Posts: 32890
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Yes, the owner of Champion had turned to company over to his son who had serious social...issues. I had an interview with with them at the time and did a factory tour through the labyrinth that was the facility, very interesting and one hell of a well built bass boat. The Fishunter was a great V, but developed serious crazing to cracking in the transom/splashwell radius areas on the boats that were run real hard. I'd buy one gently used in a minute.
When I was with Skeeter from '89 to '92 running the Midwest, Sprint was on the radar, as was Cajun. Jacobs bought and closed Cajun too, really a shame. Success back then was measured in boats built per day, and champ was second to third with Skeeter back and forth. I was working for Kenny Burroughs (the only boss man I have ever been truly intimidated by, one hell of a presence) when I quit, he was a boat man coming from two generations of aluminum and glass. He and another gent owned Terry bass boats, remember those rides? Still see a few around.
Bass Cat is built in the same town just down the road from my Dad's place. Always wanted a Panterra. They own Yar Craft now, and sell a few, expensive ride but extremely well built, our buddy and long time MuskieFIRST guy 'Ranger' bought one last year and had it up at the Fall Outing at Spring Bay resort. Kingfisher was out there too, even made a run at the North with a walleye boat. That's where Tuffy bought the 1700 hull tooling, those were built in an old chicken farm in Texas, and a fellow named Tiny ran the place. I think Jacobs bought them out too, and just left the tooling there in a field with the copperheads.
Good regional boat. |
