If your main concern is overnighting and nice ride, and you can afford the fuel, then a Black Thunder can't be beat... It takes a ton of power to push average speeds but my god the room in those boats is unreal. You have quite a variety of boats listed, everywhere from low and fast to big and comfy.

Of the boats you listed I'm assuming your budget is in the 50k range +/- 10K??

If I was spending MY money I'd be going the CIGARETTE route. The Top Gun's of that era are at the bottom of their depreciation curve, have a decent cabin with wrap around seating, enclose head, cooler and sink and v-berth bed. My wife and I stay on our Cafe a number of times a year (at least we did before the little one was born). It probbaly has the LEAST headroom of all the boats you've listed.

My second choice there would probably be formula.

Black Thunders have huge cabins, but the looks aren't for me.

Fountains will be marginally faster than the others, but again the looks aren't for me.

To me, the Sonics are probably a nice compromise between good astethics, and quite useable cabin.

I wasn't aware that AT made any boats old enough to be in your budget (unless I've mis-guessed your budget)

The hustler's have less freeboard. Nice looking boats, but less freeboard, for what it's worth.

I have been boating since I was 6. Outboards, inboards, and I/O or outdrive. Present stable is listed below my avatar.

Without fail, my advice to you is to do this:

1) Do NOT be in a hurry.
2) Join a local boat club if they will let you or at least hang around and go to their meetings so you can meet members, buy them gas and beer, and go for as many test rides as you can. They will expose you to boats for sale and have an interest in not screwing you since you will be hanging around.
3) Get to know the area marine mechanics. Visit them. Absolutely vital. Ask at boat club meetings about their successes and failures. You can get a good used boat at a great price and spend some more at a good mechanic to be sure its going to run well and be reliable. Remember, its not important that they run fast, its important that they run.
4) Do NOT fail to get a survey and a mechanical check before you buy anything. Money well spent even if you have to do it several times. Remember, engine/oudrive repairs and replacements are your biggest source of expensive trouble. Better to buy an original factory setup with no major repairs and 300 hours than "only 25 hrs just rebuilt!!!" hurriedly by some no name shop just to get the boat to market.
5) Do NOT be in a hurry. All the boats discussed are good. Get the one you like. I have personally ridden in several different Formula, Sonic, Baja, Fountain, Black Thunder, Scarab, Warlock, Sea Ray, Cobalt, Marlago. All major names are good. There are some fine deals out there in this economy if you take the time. :)

You need to match your boat to your needs. If you are looking for speed and a smaller cabin, Fountain great handling. Cigarette, iconic brand, great lines and one of the best rough water rides, how rough does it get in Ky, you did say maybe Fl. Cig, no boat holds its resale value, but Cig, is one of the best at that. Black Thunder, my friend has one, we call it the floating condo. Tons of cabins space and aminities, its a pain to trailer because its so big. One of the brands you mentioned that has most of these qualities is the Active Thunder, decent cabin space...not huge, great ride, doesnt take tons of power to push it, great lines, and the Manufacture is still in business. Pat builds a great boat, hence the following affectionately called the "cult" they are active on this board and can answer any questions you may have about the boat. Sydwayz is on the board and works with A/T and would help as well.
My last piece of advice. Dont buy what you can afford to operate, buy what you can afford to fix.
They all break at some point. Its part of boating, fuel will probably be your cheapest expense.
Good luck.

Awesome, thanks for the info. This is what I really have come to enjoy about the boating world. Everyone is real cool, helpful and always fun to hang with. For a couple years I have been making local connections, cruising and actually wrenching on the boats with a good tech to learn the ropes. I am trying to find more people in the Louisville area to get first hand experience on other boats I have listed.
I have been taking time and using the economy to my advantage to find the best deal. I listed those boats since some I do know the quality and some I do not. But all of them I have found are good deals and in my budget. I had prior knowledge of fountain and cigarette. But I had to dig up info on sonic and black thunder. These are the boats that have appealed to me from astethics, engines I am well versed in, and cabin comforts including a/c.
The Scarab I will probably scratch since I only found one and I feel so so about. I really like the Sonics and the Black Thunder for the room and bang for the buck. The Cigarettes are nice also, just not as many. Though I found a super clean 38 cig and smoking deal on. The Fountains are more abundant so there are more deals. But I do get that small quarters feel from the 38's, not on the 47's and 42.
I have time, I am just starting to get really serious. I still have to get more ride time so I can truly feel and make the final call on which best suites me. With you guys helping, it makes it a lot easier since you have way more experience on then me.
Thank you again for the help.

I like that, buy what you can afford to fix. I have been learning that last year or so since I started wrenching on them. that is why I am staying in the cash price range. No payment and money left over to set aside for repairs. After being in the auto industry for 20 years I most definitely agree, they do all break at some point.

Boats break everytime u run them, very harsh enviroment.

RTC- Whatever you do I would avoid a triple engine boat. They are a lot more headaches. Having the third engine increases the chances of mechanical failure by more than just a 1/3 factor. It also increases the maintenance headaches.

The posts above are giving you good info, you really need to get onboard some boats and figure out how much cabin room, etc you want.

Good luck, and remember advice on OSO is free and worth every penny!

Wannabe

Give us more info on how you plan to boat?

Family/kids?
Will you get the itch to go really fast
Tow vehicle
Swim
Party
Overnight on the boat
Budget

Very smart to buy cash and have money ready to fix it cause they all break

I am avoiding the triples for just that factor. I do know from wrenching the cost factor is why I am trying to stay away. But three big blocks, they sound so beautiful. Plus the price is so cheap for that 47 and 42 hard to say no, lol. But I keep adding up motor costs so I keep passing the triples up.
I got spoiled riding in that 50 hustler. So I am trying to downsize into my price range, lol. For size and comfort, that is why I like the black thunder, sonic, cigarette and scarab. The fountain seems more closed quarters for me.
I have time, plus with the economy I am sure I will get one to fit my bill. I keep finding some real good deals. I am trying to keep a decent amount money set back for upgrades. So when it breaks I can upgrade to the nicer newer model of whatever breaks, lol.