Thanks. Any body have an opinion on the price of 1999 Formula 271? It has 305 hours and is in excellent condition. Seller is telling me $23K is a really cheap deal and that a local boat dealer is about to consign it and will then be asking $30K. I have seen a couple other 1999 271 Fastechs asking $30-33K, albeit with a little less hours, so maybe $23K is a smoking deal? Also what about the $27.5K price on the '97 Fountain Fever? Does the blower hurt that one?

The sunsation aggressor 25 was posted 05-Sep-2011. You have to watch powerboatlistings. They seem to rarely delete their ads. My vote would be for the Formula. It will be a bit slower than the Fever but it makes up for it by being a little bigger.

I Moved up from a 24' Chap to a 96 27 Fountain last year and am loveing it. I have the 502 mag with no blower though. I didn't feel like the added maintinence would be worth it. It is a sweet handleing boat though and fun to drive. My only complaint is the cockpit is a little small but hopefully I will be moveing up in a year or two, in the mean time I feel it is a good first "performance" boat.

With your budget in mind, you may want to consider making "looks" a secondary priority and concentrate more on which of these boats are in the best overall condition. Engine and drive repairs, riser replacements, etc, could easily eat up thousands. Get good surveys (hull and drive train).

agreed

Sounds like hes willing to work on price... (I think the ebay listing is a tad high) Velocitys are fast.

Pardon my ignorance, but how do I get good surveys of the hull and drivetrain? Hire a boat inspector to look at it? Also, as far as boats go in general, do the hours on the unit dramatically affect the price like miles on a car? How many hours would be considered "a lot" or "too many" for a boat produced around 1998-2000?

engine has 6 month warranty!!!!

Mine had rebuilt motor and drive, I have the work orders from that, and then hired a surveyor to look at the whole boat. I cost about $350. I also drove it, and was a fan of the way it handled.

if it were me it would be the formula or fountain. baja is nice dont get me wrong, but are well more run of mill but are probably better family boats.