Apache...simply the finest

no disrespect to Fountain,Reg has marketed them very well. Fastest smooth water boat made with the 2ft beak. Come play with Apache or a tiger in the big stuff and you will see a Fountain get snapped in half. Fountain is a lake boat!!!! And I do mean the big stuff where only a tiger or Apache dare go play!!!!

Give me a light lay-up, twin step Cig with 525EFI that runs 90+mph every weekend turn-key over a straight bottom big powered Apache that you are always wrenching on. Sure, your boat has more bling but after a hard days run we are tied up at the dock having a drink, and you are limping in...well

My $.02

Didn't you guys do you fair share of limping in last year in that turn-key 525 boat????

Only once

I predict that within say.....35 years, they will be taking my designs and making them with different brand names........ and they will all be claiming that one is better than the others.....what do you think??

twin steps eliminate wrenching?
Wow!

No, I didn't say that. Twin Steps allow you to run less hp motors and still go the same speed therefore having stock motors eliminate most of the wrenching.

READY........Just don't turn!!!!! Just kidding, putting the thread back to the top.

As i said earlier, I would own either, but many are comparing purpose built race boats to pleasure versions. Lucky strike has no cabin and is a light layup, therefore there is no weight comparison to a pleasure layup, it is purpose built...for speed.

A pleasure layup allows a person to have the comforts of a cabin, sacrificing speeds for the additional weight.

A 6 pack is purpose built for stand up only, some have half cabins as they are older and that was the norm.

I dont think anyone is comparing apples to apples, and each boat suits its owners needs perfectly.
To me this is a mute point, each is awesome, to anyone that says different has blinders on...

This is like 2 fleas fighting over who owens the dog.

There is no fighting, just opinions, observations and fun.

Cig And Apache = Offshore Racing! All Others = Inshore Racing!

I like my boats like I like my girls............YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE and FAST !!!

TONTO is one bad MOFO, but my tastes lean more towards Plastered's AMERICAN MUSCLE 2.........

That boat talks the talk and carries a big stick.........

When comparing an Apache to a Cig of the same era (late 80's - early 90's), I would choose the Apache. The boats are similar and both need big power, but there is just something about the Apaches that I like. I don't exactly know what it is or why, but I like the Apaches.

As for newer boats, I would choose a Cigarette as long as it didn't have the new style dash and cockpit (hate it - too much bling). As far as newer boats go, my ideal boat would be a 42' Tiger. It has the classic offshore lines and it will perform well with stock power. Of course, this opinion is biased because I have first hand experience with newer Cigs, but I have not seen or been for a run in a new McMannus Apache yet.

Overall, I have owned both brands and I would have to say that, of the boats that I have personally owned, Lucky Strike has my favorite one. It is tough to compare the Apache to the newer Cigarettes because they are totally different animals, but I think that our old Top Gun was indeed my favorite overall. Good lines and great performance on stock power. That is a great combination. If only I could get the Apache to run 85-90mph with a pair of 525s!

Smoking crack is bad for your brain...

I'd take the Cigarette. New technology wins everytime.

\
how did fountain get into this ? oh maybe as the win all the offshore races and everyone is jelous?
regarding the quote;
untill the fountains show up and you get SPANKED
and you know it...
not ALOTt of apaches running/racing? not even in p1 anyone been offshore racing lately? would it matter? i guess its inshore racin,

dont get me wrong,,, i think apache's are nice boats!!! BAD AZZ WITH SOME SNORTING power,,
but its like taking a 1957 chevy and racing a 1999 viper
technology is what it is,, now take both and modify and it gets even uglier,,
great pleasure boat, but bottom line it takes a ton more money and time to keep 1000's runnin than 525's and not to speak of fuel consumption. but who cares,,,,,,
big ol heavy boat with a ton of hp is cool!!
but still not gonna run with todays efficient equipment.
it is what it is,
my comparison is i had a 70 camaro all the cheese all the money poured into it,, no way no how could it run withmy viper... i still love both....
no matter what u all say when it gets real ugly rough i dont care if youhave a apache cig or a fountain u gonna be miserable and unless u toddle home u will be hurt and so will the boat,
i know there will be stories aobut how u came back in 12 footers running 100 but i aint buyin it.
all in all great boats for different folks and that is good.
if we all had the same chit wouldnt have notn to talk about.

too bad aranow not around,,
it would be interesting where he woudl take the boat building from here,, it has come so far its amazing,
who would have thought 7+ yrs ago a boat would run 100 from factory with such lttl powr todayt, it really is awosome the technology and the reliability from the stock powrplants,.
imop

Like Offshore Raceing???? I dont get where your coming from??? all of the boats you quoted are good in big stuff Fountain is Just faster power to wieght, There all great boats in there own rite!

Ok.....
Lucky, I know you have had quite a bit of experience with running Cigarette Powerboats off the coast of NJ. When it get's rough out... 6' seas...how does the twin step Top Gun compare to the conventional bottom? I know the twin step pushes faster with less horsepower in smaller water, but how about the rough stuff?

Thanks
Ed