I 100% agree with you Tanner & others.


If I were you Doug C, I'd look no further than Sean's Cafe Racer:
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...Racer-95036298

This boat will run for MANY season's to come, has been totally updated inside & out, and will be the most reliable setup available for the money you are looking to spend.

Here's a thread as well, telling about the boat. It's nice as hell, and a great price. 496's have a few excellent add on's, that you can up the power without giving up reliability, if you decide you want to go faster. http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/c...-shoppers.html

Don't worry - owning an offshore power boat that is in great shape will still offer you PLENTY of father/son time. Maintenance and repair on any HIPO boat will provide you more than enough wrench turning opportunities.

If I had 60k I would look for a nice Cafe Racer, Gun, or Bullett that was ready to go on a nice trailer.

What have you got for a truck - please don't say an F150.

As for the Cig/Fountain debate I'll relay a little tale that made me smile - I was at a poker run recently and there were several guys standing in the bathroom talking shop. I didn't know any of them and wasn't involved in the conversation, but they owned a variety of boats including Sonics and Fountains. EVERY last one of them was talking about how they couldn't wait to move up to a CIG. The look, the construction, the rigging, the size, the resale - it is a no-brainer unless all you care about is calm water speed.

amen i like the cig/fountian debate!

Here is what you need, you can go out and enjoy it now,
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o29987-en.html
It looks great for an older boat and he really takes care of it

Ha! I do have an F-150. I would keep it storage at the lake and have the marina drop it in - cheaper than gas in the dually to the lake. I'm saving my pennies in the meantime, hopefully for a nice 95-98 cafe or Top Gun maybe next year or two. I'll keep stalking the board in the meantime and learn what I can.

Just to help you when you are searching - the only made a handful of 95 cafe's (possibly a 96) but nothing after that. Any of them from 90+ will have the new style interior.

I stalked the boards for quite a while before I found what I wanted.

Don't do the project boat unless you can do 90 percent of the work yourself and you don't mind shopping around for parts.You will spend a bundle!I am restoring a 1978 Mistress(2 years into resto) but you can have plenty of problems with a boat just 10 years old.I would also go single engine unless u are going to be in big water.cut your maint in half!

Thanks for all the help guys. My wife is set on a cruiser, so we have some serious debating to do (I need to grow some balls and just get my cig). We are at least a year out saving up anyways so there's still time...

I have a 2004 Formula 31PC in excellent condition if you want a cruiser.

Bigboat28, I have looked at some Formulas and like them, but have another year before I'm buyin. I'm still set on a Cig