LakeLifer

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it! Seems the 38 Lightning or the 35 Lightning ICBM is really what I am narrowing my search to. Virgin staggered 525's is my choice also. Gotta pay to play, thanks again!

Marginmn

iTrader: (1)

I'm on Cumberland as well. I've owned both a 35 EX with 500's, and a 38 Fever with 525's, then 625, then 710 Ilmors.

The 35 is a more nimble boat, is fun to drive, and goes over moderate weekend chop comfortably at a decent speed. But if you want to run fast in decent chop then the 35 will bounce you around bigtime. The 38 is a much more capable boat. If you have any thoughts of ever running a poker run, go with the 38. It's still a nimble boat but just not quite as nimble as the 35. As was stated the 38 Fever's have a huge cockpit, I loved mine but next to newer boats it is starting to look like a dated design. Both are great boats but make no mistake, on busy weekends you'll be glad you have the extra length of a 38 if you go that route.

If you are wanting either boat in a full stagger, you'll need to have a 2007 model or newer. Personally, I have driven both a 35 Ex and and 35 lightning, I preferred the EX, but it is slower with the same HP vs the lightning. . I've never driven a staggered 35 lightning and they are a totally different animal with the stagger.

They started doing a semi-stagger on the 38 in 2003 before going full-stagger in 2007. The 38 lightning with a full stagger is an awesome machine. Very fast with very little HP.

Good luck in your search.

dcb

It will be difficult to find a staggered 35 Lightning with low hour 525s at 100k - because so few were made they seem to be holding their value quite well.

LakeLifer

Thanks for the info! I'm going to continue to weigh and research, as I don't usually get in the middle of the holiday weekend heavy traffic. However, I'm not infatuated with the speed and such and will easily compromise for ride quality and comfort. I know the lightning is smaller in the cockpit because of the deck and all, it just seems to be what I prefer. I could be wrong, won't know until I climb in them. The money does increase significantly as you get up in those 2000 years so I will definitely look into those semi stagger 38s. Fountain really did make this difficult, considering they updated the cuddy interior in 2007 which i absolutely love lol.. appreciate your help!

LakeLifer

You are certainly right about that. I love the interior they redesigned I believe in 2007 which helped me narrow to the ICBM. Full stagger, blue 525s and not too much boat, plus the fastest out of all of these, it seems. I will pay attention to the prices but you are right, I seem to be able to find an early 2000s 38 with decent hours as cheap or cheaper than those 2007 and up 35s. Thanks for your time and help!

Wildman_grafix

You can find staggered 42's for the price of a late model 35 stag. Granted, not with the new interior.

On Time

Once you go 42 you never look back...I fly over 3-4' waves and can't believe it some time...

LakeLifer

I don't disagree one bit, glad to hear you love yours! For what I would be doing and waters I'm in, it's just too much honestly.. aside from Memorial, Labor, July 4th, and poker run. Not to mention I would not use a dually for anything else other than to pull that massive 42 footer!

LakeLifer

Just as soon as I start narrowing down what I'm looking for and marking things out, I read this! lol I still think a 42 is too big and not to mention requires a bigger truck, but nonetheless I will keep an open mind and maybe run across a good deal. Thanks for the input!

On Time

Ha ha! Have fun with your search. Wifey and I tested a 38 before we decided on the 42 and it is a great boat. Our test boat had 525s and was a 2006 model. Feels much bigger than the 35. Personally I think the difference is greater 35 to 38 than 38 to 42.