OK have narrowed down my choices
 

A 2000 Cig Mystique with 500efi's and approx 400hrs super clean on a trailer, 1999 Formula 353 fastec with 502/415's with 270 hrs and no trailer, 2002 28 Pantera with 502's/500hp with 60 hrs MINT on a trailer, and a 1999 33 Scarab AVS with 502's 125hrs on a trailer...all are $70k or less :cool:

Re: OK have narrowed down my choices
 

now remember its going to be a trailer queen, used primarily as a bay boat but plan on spending some time running Atlantic here of the Jersey shore

Re: OK have narrowed down my choices
 

Hey Bern the way I see it....

Cig - Highest Quality / Good Room / Good Speed
Formula - More Comfort / More Room / Avg. Quality
Pantera - Most Speed/ Less Room / Good Quality
Scarab - Good Comfort/ Good Speed / Avg. Quality

Just my .02

Re: OK have narrowed down my choices
 

The Cig sounds nice but budget $12k for a pair of rebuilds and in/out. The Formula would be high on the list but the 502's are not too far behind the cig with 500's, especially working hard in the 353 Fastech. The Pantera would be a lot of fun but might feel small every onece in a while. I just cant get excited about a 33 Scarab w/502's. My $.02.

Re: OK have narrowed down my choices
 

Email me links....I need to look at them.

Re: OK have narrowed down my choices
 

Even with 400 hours on the mills, if it were me I'd have a hard time picking something else over the cig. Would it be doable for you to get the cig and freshen up the motors in time for next spring, or does that blow the budget?

Re: OK have narrowed down my choices
 

Buy the cigarette, you will have a sharp boat, not alot of mystiques around. Plus you have the reliability of the Merc blue motors and you said they are the 500 efi's. Its a win, win. Also, down the road the resale will be higher with the Cig. Just the way the trend is. High quality, excellent ride. Plus, everyone loves seeing a Cigarette

Re: OK have narrowed down my choices
 

Cig!

However, ive heard the term Mystique = Mistake around here more then a few times. Why?

Re: OK have narrowed down my choices
 

based on the people i've spoken with people have a bad habit of over trimming them which causes a slight poposing. i spoke with Tres and Phil@ Lipship and you can either find the sweet spot, add a lil weight to the nose or have some minor work done to hull to correct...

Re: OK have narrowed down my choices
 

Even though I'm a Formula guy that Cig sounds like the one I would go for. You might get another 200 hours on those motors with just a valvespring replacement. I don't think you'd be happy in the 28 Pantera and I would be concerned with balance on that boat with 2 BB Chevys back there. That hull runs great with 1 big motor back there, but 2 seems like the weight would be all wrong. Plus I suspect it is pretty tight back there to work on.
The Formula is a great boat but the motors and resale on the Cig just seems better. Don't know much about that Scarab, the 29 and 38 are pretty nice, some people get freaked about a company or line no longer in business so resale might be an issue there. All in all sounds like you have a pretty nice set of choices, good luck.