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

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 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. (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.