Admitted Ignorance
 

this forum has been priceless!
thanks to all who contribute. Info on here much appriciate.

looking to upgrade/change (a huge change).
Options I am looking at:
1. 39 Quattro / quad step / 600 / w/ #6’s
2. Cig 36 Glad / 600 Sci
3. 35 lightning / 525 / xr/ssm
4. Nor-Tech 39
***again ignorance, i dont know availability of these possible builds.
My priorities:
1. speed
2. safe sustained speed in 4’ max water , my location; land locked 90% of the time
3. cockpit space/functionality
4. usefull cabin (love the Outer then the fountain)
5. realistic use, large US lakes, live “near north side” chi town but travel
6. fit and finish (probably should be ranked #2)


I am leaning hard to #1 , any one talk me out of it???
Looking to get on a late 07’ early 08’ build date but know $$ talks

Thanks in advance to any advice!!!!!

check into the Active Thunder 37' avh
or just go with the 39OL

I was thinking the same thing :D

I would check out the 43 sunsation. :D

39 NT will run 90ish w/ 525's good size pit and large cabin! Good Luck, Wrink

:cool:

:D :D

What up B!!

Ask BigScotty :D :D :evilb:

Hey brother. :drink:

"2. safe sustained speed in 4’ max water , my location; land locked 90% of the time"


get a west coast lake boat

You can eliminate the gladiator and the 35 fountain. They do not meet your cabin criteria.

For your comparison, i would replace those two with:

top gun t/s
37 active thunder

Oh, and I'd also check out the velocity 390.

It seems that Active Thunder has now leapfrogged all other boat brands here on OSO. Now that there name keeps getting thrown out there....maybe it's time for some new threads so the "Baptism" as the new King of offshore powerboats can begin!!!!

:D :evilb: :drink: :evilb:

A few suggested threads:

Active Thunder vs. Apache- Hey it should be first up, I hear that these AT's handle BIG water like it's nothing.

Active Thunder vs. Cigarette- should be interesting

Active Thunder vs. Fountain- Custom built against a production boat. Maybe not be a fair comparison.

Active Thunder vs. Outerlimits- Could be an interesting one!

Active Thunder vs. Nor-Tech- I know that the '39 v-hull of NT has been out for a while. Opinions???

Active Thunder vs. Donzi- Maybe the same as Fountain...Two different animals


I sure am hearing ALOT about Active Thunder and how great they are lately and don't get me wrong, I'm not disrespecting them, but are they the next great offshore powerboat.....or is it all hype??? :rolleyes:

As they say, your first guess is usually the best...though there is a huge swing in cost of your listed choice's, this one being the most expensive...

Curious. Your location hints that you are on the Chain O Lakes in Northern Illinois..true ?

Welcome aboard.

Craig said, "Apache".

The OL has a large U shaped leather sofa in the cabin that you can get a filler for to make a bed if you want too ,head is large and funtional. With 600/bravo depending on props,merc maximus vs Herrings the boat will run 96-103 . you can run with 6 people , full load of fuel and Merc props and still go 95 ! The build , fit and finish is fantastic. Check out the low hour late model used ones on the market and save serious $$$. Just my o2

Active Thunder vs. Hurricane Ditka :D :D :D

That's an easy one (I'm assuming that you are referring to the Chicago poker run)........Didn't it result in ANOTHER blown Bravo1?

:D :evilb: :drink: :evilb:

What are you stepping up from?

You can't be top dog forever:evilb: But what do I know, I have a Scarab:drink:

Good question. Strange circumstances. I ran that Chicago Poker Run HARD.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=135904
Trailered the 37 back to VA; and spent 2 hours on the James River, and broke the drive. Turns out the allen head set screw that holds the shift mechanism together in the top of the drive backed out, and turned the gears to apple sauce. That drive was just put together a couple weeks earlier, by a technician that will never touch my boat again. That should have never happened.

Yes you did. :cool:

I really thought Craig would get alot more responses then this from the Cheerleaders!!!!!!!!:evilb: :D :evilb: :D

forgot the best of them all ... 39 cigarette unlimited:p

I see useful cabin space and cockpit on your criteria list there. I think that you will find Gladiator cabin to be a bit "tight" given your requirements :rolleyes:

How about a 2006 43 Donzi 900EFI with number #6 Drives brand new with warranties.. Loaded for dealer cost. boat also has trailer. she is awesome in big water and runs out at 105mph.

Buy a 39 Cig with 700's and be done with it. I know where you can get a good deal on one as well.:D

Patrick, you posted too soon.....

Just shoppn

How fast do you want to go?
How fast can you afford to go?
Do you want to spend the night in the cabin, or duck out of a rain storm? (AC, Heat, fresh water system, hot water system, porta-potti or pump out head)

Its VERY strange to compare a 39OL/39 Nortech (which are or close to 39 foot boats) to a 35 Fountain, which is only a 32 foot boat. I assume the 35 Fountain ICBM is what has your interest.

And yes, you really need to check out the 37 Active Thunder. Link is below in my signature; and I can answer any specific questions on the boat/pricing.

:D :evilb: :drink: :evilb:

I appreciate all the feed back.
I know with all the choices out there, opinions on what is better relaies heavily on what you’ve invested in.
To answer a few questions
1.moving up from what? changing strides from a 360 cobalt
2.how fast? Depends on the day. Don’t want/expect to be the fastest on the water but w/ options listed shouldn’t be the slowest either.
3.how fast can I afford? I have done a bit of checking around and am under no dilutions the price tag associated w/ the boats listed
4.Cabin? No overnights but “use full” space
5.Mentioned the lightening just to get some feedback, have some experience w/ not that model but that manufacturer and ya your right, not really comparing apples to apples compared to the other 3.

Again, thanks for all the info.

Wouldn't happen to be a local guy just south-east of Richmond would it?????

What are you talking about? True, the cabin door is a little tight, but after you enter, and go down the spiral stair case, the Gladiator cabin is quite expansive.

Sent you a PM.

Funny thing is, I had no idea anything was wrong with the drive. I thought it was a broken shift cable, as the boat was stuck in forward. The drive was not even making any noise.