I checked out the sunsation, WOW, I would love to have that boat, but that's a dream for me. The cheapest used one I could find is 60k and that's double what I want to spend. Back to square one.

Well you will be hard pressed to find a Sonic for 30k, unless it is a 22 or something. I guess if that was my budget I would go for the fastest, funnest open bow, Sea Ray makes a great one. Save your go fast for when you can drop 60k, that will get you a nice 32 with twins and in good shape. I know i paid that for a 1995 32 Active Thunder with twins, B1s with 1:36s, steering, and HP500s, home made but still full roller and 470 hp. There are tons of custom made West coast bow riders that are very nice, you can still find a good 24 with a BB 502, B1 and an open bow. Look in the AZ area, thats all they use on Mead, Havasu, LOTO, all over.

Get what you want.
Sorry to be blunt but you earn it you spend it.

I think this situation points to what's wrong with kid's these days. We were happy to just be in a nice boat, no matter where we sat. What difference does it make if you sit up front or in the back? Geez! It's still a boat.

Buy an old, used Bayliner bowrider for next to nothing AND the Sonic. Then see which one they want to ride in.

Michael

Kids want to ride in a bad ass boat, your wife is just on a power trip, like they always do. I saw go witht he Sonic or tell her nothing at all, chit who's paying for it????

OK yea ia am single

I did not read anyone say how insanly dangerous bow riders are for kids!!! They get tossed out of the bows about every day. It is one of our industries little secrets!!!

Hope that helps.

I've had cruisers to 35 ft, 20-21 bow riders and now my second "go-fast". We have 3 boys ages 5,8,10 so I know where your coming from. My wife wanted no part of a performance boat until we spent a weekend on a buddies and she saw how many more places we could visit because of the range/speed these boats provide. (now she's hooked). You've got to get her onboard with whatever you want!!!
I too bought a bow rider when the kids started getting to tubing age but they didn't want to do that for long. When I couldn't get them behind the boat I gave up.
Try to get some time riding with people in each type of boat. If you end up with a bow-rider, Searay have been "dumbing-down" there boats for a number of years trying to compete on price. Chapparral, yes Regal, Cobalt, Bryant all make better boats than Searay. We had a 21 ft 2000 Chris Craft that had a open bow, enclosed porta potti, and with the 5.7 Volvo DP ran 60 in 2-3 ft slop. (3,800 lbs , 22 degree bottom)
A few commented that you need to grow some balls, if the wife ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!!!! Keep looking, some of the open bow/west coast boats may work or consider an outboard center console. (Concept comes to mind)

Good Luck

I was just gonna say the bow is the most horrible ride in the boat and tell you wife you get one is she wants the kisd to have back problems. bouncing around up there is fun for kids for about 5 minutes...
when I was little I always wanted to be behind the wheel with dad on the throttles.

mid cabin bow rider meets her in the middle, but I would go for and ourboard open boat with a cabin... donzi 30 in my opinion is what I am getting for the family boat... lower noise for the little ears... fishing and a just enough speed for the dad.

Ernie

Hey Bert,
The 260 Powerquest is a GREAT boat and if it has a big block it'll perform in the 60's. It has a 23 degree deadrise and handles choppy waters easily. I've had a '98 and an '03 260 and just moved up to a 340. Good Luck!

I told my wife that I was buying my Scarab with or without her approval, so now I have my boat and she is gone.