performance to cruiser
 

HELP! I am thinking about buying a cruiser has anyone made this change I want to be talked out of it, I have only owned performance boats my last boat was a 2002 34 powerquest

Get two.... :D

I think you will be upset with yourself.

Best bet might be one of the Formula 330SS or 400SS. A nice compromise

I did it a year ago. Bought a 370ss with 525's. 10 months later I bought a Gladiator. The cruiser is a blast, but you'll still miss the powerboat.

There ya go !!!

Problem solved.:lolhit:

what he said , i bought a cruiser but alway's wanted the performance boat . now that is what im looking for now .
buy a nice 38 to 42 footer performance boat with all the comfort's of a cruiser . but you will still have the speed and handling of a performance boat :)

wait...... i thought checkmate was a cruiser.




Flame away.

Have had the 32 Fountain for last several yrs, a 27 before that, Pachange before that.
Picked up the cruiser 2 yrs ago because our boating style changed. Have a slip now, so either hanging on the dock or tieng up a short jant from the marine. No more thunder runners left on our lake. Plan was to sell the Fountain the following yr if the cruiser lifestlye worked out. Love the cruiser life....just can't bring myself to sell the Fountain. So it's been sitting under covers in the garage untouched, last 2 summers now.

I would take a serious look at a Black Thunder. They are amazing boats, especially for people in your situation. I will own one for my next boat.
The formulas are nice but not as flexible as a black thunder. They also look to much like a cruiser to me. The smaller ones that are trailerable are to small. The larger ones are slip only, which opens up a whole new can of worms. Its nice to have the option to trailer yourself.
Fountain sport cruisers are nice also. They also look to much like a cruiser for me. I have seen a nice newer 38 run in the Boyne Thunder poker run the past few years and they look like they are having a blast.
I feel moving to a true cruiser (a yacht) would only be worth it if you had the money for a larger, newer, diesel, with a sweet tender and jet ski's. But that would be well over the $500,000 mark if not over a million! Everything I have looked at (if I was to keep my boat and get a cruiser) are to small, slow, and old.
Good luck and have fun shopping either way!
PM if you want to hear about my personal expierence's.

I did it and wished I hadn't a month later.
Had the Sea Ray for 2 years and the 2nd year it just sat at the dock.............................................

We did it in 04. Traded a 99 28 P antera on a 2004 Formula 31PC. The Formula is a very nice boat and we have lots of fun on it but it is not the same. My wife finally let me get another go-fast last September, an old 28 Pantera. I guess she could not take me crying any longer and she still has her Formula.

You have choices
 

Look at Hann Powerboats, Inc. We have a big center console that is fast, fuel efficient, and a powerful family boat. http://www.hannpowerboats.com

If a big center console with a big cabin is not your boat, always look at Cruiser Yachts.

I sold new and brokerage high performance boats from 1987 to 1993. We were a dealer for Cigarette, Fountain, Apache and Formula in Ft. Lauderdale.

Every once in a while a guy decided a Sea Ray cruiser or similar was the direction he wanted to go. After a short time most came back to the performance boat bored out of their minds with 34 MPH. Think this one through thoroughly, as it could get to be an expensive lesson.

The Formuls SS series and now the Fountains are the best compromise, but who wants to compromise?

Good Luck

I went from a 35' Cigarette to a Formula 400SS with 525's thinking that since it still goes 60 mph it won't be to bad.

The formula is a great boat and is a lot more comfortable than the Cig. Does it replace it? hell no.

i would trade the Formula for a Cig in a second.
but don't get me wrong we have a great time on the Formula and if i ever got rid of it i would probably regret that also.

The best bet is to have both since they both are so good at what they are designed for.

The Formula is Kind of like having a half ton pickup. almost rides as nice as a car and can tow some things but doesn't fit the bill for ride or towing

What about a Fountain? I went to a 47 Lightning and it's got all the cruiser stuff and still runs over 80.

If you have big enough pockets just make the ultimate purchase - a 50 Nortech - cruiser amenities packed into a no-**** gofast.

Or get the cruiser but make sure you have friends that still have go fasts so you can get your fix.

Everytime I part with a boat I think the same thing, in fact just being in the cabin of a cruiser get me thinking. I mean, we launch the boat, race to the bay, climb over a sundeck and drives all day, start up at dusk and race to the bar/marina where we spend the night and do it all over again. For the short time we actually run the boat you would think the crusier makes sense right......right???

I will tell you what will get you-


Cons-
That race to back to the bar/launch
When you hear any thu-hull fire up, even a single :)
riding in a poker run instead of driving, and driving your station wagon home after the poker run
Missing sun deck

Pros-
Cops won't bother you
Shower, heat and a/c found in most, but only elite large go-fasts
Wax once a year and leave it in the water, no one is going to bust on you for a water line


Also check out Sonic boats, if you can afford a 35 or 38 they are pretty damn close to cruisers downstairs, but still fast.

IMO......don't do it until you can have both. I feel lucky, the wifey wants nothing to do with a cruiser :)

If you are still looking, I know where you can get a GREAT deal on a 04 Formula 41PC, loaded, fresh water.

don't do it!!!!!!!! went to a formula ss. more room, more amenities, less noise, and cheaper fuel bills. bottom line is i have been looking for my testicles ever since. i want to get a bumper-style sticker for the transom that reads my other boat is a velocity.

I understand the thrill of a go fast but I now have a 3mo old boy, I dont see myself flying across the bay or ocean ( a lake maybe ) with a 1-4 yr old so my next boat will be a center console or a Formula 33 ss, nothing wrong with being comfortable on the water

Never been in a boat that I did'nt enjoy! As long as your boating, life is good.

The only way to keep sane is multiple boats. ...

First off you may want to move closer to the water. If you are considering a go fast and a cruiser then you have the dough to consider it. Trust me, it changes everything in your boating world when you can see the water everyday you leave your house.

Are you crazy in the head? A baby on the water in a fast boat??
Take a deep breath. I was on the water before I can remember. My kids have been on the water since before they had social security numbers. The 454 with thru hull exhaust purr would put my daughter asleep even on a bad teething day. Now is the time to get them hooked. It will make them a better person in the long run. Just because you have a fast boat don’t mean you have to drive it badly and it may help in an issue like running out of diapers and needing to get back to the car.
Last, a cool boat gets kids excited. Like a matchbox car.

Here's some shots from a poker run we did back in '04.... Boat was a Doral with 2 hp's in it for power. :eek::eek:

Get a cruiser, just get it with power!!!!

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...am/doral01.jpg


http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...am/doral02.jpg

42 Sonic, 47 Fountain, 38 Donzi or even a 38 PQ....if you cant get it done in one of these you have a serious problem.....or as posted earlier get two.....cruisers can be had for DIRT CHEAP these days....like 15k

Get an older cruzier get it paid off. (Wife happy)
THEN get a CIG! (Me HAPPY!)
Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
And as much as I hate admitting it the AC when its 100 outside is nice.

Of course a 50x50 boat dock at the lake house helps.

I'm in the market for a cruiser now as a second to the 42! I can't wait to be able to choose which slip to get a boat out of this summer... Anybody know of a deal on a 45ish Sea Ray or similar? want to keep it below 150k if I an help it.... PM me

that's the way to go..cruiser and go fast if you can...check out the Cruiser Yachts..they are a little better IMO or the Formulas but I think they may be a bit more than 150k when you step into a 45'er...the 39 cruiser yacht is very roomy though...good luck!!!

1995 145k

http://www.knot10.com/

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...0&&ywo=knot10&

I can't wait to be buying a boat that I need to keep under $150k, if possible lol. I'm happy with my Formula and Chris Craft for only being 23, I'll grow up soon..... LOL

LOL...you bad!!:grinser010:

32' Fountain, 32' Regal, 42' Fountain, 35'Cafe

Be pretty accurate to say the best times are spent on the Regal.

Go for two. It is hard to retire from speed. I went out and got an old school 60 foot (I don't know why you are in a hurry in a cruiser anyway). I would not trade it for the world. It is a large time. I could fit a fleet of PC's in the glove box.


When I want to go fast, I walk two slips down and hit the hydrohoist and drop in the Donzi.

This can be done on both a larger and smaller scale. Lots of great deals these days.

I love my cruiser. I may change around my fast boats but not this one.

Those pics are just way too cool !!!!!
Now thats the ticket...a cruiser that will wheely!!!:drink:

How fast is that thing? :lolhit:

just because its a cruiser doesn't mean you cant have fun

Nothing wrong with that! I took my 370ss on the shootout fun run here at LOTO!

We were doing around 50-55 when my GF at the time took that picture. I think it had twin 496HO's?? Were they available back in '04?

I don't know if sane is the word I would use but I get you!

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...9-gls-toyz.jpg




Also with a cruiser you have a place to tie up your go-fast...

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...n-2009-032.jpg