Sonic vs Velocity
 

Trying to decide between a 31 Sonic or 320 Velocity? Anybody got any suggestions?

Where do you boat? What type of boating?

Lake Erie.

what parts of lake erie, both are nice boats

If your boating on Lake Erie is in rough water, which I assume is so, go for the Sonic. It will have a much better ride than the Velocity.

What are you shopping for? New or Used? What's your price range?

Will be boating out of Erie, PA. Probably do some runs to Canada and Put-in-Bay.

Trying to find something between 1997 and 2000 around $50,000.

Sonic all the way,my friend has a 32 velocity run forrest run.

SONIC :D If I had to pick only between the 2

Sonic, gets my vote.:D

I'd pick the pad bottom over the round bottom.

I like the Velocity ride better.

You're joking, right?!?!:food-smiley-007:

No, I have had a lot of fun in Velocitys. The choice was Sonic31 or a Velocity 32.

Again I would rather run a pad bottom than a round bottom.

He was born with a kidney belt in place. You are comparing two diffrent types of bottoms, one is for speed, and one is for comfort in rough water. Best anwser is you take both for a ride and then choose. I'm partial to sonic. I'm looking for ride.

Velocity = speed
Sonic = Rough water ability, bigger cabin

Depends whats most important to you. The velocity takes a little more skill to drive (which can be fun, if the wife and kids are tolerant). The Sonic is very safe and forgiving.
I boat on Lake Ontario, Sonic takes my vote.

Are you open to other mfg's or just those 2?

I am willing to look at other manufacturers but I really like the hull design of the Sonic 31. The reason I am asking is I found 320 Velocity with only 50 hours on it and a brand new tri-axle trailer for around $50,000. Seems like a good deal. As far as the speed vs comfort factor as long as it pushes 75mph I would be happy.

Sonic's seem to be getting more votes which is what I figured. I guess I will just have to keep searching for that 31 Sonic in price range.

What year is the boat....the price sounds right.....be sure to get a survey done before you purchase.

Here is a 32 Active Thunder that should get you where you want to be. It kinda looks like a Sonic:evilb::D J/J guys
http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o18491-en.html

Sonic for the ride in the rough, plus the cabin in the sonic can't be beat. I had an older sonic, it was a wave crusher.

I have had the pleasure of doing some boating up on Erie now for the last two years and there is a reason why Cigarette and Apache rule up there.

"Here is a 32 Active Thunder that should get you where you want to be. It kinda looks like a Sonic J/J guys"

Nothing against AT, but that is expensive for a 17 year old boat.

Both good boats. Get a sea trial in both and then decide.

Sage advice! The decision is your's.

Have to agree with this, except I don't boat on Lake Ontario. We boat on the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries.

Well, if you want comfort and wave crushing capabilities, try looking at a Cig. Sorry, but there's no way you will be able to find one 1997 or newer in the 50K range, but all Cigs hold value well and are made to last.

If you want 75+ mph and a boat not afraid to run anywhere, take a look at a Cig Bullet. This one looks like a nice value.

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o19713-en.html

Of course, I'm partial :)

I am surprised the Active Thunder Cult has not hi-jacked this thread yet!:D Sydwayz you are slippin'!:p

Only becuase he stated what his budget was and, as you can see, you almost have to get a 20 year old AT to get it that cheap! :D

(don't shoot at me, please. Brian's seriously under the weather and I am just covering for his smart-azz):party-smiley-004:

Lake Erie, go Sonic. We have a new 2007 31 in stock.

Unlimited Marine, ask for Don or John....270-858-6911

I drove one and I will never take one hand off the wheel again,or hit a wave from the side Yikes!! The boat is fast but it hops like a rabbit in heat.

You might want to contact Lenny @ the factory. I think he still has a couple year old trade-in with low hours.

All i can say is i like my Velocity,a 30,been in some rough water and it handled it well,if you take a wave on the side of any boat,its bad,but with good steering,i can drive with no hands!!!,but not FAST!!!. I have to agree with most of the above posts about the ride,but who wants to go out in severe weather??? that velocity for that $$$ sounds good to me good luck tripps

If the Velocity is the older 320 and not the newer 322 then I say go with the Sonic.

Not to offend anyone here but about the only boat Velocity every made that handled worse than the 320 was the really old 35. They made the boat by blocking a 41 mold and ended up making it 2' shorter than they initially wanted. If you measure it transom to bow it's 29' 6" long. Because the pad and strakes were not significantly modified from the 41 the boat has too much lift. The ONLY 320's that actually handle well are the single engine versions and they take a ton of HP to run past 70 mph.

The 322, OTOH is a remake of the old 30 and although it's a real "drivers" boat it's handling is predictable and is a REALLY fast hull. Probably one of the fastest non-ventilated hulls on the market today.

As for Sonics blowing my Velocity's in the rough stuff, that's purely a matter of whose behind the wheel. My 26' would run in the snot as well as most any of the "traditional" V-hull boats due to it's longer running surface and sharply angled entry. Trimmed correctly a Velocity in the rough is not that harsh. Trimmed to run up on the pad and rear strakes it will "pop" and not only beat the crap out of you it will love to send it's nose sky high. Drop the trim and push the boat through the waves (kind of like the Sonic and other straight V bottoms) and the boat is very forgiving.

A friend and member here has a 41 Velocity that has run many a days off the NJ coast with Sonics, and other straight V's and he's rarely in the back of the pack, regardless of conditions.

OTOH, knowing the way the lake chops up, with tall, short waves, I think a traditional V-Bottom is your best bet. Pads, steps and other air entrapment hulls will take more attention when the going gets rough.

I say broaden your horizon and look at some older Donzi's, Power Plays, Scarabs, etc. The 33' Power Play sport deck is a damn fine boat.

MJW930,
I am glad there is some one to agree with on this thread. The 30 is a great boat. They are fast and fun with modest power. There is no comparison in my mind.

:D It's all good..but if this was a Fountain thread Brain would feel good enough to start posting.:p I still say "The Cult" is slackin'!

Sooooo not true Miek. :crazy: I like them all, I just like some more than others. Monsoon is going up for sale, and who knows what I'll buy next. :D

If I had a 32' Active Thunder in my pocket, I'd advise him to look at it. If he could find a 38' Fountain in his price range, that would be a good comparison to the boats he is looking at. :hitfan:

I'm just busting on ya...you know that...having some fun! Hey they are waiting for you on the Baja Fountain thread over in the Fountain section.:p:D Hope you feel better soon, Mike

I heard the same thing.....

From what I've heard, as long as you keep them on the pad you're good... It's a drivers boat...

I've been on a few...they go good for the power they have, just not my comfort level which is strictly an opinion...

talk to 1hyper1 here on the board. He has probably the fastest 320 around. He's a pretty straight forward guy who will tell the good and the bad with the boat.

Sonic