Need some help everyone
 

Ok so I sold the Baja 260 on Monday. So I need a new ride.

What I am looking for is something that will ride well in Lake Michigan. Alot of the time it is 2 - 4 footers so I need something that has a pretty smooth ride. I would like to be as close to 30' as possible so anything from 27 - 32 will work as long as it's under 9000 pulling.

I need room, I have a wife and 2 kids, plus we like to have friends on the boat. I have to have silent choice, and drop down bolsters. Would like to have atleast a 454 mag if it is a single screw. Speed is not the biggest factor, but I wanna do atleast 60 if at all possible.

I have been looking at Baja, Fountain, Checkmate, Donzi, Powerquest, Scarab, and Velocity (but I really don't know much about older Velocity boats).

What other brands are good to look at for a smooth ride?

Now I don't have an unlimited supply of money. I am just a working stiff with a family. So I gotta stay under 30K. I know this means I am gonna be looking at older boats, but I would like to stay 90 or newer if I can. Older than 90 and it better have some low hours or newer motors.

So what I need is a boat with room, a smooth ride, and low noise for the wife., and something that still get the blood pumping for me. All for under 30K.

Am I asking to much?

Re: Need some help everyone
 

Base on what I said above. what one out of these would you choose.

http://bajaboatsforsale.com/premiumc...ieds00200.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-9420.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-9918.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-9616.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-9385.html

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/1/1/83421211.htm

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/8/0/83504080.htm

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/4/83662094.htm

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/6/83488596.htm

Re: Need some help everyone
 

Most of the boats that you listed are not much of an upgrade from your old 260 Baja in terms of room, comfort, and ruff water capability. I think that the Powerquest above will best fit your needs if you are ready to move to a twin engine application. The best advantage about the twins is a the safety factor, if one goes down you can limp home on the other. Being stranded on the Big Pond is no fun. The obvious disadvantages is maintaining two motors and increased gas consumption. Be patient that 27' and above catergory is hard to due for under 30K. Make sure that you are looking for boats with a 24 degree dead rise for ruff water capability.

My .02

Re: Need some help everyone
 

I agree with Majic Medicine....the Powerquest is very roomy and the twin engine piece of mind doesn't hurt any as well....I have had to come back on one engine myself.....good luck on your search.....if you contact Great Lakes Marina ask for Ed in the sales dept....tell him Fred sent you.....Fred

Re: Need some help everyone
 

I would look for a clean 311 Formula, they ride great, look good, and are well built. The 312 Chris doesn't look bad, remeber Bigger is better on lake michigan you would need a 29'+ fountain to have the same size boat you just sold.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

Look in the cig section lakeluvr has his bullet for sale, very clean boat.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

The baja 260 was a great boat for the room and comforts. It will be hard to beat. The cig that offshore was talking about would be a good bet.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

I would get a hold of Shagnasty here on the board,, tell him he has his Scarab over priced and you are a cash buyer,,, its a 1991`,, 34ft excell model ,,, it has air and stock exaust, with 365s ( 454 ) with bravos,,, lots of room and easy to trailor,,, its one of my all time favorite boats,,, (for the money)

RHC

Re: Need some help everyone
 

Ok my 260 was a 26' OAL 21 degree deadrise with no tabs. You all don't feel that even going to a 27' 24 degree deadrise with tabs will make much difference in ride.

I really don't want to waste someones time price wise. I can't really expect someone who is asking 40K+ to take me serious when I can only spend a max of 30K. I would also think that the Formula is way over my pulling range of 9000, I thought they were a pretty heavy boat.

Thanks for the help guys maybe I really blew it getting out of this boat. I thought I could getting into something with a much better ride than what I had.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-9886.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-7845.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-9440.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-9169.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-8852.html

Re: Need some help everyone
 

The 311 should weigh 7400 lbs.They are great boats, I had one for 11 years.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

Nightlife 1970,

Don't get upset yet. A 24 degree dead rise is definately going to yield a better ride than a 21 degree. A buddy of mine upgraded from a 226 Baja to a 24 OL and he said it was night and day. Be patient its a buyers market right now, and now is the time when everyone is putting their boats up for sale. My advice to you if you can is too spend a little more jack right now if you can because you will spend it later when you upgrade. I should have listened to this advice, I am on my 3rd boat in 4 years. I just purchase a new to me boat last month and I see boats that I like and fit into my catergory every week.

All BSing aside, their are alot of nice perf boats in Michigan, just be patient you'll find one. I think that PQ you had listed in your previous post or a 29-31 ft. Formula would best suite your needs!

Re: Need some help everyone
 

A 29 PQ is a 27' boat and real tail heavy, 311's are great boats.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

I like the stinger, but she'd have to be really clean.
Cuda has a nice Formula 311 with Kaama drives for $35k on donzi.net.
Here's a pic.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

Go bigger. I made my bones in Lake Michigan from 1970 to 1979 and the 311 Formula would be the SMALLEST boat I'd consider.
Bite the bullet and save more money...you'll thank me on those days when the wind kicks up!

Re: Need some help everyone
 

I would go with the Cig and Sutphen that Rob posted. They are really well priced and they will eat 2-4ft like a champ. I have seen that 28 Cig in person and it's in GREAT shape.

jr Mike

Re: Need some help everyone
 

fountain...http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...g_id=1807&url=

fountain...http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-8608.html

Re: Need some help everyone
 

PAT @ Active Thunder has a used 28 Thunder 1999 w/ single 502 great rough water boat if you want a single.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

cosmic12,

IS that gonna be anywhere near 30K?

Also guys I would love to get into a 31 Formula, but at 7400 lbs for the boat there is no way I can pull it. Looking a 11,000 lbs with trailer, gas, and gear.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

that sutphen is sweet lookin, i like the cig 28 which will be cheap to own and bullet proof withthe 383 sbc's which cant hurt the trs drives.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

SUperboat 30 y2k Powerplay 28 good rough water also saber 28

Re: Need some help everyone
 

He wants to stay under 30K!

Re: Need some help everyone
 

The more i think... that sutphen would be killer.
What a great hull to work with.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

Found This

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/7/83807497.htm

Still gonna be over my pulling limit, but I might have a solution for that.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

I like that its all white.
Gotta have it surveyed!

Re: Need some help everyone
 

What tow rig do you have now?

311 Formula is my choice.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

I use a Dorango now that is rated for 9000 Lbs. Also can use a Ford F350 diesel from time to time.

There is a marina by us that would allow us to store the boat there. Then I would only have to pull the boat abot a 1/4 mile to a ramp. So the Dorango could handel that easy. The Dorango could pull it power wise, it pulled my 260 with no problems.

Re: Need some help everyone
 

That 32 Baja Will Give The Most Room, But Sutphens Rule In Rough Water, Thats My Nexted Boat :d

Re: Need some help everyone
 

1st choice would be SinkorSwims Sutphen -classic as it gets and lots of new parts. One around here runs real smooth on Lake Mi - was in the trader for sale- think its out of Lowell ,Mi. white/red also. 2nd would be the black/red 311 - always classic color combo. At 20k room for personal upgades.