After 10 years of dreaming, 2 years of sharking the classifieds, and a month of serious looking I found the boat I want to buy. It's a 2006 Champion 198 Elite with a Merc 225 Pro XS. The boat is located in Missouri.

Nico and I are going to be driving out Wednesday to pick her up and bring her home. The out of state transaction is pretty complex but I have a good feeling about things. I plan to do a full writeup on the out of state boat buying process when I get back (after I sleep for an entire day).

Here's a pic of the rig and some specs. Wish us luck!

2006 Champion 198 Elite
Mercury Optimax 225 ProXS - 118 hours
Motor warranty until 4/11
24v Minn Kota 80lb, lift assist
Rod Organizer (left compartment)
Hamby's keel guard
LMS 520 front and back
Champion boat cover
3-bank charger
Flasher in dash
Manual 10" jack plate
Swing away tongue / tandem axle

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/7815-198elite.jpg

Wahoo! Congrats Rob!!! :7 I can't wait to see that bad boy in person. ;-)

Sweet congrats Rob... I was lucky enought to get my current baot locally 02 skeeter zx225 at a good price plus only had 51hrs...

An '02 with 51 hours is pretty funny. That's barely going fishin!

Thats what I had thought. In disbelife of the hours I had the dealer I bought it from hook it up to there scope before I bought it and it was true. Just had a new lower unit put on it and it now has 89 hours. I am already getting more use out of it than the previous owner. Good luck with you boat Rob and I highly suggest westmar boat insurance I hit a "object" in my boat after only having it for a few month the insurance paied for a new lower unit and prop all I had to pay was 250.00 deductable.

This is Rob, posting on Nico's acct. We're in Springfield, MO. Drove 19 hours today straight. 8 and a half the night before. So figure 27.5 hours from the east bay to Missouri. Weather is cold, windy. May try some fishing on Table Rock tomorrow. Local time is 2:28am. Wheeee

Rob
Congrats, good to see you have a sweet ride. Those newer Champions are nice and wide up front. Sometimes I wish my Triton was wider like that.
Rich

We're back. Boat ran good, we did a little fishing on Table Rock on Friday. Drove to Texas that day. Then drove 23 hours straight from TX to the bay area, arriving 5am this morning. Smooth trip, good weather, zero problems on the way home. Could not have done it without Nico's help. We drove 2 to 3 hour shifts. Also was pleasantly surprised to find out the boat had an LMS 332-C and a LCX-28HD.

Need some time to do a full writeup on the out-of-state boat buying process. Stoked :)

Derek says - Daddy take me fishin!

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/7826-derek_with_boat.jpg

Somewhere near Gallup, NM

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/7827-boat_near_gallup_nm.jpg

The first pic is great! :-)