didn't read all the posts but if you can find power, this might be a good buy.http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o36832-en.html

Sheer Insanity--you are exactly right, I started with absolutely nothing and have worked for everything I have. I had a good idea, and took a chance and went for it. Like I have said before, "i wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, my dad put a wrench in my hand and taught me how to use it".

My friend, I didn't mean to piss you off at all, I was really trying to give you some mature, age old advise. I was probably driving boats before you were even born. Financing/borrowing over ones head is what is wrong with this world as we speak. People that bought $800,000 homes on a $40,000/year salary is the reason America is in the shape that we are in now. As you asked, "mistakes made by others". My serious point is.... I hope you don't plan to buy a $80,000 boat and finance it for 15 years like I know people that actually have. Start thinking ahead and save, save, save. If you can really afford to buy that $80,000 boat, you shouldn't have a problem saving enough to "just write a check" in 3 to 5 years, IF you start now by thinking ahead. The big plus here, is all the interest you save and can apply that interest saved to future purchases. And, by doing this, you don't have to worry so much about those "credit scores".

Just trying to help a little with what I've learned, over time.

Good luck with your boat hunting.

I got my loan from a guy on OSO I think his screen name was "loan ranger" or something like that. Try a search. My boat was 7 yrs old at the time so there are loans out there.

As for high 80's, low 90's with a 500... good luck. I've hit 76 with my boat (500 EFI) and cruises nicely at 54. Keep us posted.

Bad Posts?
 

I guess your string went bad on you and turned into a discussion about financing a new boat. It is very hard right now to get a boat loan from anyone on a regular boat much less a "racing boat" like the banks consider a go fast. I guess the overall questions is whether a boat should even be financed and that is a very personal issue. I have always bought used, older boats that I could pay cash for and pay a little along the way to fix them up. I can't somehow bring myself to sign a note on a boat that has me paying for every month because the cost of ownership is so high. We can spend $1500 to $2000 on a weekend of out of town boating regatta including gas, hotels, meals etc. Just to go boating at our hometown lake, we will run through $300 to $500 of gas a day and then if we brake something??? I guess the point I am making is there are a bunch of really nice boats you can buy for the 25k in cash you have and have a great time getting out on the water. I believe one can have a great time in any boat that doesn't break down and if it is financed or not is very private matter to be decided by the person who is buying. My father always said the sign of whether on can afford something or not is if he can pay cash and not miss it. All I can tell you is there is some great deals out there. I was able to buy a 2008 cat that had never been sold and thus was still under warranty and I got it for less than have the asking price they had it for at the Miami boat show. Good luck in your hunt for a new boat.

This thread shouldn't have gotten de-railed.

There is nothing at all wrong with financing things. I could have saved up and bought my Cafe Racer this year - or I could have financed it, bought it 5 years ago and spent 5 years on the water with old friends and making new friends. I chose the latter and am glad I did.

SheerInsanity - there is a forum titled "Insurance and Finance". There are a couple lenders in there that cater to our type of boating - might be worth a call to them to discuss. They know the markets/boats/etc....

I've gotten my past four boat loans through US Bank. They will loan 15 year terms and up to 90% of NADA (even on older. Mine is '99). I bought my 342 this past August. They required me to document it.

I insure everything with State Farm. I pay $490 a year on my Baja and trailer. Boat on the Ohio River.

I appreciate it and reactly wrongly to your comment.

I have been saving and running my older Center console. I decided that my pasion for boating cannot wait any longer. I want to enjoy life while im young enough. I have 25+k cash saved up and have everything else paid off with a good business to back up my debit. I had to sell my 25 checkmate to relocate to fl. 6 years ago and have been working my butt of to get where I am. READY!

My credit is good and I shouldnt have a problem. I am just a hands on type of person and paper work, loans and secretarial stuff stresses me out badly..

I will be setting aside some time this week to look into other loan options.

76 is good with a 35 footer with 1000 hp.. If it where 5 foot shorter and that much lighter youd be right where I want to be... 80's. I really dont care much about to top end, I dont run my toys hard. I would like to be able to cruise around 70 which is why I specified the top speed.

Thanks, I plan to this week.

Back to the boat..

Is anyone familiar with the 30ss sonics?? They seem to run slower with the same power as many other 30 footers? I'm guessing more weigt or drag?? Would also mean more fuel use?? Should I steer clear of them??

How about the Eliminator 300 XP's. Built in the west and I have never even seen one in my travels. What your take one those?

You'll need a higher top end of 90, to be able to cruise 70.
(cruise = 3800-4200rpm).

Can't wait any longer
 

I do know what you mean. I do not know how old you are, but one factor for me in moving forward with my new boat is a friend/business associate I knew who two weeks ago at 43 years old dropped dead with a heart attack, no warning at all. I am 53 and my whole life I always felt there would be another tomorrow. I now realize that there are a limited number of years that anyone can enjoy high performance boating and I did not want to miss one day. If you are ready, go get it. I am not sure how this got off track with others giving their opinion of what you can afford, but this is a part of OSO, I have found. I am a newbie here but it can be a wild place at times.

I am 36 now, grew up in the getto suburbs of Washington DC. My family and a few still lives there and havent progressed with their lives one bit.

Without a winning Lotto ticket who is ever ready for a 100,000 toy? I work hard and this is what its all been for.

I got approved at Wachovia bank today for $70,000 :flag::ernaehrung004: Good thing I didnt let all of the negitive comments bring me down, huh?

What kind of year restrictions did they put on you? Makes a big difference if you can go back 10 years vs 5. Frankly, a properly maintained 10 year old boat is a better buy than a beat 5 year old boat for the same price in my mind......

I'll finance my little boat and don't really care what the financial wiz's here say about it. I know the time value of money, and to me the time value of boating for 3-5 years instead of saving and looking longingly from the shore is worth it.:evilb: (my story would change if I had friends w/ boats to mooch from though)

They ran the loan for a 2003 30' baja boss. I just wanted to see if I could get approved. Came up approved. They will go older but im not sure how far. There system did not specify a year? She looked for several minutes..

I agree. I have seen several like new 2000-2001 30' boats with 500 efi's for 50,000 with 200 to 300 hours.

I bet none of them were 31 sonics

Nope. Sonics are 10 mph slower with the same power. Not interested.

Good luck sounds like you have it all figured out.

The 30 Eliminator is a nice boat. Fast, nice size cabin. Is pretty roomy. I can't remember how fast with 500's, but seems was in the 80's. They perform well. I think there was one for sale recently that looked good. High on the cool factor. Offshore performance would not be as good as Sonic......

IMO. Sheer you won't be the fastest with the budget you've specified. 31 Sonic is a very nice boat and of course more modern than the SS (think resale). You're inadvertently slamming a lot of boats/owners with your responses.

Any interest in a 28 pantera?? Close enough to 30', and rides like a 35.

I got approved at Wachovia bank today for $70,000 :flag::ernaehrung004: Good thing I didnt let all of the negitive comments bring me down, huh?[/QUOTE]

I thought that seemed extremely generous (and unrealistic) of the bank to lend that much on a 2003 Baja 302. I then went on NADA's site and priced a 302 and my 342. Seems values have recently gone up a lot. Anyone else checked this with their boats? If nothing else it'll help a buyer get financed when it's time to sell.

Just checked mine and it went up a little from when I checked it in October.

Not my intention to offend anyone. I just want what I want. I looked at the sonics and decided against them.

I deffiently want the 500 efi's. The 496's are great motors but I would end up buying the performance SS exhaust and other mods to get more power. (I cant leave stuff alone) the 500's come with it all and with head mods, tuning and a little more cam I can put them around 550 hp.

Yes, i do like the 28's. I do have a question though? Why with 650 hp are some only getting 72-75 mph but the Carrabas race boat with a 500 efi running 75? Weight maybe?
s
Seems strange? 650 hp in a 28' boat should at least be running 80-85.

My 25 Checkmate Convinsor ran 78-79 with a 425 hp 502,.. 225 more hp should at the least push another 3 feet of boat that fast?

I just want what I want.

I deffiently want the 500 efi's.

Can't blame you for that. Here's to finding the boat your looking for and post pics when you find it.:drink:

Get into some chop and that pantera will blow by your checkmate.

Not sure about Carraba's, but some Raceboats were laid up a little lighter, notched transom, interior removed, etc. The 500EFI's can be monkeyed with, Hot ECU's etc. Carraba's ran P-class, and did not need sealed motors, I am almost positive they were inside that thing, we ran 78 with twin 415 502's in TimG's old pleasure boat(weight of twins). These are old school hulls, and take some power to get moving, but will run thru the ruff at speed like notheing else(except old cig's and Apaches). The 28 is a whole different boat than my 24, 1 foot more beam, and over 4 feet more length, you have seen my boat run, and YES it is flighty(partially due to my lack of driving skill), but the 28 is a different story. If you are serious about a 28, I can hook you up with the former owner of Danger Kitty 28 with a 650(Kitten here on OSO) to discuss the ups and downs of the 28, I believe Glen(Kitten) also drove or throttled Carrabas at one point.

I think we tyed the same thing, yours is more to the point:drink:

Here is the proof of what a 28 can handle at speed:evilb:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssusWKXS0iA

If I was looking at the 33' range i would look hard for a 33' Powerplay, with 525's you'll be about mid eighties -- no 70 mph cruise -- maybe 60-65 -- depending on what you call cruising rpm. I refer to cruiseing @ 32-3500 rpm.
I t will be a litlle older -- 2000-2004 -- but will outlast any baja type boat.( no offense to anyone). It would fit your budget, as long as the bank doesn't throw a flag on the age.

Now if you are the type that only goes out when it's 1-2 ft rollers then any of the boats that have been mentioned could 'work'. As mentioned though careful of a 90 mph boat with bravo 1's, -- they are not a match...

I was going to ask to go for a spin in the Pantera next time I'm down in SoFla but not sure after reading this

R chevelle 71-- that is a great vid of the 28 Pantera --

running attitude like a 41 Apache:coolcowboy:

28 Pantera is not a FAST 28, in the flats.
Twin 500efi in one should get you close to 90.
Dont think one has been built w/ twin 500s since early 2000s.

Nice 180. I guess before your first post you never looked at one.:party-smiley-004:

Its not really that bad, check this vid at :26, but that was flat water:drink:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcJn92joEsM

Here is one coming in Boynton inlet that is a little rougher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orFC3l8T33A

But then just after that last one was taken, I misjudged a wake:eek: this one was taken from a passengers cam, check out the 1:58 mark:eek: narrow beam and a few:drink:'s will get ya every time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IwLxaF1mK0

But seriously, anyone who has the nuts to ride with me is welcome:evilb:

Stormrider....You talkin about a 28 Pantera w/twins?

Anyone tell if these are 500s? This is an '02 running tomorrow.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...8053b102_5.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...53b102_8-2.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...8053b102_1.jpg

Sorry, I strongly disaggree with that statement. You have the 36 gladiator, 30 y2k, 27 and 30 activator, 29 kryptonite, 30 phantom, 2750 lavey, and more, that all do 90mph or extremy close with XR's or XZ's without a problem.

The 28's are good for what they are. It is a standard 24 degree traditonal V. It's only made to go so fast, period. After a certain point, I'd venture to say around 80, you're going to need a lot of hp for little gain. Fast is not the word I'd use to describe pantera. Wave crusher, for sure.

:bsflag: No way!!!!!!!!!!!!

A 283 Checkmate runs right about the same speeds as a 28 Pantera with equal power. BTW, its Convincor.

+1 that's probably a 65-70 mph boat