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.

I bet Jeff aka Jassman can give you a perfect comparision as he had a 42 sonic with boxes on it. I know he says the difference is night and day.

I would also check into a new boat if your wife is into the creature comforts, the new interiors blow away the older ones, no offense but they have stepped up the interiors a butt load.

The Sonic is a nice boat, I used to own a 2000 42 ss with 500efi, top speed was 70, my partner owns it now with boxes and different props it runs 74-75. The ride was good, and I have been in Lake Michigan, and now in the gulf, but the A.T. rides totally different, especially coming off a wave, and reentry. To me the Sonic is a Lincoln, and the A.T. is a Caddy that Zigs. Both great boats, but you have to take them out for a ride to understand what I am trying to explain. Good luck.:D

Now that I live on the river we don't stay over night that much we just both want to be able to walk into the bathroom and not feel like I'am getting shoved butt first into a 55 gal. barrell, and have some a/c to sit in sometime's, and I have a 5 year old that naps sometimes. Would you say the old AT interiors is as good as the 2000 Sonic, I can't remember what Mark's looked like.

Yes, the older interiors are very nice. I think you will find them more than accomidating for the type of use you are looking for. What you will immediately notice is the way the boat handles. I do 99 percent of my boating with my 5 and 7 year old and the ride and handling is amazing. What 37 are you looking at?

They have one at AT now 2000 500's 140hrs freash water 150k it's not the one on the web site that one is gone I geuss. I would rather had that one it had boxes and a platform already.My 5 year old can't stay awake on the 42 front seat or back he's out in 5 minutes, I hope he out grows that before he's old enough to drive.

lapse,

It must be the age, my daughter who is five is the same way.

I love the 37AT, but if the cabin is important you had better order a new one with the raised deck. The headroom in the older ones is lower than my 31 Sonic.

I'am 6'6" too, I'll buy a used 47 outerlimits I know of before I spec. out a new boat, I bought my 42 sonic new and you just take so much of a hit when you buy new.

I would try and get a ride on the 37 and then see what you think. It seems as if you really do not spend that much time in the cabin so it may not be an issue. I know that Todd W is about 6"5 and maybe he can chime in on the comfort level of the cabin.

I would geuss if I'am out for 12 hours 3-4 of it is in the cabin.My boat seems to be the boat everybody ends up on. I can't tell you how many time's I come back to the boat and people are in the cabin soaking up my a/c and watching porn.Atleast it's always more girl's than guy's. The only time I slept on my 42 last year was when I was too drunk to drive it so as far as a big bed no biggie,I need a big head with a good ****er.

Todd is in FL this week to start bringing the boat back to AZ. I'm sure he'll check in and can give you some insight to the comfort level.

Stephanie

Thank's

Lapse,

You really need to go for a ride in an AT. I've been in a 42 Sonic a friend had and have been for a ride with Pat at the AT factory. The AT will blow your mind! As far as the head goes, if you look at the AT with the side entrance, the head is good. You give away a little head room on the entry, but the size of the head makes up for it. I am trying to sell my Cig right now to get into an AT. Just take a ride. You'll understand.

Mongo

I really do not understand all this talk about the size of the head on a boat. I mean....how long does it take you guys to take a dump anyway:D:D

I do not allow that chit in my boat, literally....;) :D :eek:

:D :D :D

I don't try to use the head in my boat either... just trying to help someone into the AT crowd. Hell, we just jump over the side into the 82 degree water!

Mongo

Now that is some nice water, 82 degrees.

Ok so the next time I am standing next to you in the 82 deg water and a 98.6 deg **** floats by that's ok. If I'am out for a 12-14 hour day thats two dumps for me, and I don't know about you guy's but I like to go boating not stay at the marina so I have a bathroom near by.Plus the wife wont go in the water and she's half of the team, I got keep her happy.Once you got the big head it's hard to go smaller.( I'am 6'6" 225# don't fit in small places)

Take a dump at the house and let's go boating!

I agree, once you ride the 37 avh you will spend less time wanting to **** and and more time wanting to boat.

Of course that is just my opinion.....

And you certianly are not biased....:p :D :D

I am really enjoying this discussion, but I think the point may have been missed. I am not saying that you would not take a dump on the boat. For some people that is a must:confused: whatever......the question is do you spend more time in that activity than doing "other things" in the cabin:rolleyes: I mean the average dump should not take longer than 2-3 minnuttes.

Now......if watching a movie takes less than that.....then go with the larger head. Or.....for example.....you enjoy other activities in the cabin:rolleyes: surely that will take longer than 2-3 minuttes. For some of you I now this is not the case....but for some there is much better use of space in the cabin than for a larger room to take 2-3 minittes twice a day to take a dump:eek: :rolleyes: :D :D

Well, I guess I should qualify my statment... We don't dump in the water... just #1. If we need #2, we just wander up the beach to one of the bars located on the sand. They have heads there. Sometimes there is a line to the head. Pictured here are the girls waiting patiently. Sorry it's not an AT... the Cig is for sale so I can get one. Like they say, it only takes one ride...

Mongo

You guy's are right if I spend more than 15 minutes in there all day I should see a doctor, I just want to make sure it's not like the "enclosed head" on a 39 Velocity or 388 slingshot, they are more of a fender locker or dirty towel hamper.I can't even get into them much less dump in it. The one on my 42 is overkill unless you want to shower in it witch I don't. We only have 3 bar's in a 75 mile area of the river two of them owned by the same guy and if you are there you can't drink your beer and at $4.00 a beer it can get a little costly, plus a little boring hanging out at the same place.I would love to live where the water looks like that Imongo but for now I'am stuck on the Potomac,no beach, no white sand, just wood's the Army ownes and wont let you step foot on and water.One last thing you guy's crap in your house don't you? what did you spend on it.