Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

I did an internet search for Challenger Z302 and actually found them from 2003 to 2006, then it jumps to FPS302 in 2007.

The early Challenger Z302 models were pale in comparison to the Mariah's. Their interiors were cheap and gaudy.

Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

2005 Challenger Z302

Used Challenger Offshore Inc Z 302 Power Cruiser (power) Boats For Sale

https://www.google.com/search?q=chal...w=1920&bih=938

Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

Here is one for sale in Illinois. (also started thread in "other for sale"

Bowrider Boat For sale: 2006 Challenger Offshore Inc 30 z at Grafon, IL

Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

other then less hours and a few years newer, its got NOTHING on mine.

Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

I test drove the last 30 from challenger it was a 2007 year model but I think it was made in 2006. It was white and blue and was mid cabin. They also used it for the pics in their last produced catalog which was 2007. That boat did handle very well by them.

I kept one of their 28 DDC as I made sure it was built how I wanted it. It is so solid and does very well in the rough but very slow as its heavy 5850 completely dry weight.

Challenger with some of their builds did very well on build quality and some of their builds I would pass on as it was very sub par quality.

Nothing cheap nor cheap interiors of what I got from them. Look at the motor install not one wire nor cable showing very clean install. I have a ton of pics from what I bought and sold from them.

Yes some of their stuff was sub par and some of their stuff was really good. The boat below is 3 years old in the pics with about 60 hours on it. No issues with anything.

Look at the gel work down the sides of my white 28, not one ripple nor waves and if you where to hit a heavy rubber mallet or your hand anywhere on the hull, I beat you would break your hand or the mallet. No bull. This boat is rock solid and loves 2 to 3 ft waves.

Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

A couple more of what I had as Challenger boats with no cheap interiors there. I will post the Mariah's as Challengers. The black Challenger250 cuddy was a sub par build by them but the yellow 252 was their best build for all the 25 ft models and one of their top 5 best builds.

That yellow black 252 handled very well and was very solid. The black cuddy 250 was very average quality and was a pig. I'll post some more pics of the Mariah - Challengers but I will have dig them up.

Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

I would love to have that Red Pinnan boat they did. it's not on their website any longer, but it was beautiful.

Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

36 Pininfarina I had the chance to buy that boat from Mark O. as it went back to him after Challenger went bankrupt. I low low balled on the price and he passed on my offer. It sold a year or 2 ago to a buyer I think from Germany. I know the buyer was from overseas and Mark had to ship it.

Anyways the Italian company Pininfarina was the ones that designed that boat as I was in on the dealer meeting all about it. I think Challenger paid Pininfarina 25 or 50 K to design it and help with some of the materials.

When the guys from Pininfarina, the Italians came to the meetings they all drove up in very nice Ferrari's. Some were all yellow and some were all red.

They told us all about the boat and how it was going to be built, designed and so on. It did make one Miami boatshow but was never finished.

Mercruiser wanted their motors and drive packages back so they basically repoed them right when Challenger went under in July / Aug. of 2008.

Also the boat was all show and no go. The hull was a 2 piece joint together and most likely would never held up in the rough seas. It looked good but was a huge rush job to make the Miami boat show for Feb 2008.

They, Challenger even screwed the cabin door shut so no one at Miami cold open it up because it was unfinished and cobbed.

Re: Challenger FPS: Has anyone ever seen one ???
 

I noticed in the 30 Challenger they have the same lights in the cuddy as the 302 mid cabin area. Anybody know where to get those lights?