CAMPION 705iBR REVIEW TAKE A LOOK

 

 

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CAMPION 705iBR REVIEW / USED BOAT

The boat we tested was a low hours 2007 boat which was unmolested (non modified) and what I would consider in as expected condition ( this means that the boat is in very typical condition for its age, Boat Nut even had to change some ignition parts as I knew when I started the Campion that the boat was not performing the way it should), This was no dealer trade, Thanks NICK

 

The 705iBR is a sleek design which definitely appeals to the younger buyer. It provides comfortable seating for four or five in the aft cockpit. With a really nice size platform extension on the back that is low enough to the water to actually use. This design of boat provides all the benefits of a sporty runabout with both a small cabin and a bow rider. Boat Nut calls this a Transformer!

 

My two co- testers on this ride were both under thirty and really liked this boat a lot. The layout with the two bucket seats and long aft corner seats allows the riders plenty of room and nice views thru the windshield and over the side decks. The test boat had a snap down carpet kit, a factory bimini complete with encloser and travel cover ( the travel cover did not require dropping bimini to install). The helm is well laid out and has full gauge package. Along with easy to access and well labeled switches for all the accessories our test boat was born with.

 

I liked the timeless design that Campion employed here with large curves and white frame windshield. This is one of those boats that will not look ten years old today. Campion 705iBR  has a nice beam to length ratio and feels very safe and comfortable with a deep floor, with the feel that you should enter and exit over the back. There is however one problem with all of these over the back access boats . Campion seems to have forgot how high a traffic area this boats transom area would become, providing no hard steps to the cockpit (to step in and down). What this does is the aft port and starboard cushions become sacrificial. I know that they can be flipped to step on the cushion backs but most boat owners do not do this.

 Buy the way for a boat with a 5.7 Liter Motor, a Bravo 3 drive and silent choice exhaust its quite quiet. With the exhaust selection thru the drive this is a quite boat even after six years. You can hold a comfortable conversation in the cockpit and talk over the window to the bow without having to be loud. At speed with the thru hull exhaust open that big platform keeps that rumble every boater likes to hear far enough back and down that you are not overtaken by the engine sound. You don't even need to have the stereo melting the speakers to hear the music you love! I mean the idea of silent choice is to create that sporty rumble. This boat does this almost perfectly. Not over powering at all!

If builders would go back and review their line up ten years after construction and delivery, they would learn a thing or two to apply to new boat construction. On a whole this is a great boat in its category.

When I first get to a used boat there are several factors that I immediately begin to assess, and a series of questions that I refer to with the owner. Here is what they are:

 FAST ASSESSMENT LIST:

 What type of boat am I looking at (not all boats fit neatly into one of the so called designated groups). The Campion 705iBR is one of these boats, its not a bow rider and not a cuddy.

Has the boat been highly modified ( has someone added accessories that were not factory installed). This can change the center of gravity and balance creating a horrible riding boat, not at all the way the factory intended.

What original accessories have been changed do to product failures

How has the original gel coat finish stood the test of time

How has the upholstery and balance of the finish products held up

Check out below the hatches for mildew and mold, really I am looking for all the safety gear this is a dead give away as to whether the boat is being used

Do a complete inspection of the motor and running gear for maintenance and corrosion.

 

OWNERS QUESTIONS:

 How long have you owned the boat, a test of honesty

How many hours has the current owner put on the boat

How many hours in total does the boat have (if they know)

How many hours does the motor have (if they know) Do not trust an hour meter

Maintenance records and is the original owners manual on boat

If the boat will fit a trailer (or came with a trailer) is there a trailer with the boat, look at the trailer

Any history of damage or insurance claims to the vessel or propulsion system

How do you like the boat (current owner)

 

Boat Nuts test boat is a red and white 2007 Campion 705iBR. When I say this boat is unmolested I mean it. The former owner (original owner had done nothing but change the oil in 5 years). This is a typical low hour used boat purchase. No trailer and  the boat just as it was born at Campion, we had to change plugs, wires, cap, and timing advance module for test.

Here is a list of what original equipment had broken down in the first 5 years:

Battery
Stereo ( this boat had one of those unreliable oversized Clarion units which makes replacement in the factory cut out a pain in the ass)
 Light bulbs
Travel cover had shrunk
Canvas (red bimini) will require replacement within 2 years
Red gel coat had faded badly
Back jump seats on both the port and starboard had stitching issues from being stepped on and they are long seat bases
White finish on window frame is starting to fail
The silent choice works randomly ( this is not uncommon, they require service and the magnetic switches in the engine compartment are infamous for not lasting long)

Once the mechanical maintenance was complete this is a strong running boat, fast out of the hole. The bow hardly rises at all through the power up cycle. Once on plane and the trim dialed in this is a fast boat for the engine package. Very little trim adjustment is required for a very flat run. This boat is a comfortable boat to drive and easy to control at an idle when leaving or coming back to the dock. We tested this boat with a half a tank of fuel and as much fresh water as the tank holds. The Campion 705iBR is solid in the turns and does not feel like it wants to pitch you out in a turn. The current owner is under 30 he has had this boat for 1 year and plans to keep it.

For me here is what I don't like:

The cabin is a token space and to small for use at all it would just collect stuff, as a lockable storage area it great except that all that stuff will block the walk thru passage to the bow.

The cabin and the bow rider area are okay for kids but adults probably will not use either as both are too small.

Not enough fixed systems to allow this boat to fall into an overnighter category, so NO having a beer at anchor.

The molded platform with the extension takes up too much valuable deck space

The sunken storage lockers in the platform stay wet all the time

Needs a decent step to the cock pit floor from either the swim platform area or deck sides so the seats don't get abused

The red color gel is crap it fades and chalks too quick

The rear canvas access is a pain as they split the aft panel in two so in the rain the whole back seat gets wet

Builders need to provide more cleats for lines and fenders at the dock (not just Campion)

 

* Would I buy One*

 The answer is yes, however this boat would only be an option if I had a small young family. That is the home for this boat, the small cabin would be great for one or two small kids who tire of the day early or require a bathroom while out. The boat has the sporty appeal that will deliver for many years. With silent choice you can create the rumble of a performance boat when you want the attention. All in all a great day boat for a small family who wants to enjoy tubing, the beach and day cruising.

At 50 no way I would buy this boat I am not interested in the discomfort this cabin sets up for whole boat usage.  I would rather a cuddy if I have to put up with an annoying space up front.

The Campion 705iBR will take you were you need to go and back in relative comfort even in a 3 foot chop all day as long as you don't over speed ( you must set your speed to go with the wave speed to not beat yourself or your boat up) the water conditions. It feels safe and solid.



The three regrets the current owner has are: 1- Doesn't have a trailer  2- Wishes that he would have know how the boat should have ran before he bought it  3- No original owners manual ( too many boaters take these packages home and loose them find a safe place to store on boat)

Our used reviews do not include prices or fixed data such as speed or noise decibel levels as boats over 3 years of age can very in weight, load, accessories and much more. Boat Nut simply gives you the best opinion possible of the boat we were able to test, as we create more data Boat Nut will provide more detailed data. We suggest that if you are looking at a used boat you contact our reader information personal at 4164187433 or boatnutmedia@gmail.com and we can give you guide lines to base your decision on.   Thanks Boat Nut Editor 2016

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