So i think we can agree that center councils are pretty cool....but only if you have a real go fast boat also :whistle:

Honestly i'd love to have both. It would be like havin a diesel truck and a muscle car haha

I tried pulling into a few beaches since we've been down here with the Formula, after all that's part of why we moved down here is to enjoy the beaches and dahm, couldn't quite get close enough, but all those nice new CCs were all beached nice and neat parting and having fun, who needs a CC, they suck................there's a boat for everything.

Last summer I spoke with the owner of one of the more popular performance boat companies. He told me that banks were much more willing to lend money on Center Console boats than they were on "cigarette" boats. That is what drove them to go from building exclusively go-fast to mostly center consoles currently.

I personally feel that most of the popularity of the center consoles are 1st the ease of use with the outboards and the general simplicity of boating with them. Also if you look at it there are virtually no high performance 32 and up sportdecks with outboards. Take for example a basic 32 cc with a pair of 300xs outboards. It would run 65 - 75 all day....Flush maybe once a month....use about 1/2 of the fuel compared to a BBC...Can put over 1500 hrs on the powerheads.....If you blow a lower unit a buy a replacement Sei for $799. With those plusses after a while you dont miss the lovely Big Block sound that much anymore. In my neck of the woods, in boats that do over 70, the Big block boats boat maybe 4 to 5 times a year...the center consoles are out every weekend.

ha, I never ran anywhere for hrs, but the optis love to be run, you will see, 5500 rpm is nothing on those motors, feels like they are barley working

Yup.

We hit the island every time we go out. The boat is a ***** to get in and out around most of them. Already hit/rubbed ground twice and had to trim wayyyyyy up to get back into deepenough water

All while the CC's looked on at us with drinks in hand already there and having fun.

Why do you think Porsche is building way more Cayenne's than 911's these days? Same idea as a performance oriented CC.

What brands will run 70mph?

C.c are for fishing. Not enough safe seating to run fast. Btw that canvas looks retarted! I dont see the hype and $ they get fot a bathtub with 2 outbords! Crazy $ 300 k for a c.c? Not me! Good for transportation but no cool or wow factor.

nor-tech
statement
spectra
Cig
deep impact
concept
Ocean hawk
Renegade

Just to name a few. I know the list is longer.

Safe seating.....really?

Last I checked the rear bench in my boat looks like the rear seat in most all our boats, including CC benches.. Also most companies make front driver bolsters now too.

So when you run hard in big water in your boat im sure like everybody else your crew is standing. Thy that in a c.c. been there and its no fun!

If you had front bolsters like on a lot of new ones I think it is in line with what our current boats have been using for years.

Last time I was in rough I has 7 on board . Me, passenger, and pass seat all standing and 4 wedged in the rear seat sitting.

I do get what you are saying but the CC is not unsafe just not as comfortable in rough for doing a Poker run or something like that.

Cant justify the money for what your getting. To each his own!

Different style and wants out of the boat I guess is the deal breaker or maker for most I think.

No, they weren't invented yesterday, I just saw a listing for a late 90's AT Performance Fish 31', so I know they date back at least that far....
And here I was, thinking to myself, if I just had that boat, I could be a member of the cult AND score points with my father-in-law when the salmon start hitting off Grand Haven. My dream is crushed. Lol

I'm tired of watching my temp gauge every time we get close to the beaches or in the shallows, my Formula weighs over 10K lbs dry and the outdrives won't trim good enough so as not to worry about getting stuck, I've never had paint off the bottom of my skags, well I do now since we've been boating down here.

Its what i would have if i were near the beach! Killer seating, speed, fuel consumption. Alot of positives with these, just like my bowrider. Nice to have when alot of people want to go out. So many options now too!

Yep...works for me. No upholstery, quick to clean, my Lab tags along, plenty of room.... for us, tubes/skis,, easy anchoring, easy to fish (not me so much but daughter), bad back has me standing, I prefer to stand regardless....sitting is overrated...
Outboard??? And what is this "Bling" so many speak of?...
To each his own.....

I'm helping dad put a 30 scarab sport back together. Twin 300 hpdi's. boat should run good. However dad loves to fish. The boat will no doubt be fun. It is a fishing boat though.

Also when it comes to beaches I always anchor out. I like being in the water so 3 foot or so at my stern is good by me. Put cooler on swim platform and hang out chest deep. I've never been a big fan of beaching the boat unless I'm in sugar sand. I also don't need to take 15 people out with me.

To each his own and what they want. CC's are nice boats just not for me. I will use dads scarab until I get the fountain but I love being on the water that much. However I can't wait to get my fountain!!

"Nice fishing boat"

I feel dirty just opening this thread! :stupid:


BTW, are you guys really trying to convince us there are other boats (such as a CC) that are more practical than an offshore performance boat??? You don't say... :drool:

Trying to say there are boats this day that can run at the same speeds as our boats now and offer some more comforts.

In that past that was the down fall. Today it is not.

Enough said:

Nate, sounds like you spent a lot of time looking for and then buying what you don't want. But your GF has to like that huge cabin in the sonic.

Not picking on you.

When I look at the MTI and statement CC I do not see a boat that is easy to clean. They have a ton of vinyl/ leather, I remember seeing a picture of the one with colored grout floors. That can not be a easy clean.

I do get having a modern four stroke outboard but I believe you still need to flush those don't you? How much more fuel efficient is a boat with triple 300 or dual 300 compared to a 600-900 total HP go fast?

Here's everything a center console should be (sarcasm). The thatch T-Top was only rated to 25mph... Not high performance, but it definitely served its purpose. Please do not ban me for posting a pic of something that is both CC and pontoon... I've learned my lesson and have given up the evilness of the pontoon.

Still, If there was a 30' CC with a small v-berth and 3 egg-beaters on the back, I'd probably have to reconsider my options...

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5f2b6d70.jpg

Not picking...I hav every thick skin so it's ok.

I did spend a lot of time searching for my current boat and for now I am very happy. I have no plans as of now to get rid of my Sonic but maybe and most likely I will look hard into the tought after the season.

Finances are a big part too. When I got this boat I could not shop at a $100k sport/bling CC. Now I might have that option.

My GF does love the big cabin so does all that get on board but she was VERY upset when we had 7 total in the boat and it was shoulder to shlouder for the whole ride. I have a big group of fun friends and I am the only one with a boat for the most part. ALL are willing to put in gas and beer but I have to pick and choose now it seems.

Statment Does have colored grout but that is not something i would have in mine. Yes the vinal is there but it is simple hose and brush clean up work. As for gas savings I don't have a real world # in front. only what I see with others when we go out and when we are at the pumps, I seem to be the one that is ALWAYS at those pumps.

In a perfect world I would have both but that is not a option at all.

I do notice most the Rip on the the Sport CC are people on lakes or areas that are not near the beach. For us that is our reg boating. I am the guy out every single weekend and we enjoy the islands and boats like mine are not practical at all for that kind of boating.

I'm not trying to convince anyone about anything, it's facts, they're cheaper to maintain, insure, run (fuel) easier to clean and more functional when boating in salt and around beaches, when you boat every weekend of the year in Florida conditions it's the best boat, that's JMO.

Now if I still boated for four months of the year in fresh water when I lived at LOTO I wouldn't think about one, my neighbor down here has a CC and he spend half to money on his CC and half the time cleaning his than I do my Formula, seems a easy answer to me.

No one is asking anyone to get a CC, it's a personal decision, but why bash people who feel it fits their boating lifestyle, I never get that, (to each his own)

Man I shave seen sticks like that else where..........where was that........Oh ya.....

in this Concept Sport CC :)

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o55515-en.html

When did we start defining an OFFSHORE boat by speed? We all have different needs and a CC fits a lot of people, just look at the sales. CCs can be very capable, but I cant see crushing waves with 7 or 8 people onboard.

Happens once a month in the winter on every FMO run.

Well said and I love the last comment/question. I would say most are just misinformed or just don't know/understand as they do not live in this type of area.

It's all fun though and at the end of the day the people who HATE these CC's so much are still dockside with everyone having a beer and asking questions about them.

Jim please don't think I'm bashing. I'm just having fun. I love boats. Used to own a bowrider. Like I said helping dad finish up the scarab sport and will use the chit out of it until I can make my next purchase. Lol

I don't see asking questions as bashing.

Oh just to be clear, as for boating down here I don't have the time anymore, becuase of the low Florida wages all I have time to do is work.

So for me I just like reading about everyone else's fun, if I ever get our boat back togather it will be on the market right after the sea trial,,,,,,,,,,,, in St Johns river so I can say its a fresh water boat. Lol

Wildman, come on, how about the old man comments and comparing them to pontoons,...................... my bad, not bashing, just colorful descriptive then, how's that.................lol

Last fall, I went for a ride in the Sunsation 34 w/trip 300's. It ran 75.5 gps. The boat has a ton of room outside and a VERY large center cabin that you could easily spend the night. I was impressed and figured it would be a great boat for my home lake if I wanted to leave it in a slip (10' wide). I'm mixed on the whole CC idea but really can't rule one out for some point in my life... Someone already mentioned they are easier to finance but I believe they are easier to insure as well.

I know Mike, you're like me, you just want to get on the water, my biggest thing is not getting close to the beaches without tearing up the outdrives and we want to enjoy the beaches and as much as we use the boat it seems I'm at the gas dock as much as my own dock and when I talk to the CCs and they tell me how much fuel they use (or don't use) it's shocks me.

Here's something novel, if you don't want or like CCs don't get one...................lol

When I spoke with Sy a while back he quoted me close to half of what I'm paying for my Formula down here with no lay-up.

I agree with that and I did throw out the first old man comment. All in fun though.

Ya gotta love what ya have or it ain't worth having.