+1. The weekend to demo a boat for rough water ability is definitely shootout weekend at LOTO.

There were a handful of 2006-2009 32 models, Ushape seating with twin small blocks that will run right at 70 mph. I bet Hard to find now though. I used to be a demo driver for Envision & they are nice rides. If interested in a twin small block 32 call Lou with Midwest Boat Brokerage. She may be able to locate one.....

I have a 28 Donzi ZXO that I am very happy with. I just got back from LOTO last week for vacation. The water over the weekend was busy around the 15mm-22mm. We had no problem getting around @ 40 mph. This spring I was I was on a mission to find a midcabin - open bow, I wanted a Sunsation 288 MCOB but fell into this Donzi and love it. Most places we went I got a ton of compliments.

I live on Lake Travis and have owned 3 different Nordic midcabin boats. 25, 28 & 35. I am currently back to a 28 and think it is the absolute best size for the conditions on Lake Travis. The 35 was just too big for the type boating we do and the 25 too rough. Of course with the lake as low as it is now, a 4 wheeler might be a better choice.

Bob Lloyd
Full Throttle Marine

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/12886

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/10388

Take a look at the Advantage MCOB boats. I have driven one of these a lot. They have plenty of room for 9 people and also tons of storage space. Handles rough water easily.

Under $50k in a 29' to 32' will most likely keep you under 50mph. Envision makes a decent boat but very slow in every aspect. Mach1 made by BAHA not Baja is a beast of a boat. Made like a tank, not the fastest, but faster than Envision, but not too many out there. You're looking around 50 to 57 mph. I also think they have lifetime guarantee on their hulls.

Spend another $5-10K and get a Lavey Craft, handles the rough exceptionally well and are fast hulls. I researched MCOBs for two years and in my biased opinion, Lavey Craft makes the best single engine MCOB, that's why I purchased one. Take a trip up to Dallas on Labor day weekend and maybe we can work out something to get you on board my 29'. A 2750 is a true 27' boat, if you add the swim platform like most manufacturers do, it's now a 28'6" boat.

Good Luck

Warlock 25 World Class Mid Cabin. Will take bigger boats to task with stock 502 power.

I'm following this thread closely because I'm comparing mid cabin also. Would anyone put Magic boats on this list?

I don't know much about Magic or Lavey Craft. Sunsation seems to be a nice boat, along with Donzi and Nordic if you want some speed. As mentioned before, Envision is great for ride quality, they just don't run 70 MPH unless you throw fairly large power in them.

Step up the search.use the 50K as a down payment, contact Brett at performance Boat Brokerage and inquire on the 30 Eliminator Cat open bow mid cabin.

Great responses so far. I have actually checked out the Envisions, but basically found what most are saying that it would take a ton of power to try and make it fast. I have seen several Nordic 25 and 28 and Sunsation 288's in that price range with 496 HO's that I think would get it close to the 70 mark (over that in the Nordic Rage I would hope). After paying close attention to the "fastest single engine" thread, the Lavey Craft and Howards did jump out at me. I was looking at Lavey Crafts website and could not figur out why exactly the 2750 Nuera was 1000 lbs lighter than the 29 Nuera. According to the specs the only difference is an additional 2 ft length, same beam,same freeboard, and same transom angle. Is there something I am missing? I am thinking if my budget limits me to a 496HO I would want the 4500 lb boat instead of the 5500 lb one.