What makes the Top Gun better. 2-3 MPH is not significant for me since I will not be racing the boat. What details, quality, options make the Top Gun better?

Personally, I love the Cafe especially with the newer cabin. I came close to buying Seafordguy’s back a few years ago. They can crush a sea well and are just a cool looking boat. And you don’t see them as often as you do a Top Gun - if much at all. The three I knew of all left Hampton Roads years ago now.

Regarding the notch… I believe the later Cafe Racers had it but still equal in speed to the Top Gun with like power.

I wouldn’t walk away from a nice Cafe.

The cafe racer is nearly 36' in length. The Top gun is just over 37 feet.

The 90's gun / Cafe share a very similar cockpit and cabin.

The top gun hull is more efficient and yes, will be faster power to power. I'd say 3-5mph. The two boats weigh almost the same. The notched transom helps but the CG is just better on a gun. There were only 3 cafes that had a notched transom as I recall and it didn't work well, again due to the CG.

In my experience from a LOT of seat time in Cafe Racers, Tigers, Top Guns and having owned two Top Guns and a Cafe, the Gun is a better boat all around. Specifically, it's faster, more efficient and in my experience, handles rough water better. Smaller benifits are the added space in the cockpit is slight but noticable, especially if you want to sit down in the boslter seats. Your knees will hit on a Cafe, they do not on a gun. And while the cabin is very similar on the two, the Guns two facing lounge chairs at the table on the port side and true L loung on the starboard are much more comfortable when making cocktails or stepping out of the sun compared to the Cafes Fold up forward seat at the table and L lounge. The Step at the bottom of the cabin floor when entering the cabin actually makes a big difference for ease of access to the cabin on the gun as do the foot rests on the top gun to the front of the bolsters that "most" cafes didn't come with. Also, the drink holder on the port side of the dash are nice and, with that design it makes it easier to stop up onto the dash to gain access to the bow. Theres other stuff but thats off the top of my head. Also, even though the true length difference isn't much, as stated, size matters in rough water. Ask anyone that's owned a 35 and 38, even stepped boats. The 38's run better in the rough. Even though the two are close in size and weight, the 38's have a little more bow that makes them run better.

I too wouldn't walk away from a killer deal on a Cafe and I'm not knocking them. I actually enjoyed the crap out of our cafe but if I had X amount of cash to spend and I could pick up a clean Top Gun over a Clean Cafe at that said price point...Top Gun aaaaaaaaall day long.

Loved my Cafe and if you find one you like definitely grab it. I always thought the sloped windshield looked great!

I wish Tom would have bought mine but he just didn’t have the balls to own a boat with the all intimidating “1” on the side - more of a windshield boat kind of guy - doesn’t want to mess up his hair!!!! I did just find out it changed hands again this week and appears to have found a great home with an owner that's going to invest in it. Would love to buy it back one day if garage space permits.

Ouch!

My hair is important hence the fwb!

I really did want to be the next owner of Seafordguy’s Cafe. Awesome boat with years of history around here. Still kicking myself but financially at that time wasn’t right.

Might be resurrecting Hollowpoint (Wayne’s Bullet) - just need not be “significant other” less for doing so (she loves the 311).

A 31 for 31 swap doesn’t make a lot of sense though. A Cafe or Top Gun would be better.

Funny Tom, as I was typing that I was wondering what Wayne was doing these days. Was going to text him but had to run to a work thing. If he’s slowing down and ready to move that bullet you’d be the perfect owner!!

I don’t want to speak for him, but there are a few things pushing a possible outcome one being that he lives over an hour away from the boat.

I’ll have it back here at my house he soon where it will share space with my 311. If we can come up with some kind of plan, I may do it. The one big hurdle (outside of cash) is that the Mrs loves the 311 and doesn’t so much like the Bullet.

She’s worried you might try to push the chair into service…..

What speed are you wanting out of your next boat? These older straight bottom TG's and Cafe's take some power to get them moving, so you need bigger power and a stronger outdrive. Might consider that in your search, I wouldn't want a boat with 650+ HP with a TRS or Bravo 1 behind it unless you plan on upgrading the drives.

Haha!!

I’d see her being more of a willing participant than not!

Actually, we talked about it some yesterday (not the chair), and she seemed a little more interested than in the past. Her thing is having two boats and the work needed to get the Bullet going. The Bullet needs a lot of work before being close to where the 311 is right now.

My 509s with his B&M 250s would be serious motivators for the Bullet!