Quote Originally Posted by walkeraviator View Post
Regardless, it is still the same boat made the same way by the same people.


Same boat hull lay out and design as always. Made the same way;probabbly true. Made by same people no. For years Champion was made at a Champion plant in a state other than Tn (I cant remember where). When Champion was bought buy Genmar they closed the Champion plant and moved all Champion production to Murfessrboro Tn Startos plant. That lasted for a couple years then Platimun Equity bought Stratos and Champion and closed the TN plant.

Platimun Equity moved Startos and Champion to the Arkansas plant where Ranger is made. When the move was made Platinumn Equity made some changes. They no longer make a Startos 200 (which in my opinion was the best Stratos hull even though most say the 201). They cut Champion even harder because there is only 3 Champion hulls now avaliable and they were renamed Stratos Champion Elite. Other than the name Stratos everything is still a Champion design.

Platinum Equity made the descision to cut boats out of the traditional line up because they make so many different boats. It will be less costly to market 1 brand verses 2.There is nothing wrong with a Stratos Champion Elite because it is the same hull and design that it has been for years just a new name. Then Platinum Equity buys Triton and closed their plant and moved them to Aarkansas...if they keep buying boat companies soon they will be able to yell Monopoly I win. Hopefully in the long run it will be good business for all brands to be under one roof and produced buy the same company. As for me I just dont like the business descisions that PE made...cutting boat lines and combining names; I guess that is how business goes though.

Berfore the merger of Ranger,Stratos,Champion and Triton I would not hesitate to buy any one of them new because they all made good quality boats. Today if I were to buy new I would look into a company that is what I call more family structured like Phoenix or Basscat plus maybe a couple others. I suppose it is time for me to come down off my soap box and quit complaning lol. To address the orginal posters comment Yes there is 3 Champion modles left. They are 100% Champion design with the added name Stratos Champion Elite.