37 avh vs.42 sonic
 

I have a 2000 42 sonic real nice boat a/c, heat, gen, but 75 mph boat.Thinking about picking up used 37 avh with 500 efi every thing but gen. 88mph they say. I boat with Mark House so I know it can be done with a gen. so that keeps the wife happy. Now I want to put Prochargers or Wipp's whatever seems best, if I get the power 730-760 that should put me 100-110 mph,what do you guys that have the 37 avh think it's going to drive like,and whats the ride at cruise 65-75 like next to a 42 sonic I havn't been in an AT and like the caddy ride of the sonic. Most of my boating is done on the Potomac river so 3.5 footers is the most I will see until a storm, mostly 1.5 footers. I got stuck in a storm in the Gulf stream 8-12 footers and got beat up real bad for about 2 1/2 so the wife is a bit scared of going smaller and lighter.Sorry for the long ? just want to pick your brains it's just that with the AT I save $$$ if Iwant to go fast or I go trips in a 47 outerlimits and spend big$$$$.

Whay not put some big power in your Sonic?

With that bottom it just wont be cost evective. I want to keep whatever boat I get pretty much turn key. I have the 500efi's. I would need ext. steering 5k, prochargers 11k, boxes 5k props 1k then I got a 85 mph boat. By the time I'am done and doing it myself 24k with all the **** that will popup.I can sell it in the 180k range, pick up an AT with everything but the supercargers, gen, around 160k and go 100+for 10-15k. I have thought of that but I really want to go atleast 95 and a Sonic aint doing that on anything less than 900's.

There is a 42 here in michigan with 500's with prochargers running around 90.....I dont think a Boat that runs 90 plus with all the ammenities is a realistic goal(IMHO) then again you could go turbines better yet buy a CAT!!!!!!

I would have to sit in that boat and see it go 90. When I got my boat Jay Ross told me 900's will do 94-96 if you play with it alot x dim prop's ect,ect,.
Turbins cost way to much plus if you back into a slip you fry anyone back there on the dock.
A cat with everything I want would cost 750-mil.
I know a 47 outerlimits with everything that runs 98-101 all day, I drove it two months ago it's got trip 700's,they should last 300-500 hours. I can pick it up for 300k but I think I can get the same speed for less than 200k out of the AT just don't know how it's going to drive.
Don't get me wrong I love the Sonic but with as much as it weigh's without a step it just cost to much to go real fast. I would be looking at 20-25k for maybe 15 mph then the drives are going to need some upgrades.It's the best boat for the $$$ if 80 and under is fine.

I got it you could give me the Sonic and buy the OuterLimits, I'll follow you with the Sonic and then your wife can ride with me and my wife!Then when it gets rough you can run with us in the Sonic...we all win!!!

THANK"S Your still not helping me save any money,and I have plenty of buddys that want me to do that same thing. I know the Outerlimits ride's great, better than the Sonic I just don't lnow about the AT.

They ride great. I would highly recomend you take a test ride on a 37 Active Thunder. They sell themselves.

I can chime in here as my boat is in that 95 plus mph range. The boat is certianly very tame and managable at these speeds. Like anything at speed you must drive he boat but i can attest it is not squirrley nor is it difficult to drive. I have KE 675 motors and xr drives and the boat will do 97 mph and 102 mph with 2 inch sportmaster lowers. This is lake x fresh water verified speeds. Jeff has a 37 with generator and imco 1 inch lowers and he sees 96 -97 mph and is still prop testing and dialing in.

The best attribute of this boat is the bottom. It is very forgiving and rides on air. It lands softly. I think your 42 is a nice boat, but I know the handling of these two boats is extremely different. The boat does not porpose or hunt, it just floats. If you want feel free to call me at 856-767-5159 and I can answer any questions for you.

Dan

Thank's Dan, That's pretty much what Mark House told me. I love the way the Sonic ride's but it's not the best driving boat I have driven, with ext. hyd. steering I think it would feel alot better.
I have only driven a few steped boats, some I liked ,Nor tech, Scarab.The Fountain felt ok. Formula I hated the only way you knew you were turning was looking, the boat had no feel at all I felt bad telling my buddy his new 230k boat feels like **** to me.
Plus the Formula had a ton of bow rise tab or no tab.