Decisions desicions
 

I posted on here a few weeks ago in regards to some questions on my next boat purchase. After searching for a couple weeks I've narrowed it down to 3 and I'm just looking for some input seeing that I don't have much experience with either manufacturer. I'm coming out of a 04 29ft fountain fever that was powered by HP525 and used it in fresh water. Now looking to go bigger so I can go out on the Atlantic. The 3 boats that I'm looking at are a 2001 Sunsation dominator with twin carbureted HP500s w/290 original hours $60k. The other is a 2004 Sunsation dominator poker run edition with EFI HP500'S w/200 original hours $75k. And I'm not sure of the difference between a regular dominator and a poker run additional dominator. And the 3rd one is a 2005 33 Baja Outlaw w/HP 500's w/350 hours $72k. Thanks again in advance if you shed some input on which direction to go. Also would like to be able to run mid 80's

The Sunnys will likely be faster but I'd take the Baja for ocean running. Pretty sure the Baja doesn't have a molded platform and will be a few feet more boat becomes of that.

Where do you boat, and what do you plan to do with the boat?
Inland lakes?
Tidal waters?
Offshore?
Great Lakes?

Do you plan to overnight?
Do you plan to run poker runs with a bunch of friends?
Do you plan to raft up all day for floating parties?

Do you have children?
Do you have a wife/GF to consider here? Is she comfortable with this kind of boating, or sketchy?



Need to know more about how YOU plan to boat.



Also, this boat belongs to a friend, and it's VERY clean:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1017...41964519304501

He's gonna start running the Atlantic more from a small inland lake.

Thanks, I did miss that line.

I'm going from inland lake winnipesaukee to the Atlantic. It's a lot closer to me and has way more destination to go to. I might do an overnight here and there. It def won't be an every weekend thing. But having a decent size cabin would be nice. I'd like to do a poker run here and there, Now that I'll be able due to the type of boat I will have. I have no kids and my GF loves the boat which is why I sold the fountain and spending more money on a bigger boat that we are comfortable in when seas get rough. But I def need something that will run mid 80's.

I looked at the I.C.U I'm just not a fan of the high windshield. I tried to make a deal in this one but we can't come to terms on a price. https://www.offshoreonly.com/classif...ng-o66853.html
It has 500hts on the hull which I think is a little above average for an 06. Listed on OSO for $94,900 bit on another site for $78k. $17k difference makes me have cold feet on why just a big price difference.

Hours on hull don't really matter. Hours on motors do. Someone could have left key on. Scan the motors. That's a beautiful 35. I see it's listed nortech north which is double r in Canada. Price difference could be broker vs personal or cdn vs usd.

How about a 35' Fountain Lightning with 575s? :party-smiley-004:

Brokers make $17k on sales? I'm in the wrong profession.

Ive seen prices all over the board. Sometimes ads are fake. There's a lot to dig into when the boat is listed at multiple prices. Some are price drops but not all sites updated. Some are scam ads.

What are the particulars on the fountain easy rider?

No fault sales, may I add.

I'd lean toward the Sunsation over the Baja given what you talked about. The 33 Baja is a great raft up and party boat due to the large cabin, but it's a very windy ride, and I don't think you will make use of the large cockpit as much as you would like the bigger cabin of the Sunsation.

Remember, the further the windscreen is from your face, the windier your ride is going to be. Wind fatigues you, immensely. (I've posted about this in the past.) The more "in" the boat you are, and the more wind/frontal protection you have, the better. The Baja isn't going to net you the speeds you want either.

Be aware, there are several different changes to the 32 Sunsation over time.
32 Dominator
32 Innovator (only a few built)
32 Dominator SS (Innovator hull with Dominator deck)

Make sure you compare apples to apples. The Innovator and the Dominator SS are both much deeper boats than the original Dominators which seem to be what you are looking at.

Don't rush. We are nearing the end of boating season, especially up there in your area. You are in the catbird seat. I always tell people selling their boats after Labor Day to go ahead and price them according to what their loan/payoff (if applicable) would look like in May of the following year.


Also, there is a 32 Active Thunder with HP500s in Pennsylvania, for around the price range you are looking. Look up "rssteiny" here on OSO.

Thank you for the helpful info. What years should I be looking at for Sunsations? I'm trying not to be impulsive because it is the end of the season for the most part. And would be nice not paying the note for 8 months before getting to use it. But willing too for the right boat

Innovators are so rare, that you might as well not worry about finding one of those....and the layout is very much love it or hate it.

2005 was the change-over year for the dominators. There were some built with the new deck, and old hull...kind of a crossover....so any 2005 dominators you'd have to look closer to see what exactly you're working with. Anything 2006+ will be new hull and deck (deeper with a true stepped bottom)

78k is the price of the boat from the seller. So yeah the consignment dealer is looking to make some crazy amount of cash. A friend of a friend owns that boat. No relation to it, but it looks clean. I would definitely look at that one over a baja ! It's the newest of the ones Youre looking at too.

Do you know any background or history of the boat Rambocj7? It looks clean in the pics but if things got serious I would hire a surveyor and a Certified tech to check things over for me.

No don't really know any history. He is from the province of Québec area of Canada. I will try and find out more

So the HP 525's aren't the original motors? The seller told me her purchased the boat last year from his friend. Whom purchased the boat brand new in 2007.

Why would the 525s not be original? Am I missing something?

"No don't really know any history. Obviously the motors were changed, some 720hp bullet motors, so the guy is pretty much asking the price for the motors . He is from the province of Québec area of Canada."

I.C.U Lookin that was the message he originally sent. Not sure why only half of it posted?? Unless I'm reading the message wrong?

That's odd. Never heard of 720hp bullet motors. I might be missing something also. Lol. 525s were very common in the twin steps.

Yeah not really sure what he's talking about in regards to the motors. I know the seller said the outdrives were rebuilt last year and have about 60hrs on them. He rebuilt only the top ends of the motors this year and they have 25hrs on them. Not sure how many hours are on the low ends of motors. How many hours before those need to be done? And also he didn't do the CMI upgrade when he had everything done. Which is something I think needs to be done with 500 hours on them and knowing that they have had issues or am I wrong about that?

Umm. You will get many people saying many things. Big block bottom ends are very stout. Most failures in the bottom come from catostrophic. Water ingestion. Lean condition. Dropping valves. The headers are fine as long as they aren't leaking. Even then most times they can be repaired. I think the post 05 525 headers were better than the first attempt anyhow. I would do a compression and leak down test. If the numbers are good you'll be in good shape. I have a friend with 800+ hours on blown 454s. He knows he's getting close but if you take care of them it's not an issue. That's my opinion.

Sent you a PM easyrider1340