Can't speak for the other brands, but the factory support from Velocity is amazing...they treat me and my 23 year old boat like I bought it new from them. A lot of times when I call down to the shop, Steve Stepp is the one that answers and is always helpful. That goes a long way with me.

Thanks so much to everyone for the helpful replies! I've posted similar questions on "other" boat forums recently and have received little to no assistance. So OSO just become my "go to" forum! What do you guys think about Nordic boats? I LOVE the lines of the Nordic and think an MCOB like a 25 Rage would be perfect for what I'm looking for? I think I have a pretty good grasp on Formula/Fountain/Baja/Velocity but would like to hear more about Nordic, and possibly Sunsation as well because they are also in my price range.

I had a Sunsation Aggressor for 6 years, it was a blast to run and looked killer to me. The Aggressor is only a 24x7 so it's a small boat. The '95 Sunsation was built a ton better than the '95 Scarab that I currently have. I have no complaints with my 29 but the finish on the Sunsation was a lot better.

Ok, of you buy my velocity ill throw on a ride over 170 in an Mti!

From what I have read, and heard from a Nordic owner, they are a fairly light layup. I guy I know has a 33' heat (I think that is the model name or maybe it is a rage..) anyway, he complains his boat is a somewhat rough ride and "slaps around" here in lake erie..... I have not ridden in one personally so just taking his word. Another boat that I personally love the exterior appearance of..... The Velocity was built in Florida for use in the Gulf and Atlantic, so it is built solid. Here in MI (Lake Erie and St. Clair) the waves are spaced close together and come from all directions, like being in a bath tub with a small kid splashing about. Sunsation, being manufactured in MI are built to take that pounding There are a few older Sunsations around my area, and their owners like them. The older ones (90s-2000) don't appear to have the fit and finish as the newer models do..... Of course these are just my observations...

Your on the right track, getting information and asking questions. My first exposure to entry level performance boating was a 98 Powerquest 220 Targa SX with 7.4 MPI. Boat had just over 100 hours and immaculate in and out. Not the fastest, not the biggest but perfect for me to learn the ins and outs of boating. My point is it fit what I needed to get the basics down, my confidence up, and then I moved into a 27 Baja to expand more. Buy the best mechanically sound boat you can find and afford so you can get your knowledge honed not your cylinders because "dude is pumping 550hp thru an alpha and you won't have any problems".

+100% ...... see post #25

wont be up there this weekend, Ill be hitting lake ontario, but will be up there for pirates and some other weekends, get with me sometime.

A friend of mine bought a Nordic 28 Heat MCOB last year. Very nice boat, lots of room, rides nice, and actually tows pretty easy behind a newer F150. Boat runs low 60's with a 496 HO. My only complaint about it is that there are no doors for the cabin or open bow. When you get to running higher speeds, it is like a wind tunnel going through the mid cabin. You have to be really careful about stowing towels, can huggies, and hats or they will easily blow out.

If I was looking for a MCOB, I would take a close look at Advantage. They look to be very well laid out, with a nice sliding cabin door for the mid cabin. They are a west coast builder like Nordic, so you may have to travel for one if you live on the east coast or midwest.

I personally think the MCOB offers the best of both worlds. I wish someone would come out with a removable hard cover, like a hard tonneu cover on a pickup truck, to install over the open bow. Add some fill cushions and you would have a convertible forward berth for overnighting on long weekends.

I might buy the boat just for the ride......LOL