ak47soulja22 Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 I bought this 1996 Stratos 201 pro xl with a 225 Johnson venom a few weeks ago. I can't wait to get it out on the water and catch some fish. This is my 2ed boat 1st boat was a 11'11" jon boat with a 35pound trolling motor. Its an upgrade. 1 Quote
Super User tomustang Posted March 25, 2014 Super User Posted March 25, 2014 Upgrade indeed. Enjoy your new toy Quote
FishinCop646 Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 I just went from a 15' 15hp to an 18' 150hp. You will love it! Quote
Koofy Smacker Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 That thing looks awfully clean for a '96! Congrats! 1 Quote
5dollarsplash Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 That thing looks awfully clean for a '96! Congrats! This. Heck of a find! Enjoy it! Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted March 25, 2014 Super User Posted March 25, 2014 Congrats on the upgrade man! just be careful and don't kill yourself with it lol. That's got a bit more speed behind it than that 35 lb thrust trolling motor. 1 Quote
ak47soulja22 Posted March 25, 2014 Author Posted March 25, 2014 Thank you all for the nice words. It's pretty clean for the age. And yeah the new trolling motor is 70 pounds. So yeah I wll be taking her easy. The whole trolling motor standing up is going to be very new to me. Also, with fishing trolling motor lakes only can anyone give any tips on loading and off loading? Quote
FishinCop646 Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 Back your trailer in a little further and use the trolling motor to get a good head of steam, lifting it just before the trailer. You should get it on far enough to winch it the rest of the way! Quote
ak47soulja22 Posted March 25, 2014 Author Posted March 25, 2014 Back your trailer in a little further and use the trolling motor to get a good head of steam, lifting it just before the trailer. You should get it on far enough to winch it the rest of the way!Thanks for the advice. Now what about lakes that have no loading docks? The boat Dosent have a keel guard on it. Quote
Super User Catt Posted March 25, 2014 Super User Posted March 25, 2014 Sweet! You'll like the Stratos ride Quote
tnriverluver Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 If you've never had a boat like this please get someone that knows how to teach you how to drive it. It is not quite the same as an 11ft jon boat. Quote
kwhorne19 Posted March 26, 2014 Posted March 26, 2014 Thanks for the advice. Now what about lakes that have no loading docks? The boat Dosent have a keel guard on it. Don't stress about it - you bought that thing to fish not to win a beauty contest - or get a keel guard... or power poles... or a friend to hold the boat for you Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted March 26, 2014 Super User Posted March 26, 2014 Thank you all for the nice words. It's pretty clean for the age. And yeah the new trolling motor is 70 pounds. So yeah I wll be taking her easy. The whole trolling motor standing up is going to be very new to me. Also, with fishing trolling motor lakes only can anyone give any tips on loading and off loading? Haha yeah tm wise it'll be different but you'll adjust pretty quick I think. I was referring to driving it around though. There's a lot of speed in a boat like that and going out flying around can be dangerous especially if you aren't used to it. (assuming you will be fishing some non tm only lakes as well) For loading and unloading it's pretty easy. Give yourself a running start with your tm pick it up before you get to the trailer and let it coast up as far as it will go. Step off on the trailer frame clip it and crank it up. Off loading is even easier, step on the trailer tongue un- clip and push off. Or if there's two people just have them back you in with it un-clipped and you'll just float off. A keep protector is a great investment. If the area is sandy it won't hurt it much to pull it up on the sand. Quote
ak47soulja22 Posted March 26, 2014 Author Posted March 26, 2014 I believe I will be taking a boater course, not because I have to because I want too. Now with the DIY keel guards are all made equal or does one stand out more than the other. I might make another thread to maybe get more input. I searched the forums and didnt find much other than getting one was a very good idea. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted March 26, 2014 Super User Posted March 26, 2014 You will love the boat, other than feeding that motor, they do luv gas, and pushing a that heavy 201 hull, it will really luv the gas. Take it out, run it a few times at Wide Open Throttle (WOT) and get it out of your system. Then keep it around 4,500 rpm, limit the running and gunning and learn to fish an area, and you will be much happier with the cost of a days fishing trip. Basically, use it like you did your little boat where you didn't have the capability to run just anywhere and everywhere you took a notion. I'm not sure if they were doing it in 96, but if they were, that trailer is going to have one feature you are going to hate having to load it with the TM. If it has that little spring loaded arm in the front, it will be the most aggravating part about it. Quote
tnriverluver Posted March 27, 2014 Posted March 27, 2014 I had a 93 201XL DC Stratos with a 200GT that ran 68-70 depending on how iI was loaded. The thing you have to watch out for and learn how to handle is chine walk. The Stratos can chine walk very bad if you are trimmed to high and get out of control in the blink of an eye if you don't know what you'er doing. It can literally throw you out of the boat when it gets bad. That is why I am strongly recommending you find someone to teach you the ropes of driving this boat. Quote
ak47soulja22 Posted March 27, 2014 Author Posted March 27, 2014 I had a 93 201XL DC Stratos with a 200GT that ran 68-70 depending on how iI was loaded. The thing you have to watch out for and learn how to handle is chine walk. The Stratos can chine walk very bad if you are trimmed to high and get out of control in the blink of an eye if you don't know what you'er doing. It can literally throw you out of the boat when it gets bad. That is why I am strongly recommending you find someone to teach you the ropes of driving this boat. Thank you for the advice. I will take it I know a few guys that could help me learn the ropes. I ran it 3 times before I bought it. The owner did give me a basic lesson but not a full on. The good thing it has a hot foot and trim on the wheel. I don't plan on having it WOT just to save the motors life. Quote
tnriverluver Posted March 27, 2014 Posted March 27, 2014 Thank you for the advice. I will take it I know a few guys that could help me learn the ropes. I ran it 3 times before I bought it. The owner did give me a basic lesson but not a full on. The good thing it has a hot foot and trim on the wheel. I don't plan on having it WOT just to save the motors life. Uh Huh LOL Once the go fast bug bites, and it will, that will change! 1 Quote
Basseditor Posted March 27, 2014 Posted March 27, 2014 I had a '93 model 201 and I loved it. I wish I hadn't sold it. But I two boats at the same time and the 201 was easier to sell. Quote
ak47soulja22 Posted March 27, 2014 Author Posted March 27, 2014 Uh Huh LOL Once the go fast bug bites, and it will, that will change!Hahaha when i test drove it the fastest I went was 53mph knowing that wasn't WOT but it was fast enough for me and that is really fast on the water. I like to fish to much just to go boating.I had a '93 model 201 and I loved it. I wish I hadn't sold it. But I two boats at the same time and the 201 was easier to sell.201 easier to sell because others liked it, or because you were glad to see it go? I don't plan on selling it for a long time. Quote
Basseditor Posted March 27, 2014 Posted March 27, 2014 201 easier to sell because others liked it, or because you were glad to see it go? I don't plan on selling it for a long time. More people liked it. Quote
tnriverluver Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 The 201 was probably the best boat I have ever owned out of about 30 and I miss everything about it except the fuel bill. I cannot afford to run a boat like that anymore with todays fuel prices. I didn't think anything about it back in tose days though and would sometimes have to refuel during the day. 50 gallons does not go a long ways with those big 2 smokes. Quote
ak47soulja22 Posted March 28, 2014 Author Posted March 28, 2014 The 201 was probably the best boat I have ever owned out of about 30 and I miss everything about it except the fuel bill. I cannot afford to run a boat like that anymore with todays fuel prices. I didn't think anything about it back in tose days though and would sometimes have to refuel during the day. 50 gallons does not go a long ways with those big 2 smokes. More people liked it. Seeing that you both owned the same type, I have looked on the web to try to find out what the 2 metal caps??? are next to the fuel caps are? If your looking at the fuel caps they are on the right of them. What are those things, and I have been reading more about the gas tanks being a little problematic on receiving fuel, did you guys run into that issue at all? Quote
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