clooney Posted October 18, 2006 Posted October 18, 2006 Which would you buy? Both are in the same condition with a Johnson Venom 200hp. 1998 Stratos 295 Pro-Elite (19.6ft/single axle) or a 1997 Hydra-Sports LS205 (20.3ft/dual axle). They are within $500 of each other. Thanks for your opinions! Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted October 18, 2006 Super User Posted October 18, 2006 My pick would be the 295, hands down. That is probably one of the best hull designs made for a 19' boat. It has good speed and provides great storage. Makes a very good fishing platform. It would have been better had it been a dual axle trailer but the single axle will handle the boat just fine. I've actually seen a couple of 201's on single axle's. They just don't tow as good, but once you get it to the lake, you can't beat the boat. Put you a set of 225 carbs on that 200, (that makes it a 225) and you will easily get into the 70's if your planning on fishing big lakes Quote
clooney Posted October 18, 2006 Author Posted October 18, 2006 Will be fishing the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, Hudson and Delaware Rivers mainly. Can get rough out there sometimes. So the 20 footer wouldnt be better? The Stratos has been gps'd @ 72mph. Quote
Super User cart7t Posted October 18, 2006 Super User Posted October 18, 2006 As I recall, both of those boats were being made by the OMC group. HydroSports is no longer making bassboats though. Very similar hull designs. The 295 is probably a little better laid out floorplan wise but that is opinion only. Take a look at both and get them on the water to try them out. You won't see that much difference in the 7" length difference between the two as far as rough water ride. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted October 18, 2006 Super User Posted October 18, 2006 I've fished from the 295 and a 201, couldn't tell the different as for fishing room. Never got into any really rough water in the 295 but boat was it was very stable and smooth when hitting multiple boat wakes. Just don't think you would miss that couple of extra inches in the 295. I have a Javeling R20 and that 295 feels just a big as it. Like cart7 said, try them both out and see which you like. The 295 will hold its value better since they are still in production. The ONLY thing I don't like about the 295 is the single trailer. I have a 285 Pro with a single trailer and there is a huge difference between the how it and my Javelin with a dual axle tows, especially when going across rough roads and railroad tracks. Quote
clooney Posted October 18, 2006 Author Posted October 18, 2006 Hate to say it but the two boats are in opposite directions. One is 9 hours and the other about 14 hours away from me. That makes it difficult to test drive both. That was the main reason I was asking. It's a major committment to travel to either of these boats. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted October 18, 2006 Super User Posted October 18, 2006 I guess it's going to boil down to which direction you think you want to drive. I would think the HydroSport could be bought a little cheaper than the 295 unless it's in a whole lot better condition. The double axle trailer is about the only plus I realy see between it and the 295. I also think with a 200 on the back of the HyroSport, it's going to be several MPH slower than the 295. I've never been in a HydroSport and only know one person that owns one. His has a 200 and says 60 - 62 is the best he's seen with two people, T-load and bunch of gas. With the same load the 295 should get into the mid to high 60's if running a jackplate and the right prop. 72 is probably running fairly light with just one person in the boat. The 295 I've fished from is a 200 with the 225 carbs (which makes it a 225), running an 8" jackplate and a Boger 26" raker. It runs low 70's with two people, and full load. I guess I should make a correction, not knowing the motor on either of those boats. Some of the J200S motor came with 225 carbs and were really 225's with 200 data plates and decals. The was their version of a 200 HO back then, they just didn't advertise that fact. Not sure why they did it, may have been out of 200 carbs and just used the 225 but I have seen a number of them with 225 carbs, so there is the possibilty it has the 225 cabs already. The easy way to tell is to look at the butterflies, if they have two screws, they are 200's if they have three screws they are probably 225. The next thing would be to measure the narrow part of the venturi. If it's 1.3 somthing inches, they're 200's and if approx 1.45 inches they are 225's. Quote
clooney Posted October 30, 2006 Author Posted October 30, 2006 Well guys, I ended up traveling over 34 hours in a day and half with no sleep, a buddy, and an 85lb. german shephard in the back. But I did it! Purchased my 1st bass boat for tourney's! Went with the 1998 Stratos 295 Pro-Elite w/the Johnson Venom 200 on the back. Boat seems very clean. Compression was around 118 in all but one was about 113. Thought that was good. It was always garaged and doesnt have a hint of rust, even on the trailer. Has the factory cover, manual jackplate, hot foot(never installed), extra 27" renegade prop(new, never used), 25" renegade installed. It does have the original Johnson trolling motor. Are these things any good? I have no idea what model or thrust. Supposedly used only 5-6 times a year(only 1x this year). Have to figure engine has less than 200 hours. Paid $10,500. Thanx for the help guys! What do ya think? Quote
Super User cart7t Posted October 30, 2006 Super User Posted October 30, 2006 $10,500 is an extremely good price! Congrats. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted October 31, 2006 Super User Posted October 31, 2006 That would have been my choice. One thing on your compression readings. When you get time, warm it up about five minutes on a hose and check them again. Which cylinder was showing the 113? The reason for asking, numbers 1,2,3, &4 should have been very close to the same, numbers 5 and 6 (the bottom on each side) should have been lower. The bottom two chambers in the cylinder heads on those motor are about eight CC larger than the top four so you should have gotten a lower reading on both. When checking the compression, make sure carb butterflies are open (gas pressed), only take out one plug at the time or it will kick the bendix out evertime it hits on the one with the guage in it and it has a good strong battery to spin it. It should also hit on the guage the same number of times checking every cylinder. One other thing, if you use a remote starter button clipped to the starter solenoid, you can do it without the switch turn on. keeps the igntion system from having to fire into an open circuit when the plug wire is off or having to have a plug in the wire and grounding the base. NO HOTFOOT installed!!!!. I would install that before my first trip to the lake. Trying to drive that boat at WOT without a hotfoot is really asking for trouble. Those things are a must have safety device in a boat that will run as fast as that one and used under tournament conditions. As for the TM, a lots of guys would fight you for it. those that have them love them. Quote
bassnleo Posted October 31, 2006 Posted October 31, 2006 Congrats, sounds like you got a good boat. I like the Venom motors... Quote
clooney Posted October 31, 2006 Author Posted October 31, 2006 The bottom reading was on #3. Should I set up Hot Foot on my own(Newbie!) or let someone do the hotfoot and maybe a new gps for me? Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted October 31, 2006 Super User Posted October 31, 2006 Hotfoots are not a major deal to install if you have some mechanical smarts and the right length cable. The main thing you have to watch out for is, where the thing is located, theres not much room between the floor and the hull and it's very easy to end up with a drill bit sticking out the bottom of your hull. Four screws mount it to the floor, run the cable back to the motor (this can prove to be a chore), disconnect the cable connected and connect the hotfoot cable, and then adjust the stop on the hotfoot and the cable so the butterflys are sticking straight out when pressed at the way down and fully close when fully off the pedal, The stop, stops it about the same time the throttle linkage stop touches the block so it does not jam the crap out of the linkage at WOT. You still should check it again, what you got ain't just right. #1 is the top on the starboard side, #3 is the center and #5 is the bottom. 2, 4, and 6 are the port side. As I said, 1 - 4 should be about the same with 5 & 6 being a little less. That's with the motor hitting the same number of times on each cylinder. It will probably pay you to do a good decarb on the motor and run a shock treament of SeaFoam for the first 30 - 40 gallons of gas. For some reason, most people want to buy the big, high dollar motors, and then don't want to spend the few bucks decarbing them every 50 hours. Quote
clooney Posted November 1, 2006 Author Posted November 1, 2006 my mistake. It was #5 that was low. Will take your advice on de-carbing. Quote
clooney Posted November 1, 2006 Author Posted November 1, 2006 De-carbing? Is that just adding Seafoam to the gas? If not can I de-carb myself and how? Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted November 1, 2006 Super User Posted November 1, 2006 There is a can of of solution you get from the dealer you spray in the carburators, get at least two cans but I would use four. Warm the motor up real good on the hose, then using two cans at one time (one for port and one for starboard), with the motor at about 1,500 rpm start going up and down the carburators quickly spraying some in each carburator. Just enough the keep the motor running, then as the cans start getting low, spray enough in each to stall the motor, you may even have to back of the gas some to get it to stall.. Let the motor sit for about an hour, warm it up again and using the second two cans, do it again and let it sit over night. Then take it and a new set of plugs to the lake and run it hard for about 15 minutes. When you get back to the trailer put your new plugs in. I would also run about two ounces per gallon of SeaFoam for the first 30 - 40 gallons and one ounce per gallon after that. I buy it by the case and run it in every tank of gas I buy. You can find it for about $3 per can. Quote
clooney Posted November 1, 2006 Author Posted November 1, 2006 Great info. Your the man Way2! Thanx. What is this can of solution called? Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted November 1, 2006 Super User Posted November 1, 2006 http://www.brp.com/en-US/Products/Evinrude/Accessories/Product.htm?ProductID=ENGINETUNER&category=EngineCare Quote
rpben9 Posted November 1, 2006 Posted November 1, 2006 Clooney, Did you happen to test drive the boat at Beech Lake in Lexington, TN? Quote
clooney Posted November 4, 2006 Author Posted November 4, 2006 Guess it's a big secret why you asked@! Benson? Quote
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