what are you guys considering rough water?

how big are the waves?

dry ride?
are the top guns wider?
do they have step hauls?

Thanks

You wont get into a stepped T/G for 80k...They are 8' beam
You said you boat on the great lakes...Rivers and smaller lakes the Fountains run past me...On Erie...Not often...
The 42 Fountains seem to do real well Though
T/Gs have alot of Freeboard..Makes for a nice dry ride

so why do you say that they have more room if the beams are both 8'?
Do you know what year the step haul came out?
42 is to big for me for now

The 38 Top Gun is approx 5' longer than a 35 Fountain due to Fountain measuring the molded in swim platform. Top Gun is roomier (longer) in the cockpit, cabin, and engine compartment. Stepped hulls started in 1995 on the Fountain and 2000 on the Cigarette. For 80K you're probably going to have to go older than 10 years old on a Top Gun.

good information - thanks
so if I was running in a 3-4 foot chop what do you think a TG would run in MPHs - will I reach the 80's?
So in your opinion this is an all around good boat... run fast, go swimming and even stay over night once in a while and of course some poker runs.
Do they come with Gen and A/C?

Speed will depend on power. Some straight bottom Top Guns won't break 70, some run 100+. 80 will take decent power, probably at least 650 HP per side if not more. I've never seen a Top Gun from the 90s with a generator and AC. More of a hard core offshore performance boat.

I hope you don't take this the wrong way buy you need to spend some time reading the boards, looking at classifieds, visiting dealers in your area, etc to decide what you want. Being a first time buyer, 80K budget, wanting to overnight, etc. I think I would stick with smaller, newer boats. Something like a 34 Powerquest, 31 or 35 Formula, 29 - 36 Bajas, 31 or 35 Sonics, etc. These all have nice cabins and most will run 70+ with stock merc power. You won't be running at the front of the pack in the poker runs but you also won't get burried under a ton of maintenance/rebuild costs. JMO.

3-4 foot chop in a TG will take 650/side on a flat bottom TG to run around 80.

Not many will have Gen and A/C. When i was shopping I was looking for A/C, but didn't end up getting it. Truthfully, I thought I would install it down the road, but never did and don't plan too - my wife and I stay on the boat at LEAST a dozen nights a summer and are never uncomfortable.

Jmeng Above makes GOOD points. Get some research under your belt on this board and others....

no offense taking at all. I am not rushing this.
I want to stay away from bouncing to much on a smaller boat. I don't expect to run at the front with the big dogs at the poker runs... I will look at some powerquests, fomulas and sonics, not a big fan of the baja's

Definitely don't want to get buried in maintenance/rebuild costs... nothing worse than a boat in the shop during the summer

I forgot to attach the link! Sorry.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o23739-en.html