Somebody needs to buy this boat (shameless plug for Magicfloat)
 

This past weekend Mr. Nelems (Magicfloat) was kind enough to let me borrow a "fun" boat for a local poker run (we own a 280ss that is tremendous but not exactly a go-fast boat).

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...1&d=1217539511

2004 353 with 496HOs. I think it had around 330 hours.

I was awfully impressed at the "temper" of this boat, especially around the various stops. While I certainly understand the alure of blue motors, I'm not so sure that having driven both, I don't prefer the 496's. I'm sure there are those who run wide open all the time but for what we needed, this boat was perfect. Planed off very well and could ease along at 50 from stop to stop and imress everyone we met. As far as I could tell the boat is as flawless as you would come to expect from Robert.

This is a great boat!

http://www.nelems.com

Cudos to Robert.....can't believe he lent out a boat like that!!! Good thing I don't live close to him, he'd get so tired of me hanging around I'm sure he'd be pizzed!!! (but I did buy my boat from him :))

My wife lusted after his Ralph Lauren 370ss demo forever and one day at the lake told Robert that we were going to "steal" it one day. As expected, his reply was "you know where the keys are and you are welcome to it."

My car dealer is the same way. "Come get the keys and drive it" has sold me more cars & trucks than all the pushy salesmen I have encountered times ten.

We bought our 280ss in February a couple of years ago. Drove over to Jasper, sat in it on the trailer behind the shop and got his guarantee that we'd love it. Bought it without ever having ridden in one and he was correct--for our purposes (me, wife and 2 young daughters--4 years old and year and a half) it's perfect for us. I'm sure had I tried to get him to sell me a Fastech he would have refused or at least hit me in the head with a stick and told me to come back when my senses had returned.:evilb:

I hear they still shoot at you if your from the north in Alabama:party-smiley-004:

Nah,I sell lots of boats to you northern folks. Shooting at y'all would be bad for business:drink:

:D Now that's funny!!!