Competitor 165 sport review

Hey everyone looking at upgrading from my 1994 lunker v16 with a 40hp next year to a 165 competitor with a 90hp Yamaha. Searched threw old forums but am wondering about peoples option on this boat that have had it for a few years.id like the full windshield and in my opinion on this 165 it doesn’t feel cramped at all like I was expecting it to,the layout in the cockpit area seems very large for the boat size which I like.Any reviews or opinions welcome thanks

Billy03z71,

I am pretty much in the same scenario as you. I have a ’99 Lunker LTD tiller, and looking to upgrade. I though I wanted a full windshield as well. I have probably looked at and sat in over 200 boats, and my opinion, for a 165 and even some 175’s there just isn’t enough room in the rear to accommodate the full console. My biggest gripe is that the back row seat are so close to the sides and back that a person cannot turn around, making it tough fishing out the side or back for those passengers.

As far as the 165 Competitor, I like it a lot, great boat with a very good setup. I prefer the Edge a bit more, but only because I like the wide gunnels.

But in the end, I settled on spending a bit more money and getting a Larson FX1750 Tiller. Has a ton more space for fishing, and I liked the layout of the boat a lot, and it has the benefits of a glass boat.

Good luck in your search, sit is a ton of boats, there are a lot to choose from these days.

I have had a 165 Competitor Sport for 3 years and have no complaints. I usually fish alone, but have had 3 people fishing in the boat and it didn’t seem crowded. I retire in 52 days, not that I am counting, and wanted a forever boat and this is it. 90 HP motor has enough get up and go for myself. I will say that I mostly chase panfish and don’t fish extremely large water. I am upgrading to spot lock trolling motor this Spring. If you are in the Eau Claire area this Spring and want a test drive let me know and we can probably work something out as I will have plenty of free time.

I’ve had mine for a year now. Had a 175 Navigator prior to this. The only complaint I have is that I don’t like the center rod locker. When I bought it, it came with 4 seats. I swapped one out for a butt seat up front, it gave be more room to get around up front. I liked the butt seat so much that I put one on the back deck too. The deck is a little narrow so I purchased the extended deck and that took care of that problem. I put a 90 Yamaha SHO on it. Top end by myself is 40 MPH. It has a fantastic hole shot. Good luck!

Anyone see any porpoise issues?

hartridge wrote:

I have had a 165 Competitor Sport for 3 years and have no complaints. I usually fish alone, but have had 3 people fishing in the boat and it didn’t seem crowded. I retire in 52 days, not that I am counting, and wanted a forever boat and this is it. 90 HP motor has enough get up and go for myself. I will say that I mostly chase panfish and don’t fish extremely large water. I am upgrading to spot lock trolling motor this Spring. If you are in the Eau Claire area this Spring and want a test drive let me know and we can probably work something out as I will have plenty of free time.

did the 90hp seem to do ok with 3 guys in the boat and gear? I would to usually be fishing alone or with 1 buddy or my wife. Sometimes 3 people

nord wrote:

I’ve had mine for a year now. Had a 175 Navigator prior to this. The only complaint I have is that I don’t like the center rod locker. When I bought it, it came with 4 seats. I swapped one out for a butt seat up front, it gave be more room to get around up front. I liked the butt seat so much that I put one on the back deck too. The deck is a little narrow so I purchased the extended deck and that took care of that problem. I put a 90 Yamaha SHO on it. Top end by myself is 40 MPH. It has a fantastic hole shot. Good luck!

what didnt you like about the center rod storage?

One day I was trying to open it, and the bar under the door that locks it got under one of my rods. When I pulled up on the door it broke the rod about a foot above the handle. I don’t think it washy fault. May just use it for storage or only put rods in that are under 7 feet. Love the boat.

One day I was trying to open it, and the bar under the door that locks it got under one of my rods. When I pulled up on the door it broke the rod about a foot above the handle. I don’t think it was my fault. May just use it for storage or only put rods in that are under 7 feet. Love the boat.

Sorry about the double post.

nord wrote:

One day I was trying to open it, and the bar under the door that locks it got under one of my rods. When I pulled up on the door it broke the rod about a foot above the handle. I don’t think it washy fault. May just use it for storage or only put rods in that are under 7 feet. Love the boat.

interesting, another thing I was wondering about is how people feel the 20″ transom works with a 90hp on the back, any issues with waves coming over? I wouldn’t be adding a kicker on this boat as a side note.

I haven’t had any problems with that.

Most boats in the 16′ size range only have a 20″ transom and it wasn’t that long ago that most boats used around the Midwest only had a 20″ transom.

Sounds good, looking like this will be the boat I’m going to end up getting, thanks for the replies everyone

Hi, what is the real life rod storage like? Will 7’ really fit in floor and 8’ foot on the side? Thanks

Bar, the 7ft rods seem to rub up against the center rod locker door when opening it, so I just put 6’10” rods in it. The side storage for rods will take a 7’6″ rod with no problem. Don’t know about an 8 ft rod. My Competitor is a 2019. Maybe they have changed things since then.

Porpoising is easily cured by knowing how to trim the motor properly. It porpoises when you have the motor trimmed up too far.

billy03z71 wrote:

Anyone see any porpoise issues?

I have the Edge 175 with a 150 VMAX SHO. It has porpoise issues that I can get under control by trimming pretty much all the way down. Not really sure why but I don’t recall it doing that my first season in 2016, but since then it does. Asked the dealer to look at it and they don’t see anything wrong. Might be the fact that I kept adding more stuff to the compartments. This year I’m going pretty minimalistic because I’m not taking fishing so seriously anymore. I haven’t even taken the storage cover off it yet.

@ Bar, my center rod locker will fit 7′ rods along the top 4 slots, i have tried 7’1″ and they will not fit. I haven’t measured what my side rod storage will do but I know my 9’6″ collapsible walleye prodigy trolling rod just fits in it.