Links to pictures at the bottom of this post if you want to skip my test ride story.<br /><br />Just returned from a test drive of the 2004 model I had pondered at the Seattle Boat show.<br />The test boat was a 20 ft. 3" Campion 542 with a Suzuki 140 hp. Standard features included:<br />Heavy duty wiper for starboard windscreen<br />Compass<br />Electric horn<br />Automatic bilge<br />Swivel captains seat<br />Gunnel rod storage<br />Fish tank<br />Bait tank<br />Bow anchor locker.. and many other options which can be found in this PDF file:<br /> http://www.campionboats.com/downloads/pdf/explorer/Explorer_542_SC.pdf <br /><br />The weather during this test run was "beautiful" considering there was no wind or rain in this southern-most part of Puget Sound near Olympia, Washington. 
Charlie, our salesperson, was a wonderful guy, young, probably early 20's, but answered every last painful question I had to ask. <br /><br />The boat handled beautifully, although I am personally used to power steering, this boat had none. Now I understand why the steering wheel is large and rubber-gripped. <br /><br />It planed rather fast, at about 17 mph, although we didn't push the engine since the test boat/motor had never been run before. The recommended break-in was briefed as "no more than around 3500 RPM for about 5 hours, then you gradually start running faster RPM's" from our salesperson, Charlie. We had to "make our own waves" by a serious of tight turns at 30 mph to test the boats ability to cut through wakes, and it behaved outstanding! The wake was about the same as my previous boat, a 19ft. Larson All American cuddy. The spacious room in the rear area (where all the "action" will happen on fishing trips) was really a pleasure for me(See link: http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3036.JPG ) As a previous I/O owner previous, the extra room was like adding 4 feet to the boat with an outboard Suzuki 140. The actual boat I will be taking delivery on with have a 6 hp Suzuki on the built in rear transom.<br /><br />The stainless steal fittings on everything seemed very stout. The cuddy, (See link: http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3033.JPG )though very limited on head room for a guy 6' tall, fit the bill for a dry storage locker or a place for our 5 and 8 year old son to take a break from fishing and catch a nap. The folding doors on the cuddy entrance is offset to the port, so it makes it less cluttered around the starboard cockpit. The door also had a solid stainless steel flush lock.<br /><br />There is more than enough room to make your way around the walk way to the front, though I wouldn't want to do it in a heavy swell. The anchor locker in the front is a touch. Plenty of storage for fish and bait alike in one of 3 tanks within the boat.<br /><br />The particular boat I've decided on will come with the following accessories:<br />Washdown pump(n/c)<br />Full Bimini top with side curtains and camper back.(n/c)<br />Ski bar tow (removeable)(n/c)<br />Volt and trim guages added(n/c)<br />Upgraded surge brakes on the trailer(n/c)<br />Jumpseat removeable back rests.(n/c)<br />Ez-steer system locking the 6 hp Suzuki with the 140.<br />Pump out toilet<br />Trailering cover <br />In dash depth sounder<br />Spare prop<br /><br />Also added a 6 hp Suzuki 4-stroke to the package for lake trolling.<br /><br />In summary, this boat will fit our particular needs just right. A boat we can both fish out of, and let our boys enjoy waterskiing and wake surfing as they get older. A cuddy for the wife that illiminates trips to the shoreline while fishing (Gotta love her tenacity for fishing) and plenty of room for 4 of us.<br /><br />Campion 542 at the Seattle Boat show:<br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3032.JPG <br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3033.JPG <br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3036.JPG <br /><br />Campion 542 at Puget Marina (test boat) with the full top on (no sloper or camper shown):<br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/Campion3.jpg <br /><br />Another angle:<br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/Campion1.jpg <br />Another angle:<br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/Campion2.jpg
Charlie, our salesperson, was a wonderful guy, young, probably early 20's, but answered every last painful question I had to ask. <br /><br />The boat handled beautifully, although I am personally used to power steering, this boat had none. Now I understand why the steering wheel is large and rubber-gripped. <br /><br />It planed rather fast, at about 17 mph, although we didn't push the engine since the test boat/motor had never been run before. The recommended break-in was briefed as "no more than around 3500 RPM for about 5 hours, then you gradually start running faster RPM's" from our salesperson, Charlie. We had to "make our own waves" by a serious of tight turns at 30 mph to test the boats ability to cut through wakes, and it behaved outstanding! The wake was about the same as my previous boat, a 19ft. Larson All American cuddy. The spacious room in the rear area (where all the "action" will happen on fishing trips) was really a pleasure for me(See link: http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3036.JPG ) As a previous I/O owner previous, the extra room was like adding 4 feet to the boat with an outboard Suzuki 140. The actual boat I will be taking delivery on with have a 6 hp Suzuki on the built in rear transom.<br /><br />The stainless steal fittings on everything seemed very stout. The cuddy, (See link: http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3033.JPG )though very limited on head room for a guy 6' tall, fit the bill for a dry storage locker or a place for our 5 and 8 year old son to take a break from fishing and catch a nap. The folding doors on the cuddy entrance is offset to the port, so it makes it less cluttered around the starboard cockpit. The door also had a solid stainless steel flush lock.<br /><br />There is more than enough room to make your way around the walk way to the front, though I wouldn't want to do it in a heavy swell. The anchor locker in the front is a touch. Plenty of storage for fish and bait alike in one of 3 tanks within the boat.<br /><br />The particular boat I've decided on will come with the following accessories:<br />Washdown pump(n/c)<br />Full Bimini top with side curtains and camper back.(n/c)<br />Ski bar tow (removeable)(n/c)<br />Volt and trim guages added(n/c)<br />Upgraded surge brakes on the trailer(n/c)<br />Jumpseat removeable back rests.(n/c)<br />Ez-steer system locking the 6 hp Suzuki with the 140.<br />Pump out toilet<br />Trailering cover <br />In dash depth sounder<br />Spare prop<br /><br />Also added a 6 hp Suzuki 4-stroke to the package for lake trolling.<br /><br />In summary, this boat will fit our particular needs just right. A boat we can both fish out of, and let our boys enjoy waterskiing and wake surfing as they get older. A cuddy for the wife that illiminates trips to the shoreline while fishing (Gotta love her tenacity for fishing) and plenty of room for 4 of us.<br /><br />Campion 542 at the Seattle Boat show:<br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3032.JPG <br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3033.JPG <br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/130_3036.JPG <br /><br />Campion 542 at Puget Marina (test boat) with the full top on (no sloper or camper shown):<br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/Campion3.jpg <br /><br />Another angle:<br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/Campion1.jpg <br />Another angle:<br /> http://home.comcast.net/~ripsnort60/Campion2.jpg