Let's move to Active Thunder....
 

Well unfortunately the Nor-tech deal seems to be falling through as he took a deposit on it yesterday from someone else :-(

However...I have a back up plan...2002 AT in the classifieds with 500's...What do I need to look for if anything with it?? obviously rotten wood but are there any "problem areas" I should be concerned about? I think the speed and rough water capability with suit me well. I would love to buy a 39 cig or nor-tech or OL but they are just not in my budget right now.

Thanks everyone!!

I've never owned one, but I'm pretty sure AT doesn't use wood in their boats.

Well that would be even better!! lol

Correct, they dont use wood. The 32 is a solid boat. Many say it handles rough water like a bigger boat. Deep cockpit.

Yea everything I'm finding says exactly what you just said....and rough water capability is what I'm looking for so seems like this may be the boat for me with what my budget is....Thanks guys!!

They are a big 32. Survey, survey, survey. Looks like a nice ride.

He just sent me tons and tons of pics and videos....being there's no wood...what benefit would I get out of a survey? I'm honestly asking...I can check the motors out as I'm a mechanic and plan to thoroughly check them out...what else should I be looking for?? does whatever they use as coring in lieu of wood prone to rotting as well??

I had a 37 AT with 700/NXT's and love it. My buddy had a 33 with 525's, and that boat rode awesome as well. If you could stretch the budget a little and find an older 37 stepped boat, I think you will be alot happier than the old non stepped 32. I know Radio Active was in rough shape and the current owner had put some money back into it, but was condsidering selling the boat

Any links to any of these?? all the ones I can find are waaayyy above my budget lol

You may need to check AT used wood just don't know when they switched.

I believe they stopped using wood in mid to late 90's.

There was a thread on here when Shogen was redoing a 32 that had a rotten transom. The boat looked killer when done but can't remember the year. Is Pat still on the site? That would be the easiest ask him.

I gotcha...I was looking at the 37 that's in the classifieds for sale as well but the 496's are a no go for me...just can't do it...I know the speed bug will get me eventually and those are not good motors for modding I don't think...yes there are Raylar kits but if I'm gonna drop that much coin it will have well over 525 HP haha

Look for stringer separation, loose bulkheads and tabs. Motor is half the value so you want to get those checked out - oil samples, compression and leak down test. Look at gimbal bearings/transom assembly. If it was abused in rough water it will have problems, doesn't matter what brand, some stay together better than others. A well driven go-fast boat with 500+hp at 15 years probably needs a complete mechanical rebuild - motors, transom assemblies, drives, etc.

That was a 1996 or 1997. AT went to composite transom and stringer cores in 1999ish.
A 2002 will not have wood in the transom or stringers. There is still some wood used on interior and finishing stuff.
The 32 AT rides as good or better than most 35's in rough water.

Good info....that's what I was looking for thanks!! Are any of these problems you mentioned more prevelant in an AT of that age that you know of?? Just to be clear to...I don't mind paying for a survey if its warranted but I just think for what they charge I can find the same issues or non issues for free...I have been a boat mechanic for a long time and my dad has been one for 30 years so the mechanical side is covered. We also have a moisture meter and bore scope and all the goodies for looking into tight areas where problems like to hide.

Thanks again!!

That's what I've been seeing griff...There's a guy that boats where I do that we have a lot of mutual friends and all of them swear by his 32 AT...they all say pound for pound dollar for dollar they are very hard to beat when things get sloppy.

No, just common to all go-fast boats in general. You may be a mechanic, but a good certified Merc mechanic can tell you if the gimbal bearings are within spec or if they are falling down and need to be replaced, which is common on boats that have been ridden hard. Can be a costly repair if you have to pull both motors. I agree in general about survey's. I use a good mechanic to survey. No written reports, but they can usually give me a ballpark to fix.

Survey Survey Survey, i was going to buy a newer Cigarette boat that i knew the history of and during the survey he found out that it had a delamination issue. no one had heard of a Cigarette doing that. but it saved me 10's of thousands of dollars with having a survey done

My dad and I are both merc certified

Also good info...anyone have recommendations for surveyors down at LOTO?? I'm sure there's tons around there...If I decide to go that route would be good to deal with one that knows what they're doing lol

isn't it a carbon copy of a sonic?

The 37 that was in the classifieds is a solid boat. It sold Thursday. I owned it for 3 years. Absolutely loved it. Also loved the 496/XZ combo. It ran 72 all day and runs 75 now with labbed props. When it gets sloppy it will run with anything in the 38ft range no matter what power. The balance and predictability of the hull is awesome.

Fair enough...beautiful boat...just couldn't get past the motors...I know they will run forever just a personal preference

If you're going to finance the boat the lender probably will require a survey. They don't want to repo a wet hull with bad engines.

NO.......just has some similar lines

Similar lines means Sonic. Cockpit with side-by-side front bolsters, different but the same everywhere else.

Notched transom is a must for me on any modern go fast from 2000 up. Sonic, fountain, volocity just to name a few.

Insurance is going to require a survey anyway to bind the policy. Might as well get it in advance and you can use the information for your insurance as well as a leverage tool if something isn't up to spec. Best way to go about it and piece of mind.

There are only 2 similarities:
1) Walk rail, which is MUCH bigger on a Sonic, and cramps the cockpit.
2) Look closely, and you will see the center section of the deck of a Sonic is a rise, whereas the center section of an AT is recessed.

A 31SS Sonic is really a 30' boat with a molded platform AND a notched transom, which makes the actual running surface even shorter.
A 32' Active Thunder is a full 32' hull with no molded in platform counted in the length, and no notched transom.

I've owned both boats, and know both brands inside and out. And some Sonic models have side by side front seat options as well.

Being you've owned both...what are your thoughts of the AT compared to others in its size range? Goal would be a 38 gun but I just don't think I'm there money wise yet.

That's a good point on the survey rocket...Will end up ordering one if this deal come to fruition

^^^^^^^^^^ Then he'll have to ask about the one in MI. :grinser010:

hahaha i'm working on it if my credit union cooperates and gives me two boat loans lol

The one in Michigan sold last weekend.

The one in the classifieds with stock power I think is what he's talking about....bout the cleanest one you would ever find...I passed him just about every time in the water heading out or in haha

Stock power meaning black power lol