Does anyone out there have a Stratos 386? They look like a sweet boat for the money. If you do have one how does the fit/finish compare to Ranger or Triton? What HP do you have on the rear and how is the performance? Lastly..........about what was the cost compared to other lines and what was the final price???

Thank You!!!!

I have had one since 2005. It's been a very good boat for me running on Lake Erie. It will fish whatever the conditions you can tolerate. I have a Yamaha F150 on mine and I can coax 47mph with just me and not much else in the boat on very smooth water. Purchased the boat at Wonderland Marine West in Howell, MI. They did a very good job. Here are some of my observations: The 150 is enough unless you just got to have and can afford the 175; it's a great boat for trolling with a bunch of room in the back but for casting your space is limited; storage is not great but adequate - remember ist is an 18 and a half foot boat; upgrade to at least an 80# bowmount for wind and current; a T8 is just fine as a kicker, mount it on the starboard side; I have had numerous windshield issues with the walk thru version, get some extra re-assurance from Stratos and your dealer if you decide to go that way. Can't speak to fit and finish as have not looked real close the Ranger or Triton - but you are not paying their proce either!

JW

I have a good friend with one. He had an 05 or 06 with the 140 Johnzuki. Top speed 2 guys and lots of gear around 42 GPS. He likes it, but had a few problems with it right out of the box. Some wiring, plumbing,and trailer problems from the factory. They were dealt with, but parts ordering was a nightmare for him and took much longer than he liked.

He agrees with the previous posters observations. Small front deck (actually so small it is hard to use the windshield with a seat up front), back is very capable for trolling applications. Ride is Ok, not the best glass boat out there. Fit and finish is subpar vs the Rangers and higher end boats; yet not horrible, not bad enough to make me not buy one if the price was right. I does sit higher in he water than the Reata and the Tyee GL, so more prone to being blown around.

I did talk with 1 guy same boat 175 Verado, prokicker; 51 MPH GPS 2 or 4 guys---didnt matter.

It is on my short list when time to buy a new boat (short list is 5-6 boats long). Definately go with a 175 from all I have heard and read. Definately not a bad boat, considering it is nearly 10k below a Ranger/Lund equipped the same.

If I’m not mistaken the Champion 186FH has the same hull as the 386XF but it’s rated for up to 200HP. Here are the links for both of these models:

http://www.championboats.com/index_freshwater.cfm#/model_freshwater.swf?site=freshwater&mid=5248&page=specs/ The floor plan for this model can be found by clicking on the last photo to the right.

http://www.stratosboats.com/spec.cfm?mid=5558

Personally I like the floor plan of the Champion better then the Stratos but too each his own. BTW the MSRP for both is ~ the same.

I posed that question on the Champion forums on BBC about Champion sharing hulls with Stratos. I was assured they were not the same hull even though the specs are similar. Ranger is also made by the same company, Genmar, but there is no shared hulls between any of them.

We have been looking for a new boat. Wife wants a family boat. We have looked at Ranger Retta 1850 and the skeeter wx1880. Wife likes the Ranger as do I. I seen an ad for Stratos looked at the web site. Looked at the boat. From the way it looks to me the Ranger has Crossed all the T's and dottied all The i's. Other than that the are comparable. If I can save 7,000 to 8,000 waht the heck. It's like wanting a cadliac but haveing a buick. Both are quality cars / boats.

I have a 2008 385XF, it's the same boat as the 386XF, but no jump seats in back, it's all livewell. The 385 also has an in-floor rod locker that I love! I ordered it with the full windshield. I have a Yamaha F150 with a T8 kicker on the port side, I can get 50mph GPS speed with the motor trimmed just right.

For the price, you simply can not beat this boat. I've had it on Lake Erie in April, Lake Michigan in June, Winnebago in July, never felt uncomfortable in any situation. The 99" beam sure makes for a great handling boat. Sure, it's not a Ranger (same parent company), but you're not paying for a Ranger, either.

I got mine at Cabela's in Hammond, IN, and they are really a pleasure to work with. This is a GREAT time to be buying a boat, lots of inventory that needs to go.

Send a PM if you need any other info. You won't be sorry with this boat!

Good Luck!