Well, the Outlaw I was also looking at just sold, so might have to be the Islander anyway.
This Islander does have tabs.
While speed is not my primary concern, what should the 252 with a 454 mag run at WOT with two people and a full load of full? I don't know what prop they have on it, as the ad's pictures crop the prop off each time so I guess we can assume stock prop.

Thanks for the help.

Probably 55. Why not spend 8000.00 more (just a guess) and bump up to a 322 with twin 454mag/mpi's have room for everyone and all your stuff and run 70mph ?

Not trying to be a D, but because I don't want to.

The 252 with 385 HP will run around 62-63 loaded. The 25OL does have a longer running surface as has been mentioned. The 252 Islander is a great boat. I've been on board one with 9 other people for a canal "booze cruise" and there was plenty of room. I've got a buddy with a 2000 for sale, nice graphics (no pink or teal) and a BRAND NEW zero hour short block 454 MAG (from Mercury) with a warranty. Let me know if you wanna have a look see. It's not in Dallas.

Where are you going to be boating?

I've been giving him some options to Perry....May have a new member on PBN to shoot the chit with soon!

Outlaw- Aluminum swim platform V's slipping your Azz off of the fiberglass molded in one if you swim a lot. PLUS Fewer friends to deal with because only 5 can ride. or 6 skinny beeeeches

Sure, send me some info on your buddy's boat.
We are in Rockwall, so will be boating primarily on Ray Hubbard. The current plan is to use it as a trailer boat this year so we can check out all of the local lakes before pulling the trigger on a slip at one of them. Based on what I've heard and read so far, probably will avoid Lake Dallas due to traffic.

I've got access to hydro turf; no worries on the slippage

Unless it continues to rain for another two months you won't need a trailer. I don't think Ray Hubbard even has a ramp that's still open. The lake hasn't been this low since it filled in the 60's. All DFW area lakes have come up 1-2 feet in the last couple of weeks. Lewisville/Lake Dallas is a mud hole, the most dangerous lake in the state (annual deaths) and full of over served douch bags. Nothing about that lake is cool. I live 15 minutes from it, have had my 272 for 15 years and been on it twice.

Texoma is where the cool kids hangout.

As far as Ray Hubbard goes, Chandler's Landing has an open ramp, as does Bayview. Apparently Bayview just added 120' to their existing ramp.
If the rest of the lakes have no ramp access and I don't want to go back and forth to Texoma just yet, that leaves me in a pickle. Not sure I want to be on Hubbard all year long, especially with one end of it full of trees poking through the water!