Charger Hulls ??

[76miller]

Hey, does anyone know much about Chargers ? Good ? Bad ? Full stringer ? My buddy wants to buy one as a lake boat, with a 468bbc, nothing serious, just a cruiser. Any feedback , or pics ? Thanks guys. 76miller

[Squirtcha?]

There are a few guys on here with Chargers. Supposedly (according to the current owner of Kachina) my boat was a splash of the Charger. That would pretty much make it a splash of a splash as I beleive the Charger came from the Southwind 18.
I always thought (and was told) that Kachina was splashed from the Southwind, but this guy (Kachina owner) swears he was there the day that they did the deal and it was from a Charger.
Anyway.........they're basically all the same bottom with slightly different decks on em. The only difference I know of, is that the Southwind 18 didn't have full length stringers and the Kachina does (and I believe the Charger too).
Mine has worked out fine. The only problems I had were self inflicted, and most folks would never have to worry about it.
Rumor mill has it that they're pretty safe up to 90 mph or so. I'm only running low to mid 80's and it does just fine with that.

[76miller]

Squirtcha, thanks alot for the helpful info, I thought it looked like a southwind ! I couldnt see my buddy putting the money into it to ever touch 90mph, so I guess were good to go! Thanks again. 76miller

[77charger]

Use to have a 19ft mini day cruiser.Was an ok boat didnt have the full lenghth stringers and in some spots could have used better bracing.My parents bought it in 79 we still have it today just havent used it in a few years.
I dont think we will ever get rid of it me and my brothers learned to ski with it had alot of good times with mom and dad growing up and since my dad has passed it means more to us

[pw_Tony]

I tinkered around with a Charger hull. In my signature is a picture of the ol' 19'. It was pretty nice be cause of the longer bow and handle wakes and such decent for a shallow hull. But with a little nitrous and a mild 396 we got it to 77 MPH. It used to have a blown 454 but I can't recall how fast it went, I'm sure mid 90's. We got the hull w/out motor and pump.

[Hotfish]

Actually it was the Challenger that Kachina splashed off of.

[Squirtcha?]

My bad. All this splashing going on I can't keep track. Thanks for the correction Kev.
Squirtcha, thanks alot for the helpful info, I thought it looked like a southwind ! I couldnt see my buddy putting the money into it to ever touch 90mph, so I guess were good to go! Thanks again. 76miller
Sorry!

[Xlration Marine]

Old man Kecker (?) splashed everything. The 24 was the 21 with more free board the 22 was the 24 with less freeboard. 24' boat with a jet pump, thats what I call blistering snale's pace. Some things that you don't see down there, mums the word.

[kmcousins]

I pick up a 75 chager from a friend last year. I had it out a few time and i'm very happy with it. I hope this pic will come out. it's a 19 foot haven't found to much info on them.

[disco_charger]

I had one, and was told by Jack McClure (amongst others) that it was a splash of a Hornet. When I went to look at it, I thought it was a Hornet.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/9167Fast_Tanja.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/9167Lagoon.jpg
Mine was a nice little ski boat with a truck motor in it. Nothing speacial, but pretty clean. Mrs. Disco was pretty pissed that we sold it. If it hadn't been for my Love/Hate relationship with the dying gel coat, I'd probably still have it. I ran low 50's with an unknown stock Chevy motor of dubious origin. It had a lot of hook in it, if I remember correctly.

[castone001]

Heres mine. I love it! Hope the pic comes out!

[Squirtcha?]

http://www.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=28449&d=1176304101

[GunninGopher]

I've got a '79 MiniCruiser with a 460 and Berk JE. The boat seems to have been put together really well. The wires are all tightly bundled, it still has the original gell and interior.
I owned a '77 hawiian and this boat was obviously built to a higher standard.
The interior has lost much of its cushon (how the hell do you spell that?) but there are no rips and the stitches have held all these years.
The boat feels solidly constructed and I am very happy with it. I won't sell it until I'm ready for an open bow.
Here are 2 photos of the boat before I bought it:
http://www.theolanders.net/files/DSCF0026.JPG
http://www.theolanders.net/files/DSCF0028.JPG
Here it is last July:
http://www.theolanders.net/files/Boat&HuhHome.JPG
I paid $3000 and put $2000 more into completely replacing the Trailer brakes, new wheels and tires and rebuilding the fuel system. Runs awsome now, but it could use a diverter. I also cleaned it up a ton.
A friend of my family bought the same model as mine new in '78. He said he looked high and low and felt that the Charger was making really good boats then. He had it until 2001 and never regretted the purchase.