Originally Posted by thisistank

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.

Originally Posted by TomZ

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!

Originally Posted by TomZ

Wayne and I are working out the who and what but looks like the Bullet will be under my care
going forward. Wayne and our friend Tman brought her to the house yesterday.

Thanks for the nudge, Eric!

I’ll create a separate thread as things get going. My 311 will probably go up for sale in the spring.

Sorry for lightly hijacking the thread!

Originally Posted by seafordguy

The dawn of a new era for you!

Fantastic - cool that it will stay local since there are so Few cigs here.

Definitely post some pics as you’re working it…..

Ive got a bunch of original Cig stuff like wiring diagrams If you need them - can send via email.

Originally Posted by TomZ

Wayne and I are working out the who and what but looks like the Bullet will be under my care
going forward. Wayne and our friend Tman brought her to the house yesterday.

Thanks for the nudge, Eric!

I’ll create a separate thread as things get going. My 311 will probably go up for sale in the spring.

Sorry for lightly hijacking the thread!

Originally Posted by kreed

Well thats exciting! Got any pics of the Bullet the way it sits now? Hollowpoint had that boat for a long time no? Its an all red one if Im not mistakin.... Im going to go check out the new thread.