Personally never owned one... but they are available with 496 / bravo set ups. which I don't think anyone will argue is one of the most reliable performance oriented packages available today. Think e tics are mfg in AZ? Anyways good luck

What are you running?

I dont think I'd run out and drop $160k on a first boat, especially not knowing what you want or like. I'd suggest spending time on as many boats as you can and then buy something used well under budget, because once you spend a season or two with whatever you get, you'll want to upgrade anyway!

Everyone has been asking great questions and I appreciate all the feedback, but I'm still looking some critiques on brands. Who do YOU ALL like and why? Maybe this is for a new thread?

Here is a great family boat....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o5MFbC0ifA

^^^I agree with jc on Playcraft. I have seen them in person at boats shows and they are built with top shelf materials. They run like performance boats and hold the LOTO shootout record for pontoon boats at over 90mph. This is a boat you can put 10+ people in, have great fun and still run fast and drop jaws when you pass people running 70+ in a PONTOON boat.

But say you don't want to be seen in a pontoon boat; here's one that will fit your family in and run fast too. The 27 X Flight is Advantage Boats' top seller now;

http://www.advantageboats.com/x-flight_27.htm

Where are you boating? Family? Kids? Friends on the boat too? What are the typical conditions, flat, sloppy, or rough? Salt or Fresh? Trailering or a Slip?

I would spend anywhere from $25k to $75k on your first boat. Since your available amount to spend is pretty high, then I would go with twins, it's more maintenance, more gas, ect.. but a lot easier to dock and maneuver. Additionally you're gonna have mistakes driving it, docking it, ect.. let your first boat be the one to take the lumps of learning. I would also highly recommend taking a class from Tres Martin, he can teach you what it would take you two years and things you'll probably never learn otherwise.

If you want a lot of room for a family, a cat style deck boat like e-ticket would be awesome (or DCB or Eliminator or Howard or ....I'm sure I'm forgetting some).

An open bow V bottom like Eliminator, Nordic, Sunsation are some of what I'd check out if I were you.

Also, to see what guys in your neck of the woods are rocking I'd check riverdavesplace
edit: see you're there already.

Most on this site are more "offshore oriented" and not as into the West Coast style family/performance boats.

Just be sure to check insurance on whatever catches your eye, and I'd buy a used boat and leave lots in the budget for upkeep and actually getting out and using the thing.

http://www.sunsationboats.com/mod288.htm

Joe at Sunsation can build you a brand new 80 mph 28' for less than you want to spend. Also could put you in a brand new 85 mph 32' for right around your budget, also look for preowned because for $60k you can get alot of boat. One ride and you will be sold, worth taking a weekend for a factory tour too.


(810)794-4888- ask for Joe and he can answer any question about a new or pre-owned Sunsation.

So my question here, and this applies to a lot of the post I'm reading, is with some of these lesser known builders(and I hesitate to use that term because I mean no offense by it) is there a quality deficit I'll be suffering from a more known and repuitable dealer? Eliminator, howard, etc?