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.

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. 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.