High performance center console question
 

My most recent boat was a 28' Skater, but I'm strongly considering doing a center console next. What are the best high performance center consoles out there around 25 feet? I found a bunch in the 30+ foot range, but not so many around 25 feet so far. I won't do any fishing with it at all so ideally one that's more of a pleasure boat layout and setup would be ideal. A twin 350-400hp outboard setup with good power to weight ratio is what I'm after.

Thanks.

I'm not aware of any 25' CC's geared towards performance/pleasure. That market starts around 30' and up.

Most in the 25' range will be a 250-350hp single, and high 50s or low 60s. For those, you're looking at Concept or Renegade or Avanti, and you can add Pantera, Jaws/Lorequin, Action and Avance from the used market.

Thanks for the info. At what length do you start to see twin applications? I'm guessing around 29 feet? I may have to up my length preference. I like the idea of twins for multiple reasons, but don't really want to go above 30 feet if possible, and want to keep acceleration and overall performance a priority.

29-30 is pretty common for twins, but if you keep an eye on South Florida Craigslist occasionally a redone twin powered Pantera/Jaws/Avanti/Condor/etc 24' will pop up, but they're 150-200hp per side. The Concept 30 used to be their 27, so that might be worth looking into (rated at 600hp max power). Also Superboat makes center consoles in 24 and 30. I've never seen a 24CC twin from them, but there have been a couple 24 Superboat closed decks with twins. Might want to keep an eye out for the Scarab Sprint/Sportster in the 26' range, too.
How fast are you trying to go?

Thanks. I don't have a lot of experience with center consoles, but 70+ would be ideal.

A little bigger than I'd prefer, but in terms of speed, power, and layout something along the lines of this... http://speedonthewater.com/new-boats...ith-twins-300s

I did a crap load of research and visited many companies during my search for a performance CC. Here are my suggestions. All are wood free except the Checkmate and Superboat. The 29' Sunsation is also a really nice boat but they use wood in their bottoms too. Superboat has done 24 CC's with with a single OB but its a 24/7 boat (a small 24). No way will any 25' handle or be built with twin 350s or 400s. Thats 1300lbs of weight and 50K in engines. The cost would be ridiculous and you could get a newly used 32 with twin 300's for that price range.

http://renegadepboats.com/

http://www.conceptboats.com/boat-builder.aspx

http://www.predatorpowerboats.com/home.htm

http://www.checkmatepowerboats.net/C...s-SFX-250.html

ING, were there any claimed performance numbers on the Checkmate?

I ask because I had a 24/7 CC and best speed was 58mph with a 250 EFI. I doubt a 300XS would have given me a true 12mph increase. The only twin engined CC under 29' I can see running honest 70's is the Checkmate, but even then I think the rules may have to be "bent slightly" to get a pair of 200s on it (rated 175hp x 2 according to website).

We have a few new configurations of the 29 Active Thunder. The one we had in Key West is a 29, with school-bus seating/bolsters, and twin outboards. The next one is going to be a walk-through open bow. We are also building a boat for Mercury to use as a test/beat-on boat. None of these are center console boats; but are viable alternatives with a lot more 'sport/utility' to them than a traditional cabin & sterndrive V-hull.

Good luck with your search, and let me know if I can answer any questions for you.


http://activethunderboats.com/wp-con...-Rendering.jpg
http://activethunderboats.com/wp-con...ve29sav-04.jpg
http://activethunderboats.com/wp-con...ve29def-02.jpg

Wait until one of those border patrol boats come up to end service life and gets auctioned maybe ? 42' cc with 4 yamaha v8 outboards i believe. Game wardens and lake bound sheriffs here run 24 26 footers i believe with twin verados. Look to be peppy enough when i see them haul off towards trouble. Only boats i see around here rigged like that

One is a 24' boston whaler with 2 200 horse merc outboards. Everytime i see one of the smaller twin ob consoles, i think about how much fun it must be to drive. Has to be a punishing ride in the ruff stuff though

You may want to call the factory and check on that. I'm not sure about the 29 but I know the 34 CC is a wood free hull.

Paramount made a 21 and a 26. The 26 was usually powered with twins and is tougher to find than the 21. There is a nice 26 for sale on boat trader for reasonable money.

The 30 Superboat runs close to 70 with a single 350.

If you don't mind some tidying up to remove the fishing gear, Fountain put out a few with twins. Don't know what age boat or budget you're looking at but a 29' Fountain comes with twins and it's not a 'big' 29 if you know what I mean. They also built (in small numbers) some 23's and I think they put twin Verados on them.

Should have good speed but may be a bit to 'fishy' for you. If you want to modify one into a pleasure version, it wouldn't be a difficult project.

RR

Somewhere I saw a pretty clean Scarab 26 CC with a single I/O for sale.

I have looked into do that. Only issue I am having is that they hold value well, so for the price you could get into somehing that is already more pleasure set up.

Have taken a hard look though at those fountain CC's and they seem to be rather nice.

take a look at the Concept 27 (2000 or newer). I have one with a 300 Yamaha - runs a consistent 58 - 60 with a best of 61.7. Not blazing speed by any means but a great all around boat. There are a few 27's rigged with twins - 225s or 250s from my recollection. I believe they were in the 70mph range. The 27 was formerly the Concept 25 (later added in the length of the platform to make it 27). The Concept 30 was formerly the 28. Every 28/30 that I have ever seen has twins. My boat prior to this was a 30 Motion - won't lie and say that I don't miss it, but I do like the versatility of the 27 Concept.

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Love the lines of the 28 ft Rabco..not sure if they are still building though.

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Didn't Jay at the original Spectre build a 25 or 26 center console?

Yes

They are sold local at a marina in Dunedin


Not the dealer but an example
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/bod/5281933337.html

I don't know the boat, and I don't know the build quality or current condition, but it has twins, the performance look, and the speed. Glasstream 273 with 300hp x 2.

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...-273ccx-672587

Zero tolerance 27. Fast with a pad bottom, rare though.

A 24 Yellowfin bay boat will run 63 with a 300hp Yamaha, They make a lightweight all carbon model that I believe goes close to 80 with a 400 on it. The Barker 26 is a large bay boat but will also be pretty fast with a 400. Both of these boats are very well built and will be easy to resell down the road.

Those are "bay boats" which much like a bass boat go fast but only in the flattest of flat conditions! :eek:

Yellowfin got hurt in their quality when the guy left to start Barker. Did you catch the story on the brand new 24 YF that sunk at the dock? YF said it was the tower weight, insurance company said it was the scuppers and the owner is still waiting for a solution!

I still build the popular Spectre 24. With a 250 Verado 63mph, with a 300 Verado 68mph and the 300xs will push it over 70.
Check out www.pilinimarine.com for pics and info

The 27 and the 30 are different boats. The 28 is now the 30 (now including the platform). The 27 is a 25' boat with a platform.

I was searching for 28-32 boats so I don't know the numbers for the 25 Checkmate. You could email the company and probably get a reply from Kip Combs directly. I've found him to be a straight shooter and will give you true numbers. I have personally walked in and around the new 29 AT and it is one awesome boat.