28AT info
 

I really think I'm ready to upsize a bit this year, and I've got it narrowed down to a couple of options. I think the only two real candidates are a Sonic 26 or the AT28. I posted something similar on the Sonic side to get their input too. I know AT owners are really proud of their boats, and will tell me there is no comparison, but I'm looking for any and all info you can give me.

Both true V's, good sized cabin, enclosed heads, single engine. I do all my boating on inland lakes, and I want to be able to overnight from time to time.

Lake Travis can get pretty snotty, and I want to know well the 28 handles the washing machine. I hear she is great in the big stuff, but I wont be seeing big rollers. Just the cruiser wakes and nasty slop that bouces around in all directions.

The AT has the flat back, but the Sonic has the molded swim platform. Is that included in the 26' length? So am I really comparing a 25 foot boat to a 28 footer?

What do you all think of the cabin space and cockpit space?

I've got two little boys that are getting to love water sports. The boat I have now is by no means a ski boat, but I can pull a tube or a wakeboard. Anyone tried with the 28?

Thanks for any input.

I owned a 28 before my 33 and absolutely loved the boat. It will handle all the nasty stuff you can throw at it. It has the biggest cabin I've seen for it's size and the deep cockpit is unparalleled.

I believe Sydwayz owned a 26 Sonic and could probably fill you in what his thoughts are on it. I can say I've seen them run and was not impressed. I saw alot of porposing.

its true, the 28 seems to be the way to go. Im a big fan and i dont even own one........yet :party-smiley-048:

The 28 A.T. will handle anything that Lake Travis can throw at it without any problems. I spent 12 years in Austin and on Travis and can tell you that it never came close to the snot I was running my 28 A.T. in up here on the St Lawarence river or great lakes area. I lived on the boat every week end with the wife and son so the cabin works fine also. There really is no way o compare thr so-nic to the A.T. And there are a couple of good deals out there now. Good Luck

Also,

We took a 250 mile roundtrip in January from Pompano Beach, FL, to Key Largo and Islamorada; with 2-33s, 4-37s, and a 28. Boatfreak here on OSO did the entire run in his 28 w/ 496HO. And when the Atlantic kicked up to 4-6s on the way home, he hung with us VERY well. He eventually cut to the Intercoastal in North Miami while the rest of the pack ran back to Pompano in the ocean. (Several folks had flights to catch; and the 28' cutting to the Intercoastal was the right decision as coming back into the inlet in Pompano was a BlTCH with 12-15 footers rolling out with the tide.)

However I would have NEVER taken my 26' Sonic out in what he had his 28' AT in with us that day. I had my 26' Sonic (with HP500EFI) for three seasons. I was very confident in the boat, and I knew what that boat could handle. But I would have never wanted to be there in those conditions in that boat.

squick, i don't know your budget, but the 25at would be a better comparison to the sonic, and a nice clean, freshwater(?) 25 just popped up in the classies! You wont really be finding a 28 in this $ range. Maybe someone here knows this one.
http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o17735-en.html

Thats a sweet boat.

That bezel for the speedo isnt the right one. Call diamond performance and get the 3 5/8" bezel. I have the same set up.

Thanks for all the input fellas, keep it coming. I fell in love with the AT's as soon as I saw them, and that 25 is pretty sharp. I think I want to stay a bit newer though. I'm looking for something really clean and that wont be a maintenance problem.

Cosmic, you would not believe how much worse Lake Travis has gotten over the last few years. More and more people moving to the area, and I think every one of them bought a cruiser. In the channel between Devil's Cove and Carlos and Charlies is getting really bad. A 29 foot fountain broke up out there a few weeks ago. I used to be able to run through it with my little 23 footer pretty good, but now I just get beat to hell.

I know it's not what it was built for, but has anyone tried pulling anything with a 28?

Check out my 28AT, 1999 twin for sale in the classifieds. It is a true offshore boat with 350magMPI's that get GREAT fuel mileage; it will run low 70's and shouldn't be compared to a 26 prowler. I looked at Sonics before I bought my AT; pretty boats but not quite the same as AT. Ride in both.

I will be up at Lake Travis on Labor Day if not before. Give me a call an you can see first hand the fit and finish of the AT.

Clark
713-540-0171

Every insurance policy that I have had and seen written for an 'offshore boat' has a clause that states you CANNOT tow anything like tubes, skis, wakeboards, etc.

Can you do it? Yeah. You would probably want a different prop with some more holeshot on days you plan on doing towable type stuff.

Remember, holeshot and towing puts more stress on the drive. Its not if the drive breaks, its when. They ALL do.

You would probably be better off keeping a small beater runabout for towable duty, or a jet-ski boat; or maybe a 'toon.

That would be great, if it ever stops raining. Haven't been on the water all of July.

Sounds like how our river has gotten. So many big boats now that one of my friends who just bought a Fountain 38EC said "you need a big boat in self defense".

Ditto for here, too. I can remember the days when the Caloosahatchee was relatively quiet. Now...... it's a zoo. I won't go out on amateur days - holidays, first nice day of the spring, etc. It's not worth the risk and aggrevation.

I haven't been out in 6 weeks!!!!!!!! At least my boat is clean! :(

Cosmic, you would not believe how much worse Lake Travis has gotten over the last few years. More and more people moving to the area, and I think every one of them bought a cruiser. In the channel between Devil's Cove and Carlos and Charlies is getting really bad. A 29 foot fountain broke up out there a few weeks ago. I used to be able to run through it with my little 23 footer pretty good, but now I just get beat to hell.

I know it's not what it was built for, but has anyone tried pulling anything with a 28?[/QUOTE]
No I never tried pulling anything with mine. I heard rumor that Volite/ Round Rock and Leander were putting in some huge water suction pipes and will be taking millions of gallons a day outa the lake. True or not?

[ I heard rumor that Volite/ Round Rock and Leander were putting in some huge water suction pipes and will be taking millions of gallons a day outa the lake. True or not?[/QUOTE]

I haven't heard anything about that, but that doesn't mean it's not true. There are a lot of straws in that lake right now.

squick, have you had a look @ New Moon yet?

If I were you I would jump on New Moon A.S.A.P. That is a very cool boat and very rare to have a chance at a twin 28. If I were look'n I would be all over that one

I did...great boat. One of the things I really thought hard about was twins or single, and I pretty much talked myself into the single. That's how I narrowed my search down to only a couple. Another thing is that this purchase is probably going to be closer to the end of the year. I still have to sell mine, and I still have some more homework to do.

Just out of curiosity. There is another 28 listed in the classifieds for $10K less. That's a pretty big swing, how come yours is so much more?

Twin engines, Bravo 1's, rigging, paint, bow rails, etc. and if you look at the boat you will not have to ask....BIG difference btween single and twin. I guess if you want a single then you don't care to pay more for two engines, drives and added security when you go out in the ocean....I won't go on...this is a true offshore boat....can't say that about a single engine boat.

the 99 single has no paint & has been Procharged....that depreciates the value a bit; not to mention it has been listed on here by 2 or 3 different owners??
New Moon is stock and probably cost 15k-20k more when new; just a thought...I've got over 80k in, the Stainless Marine exhaust was 5k+, and all the other goodies.....

But maybe I just want to keep her anyway!

Spilman out.....SML here we come!

Rich we are @ Bernards...end of the penninsula I guess.

i am sure you would love to keep her, she is a beautiful boat. guess i just didn't figure an extra 10 for the second screw. like i said, everything i do is inland lake, so i really don't need the security of a twin engine boat. in my case, it just adds maintenance cost. don't get me wrong, i would love to throw you an offer, it's just not exactly what i am looking for.

on a side note, i think you should do a little more shopping before you buy your next exhaust. if you paid 80k for that stainless, they reallly saw you coming ;)

So why has that white one been through so many owners? I actually like an all white boat, especially in the Texas sun. But I wouldn't feel very comfortable buying a previously procharged boat.

The boat is over 80k the exhaust 5k+ is what he said.

i know, was kidding.

squick,
If you are only running on inland lakes a single bb is probably the way to go...$$, weight, maintenance,....it's just a different set up all together. Good luck, see ya on the water!

squick,

I saw one of your other posts. Just wanted to let you know we can put AC in a 28AT. There are AC & DC options; and many of us run the Honda EU2000i 'suitcase' sized generators (inverters) to power our AC, coffee makers, etc. etc. Give me a shout and lets spec something with a 'winter build' pricing schedule. You will get a LIFETIME hull warranty with a new Active Thunder, and I'll set it up so the 5 year extended powertrain warranty is in the purchase of the boat. We have 3 in house financing options as well.

Also, I know to some, the V-berth of the 28AT seems narrow. Its all in perception. I am going to get some width measurements. It IS possible to sleep two normal sized adults comfortably. One additional note. Most of the 28ATs are built with a drop in cabin liner which forms the entire interior of the boat. This can cost a little bit of cabin width. However, you can chose to have the cabin built with a liner, or opt for no liner and a custom interior. The advantage to such, would be that you could have the U-shaped couch turn into an even bigger bed.

I'll try to give you a call this week. Or give me a shout if you have some slow time. 512-619-7895

The 28 cabin is roomy for any 28, but, the v-berth is not quite big enough for two adults, (I'm 6-1) to sleep comfortably. I made a custom cushion that sits on the outside of the bulkhead to extend the length of the berth and it has worked nicely. However, the 'no-liner' is probably the way to go based on what Brian said. Also, make sure to get two deck hatches. New Moon only had the one hatch over the lounge seats and I added the forward one to get some air into the berth area for overnighting; a neccessity.