Performance Deckboats--which one?
 

Looking for a 27+ deckboat. Saw a used Eliminator 27 and thought it would fit our current needs quite well. Who is still in business and which boats should I look at? All around performance is important--tubing, skiing, wakeboarding are all important. Other things like a bimini, spot for a port-a-potti, and LOOKS are also high on the list. I know that Nordic makes one, Ultra (out of business right?)...what else should I look for?

Price points between 50 and 100 (how's that for generic?)

Thank you for the feedback.

Between 50 and 100 new?

Personally for deckboats I'd be looking at DCB, Eliminator, Howard, Nordic, Ultra and Barracuda. Under 100K would definitely limit what you could get new (there might be a Howard for about that I'd definitely look into!)

Look at performanceboats.com and riverdavesplace.com for more info on these types of rides.

Check out the Advantage Xflight 27 and 29. Have a friend with the walk-through 29 and he just loves it. Great looking boat too.

They make both the mid-cabin and walk-through.

http://www.splashvision.com/video/16...Boat-Test.html

I have this one for sale, with twin outboards its great for tubeing, sking, runs 57mph. It has cabin with porti poti under the raised helm. And you could save some money.
http://richmond.craigslist.org/boa/1863652137.html

Thank you for the feedback so far. The Advantage xFlight is a very odd concept and looks kinda odd (in my opinion) on the water.

Was VERY interested in this one based on price point but have never rode in one. Not really sure what to expect?

http://www.stellarautoplex.com/web/1...ravo%20One%20X

Deal is pending--anyone from here?

Rush--your boat is sweet, just not quite what I'm after.

Anyone know if Ultra is still in business?

If you could find an E-ticket in your price range, that's what I would go with.

E-Tickets are pushing $400-large new, and they haven't been around all that long. Finding one for $50-$100K may be a bit of a challange.

They are the top of the food chain though as far as performance decks are concerned.

Advantage makes a boat they call a "party cat" that I've had my eye on for a long time. If I had a 50-100k budget to work with I'd be all over one without thinking twice.

http://www.advantageboats.com/28pc.htm

Given your price range, I would look at used Eliminator, DCB, Nordic and Magic. Minimum engine 525EFI for sure. For fit and finish, Eliminator and DCB are at the top of the list. Magic on the lower end. From a styling standpoint, they all look good. The X-Flights are a love it or hate it situation.....

I have a 2004 Magic 28' Deck with a 525EFI that I find to be perfect for the $$. Plenty of room and fast enough to get the wife angry. All of the larger (28' and above) are somewhat tough to pull skiers and tubers on as the speed to plane is a little too high for kids under 12 yrs old IMO.

Plenty of Mayheim auctions going on that has a ton of deckboats available. If you need one turnkey, $69k and you can have mine or chase one down in the auction and put a little $$ into it and you should be in for about the low end of your price range all done.

Shad

Comment:

Ultra is still in business!

You did not say if you were looking for single engine or dual engine.

If single than rule out E-Ticket, and DCB as they are twin engine configurations---although I think Dave did produce one 30Sportdeck in a single.

The Eliminator you are looking at is a decent boat your price range is not that bad. There are some real nice Deckboat deals to be had if you know were to look.

As for single engine Deckboats I own a Howard Sportdeck and there was one for sale which was the deal of the year at $109K...a turn key boat with a HP525/XR drive.

It sold to JB sight unseen there are not many Howards for sale period the reason is owners love them! The Howard Sportdeck does everything well handling, speed, ease of use, tables, coolers, bimini, etc...

OSO is not the place to solicit information on performance deckboats for that you need to visit ---www.performanceboats.com.

Visit the spam section and you will find quite a few performance deckboats. Including the one I mentioned above you will love that boat. You can also post a thread and solicit opinions much like you are doing here you will get a ton of information.

I have a bias as I own a Howard Sportdeck. IMO it is the finest single engine deckboat I have ever driven. 2008,2009 LOTO Class winner, 2008 & 2010 Desert Storm Shootout winner.

It is a ton of fun when you roll on expensive boats with a deckboat and they can't keep up it is all smiley faces.

KAP

Eliminators are built with a heavy layup so that boat may not break 60 with the 375hp motor. Their gelcoat is second to none on the West Coast. Price is right too.

The West Coast builders provide vast choice in this area.

Help me out a bit..

1. How do you measure 27 ft?

Do you mean a 25 ft boat with a 2 foot step?
Or a 27 ft boat with a 2 foot step?

2. How many people are you taking with you?

They all have their strengths and weaknesses.

The 2 companies that have been in continuos production since the 50's have the best product.

Howard- Awesome - fastest- a little smaller (Kaps is epic)
LaveyCraft- Awesome - bigger a littler slower

These are the 2 I would focus on getting a deal on. If you pick up one of these with a Teague 800 youll be a happy guy.

Advantage has 2 lines of product that "fit" the Xflight - basically a V with a modded foredeck. Its cool and a bit funky.

Advantage "party cat" line- to me this is the original West Coast performance deckboat available in a wide array of lengths.

Not the build quality of the Howard or Lavey or gel of the above 2 - but its still a good product.

Eliminator stuff seems to be hit or miss, but overall I think they make a great boat.

Ultra makes a nice product.

Nordic makes a good product as well.

You really want to look for vacuum bagged product.


Uncle Dave

I disagree about the heaviness and the speed you thru out .I own a 27 fundeck Eliminator with a 496ho (425hp) and it runs a solid 70mph with no porposing.I have run with the bimini top up easily to 60mph with4-5 people on board.AS for towing,if i didnt look in my mirror,i would never know i was towing it behind my stock F-250.
Tubes and tows skiers great.I love it.

http://www.g1mconquest.com/downloads_showimg.php?id=294
http://www.yachttraderonline.com/fin...conquest-boats
Conquest Boats 28ft

Let me ask something; are these boats as difficult/expensive to insure as a regular cat?

I checked on insurance for the boat I was looking at--Liberty Mutual (my current ins.co.) and Progressive were nearly identical at around $660/year--assuming 6 month layup for winter. Allstate was $200 cheaper. And yes, I told the truth. Progressive actually asked about the engine size and if there have been any modifications made to the engine to increase performance.

Love the look of the Conquest! How long have they been around? What's the story (where made, who started, etc.)?

Skater40--since you have one, is there anything I should be looking at as far as build quality or accessories for the Eliminator if I'm able to find one? Do you like the 496HO or would you recommend more? Does the Eliminator have built-in cooler(s)? How is the ride quality compared to a traditional v-bottom?

Thanks!

depends some are-

the insurance companies visit the manufacturers and determine if a particular "deck boat" is really a cat with the bow cut out or a purpose made hull.

UD

Best of luck with the seach Dave. I see Specialty Boats over here in MN has a couple Advantage's listed on their site.

http://www.specialtyboats.com/usedboats.htm

Comment:

I would stay away from Progressive Insurance as they have a bad reputation out west and with several performance boaters I know.

Farmers will write it and check a companies reputation on boats just because they sell it does not mean they will stand behind you if something happens.

Conquest is Group One Marine aka Conquest they are built in Lake Havasu City and have two deckboat models the Top Cat and the Top Cat II---great deckboats in my opinion and well made.

As for features in the used market you take what the orignal owner ordered unless you buy new.

I can't speak for Skater40 but know him. From my experience I would run a HP525 at a bare minimum for power. Why well the 496HO will get you around when you load up with people and gear it will be difficult to make the speeds alleged much less pass anyone.

KAP

P.S. I have driven or have experience with all the major deckboat manufacturers on the market----except for the new Nordic model.

Great feedback guys! I've only seen a small handful (less than 5) Conquest boats here in Wisconsin. Do you think that if I purchased one here that the resale would be difficult?

Has anyone been on the Advantage? I see the link that Caincando provided that they have a 34 deckboat--anyone with experience? Is big and probably heavy?

The number of people on the boat isn't a factor as if I have 8 people on it, I'm not likely going to try and run 70+ as long as it can get on plane and cruise that would be great.

I haven't been on any of them--how do they ride? Easy to drive compared to similar size v-bottom?

The ad does say 375hp, but the ad and engine also say 496MAG HO. This boat may have 425hp.

My .02 Conquest makes a fantastic deckboat. I would look at them seriously. Advantage was the first to make the deckboat. I have only been on a few of the deckboats but I have owned another model advantage and my father has own three. Thier product and customer service is fantastic. I used to have a 22' Advantage with a big cube blower motor in it that I was trying to get a few more MPH out of. I stopped by the shop in Havasu and a couple of the main guys stopped what they were doing and came out and BS'd with me for 1/2 an hour about some ideas that I had. Great people.

The boat in question does have the 496HO 425hp motor and runs mid 60's according to the previous owner.

I actually toured the Advantage factory a few years ago and as mentioned, a great group of people passionate about their work.

I'm still curious about the way they ride--I assume the 27 Eliminator is the same bottom as the 27 Daytona right? My 30ish years of boating I've only ever been in a v-bottom.

I've never been on a deck boat, but have been curious how they run in less than flat conditions. Anyone ever run one in some descent chop, etc ?

Other than the xflights- they are almost all cats.

So in moderate chop they ride better than v's IMO.


Uncle Dave

RODE IN ADVANTAGE 34 PARTY CAT AT LOTO 4' CHOP NICE
TWIN 800'S

That Advantage 34' is very nice. Anyone know what they go for new?

BTW, Advantage needs to update their website a little bit. JMHO

Good Question:

What is decent chop?

If your talking about 1-2 footers yes it does real well if your talking about 3-4 footers not really well.

The twin engine models do better in the rougher stuff as they are larger boats or have more aggressive sponsons and deadrise i.e...E-Ticket.

Overall, you can drive it through some nasty stuff but it will not be fun. The Howard has a sliding front door and you can close it shut to prevent water intrusion in rougher water. When you have a load of people on your boat your not gonna be hitting the water in rough stuff it simply isn't a prudent idea. You can get back no problem if that is what your worried about....easily.

A common question but remember a deckboat is not an offshore boat.

KAP

I have a freind with one of these so I"ve ridden in his and it's just a great combo of deck/sporty performance boat and the thing just rides awesome for a 29' boat. Those tunnels trap the air in there and helps the boat come down soft like a cat. I called the dealer just to see what he would take and he was really in a mood to blow out his leftover inventory. I called on a whim but wound up buying the red one for our place in Florida.

Thanks for the heads up on that dealer. :)

I've had both a Ultra and now a DCB and i'd recommend them both.

Alot depends on if you want singles or twins. Your also up north so maybe outboards? That's what we just moved to and are happy!!!

Cool! Did you deal with Bill the owner? If I remember he has a place in the Keys too.

Yes, seems like a heck of a nice straight forward guy. He said he has a place in Marathon.

Yep, that sounds like Bill. He sells boats for the fun of it and made his living from other endeavors; so he's not like you typical dealers who’s hard pressed to move boats.

Pier 57.com Trident about 20hrs 496HO 731-689-4000 Carey Downs:drink:

Don't forget to look at the Hallett 285

Nice purchase on that Advantage. I really like the Trident. Too bad they have taken a pause from the rec market - the boat has a lot of amazing features in it.

What about a Domin8er, 28 ft. ??????

Love the Tridents!:drink:

What are you asking for this one (I'm not in the market but I'm sure others reading here are).

These boats are very rare. Is Trident still in business? A lot of money was spent on the first one. What power and drive?

What's the story with Trident? What makes them such a great boat? Anyone on here have one? Why did they take a break from the rec. market and what other markets are they in?