I've been boat shopping and see a number of 08/09 33 lightnings for sale with twin 496 HO's. Curious if anyone on OSO has one and wants to tell me likes and dislikes. Unfortunately there are none in the area so I can't look at one with out involving a plane ticket...

I would love to have one also...with 525's

I'm starting to think the reason there are a number for sale is no one has bought one!

The 3 or 4 in my area are all on the dealer lots (new). I don't think you will see a long production life for that model.

Fountain should bring back a single engine "starter" boat and continue the 35 Executioner as the entry/price point twin engine product.

The thing that would bother me is the way the engine hatch hangs over the swim platform. There is no finished transom between the vinyl and the back end of the boat and it looks to me that the vinyl is going to get filthy from the soot. Once that soot gets ingrained in the vinyl its going to look pretty ratty. Just my 2 cents. Rest of the boat looks great. Too much money.

They should make a 26 foot lightweight sport boat with seating for 5 and 3x300 XS. What would have been fun.

Tech I'd have to agree with you. Why buy a 33 when you can get a 35 for just a tad more? I'm pretty sure I seen a 33 @ the lake Cumberland run, only seen it idleing by @ the start of the run then it was m.i.a the rest of the day. It looked great but looked so much like a 35 only reason I think it was a 33 was because of the hatch

I have not had the opportunity to drive/ride in a 33, but did spend some time on one at a dealers showroom a while back. I honestly came away impressed. It is not a 35, but then the older 32 was not a 35 either. The 32 was and still is a great boat, I've spent a bunch of time on them and I feel the new 33 is a well executed replacement for the 32. Just my thoughts, but I bet it would be a blast with a pair of 525's in it! Even with the 496's it performs pretty well. Smaller water, lots of trailering, not a lot of overnighting, it would be a fun boat.

Drove one Like Ragged said well layed out and balanced boat a little quicker to plane than the new 35s ,Wheels are not as big as a 525 35. handled every bit as good as my 35 great boat !! our local dealer has a few they acquired from other dealers floor plans so several to choose from. also you wont hear "hey your boat is sinking" as 32 owners hear all the time

I was sitting on the back of my boat about as relaxed as you could get and someone asked that, they were serious.

I thought, "would I be this calm if it was sinking"?

I looked at the 33 last year at the boat show, seems nice but I also liked the 32 Sunsation SSR, both can be had for the same price. It would be a hard choice.