Best 90s Bass Boat

Call me crazy but want to purchase a 90s model bass boat. Probably something between 1995-1999. I really like the BassCats and Champions from that era but I am not set on one specific brand.

What brand, model, and outboard would you suggest I look at?

One that’s not rotted out. They used wood in the transoms back then. I loved my Basshawk with a merc 150 xr2 but the floor and transom got soft.

Sadly, you probably would never find one of these, but, if you did, you would love it. I worked for Marvin Hurst, helped design the boat, and put together every one that was built. There were less than 40 of them made. This pic is one of my personal ones that was made a little lighter than stock. The finished boat still weighed about 900 pounds unrigged. Fully rigged to tournament fish and powered by a stock Mercury XR6 150 swinging a 26 pitch Laser II prop at 6300 rpm, it would radar at 77mph. Those were the days!!

. Yea this is probably not a good idea but I really like the style of boats from that era. A really nice late model boat looks way cooler to me launching at a bass tournament than a new boat. But all fiberglass and a warranty is also nice. :-)

Sweet rig!! Man I love them bullet hole rims on that trailer too. Nice!

My favorite boat I ever owned was a 1996 model blazer 202 pro v duel console. That boat would fly. But, it hated rough water.

Do you want to strictly fish or play some too?

If you want the best of both, find a Stroker. Excellent fishing machine that can run tx loaded 85-90 mph. IMO, best hand made boat that has ever been. Finding one, that's is the issue.

Bumble bee. Next question

I had a 96 Stratos that was bulletproof. Man I wish I still had it. Had it for 5 years with zero problems til the pos Johnson 150 powerhead blew.

How about an 84 Procraft?

Had a buddy that had a 180proVee with a 150 yamaha. Gawd, i loved that boat.

Gambler is the best looking to me.

I had a 90' stratos 201pro with a good old johnson gt200 with the vro disabled and a new powerhead...it wudnt propped for speed but itd do bout 70mph trimmed up. These were heavier an way better riding than the later models...them chine walkin suckers will nock your teeth out. if i was gonna buy one...id love to have a Gambler, an Aries, or a norris craft..all cool old boats..i really like hydra sports too. Any of those...minus their gas guzzlin carb 2 stoke counterparts..gimme a modern direct injected jap 4 stroke

This is my old 93 Stratos. I wish I could find it again. I don't think I've ever seen a boat with such a deep gel coat. It was 100 percent original.

Dang klay that suckers plush

Bumble bee

I actually got rid of it because it was like a classic car. I was afraid to scratch it. I've fished out of a lot newer and fancier boats, but I haven't treated any of them like I did that boat.

Klay, that boat is sportin' the best trolling motor ever made!!

If i were buying a late 90s boat for structly fishing, id get a ranger no doubt.

I thought I was the only person in the country that liked those things. It's light and didn't have any quit in it.

My uncle almost bought a 30 yr old Ranger a few weeks back. He had owned one when it was new and swore it was the best boat he'd ever fished in. But while he was deciding, someone else got it.

Ive had a few of them old trollin motors, never had an issue..im partial to the old motorguide brutes..i sold one awhile back...i regret that terribly

I keep think about this old gambler I say in a tournament one time.... the driver and co-angler each had motorcycle helmets on before the launch and they look bad add in that boat.

Yest this is a bad ass boat... it just looks way cooler than a new Nitro!! To me

I've fished out of multiple late 90's model rangers that my cousin owned and I would say they were beyond their years at that time. Incredible ride and theywpuld plane out as fast as you could snap your fingers. The resale is strong on those too.

Gambler Intimidator

I love gamblers....very underrated in my oppinion...they were..and still are one of if not the fastest hulls ever made..with some of the most beautiful color schemes ever thought up...i really likem

I had to edit that..i thought they had some older models with little decks(hehe)..but it dont apparantly..least non i could find

By golly...they still buildin boats...custom order...hot dog...i know what im buyin when i hit the big lottery

https://www.gamblerbassboats.com/......these things are dead sexy....boat porn

Gamblers looked faster than they really were...I believe about 2100 lbs for just the hull. Way too heavy to compete in the Allison, Bullet, Stroker, etc world of truly fast bass boats.

The best riding boat I've ever been in was a late 90's model 19' something inch, Ranger. I don't remember the exact model number. I fished with a guy on Neely Henry a few years ago and it was white capping. That boat rode as good on that rough water as my Silverado rides on a good paved road.

^^^^^This.

Find you a super clean 92 Bumble Bee.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/798868897548129/

I have an '85 or '86 Venture Regatta 18' that I don't know much about. I have read that when it came out it may have been the fastest hull on the water for 150hp rated boats. I do know that it has wood in it and it's heavy.

There is a 2000 model Gambler listed in Panama City Facebook if anyone interested looks like a new one.

I saw that, very nice boat

Bullet.

Bullet. I've owned 7 of them from mid 90's models to recent.. Bought a ranger earlier this year, and while it is a nice boat, I'm trying to work out a trade on a used bullet right now. If the trade doesn't work out, its about to be listed for sale and I'm ordering a new Bullet SDC.

i wouldn't buy any boat that its manufacturer wasn't still in business. I know that rules out some great boats. The more reputable boat companies stand behind products, even after warranty runs out. I'd look at a Statos if I wanted a glass boat. Express if aluminum.

Stratos is out of business.

X2

Stratos 201 Pro XL with a Merc 225 or 250hp

That is why I refuse to spend any $ at bass pro or cabelas.

I know jacobs destroyed champion, but I wasn't aware that Stratos was gone too.

Yep. Bass Pro also owns Triton and Ranger too. Earl Bents just made a baaad boat called a caymas. Look them up. They are sharp.

Naw they ain't..... "Phoenix"

Phoenix boats drive me CRAZY!!!!! Every time I see one, I say, "1997 Stratos called, it wants it cheap-@$$ vinyl dash back!" I swear, make $80,000 boats with awesome cool colors and everything else modern, but put this oddly small, black cheap "vinyl look" dash in it. If I'm paying that kind of money, it better have a console/dash like a 2021 Lamborghini.

Gary Clouse worked with Earl Bentz as the designer for Stratos and Triton. After Earl sold (or maybe before) to BPS, Gary created Phoenix.

Earl was a consultant or advisor or whatever his title was for a bit with BPS. He then left and started Caymas, which is being made in the old Triton plant in Ashland City on the Cumberland River.

Phoenix is not a stratos. Phoenix is a bumble bee

Same folks, so we'll just call it a Stratos Bee

. I have been scoping that one out!! But I am scared to pull the trigger

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I don't think Phoenix is still producing the ones from the old Bumble Bee Molds.

I've had a Champion and it was a fine boat if you can find one for sale. (sold it and bought a Phoenix) The old Javelins were good boats too. Fast and fished good.

Correct. They were called a Bee Line.

Skeeter

I never liked the "lines" on the older model skeeters.

I had a 1987 Starfire 175 with a Black Max 150" back in the day"; it would go. Nothing like the sound of that screaming 2 stroke slinging a big rooster tail from the chopper prop.

I was in one w/ a built 2.5 running close to 80 on spedo when it started acting stupid. Blew out, put me under the dash and driver bent the steering wheel. We were lucky.

There is one that was in Alabama boat trader on Facebook the other day that looked pretty damn good.

Mine ran about 70; was always stable. That was fast enough for me

Another one of my old boats. It was a 1996 Bullet 20XD. Wish I could go in another ride in it.









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Wow klay...thats another nice one...i cant remember exactly but i think them mid 90's 20xd run around 1490lbs no motor...i bet that sucker would fly

It would run 82 GPS with two people. That motor sounded awesome!

Can't beat the sound of a wound out black 2.5L strolling down the river.

Just noticed this Ranger on FB. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/697394064184179

Several on market place right now that are super nice.... Over priced pretty badly...but nice...sometimes people need to remember...a boat aint a necessity for most people...an if its 25 yo...shew buddy..some folks need to get a clue.

champion hands down!!

Young20, I tried to PM you about the Hurst boats, but I'm not sure it went through. Can you PM me?

100 percent

Back in the day me and all my buds ran either Stratos or Bumble Bee. Loved them all, great boats.

My neighbor had one with an Evinrude on it; my Skeeter Starfire 175 with a 150 Black Max would leave it in my rooster tail

Glasstream 180 Boss TE

I’ve got a Tuffy 14 ft Jon boat with 15 hp in the garage that’s caught more fish than you clowns can put together.

Hell I caught more off the bank than that.

Put me in the same category. If the TM shaft was long enough, I'd find one and put it on my Ranger.

If you still had that one, I'd be on my way to Guillermo with a check and an offer. Love the Bullets. I've owned 7. Thinking about ordering a new one this year if 300 hp motors get a little more accessible

You know you can’t catch em going that fast 😁

Can't catch them running a lot slower on plane, either.

Might as well get there first.

I just like going fast myself

Still got my old 285 Pro. I won't win any races (except against a few kayaks) or beauty contests but it still holds water and rides decent.

I had a 96 as well. Fun boats.

Eclipse how long has it been since you owned that bullet? And did you fish out of it on the Upper Bear river😁?

Ranger 361v. The only problem with older boats is they aren't fitted for today's rods and electronics. I would be all over an updated version from Ranger. Longer rod boxes, extended deck from the factory, console that handle a 16" graph.

Mid to late 90’s 21XD Bullets are hard to beat. IMO

Nice! I had a 99 the same color. It had a Yamaha built by hydrotec marine.

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I have a 1992 Stratos 201 pro XL one owner me, iam on my third engine but the boat is solid as a rock and I fish out of it at least one time a week. That’s a lot of fishing over 30 years so I would personally say stratos but whatever you get take good care of it and it will last a lot longer. Good luck and good fishing.

I would love to find a nice Shadow. I saw one on 280 last year.

I had a 96 Javelin 379 with a 150 Johnson on it, and I didn't get passed by any other boats running 150's, but I spent a lot of time getting it dialed in and propped right. I blew the powerhead and bought a 91 block and had Paul Nichols do the short block for me, had Monty Racing weld up the hole in the exhaust tuner and had a set of baker hot heads on it, with Ficht reed cages and boyesen reeds. Running the magnum OMC gear case, it would run 68.5 with just me and all my junk in it, with a stock 24p Raker 2 prop. I think if I would have had the narrower stock gear case it was an easy 70mph boat. But those stock cases just didn't last like the magnum ones did.

I would love to find an older Basscat Pantera, and stick a newer 200 SHO on it, and have it flashed and see what I could get out of it. There is a guy with a flashed 200 Sho on an xpress x-19 thats running upper 80's. That might be a fun option too.

Probably 10 yrs on that one. I didn't fish Bear back then. Guntersville and Warrior River were most frequent.

Must have been someone else. Several bullets been around that place in the last 20yr

I'm sure it wasn't one of those limited models, but my uncle had a Hurst around 1980 or maybe just after. I fished with him on Okeechobee and Toho several times with him and he scared me to death several times in that thing. When the wind got up, Okeechobee wasn't much different than being on the gulf, but he still thought he had to run it wide open.

But that was a fine boat and I think he still regrets trading it.

That was probably a Hurst B175. I think that model had a couple of die cast metal pieces fastened on each side of the deck at the widest point of the transom. Marvin did that because that made it measure just wide enough so the boat could be rated for a 175 instead of a 150. Marvin was always looking for anything to give him an edge.

We did that to Skeeters, added the corners and it changed the dims where you could run a 175. Squirrly is an understatement.