Are cafe racers less desireable ????
 

Still looking at Cigs and had a buddy tell me the 35 Cafe is a less desireable boat? I kind of like them. 35' is a good size. I know I would need big power to get it running 85 but why would it be less desreable?

I have no idea why anyone would say that. Great boats, same construction as any other Cig from the time period, and frankly they have some of the sexiest lines out there. And the cabin layouts can't be beat - one of the most practical of any other boat of its size. Top Guns are certainly more popular, and 3 feet is 3 feet, but there's nothing at all the matter with a Cafe.

People are probably referring to the fact that the hull is not stepped. In this world of stepped hulls, it does take big power and all of the associated issues (i.e. engine refreshes, broken drives, etc...) to make them go fast. You can run stock 525's in a stepped 38 Gun and run as fast or faster than a non-stepped 35 with big power. For instance, you will probably need 800HP+ to sniff 85 in a Cafe. My guess is you'd need 900HP.

That said, the flat bottom guns are indeed Cigarette's and are of great quality. Plus they ride incredibly in any water.

A bunch of nice Cafe's for sale right now, great boats in the ruff and IMO, sleek timelss lines.

I talked to a guy who upgraded from a Cafe to a TG and he said the biggest difference was the cockpit.... said that it didn't seem like a lot more space in the TG but that little bit of extra room made words of difference.

My guess is if you boat with only a few people you'll never notice but if you bring the party it will feel small

The "windshield" on the Gun's are straight across. On the cafe the deck slopes at an angle from the windshield area off the side of the boat. It is a great look in my opinion and makes me like the looks of the Cafe's a little better. I also like the non-skid recessed bow of the Cafe.

In the cabin (on the 1990+ interiors) the TG couch flows INTO the v-berth bed, where as on the Cafe it is a seperate couch that wraps around in front of the v-berth. Again, something I kind of perfer on the Cafe.

BUT - Looks are subjective, and everything everyone said above abotu flat-bottom/TS is true. Make sure your hearsay is apple to apple hearsay.

In this case isn't 3 feet 2.5 feet?:daz::party-smiley-004:

Cafe's are beautiful boats with nice lines. Not every Cig can be or needs to be a TopGun.

There was only 100 or so Cafe's built compared to I think there up to 800 + topgun's, and of those 100
it seems that it's always the same ones that come up for sale, so it makes me wonder if there are even 50 of them left.

Fact is everyone wants a Top Gun... And why not? They have better resale they look great and they ride through the rough like a hot knife through butter. With that being said I had a Cafe and loved that boat. Personally I like the deck on a Cafe better then any other boat including the Gun. Does the 2'6" make a difference in ride? Not in my opinion. The Gun does have a little deeper cockpit and a little longer. Straight bottom guns have a tendency to porpise around 55mph through 65 mph. But there are some great Cafes forsale right now that I would right now. Good luck if you buy the Cafe it will cost you less now but expect to get less for it when you sell it.

37.6x
 

Probably you, Tank, Stinson, and a few others know what 37.6X means.....

In my opinion the cafe racers are the best looking offshore boats. I prefer the deck design over the top gun.

I agree a 100%,

Ya, ya, ya...You got me. :lolhit:

Ha! I think that's pretty common knowledge. :whistle:

I don't think Cafe's are less desirable per say. I just think that the economy has pushed TG prices down and now if you're a serious buyer the two prices are over lapping. You can get a sick Cafe for the same price as a fairly decent / stock Gun. So you need to weigh the options and like others have said, the re-sale on a Gun is 99% of the time going to be better (price and demand) because the Gun is the most popular and best selling Cigarette in history.

Personally I think, the cafe is an awesome boat. I'd own one in a heart beat, especially at the prices some of them are going for for ones that are seemingly turn key. Never know, I may just end up buying a cafe in the future. ;)

I agree

http://www.boatcrazy.com/search/details.php?id=25792

this one???

Some Cafes' are notched and some aren't

Well put, thats exactly what I was thinking...... No way I could have typed it out......

I think by "Some" you mean a couple. I remember BLee posting a pic of one - it was an EARLY model if I recall. I would consider them an absolute rarity.

Cafe video footage
 

Love my Cafe - upgraded to EFIs (572cc) its an 80 MPH boat with 630 HP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXCX_...ature=youtu.be

Call us today at 941 306 FAST (3278) to book your charter or visit us online www.Fast1Charters.com for our pricing and a cool video :: We accept all Credit cards and PayPal for deposits and final payment

Ok back to the top for discussion. Getting closer to looking at a Cafe.

What's to discuss!!!!!???

Pull the trigger and join the family!!!!!:daz:

In all seriousness if you are heading north and would like to stop by and get a feel for one you are welcome to PM me and stop by - I'm in SE VA. It's winterized right now and I won't be de-winterizing until may but your welcome to come by and see it in person.

I have a cafe and love it the lines are timeless in my opion,the recesed deck and sloping cowl make the boat look much newer,with good power 75 is not a problem,with alittle chop under mine it will run 80mph on gps,will run 78 ever day flat water,we. Overnite often and it serves us well,there are some other brands that are 38ft but when I pull next to them the differance is like a foot and a half,great boats all around....just my 2cents

When I was looking I thought the cockpit was pretty tight.. thats right I said cock

I have owned mine for 12 years, never intended to be a long term owner. but love the boat. does everything I need it to do.and there are fewer cafes you can own 1 of 100 or 1 of 800 either way you wont be sorry.

cafe is one of the best looking boats of all time imo. I don't see that much of a difference between a cafe and a non-stepped gun, performance or size wise. I would love to own a cafe.

Looking at a 35 Cafe with TRS drives. Running 70+ Are the TRS drives a bad thing? WIll the TRS support more HP and what would it take to see 85? Prochargers?? Whipple??

I think they are just as good.It depends where you boat and if you really get a great deal on one,but lots of Top guns out there and its buyer's market. Figuire out your budget,as 4195 says you will pay less and will get less when you sell.Otherwise they both awesome boats and all you really need is to go 75mph or so at the most unless you plan to race and spend a ton of money.

TRS's are only a "bad thing" because they are now dated and haven't been made in numerous years. However, they are sturdy, take a tranny and the X on them is deep making them reliable. Parts are getting harder to find but not impossible.

TRS's are rated to 650HP I think but will take more. 85 in a Cafe? I'm guessing 800HP a side.

Theres one in Canada, 650 a side trs with nose cones reportedly just touching 80.

I was looking at a 35 Fountain but the Cafe is way cooler. Not a ton of Cafe's out there. Fountains seem to be everywhere. Nothing wrong with that...just saying. I have a Hallett right now and its nice to pull up in something different. Hell maybe I just answered my own question.