Looking for some advice and guidance
 

Okay I let me start off by saying I love the look and ride of my Cafe, but my situation has changed a little. When I got this boat my kids where 2 and 1 and I only used the boat for day trips and trips to the bar with 3 or 4 us. I also use the boat sometimes to take some of my clients out to lunch or dinner (an experience most of them have never had or will forget). Now my girls are 9 & 6 and we are starting to also use the boat with them. They love going out and going fast, but we have tried to sleep on the boat a couple of times and it is pretty uncomfortable. I have entertained the fact of buying an express cruiser or something like a 48ft Azimut (GLH chime in please). I would love to try to keep the Cafe but not sure about owning and storing two boats. I am also thinking of going 1 more season with the Cig and then making a change. But here is the million dollar question is there a boat that has the performance and ride I love and some nice ammenities that accomodate the family. Let's hear your thoughts.

i think the best boat for what you are looking for including comfort, style, speed would be the 50 ft Nortech. I know of a 2010 that is selling CHEAP....Good luck

formula 400ss or fountain 38ex

there is a couple of nice 43 nortechs too... that would be my vote to keep performance

I too have a Cafe Racer. I also love the look & performance attributes. I was fortunate to have generator, air conditioning, and an ac/dc fridge instead of a cooler already factory installed. It really makes a difference with having convenience features like that with the family. Although having health issues now, I'm considering a more family oriented boat in the future.

48 Fountain Express Cruiser.

Frank - my wife and I have had the same discussion a bunch of times. We don't have kids now but eventually we will - I hope when that time comes and they grow up and want to stay over night that I will be able to afford a 50 Nortech with smaller (read: reliable) power.


Bonus is one of the Nortechs with the enclosed V-Berth so there is some sense of privacy for both us and children.

I'd forget that second boat and keep an eye on those kids, one is growing faster than the other.:party-smiley-004:

As Dreamer said - the 400SS is a great boat. Maybe even a 46' Black Thunder with gen and air.

We have a little 26' Formula daycruiser that we keep around as a back up boat or if we need more room than our Cafe has to offer. But also, the Formula is small enough that we just trailer it.

Good Luck!

Okay my bad on the kids ages but at least I got the number of them correct.:lolhit: I never thought about the Nortech that looks like a good place to look. Does anyone have any idea what speeds the triple desiels run?

it will really come down to how much you want to spend and how much time that you need to live aboard vs a boat ride. then ofcourse the $$. the nortech 43 of 50 are awesome we looked at a few in key west last year. there are many 43 s out there for sale and a few great 50 s
we have a carver 396, yamaha ar210 and just got rid of a 95 topgun.. I have been on the hunt for a boat to sleep on ( family of 4 ) and ride like the topgun. after searching for a year, and looking at many options and trade offs. it is difficult to buy a boat to take care of all your needs. owning multi boats is not a problem if the entire family is involved to help you. there are many cruisers out there at a good price.
at the end of the day we are keeping the carver and now looking to get another topgun
good luck with your search

You could probobly customize the cabin and make it work. Change the couches in the cabin midship to form a pullout bed going the width of the boat. Should be able to get a queen size bed out of it. Similar to what saber did to ther one 34 they made. Not sure if the bulkheads are placed far enough apart on the cafe.

There is always a nice 44 magnum.
http://www.magnummarine.com/44.html

Spicy here on the board has a 40SS that is one of the nicest out there, newer power, 50+ mph, totally done right and priced to move.

If you're not wanting to spend a fortune, I've seen a few 46 Black Thunder's that were really nice and would still run close to 70 without huge power.

This is a serious boat.
We have been sitting in front of the computer for days looking. I always seem to be in the same position I can afford x but want y. I think I will start to look around seriously in the fall and over the winter to try to find a good deal. There still is a chance of buying something in the 40-50ft range for the family and keeping the Cafe but I really am starting to dig the Nortechs. We shall see we have another weekeend planned to take the kids overnight so who knows maybe it will be sooner.

Get a real Big sail boat.......
-Mike

:lolhit::lolhit:

I kind of went through the same thing. I sold my 35' Playboy and bought a Formula 400SS with 525's ( it does 60 so figured i would still have fun)
Right of the bat i missed the cig. but the 400 has been a blast also. It is great to sleep on, nice having a big bathroom, only used the air couple of times but it sure made the day better by having it. Hauling it around is a pain compared to the cig. We can sleep on it in complete comfort.If it is cold out we still go out with the 400 but wouldnt think about running the cig

I almost traded it in on a new Cig this year but when i really started to think about it i realized that i would be missing the 400SS as much as i had the Cig. They are different boats and each has there own strong points.

My plan now is to keep the 400 and find a used Top gun at the end of summer, (hoping to find a good deal)use it in florida for the winter ( while still using the 400SS in California) then next year bring the cig out in time for Desert Storm

Of course it cost more to keep two boats but they both have places and for me it is hard to sacrifice one style for the other.

Now that right there is the shizzel!! I looked at one in KW.

Maybe One of these suits your application????
http://www.stur-deeboat.com/
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CDMQ9QEwBw
-Mike

Sunseeker Superhawk. 48 or 50

I would go diesels but you can steal a gas one these days.

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...dedSelected=-1

GLH
This is an older thread but I am still thinking about what type of boat to buy next. I am not sure I can walk away from the speed yet. Who knows my wife wants us to follow your plan, first buy the 42 Cigarette and then the Azimut. I have to say though I love those Sunseekers!

There was a 48 seeker @ LOTO that had trip 502's that they wanted less than 100k for . Not sure if it is gone yet, was on Ebay a couple months ago. A lot of bang for the buck..

Go for the MAGNUM ! I had a 35' and loved it. Go anywhere anytime. "HIGH LIFE"