I'm currently looking to upgrade from my 259 Checkmate to a 38 Top Gun (mainly because I moved from inland water to the Long Island Sound). Does anyone have a reason to recommend a 31 or 35 over the 38 other than cost? Thanks for any info.

I would get the 38, no question. The others are every bit as classy, but the gun is their flagship.

Unless your marina restricts size............get the Gun !
I was limited to 31'...........Actualy the ride isn't much Diff.

If you don't leave the Sound to go to open water, you may not need the extra length... but it surely couldn't hurt. Sean has a sweet 35 Cafe for sale.

I made the same jump a few years back and the Top Gun is the only way to go (Especially in the sound).

resale, resale, resale..... best reason !!

I am also going to upgrade to a Top Gun, was wondering if I should go with the 525's or 575"s. Is there a lot of performance difference? Any info from you Cig guys that you could give would be appreciated. I've only been in a Top Gun twice, and was so amazed that I didn't notice, but if my wife is in the back seat, and sitting, can she see out of the boat, or would she have to stand to see out? That is a real concern because she is used to and loves Fountains. Im having to work real hard to convince her I need a Cig. Can you imagine having that problem? Fountain vs Cigarette

As far as motors go, yopu cant go wrong with the 500, 525 or 575's. Tres Martin has some HP500EFI boats running in the high 80's with just proper setup. As far seeing out of the boat from the back seat.....out the sides yes, front no. Tell her to gat a grip on the Fountain thing...... this is a Top Gun, need you say more???

When you say Tres is getting high 80's, is he rigging the boats or just tweeking them? Man, you just can't imagine how hard it is to convince my wife I need to spend 350,000 vs about 250,00 for another new Fountain. All she see's is the money, I can easily see the difference. I'm so damn excited I can't sleep at night. I have waited two years for this day. Thought I would never sell that Fountain. Any way, I don't want to buy tha boat with 525's and wish I had gone with the575's. As you know, pretty good bit of difference in the money.

Here is your new boat.......Joker is a regular here, the boat is very tight, all the right stuff, and now the price is right. Read all the way to the end of the post. You would be nuts to pass this up!!!!
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...threadid=40429
Brett