When I first saw this thread I thought great. Just what I've
been looking for. But the thread quickly took on a nostalgia
flavor much to my chagrin. It seems that only Baja caters
to the single guy market. My perfect boat would be 23-25ft
with a big engine, big basic cuddy (no bathrooms, cook
stoves, sinks, chairs, or other useless fluff), and a big stereo.
When I saw pics of the 25 Active Thunder I thought I found
my next boat. Unfortunately they stopped making them years
ago. What current models fit this wish list? I don't think I
would be happy with a 7ft beam. I have been spoiled by my
Cobalt's wide 8ft 6in beam.

CHECKMATE

They are going to introduce a brand new model at the Miami show.

They also have a sweet 28 with single or twins!

the baja 24, 25 new 26 all have 8ft beam or more ,velocity makes a 26 with a nice cabin theres a 94 TB velocity 26 with a new blower motor in the classifieds that has a nice cabin. and the CMs that doc is talking about too.

Yeah I know what you mean.
 

I get it.

Id look at your dilemma a couple of ways.

You can go factory - or you can go custom.
Then you can go East, or West coast in each category.

If it were me Id go custom- too many reasons to list but getting the exact cabin colors and engine you want vs what the factory chose is are my main reasons.

If I were going East in the V custom 24-25ft range Id go with a Pantera- Joe will build you a hell of a ride, buts its just a bit shy of 8 feet in the beam.

If I were going West in the same length - I'd go with LaveyCraft-Jeff will build you a hell of a ride. Its got an 8.2 beam and like Pantera you can get it anyway you want it.

East Coast builders generally use paint and bolt on swimsteps
West Coast builders generally use gelcoat color and mold in the swimstep.

Either of these brands will provide maximum value and last the length of your loan and actually have resale value left over.

These are both "no excuses" products.

Cobalt is certainly a great factory boat one of the best, but these 2 products provide a radically different experience than what you are used to.

I'm sure we'd love to live vicariously through your next boat purchase.

"Uncle Dave"

Laveycraft 2750 Ilmor 710
Laveycraft 20.8 Sebring 406 SB

Well said UDave. It is a shame the 25AT is out of production; with this economy I think Pat(Active Thunder) could sell a few 25's & 28's, but what do I know. I'm sure the profit in a 25-29' boat is not too exciting for the builder. Espescially a builder that puts so much into their product; some things cost almost as much in Labor to install as their big brothers, 33's & 37's.....So I do understand reluctance to build the "under 30" boats.
BTW, I agree, the Pantera is nice...& of course Laveycraft builds a beautiful boat; no doubt about it.

Thats a problem......
 

Its too bad that AT 25 is a huge deep azz 25 footer. Did they sell the mold?IF not Maybe theyll do a one off for this guy- better than not building anything or maybe you can have them rent the mold back? if they did.

I don't know AT but It seems they have a CULT like following and Ive never heard one bashed ever. What you are describing is a real problem in the boat industry - so the guys making smaller boats just charge about the same or stop making them all together. Which hurts us all. Some guys can buy any size boat they want, but actually prefer a smaller rig for storage/ small local lake/ handling reasons-

I gotta believe these builder are pretty motivated to work with anyone right now just to keep staff busy.

At the same time all the customs shops are really happy at this stage to do a re-power and cleanup/new interior(especially if its one of "theirs") and if its shop done vs. a garage guy, Id be completely happy and still pick that over a factory ride

"Uncle Dave"

I guess you didn't understand the extremely difficult question. I do believe 35 is bigger than 25.

He was being facetious about the "true" size of Fountain's 35' with it's long beak and molded swim platform.

Yup. :(

If I am not mistaken the hull is being used for a fishing boat and the deck is gone. This way the boat could not be reborn under another name.

I have ridden and driven R'Addictions 25 AT and it is a real shame they are no longer made.

The AT 25 is a 24' cigarette hull from the 70's.