I'm sure some of you have seen or heard about this new boat. For me it is a first. I really like the new features. Seems like the design team made it more functionable especially for someone going out alone. The cleat by the drivers seat, net storage, and lazy susan for the boxes look to make it a more user friendly boat. The color scheme is a tad dissapointing. But overall it looks to me to be a nice boat. Now, to get to use one or test one would be nice.
those are nice, wonder how they ride :-\'
They do look nice, but it would be hard for me to lay down that much money on a less proven brand and then go beat the snot out of it on Erie. I know Ranger or BassCat are well built, and when I destroy them the company will be there to support the product.
A few years ago I was approached by a southern dealer to run one of the "lightweight, go fast" hulls on a memo deal. I told him I would do it if they fixed anything I tore up before my memo was due - they wouldn't do it.
I have no idea how a Phoenix would hold up, but not sure I would want to be the test.
Seth
I was reading in the Genmar Bankrupcy where the core group from Champion boats left to head up Phoenix because they were getting ignored in the Genmar Company. Now it looks like the Champion line may go back to Irwin Jacobs. Platinum wants a top middle and bottom line. Ranger at the top and Stratos at the bottom. Champion then looks like it will be peddled.
"There'll no doubt be some shuffling in the bass brands that were recently sold as part of the Genmar bankruptcy auction. Remember that investment firm Platinum Equity purchased the Ranger, Stratos and Champion boat brands at auction. Ranger represents one of the most powerful brands in the sport and was certainly the prize purchase in terms of bass boats, but remember that Champion is a premium brand as well. Stratos, on the other hand, largely represents the value brand among the group.
Over the past several years, Champion has seemed in limbo. Its former senior managers and marketers left Genmar to form the new Phoenix boat company, and there was the feeling among many that Champion marketing was placed on the backburner in order to focus on Ranger.
Now that the bankruptcy sale has closed, Champion seems even more in limbo. Ranger president Randy Hopper recently told the Baxter Bulletin – a local Arkansas newspaper – that Stratos production will probably move from Murfressboro, Tenn. to the Ranger plant in Flippin, Ark. That news was confirmed by Anglers Marine owner Rick Grover, who wrote to BassFan and said: "The Champion line is at this time 'on hold' until the Tennessee factory can be shut down and the Stratos tooling moved to Flippin. When that's complete they'll address Champion. All past and future warrantees will be honored. Platinum management has been contacting the Champion dealers getting feedback on how to go forward with that brand in the future."
With Stratos in Flippin, that would provide the Ranger plant with value-, mid- and premium-priced products. Champion would perceivably add another premium product to the mix that would compete directly with Ranger. Here's what I was reading.
Several sources close to the bankrupcty sale told BassFan they believe Irwin Jacobs is on track to purchase the Champion brand from back Platinum Equity. Such a deal would thus give Jacobs the FinCraft super-value brand and the Champion premium brand.
Interestingly, many of those same sources share the belief that Platinum Equity will also sell the Ranger brand quite sooner than expected – perhaps this year. Suitors are believed to be employees of the current Ranger company along with family members of Ranger founder Forrest Wood."