Help with older XL 320
 

There is a 91 XL 320 for sale on this site can anyone give me some insight on this boat. I've heard the good strong boats..... heavy too. I'm curious to what the top end is on one with twin 365's. Speed isn't my biggest concerned but I'm not looking for one that just creeps over 60 on a good day.

Any other info on this boat would be great. Thanks. Oh and I shouldn't have any problem towing it locally wiht a 2500HD should I. 6.0 with 4.10 gears.

It should bust 60mph no problem.
-Jason Parvey

That is my boat for sale. I have a Hot Boat Article on the boat and they ran 73mph. When I ran the original 3 blade Mirage it ran right there 1/2 fuel and two people. I went to 4 blade Bravo 1's and overpropped it a bit and now between 65 - 70. Gets on plane quicker w/o cavitation when full of fuel and loaded. Great boat just bought a 43, don't need two boats. 2500HD will be fine. Pull it with a ton single wheel which is basically the same. PM with any other questions.

Just checked in on this thread.
That teal boat was the sistership to my blue one. We were dock neighbors on the Mississippi. Same 365's.
The "happy" Teleflex speedo showed 73-75 MPH but Shootout radar usually pegged it at 68MPH.
For some reason (maybe it was the driver) mine always ran a few MPH faster than the teal boat.
Thanks for the memories as that's where this whole thing started for me.

Nice pic Terry!

Also, as I'm sure you know all to well, the shootout radar is typically 1-4mph slower than what a gps shows.

Back in my day sonny, we didn't have any of those fancy Gee Pee eeS gizmos.
All we had was a compass and my wife telling me I was going too fast and to slow down.

Thats usually the speed limiter on most boats..
:)

Lmao. :lolhit:

What year did u start there terry?

lmao

I fully understand what you mean. It's funny when you boat how many memories can be tied to it. This was where it started for me too. Didn't know a thing when I bought it but got really lucky. It has been a blast and hate to see it go but the guy buying it seems to be as stoked as I was when I got it so it looks like it will have a good home.

[QUOTE=endeavor1;3352753]Lmao. :lolhit:

What year did u start there terry?[/QUOTE
I bought the blue 32 at the STL boat show in '91. I liked it because it had more cockpit seating than the typical offshores of the day.

I started helping out at boat shows that spring. One thing led to another and it was a full time gig about a year later.
Stayed until '99 when I joined Nor-Tech.

We had a lot of fun with the blue boat. That first summer we ran it from STL up the Ill river to Chicago and back.

Interesting how things turn out. We came very close to buying a 32 Chapparel express cruiser instead of the BT.
I wonder where I would be today had we done that?

Good thing you didn't listen to the wife! :lolhit:

Good history lesson Terry. Thanks for not buying that Chapparel though :lolhit:

FYI, a 43 vbottom is on my short list of boats to own in the next couple years. :coolcowboy:

I've owned a 32 for three seasons now and it's been a great boat. I run in the great lakes and the water has to get big to shut me down. Three footers are no problem.

The top speed with those engine will be comfortably in the 60's but I doubt you'll ever see 70 on a gps. I have 502's and can get north of 70 in only the best possible conditions....that being a one foot chop in cooler air. I run 26 four blades. With three blade props you likely can get north of 70 but you'll tend to over spin out of the hole. I can get 69 with a full tank and six people no problem...and did I mention all six can sit down comfortably? The cockpit is not traditional and traditionalists don't seem to care for that but if you like to bring along friends when you're boating this cockpit is prefect for that.

Take the chance...you'll enjoy the boat...so long as the engines aren't too tired....

he is, they got home early today can't wait to go see it

Yes, he texted me. The two of them had to be wiped out. Buffalo, NY to Jeff City, MO and back is a hell of a run. Hope they keep me update with it.

LOL hell yea that's a run especially in 2 1/2 days, they didn't have any issues that I know of, will see them tomorrow at a party, stopped bye after work just to peek that's a big azz boat

Who makes the Black Thunder XL 320 Limited Edition? There is one sitting with broken blocks at a marina near me and I cant get an answer on the owners phone. I was told its a 31 Scarab but the boat doesn't say Well-craft or Scarab anywhere on it. it is identicle looking to the Blue boat you have the photo of. Thank you in advance.

Black Thunder

Really?:funnypost::wizard::bong:

oddly enough Black Thunder made Black Thunders

I only asked because there is one for sale close to where I live, very rough shape and looked very old. I never heard of this manufacturer in all my years of boating, boat shows and being on and around Lake Erie. Thanks for the answer and I am glad I was able to give a few of the readers a chance to take a few minutes to make light of the fact that I never heard of them. If I had not asked I would not have bought the boat!

Congrats, how about some pics!

I have been told that I needed to upgrade my membership to post pics so I will be doing that soon. I did post the pre purchase photos on the site under members boats or photos I think. Here is the URL http://www.offshoreonly.com/gallery/...=chip&cat=3071 They are on the first page of the photos page. I just posted them today. I have a major winter project ahead of me! But I can only afford to buy a boat like this and put my knowledge and hard work into it to make it what I couldn't afford to buy already nice. it will be an awesome boat when I am done. Thanks for the like. By the way, my Brother and sister in Laws lives in Almont. I may be in Lake Orien by Christmas. Job transfer.

Sweet!!! ��. Congrats

Congratulations! We love our 32. If you have questions or need pics of specific things on boat just ask

Small world, I just purchased a 43'BT that needs work. Its the only way we could ever get one. We bought it from the original owners, by coincidence, that also live in Almont. Good luck with your new boat!

Which 99 43 did you buy?

It's the one that was in Muskegon Mi. Has a checkerboard with yellow stripes paint job, I have derigged it and is getting a new transom. Can't wait to get it back home and start putting it back together.

Ahh, the trip 500efi boat correct?

Yep, that's the one.

Any updates on your trip boat?

Drove down to the shop Tuesday, new transom is installed. The bulkhead between the front and rear stringers in the engine bay needs replaced, also having any blemishes in the hull taken care of while its off the trailer. Replacing carpet on the bunks, also removed aluminum tread plate and the step on the tongue of the trailer. Going to powder coat all the tread plate on the trailer, going to powder coat the tread plate in the engine bay also.

I'll look for a some pix of a trailer I had built but they added a stairway up the front and it sure was handy!!!

This trailer has that set of steps on it, your right it is handy they are getting coated also. It turns out the transom rotted from the top down, when I took the tips off I could push my finger right into the rot. The air lines that ran to the CMI mufflers were never sealed, looks like that's what caused it.