cobra boat

jefflolly · August 16, 2011, 07:49:22 PM

has anyone heard of a cobra boat. i was told that it is made by the same person, that made champions.

BassBUFF · August 16, 2011, 09:03:56 PM

Cobras were good boats and my understanding had similar roots with Champions and Hawk boats in that John Storie helped in the design of all.

gdaddybassmaster · August 16, 2011, 10:33:55 PM

Source Pat Goff
Legend/Hawk/Cobra/Viper, they all run together.
Here's the scoop, and anything else you hear is just B.S.

John Storie was wanting to start another boat company, but he was locked down in a very strict non compete contract with Champion. He could build a boat, but couldn't build a deep V Wedge hull boat.

So, what he did was splash a Ranger 482, added a turning chine, and increased the lifting strakes, and he had him a boat mold. That was the beginning of the Cobra/Viper boats, and they did the Fisher glass boats there also, same hull.

Storie got runnoft from Cobra, they went flaming down, and he and Bruce Benton started the Hawk boat, same basic mold, same basic boat. '01 came and they didn't have the legs to stay in the race, so that died. The molds were bought and brought to Texas where they started building the legends, then bought again and moved to Midway Ark.

Just so it's clear...again...
John Storie hasn't had a hand in designing a champ since the 80's. Anything coming out of champion today is designed by Alan Stinson.
Legend/hawk/viper/cobras are all a splash off a ranger 482. Modified, but still in the same gene pool.

It's more honest and accurate to state the legend/clones are modified rangers than some breed of champ.

Mike Cork · August 17, 2011, 08:44:28 AM

Please excuse my ignorance but who is Pat Goff?

According to this post the answer would be yes Storie did have a hand in the cobra?

gdaddybassmaster · August 17, 2011, 07:14:42 PM

He is: Ex test driver for Champion boats from the MTN Home days of the company.
One of the most knowlegable folks on bassboat history/ hull / or build technology in the US.

Mike Cork · August 17, 2011, 07:52:21 PM

Cool I'll keep digging google can't seem to find him but now I can narrow the search

gdaddybassmaster · August 17, 2011, 08:08:51 PM

Mike if I were shopping new today it would be a Legend 191, really dig that boat.

Mike Cork · August 17, 2011, 08:36:03 PM

Interesting, so your saying Storie had a direct role in the 191?

Mike Cork · August 17, 2011, 08:39:06 PM

I never mentioned that I owned a cobra for 6 years and really enjoyed it. Drove well, cornered well, and for the motor I had it ran well,68. But then came the Legend and I haven't looked back. Guess what I'm saying is, if you looking at a used one it's a good boat.

gdaddybassmaster · August 17, 2011, 09:08:56 PM

Story had nothing to do with modern Legends. What I attempting to say is : I cant buy a Champion any longer so Legend would be my next choice. Beyond that: Charger/bass cat/phoenix would all be on my A list.

Mike Cork · August 17, 2011, 09:12:49 PM

Gotcha. Way off topic but are they still making the charger?

gdaddybassmaster · August 17, 2011, 09:28:57 PM

Charger is alive and well. They are coming out with a wide body model very shortly, should be a great rig.
This is the new 195
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNXIPh4KHWo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trwzzOOBdfI&feature=related

OutdoorFrontiers · August 18, 2011, 10:30:19 AM

gdaddy and Mike,

I actually got to spend a day on the water with Pat Goff about 10 years ago. He's an amazing angler as well as someone that has forgotten more about bass boats than most people know! He's that good.

Watching him fish was in and of itself an experience. I've NEVER seen someone skip a lure so far underneath a boat dock with a baitcast rig. His jig just seemed to slide on the surface forever before it went down....

And he handed me my butt that day fishing too!

Steve

jefflolly · August 19, 2011, 06:39:01 PM

thanks for all the info, somebody is trying to sell me one. but i have not seen it yet.

bass1cpr · August 19, 2011, 08:49:04 PM

jefflolly what year Cobra is it? Where are you located?

Mike Cork · August 20, 2011, 08:59:57 AM

I had a 99 model and really enjoyed it.

bass1cpr · August 20, 2011, 08:38:56 PM

There's a 2001, 201D with a 225 Opti Max at the shop I moved it yesterday to dig out my old tracker as I have a buyer for it now. Cobra's were good running boats I fished out of a couple and helped rebuild a 19 foot insurance total job with a 200 Mag EFI that puppy would scoot.

jefflolly · August 21, 2011, 04:59:09 PM

it is a 98 model, 18 foot with a 150 merc. supposed to see it in a couple of days.

H2O_Fowl · April 17, 2012, 08:13:48 AM

Quote from: gdaddybassmaster on August 17, 2011, 07:14:42 PM
He is: Ex test driver for Champion boats from the MTN Home days of the company.
One of the most knowlegable folks on bassboat history/ hull / or build technology in the US.

Factory Rep.