with him and run the thing for yourself.  If you don't like what you see, don't buy it.

Check the floor, stringers, and transom for rot. If they are bad there is no bargain at any price for the boat.

Run a compression check reguardless of how well the motor runs. If the compression is not up to snuff stay away.

The bargain part is how good a shape it's in and knowing the guy who has it. It still lists on NADA, this will be the last year probly. Anyway, it lists for $2800.oo and I'm getting it for 2500.oo if it checks out. It's been in the shop all week getting checked out and the carbs cleaned or whatever they needed, it had been sitting like I said above. The owner called last night and it's ready for me to try out so here goes.....

If I have to overhaul it someday so be it, when my 3406 Caterpillar truck engine needed overhauling I did it with a manual and some borrowed tools!

That particular boat model is a 176.  Pretty quick little machine and it handles like a sports car.  

The bargain part is how good a shape it's in and knowing the guy who has it. It still lists on NADA, this will be the last year probly. Anyway, it lists for $2800.oo and I'm getting it for 2500.oo if it checks out. It's been in the shop all week getting checked out and the carbs cleaned or whatever they needed, it had been sitting like I said above. The owner called last night and it's ready for me to try out so here goes.....

If I have to overhaul it someday so be it, when my 3406 Caterpillar truck engine needed overhauling I did it with a manual and some borrowed tools!

Sounds to me as if you have allready made the decision to buy the boat. Good luck and I hope everything is ok.

Champion is a great boat. I know there are a ton of them out here in So CA. IF the boat AND trailer check out OK and you like it, then I'd say the price is reasonable. Just my personal opinion on the matter.

A buddy of mine had a champion boat not sure what size but it was a nice boat. He sold it last year to get a new tracker boat, anyway he sold it for $1700 and it was a real nice ran good and he always kept it clean so whoever got it got it at a steal.

Drove it on lake friday, fished out of it Saturday. Think I'll tell him to go ahead an cash the check. Oh yeah, when he went in to get the title the owner came back out and said, "I could have sworn this was an 84." Titles said 88 model. He didn't try to back out! One little thing and this may be normal but, the motor doesn't want to idle unless I trim the motor up until it's almost level. Normal or float setting problem?

Oh yeah, compression checked out!

Congratulations on the purchase. Sounds like you are going to be ok with everything. The idle problem could be several things including, fuel, floats, and/or needing to change the fuel filter. Glad you took everyone's advice and ran the boat. Now you know and their should be no second guessing. Enjoy it and lucky you that the boat was four years newer than the owner thought.

Enjoy and good fishing.

Thanks for all the replies and helpful advice!!!    lp