best 28 footer for the salt and chop
 

looking for your wise input-would like a 28ft max, v-hull single bb boat that can handle a bit of the rough stuff and ride pretty well.i know go big may be the response but $$ mean 28 is about my limit.what would you all reccomend?

IF your stuck on a 28, a 280 powerquest would be nice. Real big boat. Tall freeboard made for the rough stuff. Cant rerally think of anything else but sure others will chime in.

28 active thunder
28 saber
28 pantera
28 sonic - if you can find a used one

Laveycraft 2750. 28.6 ft. - true 24 degree V 8ft beam.

Race winning & proven pedigree. Most guys with 28 footers have never been out of site of land.

This is a VERY capable machine.


Uncle Dave

28 Active Thunder and 28 Pantera are going to ride the best in the chop. Thats why I bought mine. It's great for Long Island Sound.

The question does need a frame of reference on price, etc. though...

28 Donzi ZX is pretty good. Twin step bottom... came in single BB and twin SB setups. it used to be called the 27 zx, same bottom. I have one and it rides very well.

I'd take a 272 Formula SR1 for an older boat. heavy. BIG, but twin BB setup in most of them.

27 or 30 activator, 28 pantera, OL's new 28 might be an option, 29 kryptonite, 30 phantom.......

i have owned both a 28 active thunder and 28 saber - i can tell you about both.

i agree with vette - the 272 formula sr1 is a great boat!

Look very hard as there are lots of great choices in this size.

Take a look at who vacuum bags their setups vs a hand layup.

Look at the interiors - specifically whats molded into the interior vs whats added on later.

Cabin depth/freeboard as well as whats a 24 degree ocean design vs a lake boat.

Do you actually swim? IF so a molded in swim step vs one bolted on with a bracket is usually easier to get onto.

Lots of details here.

Uncle Dave

those R very sharp boats!!:coolcowboy:

Pantera

Uncle Dave that boat just gets SICKER everytime I look at it..
VERY niceeee to say the least, enjoy this summer.
Angel

Thanks!

As well Wrinkeface - thanks!

UD

pantera 28 ,They just eat the big waves up ,Took mine out in the English Channel last week very imprest with the way it handled the rough stuff , only had the boat 1 year but wot a boat .

thanks all great info,yes a price point would help-i left it out to see what was the general consensus first.my budget is $50 ish.is velocity worth a look aswell-seem to remember they were a pad hull but maybe 26ft.yes we want to swim and tow for fun.just trying to tick as many boxes as i can with one boat.wife/kids/me/speed/fun etc.

Velocities are very fast in each size- up there with the fastest in every length.

Not sure they are a 24 degree V but dont wish to speak with authority on that I do not know.

UD.

how fast will 1 of those run w/ a 525, 700???? thanx

Velocity is a nice boat. Keep in mind that some years they include the swim paltform in LOA and some years they don't. Not sure when this switched over. They are a pad bottom, so it's not going to be able to cut up the rough stuff like the AT, Pantera or Saber.

Why are you stuck on a V hull? My 30 takes 3-4 foot waves as well as any 28 and does it faster.

In that price range, you could go a little bigger, too...
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o38526-en.html

and almost the same boat:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o38642-en.html

I know it's a little over budget, but I think this has to be one of the biggest steals on the market right now. I know the owner and he just wants something to run on the river. Boat hauls the mail...
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/2326674114.html

270 hallett

a v cos WE need the cabin-well i dont actually but you get my drift,also kids like to watersport a little.a single for the gas bill hence me limiting to 28 ish.thanks for all the suggestions.

I was looking for a boat that needed to fit the "total package" I was wanted a go fast boat as well as a family boat. I was looking at Sunsation MCOB and Donzi ZXO. After two months of travling the midwest and 100's of hours on line, I ended up with a Donzi ZXO and love it!

Isnt this boat a twin engine open bow boat?

The poster already stated he wanted a single with a cabin.

Im uncertain that an open bow 22 degree v would be an optimum setup for "salt and chop ".

Im certain its a cool ride, I just dont see how it fits the posters criteria.

UD

Don't forget about a 28' PowerPlay, just not many around.

yep its got to be a cabin and single around 28ft and around $50 big ones-less if possible.love the formulas 272 sr1 but all are twins.also the pantera seems to get lots of praise here-in fact most that have been suggested that "fit" are good calls but seem rare.no great hurry,would rather bide my time for the right boat-i have hidden the fund from the boss!

27 Kryptonite

Here you go. Under budget.
http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/11916

Pantera builds a nice solid machine.
The family that owns Pantera are great people.

The father raced his product all over the place in wicked weather in a 24 foot 7 foot beam boat everywhere and did great- guys got class, charisma, - and stones.

Its at the top of the East Coast offerings.


East Coast does stuff differently than the West. For the most part but not "cannon" ...

East- Paint finish
West - Gelcoat finish

East - swimstep mounts to bolted on bracket
West- swimstep is usually molded in the hull

Windshields go both ways on both coasts but West is mostly molded in, and East is usually bolted on but not always.

Im more of a West Coast guy, but really like

Pantera
Active Thunder
Progression... their builds - not their paint schemes
Sunsation
Bannana is capable of building a sweet little unit.
The Power Plays seemed like a well built machine as well if you can find a good one.


Have fun!


UD

MAGNUM 28 Maltese "HIGH LIFE"

Active Thunder
Apache ( some one had to say it):coolcowboy:
Activator
Pantera
Power Play
Sonic
Warlock

Some warlocks were sweet , some were lame.

Help me understand whats compelling about the Sonic.
Im seeking knowledge not confrontation.

UD

Great rough water ride, deep cockpit, and very usable cabin.

What are the spec on that boat?
I see lots of 26's and one or two twim 28's.

Do you have a link to a prime example of one ?
Im curious I dont know much about them.

IF big interior space is your thing the advantage 27& 28 victory and excellent Nordic Heat are super awesome weekenders. With the victory having an almost RV like interior.

UD

I have not seen a 28 Sonic for sale for some time but do loom for them alot.

Isn't the Nordic a 22* deadrise?

I don't know much about the Advantage but do like the lines of the Heat.

My 28 velocity was great in the rough and really fast. I run all my boats hard and I couldn't break it.

The Nordic is a 22 from what I know and there are other build factors that put it in lake boat vs ocean category.

Since DW has equal say interior may be a priority over rough.

Advantage isnt 24 degree either.


UD

I had a Nordic 28 on Long Island Sound which snots up just fine. I wouldn't call it a rough water boat by any means, pretty hard hitting when it got rough, it's definitely better suited for lakes.. However it's a beautiful looking boat, great cabin...possibly the best out there for a 28. Great tooling also.

There have been a few threads on here regarding a porpoising issue with the 28, it's probably best for the OP to do a search if this one comes into consideration.

some great input guys,lots of research to do now-thanks to all.just checked panteras website,the new 28 looks great-if i sell my house do you think i could live aboard?

Check out velocity