Tim you use the word idiot a lot. An curse us. You might want to think about that.

If given the choice between a 33 PP/Bravo boat and a 35 Mistress/TRS boat for rough water I'm taking the 33 PP all day, every day, and twice on Sunday. It all comes down to how you are wanting to run in that water. And before you start calling me an idiot, keyboard cowboy, etc. this is just my opinion that has nothing to do with brand loyalty or hating on anyone or anyone's equipment. I know I'm not the only one that would make that choice, Others would choose the Cig. All good. You can't just blindly look at LOA and weight and say which boat is better in the rough. OSO member Steve1 had a great thread several years back on PP with detailed photos of their construction. Simply amazing the build quality and attention to detail. I've personally been around a couple 38's. Amazing boats. PP's low build volume compared to Cig has nothing to do with build quality or ride/performance characteristics, Be proud of what you have and respect what others have.

I think if Tim had a PP .. it then would be the best riding boat in the world and everything else would be junk.

Totally agree here, the Mistress is a great boat and actually one of my favorite "vintage" Cigs but the 33 PP is light years better on all counts, quality design everything. Some day when i make the turn and start shopping for a smaller boat the 33 tops my list So true that you cannot blindly look at length and weight as a determining factor that 38 Donzi ZX i had was a dreadful (and i mean dreadful) rough water boat and it was nearly 11K pounds dry and truth be told i would say the 35 Mistress was a better rough water boat.

Never said blindly, saying the COG and structure is great on a mistress allows the boat to ride and fly very level... it does the job just fine and I have been on a lot of boats, never a PP but plan to this summer to form my opinion on that. Never said they were not built good ever, not once... I can't see not getting jarred around in a much lighter boat over heavier one both with great structure. My idea of a "good ride" and others is different it seems, I never had a ouch moment in a 35, 38, Cigs or apache... I have in pretty much all others... just my "opinion" as you guys say it.

To me a good ride is not getting my ass beat, or things falling apart in the boat.... period.

that Donzi would beat the crap out of you in the Erie slop, it was heavy as hell to. Just goes to show its tough to beat a straight bottom true 24 degree in this washing machine thats why i went back to an old school design. When i got Bob T's Scarab flat deck done, the 38 "Nasty" boat, and took it out for a test drive in a hard east wind of about twenty knots i was sold. Thats when i started shopping for a 38 Scarab, i truly believe that hull was built for this lake

That's how myself and others feel about mistress and many other Cigs, or apache.... even a 28 panthers rides better then a lot of boats like the 38 stepped Donzi and formulas... bets the fuk out of you.. I am not the only mistress in the area either, Tommy swears by the ride in his in big water also... also another across from us in Canada, Brian's 36 also tests it up...no beatings in any of them.

set up has a sh!t ton to do with it as well. My old 34 Scarab spun Mirage three blade props and while re doing the transom i raised the X two and a half inches and went to a B1 and no other mods of any kind motors went back in as they came out. Cant believe how much different that boat was after that especially in rough water, was a completely different all around.


The Donzi suffered from what a lot of newer hulls suffer from . . . . make 'em faster above all else. That boat had variable deadrise, giant pad bottom, nine feet wide and props spinning in. All made it faster on flat water but totally takes away from rough water ability big time, still a great boat though but what i came to refer to as a "gentlemans speed boat". . . . .which is why i went back to an old school rough water boat

Still torn on mine spinning in, for sure changed handling but gained speed.... not sure if I am keeping it spinning in or not once I am done prop testing this way.