Skeet has removed Champion Boats as sponsor....

[MartinD]

Skeet has removed Champion boats from his sponsor list.
Is he moving into a new brand?
If so, what brand do you think he will go to.

[sgvangler]

Its a natural fit Skeet-Skeeter

[Guy Williams]

I say the one that pays the best. If it was a personal decission of mine I'd go with Ranger if they all were paying the same.
Guy Williams

[swordfish]

I say whats the best ride avail. for him he dosent have to compramise? is strong finance wise I guess Phenoex, but I'm not sure how strong he is with the PAA but I dont know much about that, I do like the post that Skeeter is a natural fit so rock the skeeter skeet wind it up and hammer down SKEETER BABY..

[gofish42189]

My guess would be skeeter. They need someone to promote that new fx and vmax sho right? At this point in his career it'll probablly be whatever he wants to be in. I'm sure the money doesn't hurt either.

[swordfish]

WHILE ON THIS SUBJECT what will Mike McClleand? run next year he will run his Champ in the Classic but has not said what his boat will be for the Elite season the champs were badd *** boats hope they come back..

[ASD]

Nitro Z9

[fish_food]

I predict he'll be shilling for Water Skeeter next

[Schneider Fishing]

I wouldn't count Triton out as he is a Mercury guy as well.

Champion is really in limbo right now from what I have read. It's too bad as it's a good boat.

[scott h]

the skeeter thng is funny but if he went with skeeter that would mean he lost or dumped Mercury, all evidence shows he is in pretty tight with mercury With that in mind I havent seen any new skeeters with a merc hangin on the back in a while.Im guessing Pheonix or triton.Just my .o2

[swordfish]

Good point I overlooked the Merc thing, I believe he will align with that, tho Yamaha builds a fine motor no doubt.

[texas john]

You can put any motor on the back of a boat. If he runs a Skeeter and wants to remain with Mercury, they will just put a Mercury on it. My vote is for the new BassCat, those babys are looking good!!!

[bigjosh15]

+1 to you John. But in my opinion I think Skeet is going to go with Ranger. The Z522 is a awesome boat.

[swordfish]

Boat and motor companys usually stay true to the brand merc or yama or evan but if the company is not in pace with a deal not so many cross overs, basscats are ok and they are built in ark. the home of the best, arkansayers have it in their blood as they have proven themselves to be the best boat builders ever I like champion the most. I run a skeeter to be honest cause I found a clean used boat it works for me.

[Cooch]

I might rule out Ranger due to the fact Genmar owns both Champion and Ranger. I might also think with Skeese's alliance to BASS, going with Ranger might also require a jump to the FLW. Of course it is possible a jump to the FLW is in his overall plan of things, then maybe a jump to Ranger is too.

I might think if Skeete's plans are to stay with BASS, Triton would be the odds on favorite. Interesting challenge for our buddy here.

[HawgCatcher]

If he brings Bass Pro on as a sponsor The Nitro Z9 would be my guess

[Gene Buchholz]

Skeet has been very loyal to his sponsors from the get go. Mercury has been very good to him I think that will have some impact on what direction he goes. I would love to see him on the Ranger team. But I think he will be running a Triton

[Stretch1]

Im guessing BPS/Nitro

[FROGvsBASS]

he should go for the CAT...those SOBs are as tuff as they come!!!

[JamesH]

I'm pretty sure Yamaha owns Skeeter so I don't think you'll see a Mercury hanging on the back....or Skeet driving one.....

James

[biteme]

Ill bet money its Ranger.

[flipit]

Ill bet money its Ranger.

According to his web site he intends to run the Champion.

[Brian Linehan]

Maybe he'll be running Phil Haris' boat.

[Gene Buchholz]

Maybe someone will buy Champion and Keep him!

[bassmonkey]

Maybe Skeet will buy Champion and keep everyone that works there.

[Kevin Evans - Kap]

I hope he still continues to run a Champion....

Kap

[micropterus]

I hope he still continues to run a Champion....

Kap

Here is a Bass Boat Central blog posting ..... dated Jan/21/2010

Hi Mr. Garry,
I emailed Skeet's website and this is the reply. Retireman - Champion 2009 198CXDC
Skeet will be running the same boat he did last year, his signature edition
Champion 210 with Mercury ProXS 250.

He's awaiting word on what the sale of Genmar will mean, and as a result
will be running last year's boat.

Thanks for the question,

Dan O'Sullivan
Skeet Reese Inc.

... Probably explains why the Champion logo is not (currently) on his sponsor list ... Hope they get it cleared up soon ... Skeet has a pretty important tournament coming up ... Like Next Week!!

Waiting for RickG to chime in on this one ... he would know ...

Also, I read where Jason Quinn has completed a late signing with Triton Boats and he says he does everything on a last minute basis ... so I guess there is still time ...

Dan Curtis

[cLanderman]

Of the 3 more known Champion guys; Quinn signed with Triton, Skeet and Mike McCleland have both stated that for the time being (through the Classic) they are sticking with their Champions. Can't blame them if they leave for something else, they have to make a living, but I am thinking that the boat sponsor isn't necessarily the big paycheck like the wrap sponsor, but I could be wrong on that one. Skeet stuck with Champ the first time there was a sale like this. (2001-2002)

[kb]

Well this is a pretty interesting poll here. Skeet has his boat from last year rewrapped by Corey at Sticky Graphics and will be fishing from it next week at the Bassmasters Classic at Lay Lake. There is a certain amount of uncertainty on what the future of Champion will be now that Platinum Equity has bought all the fishing boat lines in the Genmar BK.

The reason that Champion isn't listed on his sponsor list I would think is because Skeet doesn't have a current contract with them. NO tickey, no washy at that level guys. However Skeet is a very loyal guy and has a sense of loyalty to Champion and will give them the time needed to make thingswork out for him if they can. If he wins again next week the price tag goes up.....he likes to gamble a little too.

Nobody is more loyal to the Mercury/Motor Guide brand and Skeet will not be running any boat that would require him to make a motor change. He will be running Mercury. You can't run a Merc on a Skeeter. John Murray was the last guy to do that and he was forced to make a choice just like you can't run a Yamaha on the back of a sponsored Triton. One guy runs Evinrude and the rest run Merc.

Now Skeet has been with Bass Cat in the past and he remains friends with the Pierce family, Triton I am sure would love to have him (there goes the budget for the rest of us ), Ranger is owned by the same company that own Champion and there is no longer that binding tie from Ranger to FLW. They are simply a FLW sponsor. There are many guys running Ranger on the BASS Elite series (Denny Brauer, John Murray, Ish Monroe, Peter T, Tommy Biffle and few more so not out of the question), Why wouldn't Nitro want KVD and Skeet in the Z9?, Phoenix is an up and coming new boat company and Skeet would give them needed credibility. So I guess that you can say he really is in the drivers seat right now and I am sure he will make a decision in the near future but I can guarantee you he is not even concerned about it at the moment.

He is defending his title as Bassmasters Classic Champion and then his focus will be all about the first two Elite Series events of 2010 at the Delta and Clear Lake. He wants to put two good events together and take the points lead and not look back.

Hell he makes enough money he needs the write off anyway so maybe he will buy one of each!!!! You guys left that option out of your poll.............

Good Luck Skeet!
kb

[Greg_Cornish]

Premier?

[Kevin]

Guaranteed he signs with Bayliner.

[Rick G]

1st-Skeet is not going anywhere untill all the Champion/Platinum decisions are made.
2nd-He is very loyal to those who have supported him over his carreer.
3rd-He is a Mercury guy.
4th He has great tackle sponsors that pay most of his salaries, so the boat deal is not as huge a deal as someone coming up in the sport.
5th-Stratos should be considered as their premier guy, [Larry Nixon] does not really relate to the "Skeet" generation of up and coming fishermen and they might want a new figurehead. Larry is awesome BTW. My guess is Stratos gets a big facelift and he might be in the plans.
6th- and MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL..........This poll should read "WILL SKEET REPEAT AS CLASSIC CHAMPION?" I say Yep. Rick G.

[bigbass111]

Like Rick said, you have to wait until the higher up's at Champion see what they are doing.

If he does leave, I would say Triton, Phoenix or Bass Cat will be the only real contenders. Skeet will not be going over to FLW anytime soon, you can count on that...

His sponsors pay him big because their logo's can be shown, not Kellogs with FLW or whoever they make him wear....IMO

But being a big Merc guy, I would say Triton or Bass Cat is the obvious route..

[fish_food]

This is kinda like all the bored and shallow housewives buying Us or People magazine at the grocery checkout to find out whether Jennifer Aniston will ever break up Brad and Angelina (is Brad really happy being with Angelina and is she driving him to drink again???). Did you see the hideous outfit that skanky Lindsey Lohan wore to the People's Choice awards???? Candid Matthew Maconahay pics in front of his Malibu beach house!!!! Who is the star of Twilight seeing now???

[flipit]

This is kinda like all the bored and shallow housewives buying Us or People magazine at the grocery checkout to find out whether Jennifer Aniston will ever break up Brad and Angelina (is Brad really happy being with Angelina and is she driving him to drink again???). Did you see the hideous outfit that skanky Lindsey Lohan wore to the People's Choice awards???? Candid Matthew Maconahay pics in front of his Malibu beach house!!!! Who is the star of Twilight seeing now???

Lol
Sounds like u been reading those rags instead of fishing. Ill be on Berryessa tomorrow.

[swordfish]

You are sooo.. right, too much rag talk and wild spectulation.. big deal,..... Kramer called it straight up today as well.. A boat is after all only a fishing platform especially if you turn em over every year..

[calfisher71]

it will be the best financial company, Face it Skeet has made a pretty good name for himself and he will pull the best offer.

With current economic states of several Boat companies, i will put my money on a new brand of boat , or Bass pro and Nitro.