Nor-tech, statement, deep impact, others?
 

I am just beginning to look for a boat for the family, will use it 85% for cruising, going to the local islands, and 15% or less fishing, I have seen nor- tech boats online but never in person , I have seen statement 350 and deep impact 36 recently and both were very nice. I am looking for a boat 32-37 in size, looking for some feedback on all 3 boats and any others that would be competitors to these 3 boats, new to this type boat do any information would be very helpful

Want to say this was just posted a month or so ago (not by you).

All 3 are amazing and each have a "flaw" and a "bonus". What I can say is there is no bad boat out of that list. To me you need to at minimum walk around on all 3, look at the space, the amenities, and see what fits you

All 3 are great and have amazing qualities and are built tough

Not to Hi jack but how about Midnight express?

I am not married to any boat brand at this time really just looking for honest feedback on what would be a good boat in this class , family boat , have a large family

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I have driven the statement and have owned 2 Nor-techs. I personally think the NT is a better boat all around but they do cost more than a Statement. I am not knocking statement in any way, very cool boats. I just prefer the NT ride, style and features.

NT offers a second row bolster thats pretty nice and think their top is larger as an option,

NT, wider beam, faster hull w/ same HP, better rough water capability, larger helm= increased wind / rain protection, superior resale value to the others.

As Does Statement and like nor tech it comes at a loss to the rear helm lounger is all.

To be fair each and every boat he listed has good speed within 5mph of each other with same power and all will have great rough water ride.

It's not like one is miles ahead of the other when it comes to those items.

I understand Nate BUT if 1 brand is 5mph faster, has better rough water capability which includes being a dryer hull, offers more wind protection & has the best resale value don't all those things add up?

Lets reverse engineer the comparison, list all the Con's of a Nor-Tech, just the Nor-Tech, anyone can chime in.
I've owned 3 so I should be able to vet out & or confirm those who have never owned a NT or been on one.
I have never owned either of the 2 other brands.

BTW- the OP of this thread is welcome to message me any time directly for NT feedback.

They absolutely add up and for that it will show on the sales cost as well and even more so that he is in the used market,

I don't think it is a Secret that I am more of a Statement person but I can admit the Nor-tech on numbers is better in areas for sure but you will pay more as well.

My whole point is NONE listed are a bad option. Essentially the Op could buy anyone and it will be great in everything listed. So it will now boil down to cost, layout, and what the used market has for them.

Excellent Counter Points!

The defense rests! :lolhit:

One thing I personally have experienced and it took a bit to get my head around is I may have spent more on a boat but based on the resale value I also retained much more.
While I don't know the current pricing of the 3 brands but do know certain ones will drop their shorts to get a sale what I do know is that buying a used triple Merc 350 34-37' CC for say $275k but could only get $225k for 2yrs later vs one that you'd paid $325k for but can get $290k for 2yrs later should be a consideration as long as both options are within ones budget. The #'s are hypothetical, my point being that purchasing a less expensive boat isn't always the best decision long term.

If you could buy a used 35' Cig & a used 35' Baja or Active Thunder or Sonic for the same $$ which one do you think will retain the most value?

As it relates to the OP's brands he comparing my $$ is on a NT as long as you can buy it at fair market value or don't overpay thru an impulse or emotional purchase.

This is said often but in the reality is people have budgets and at times you have to stay in those budgeted lines like it or not. So we can all agree that at times the name that holds up better is the one we all want but that doesn't mean we should stretch out self thin to buy that.

When I bought my sonic you damn well better believe I wanted a Cig but a Cig and my Budget was 100% not in the cards.

We all don't print money here, so at times the budget listed is what the budget is. Say "well for $30k look how much more boat you get". That $30k is a lot of money even when financed.

not sure what counter points you want. As I said all boats listed are great and the layouts in the used market will likely guide the buyer.

Anything anyone list here as "Cons" in reality will be personal dislikes about what in reality is a nice item.

I can tell you I HATE 2nd row bolsters on any boat as well as I am not a fan of the front lounger on the 340 Nor-tech as it takes away from bow seating which I am more of a fan of. Does that make it bad? Not at all, it is just a personal thing that someone here might love.

Point is, I cant think of any hard "CONS" on any of these boats, just personal things that might not be what some want is all. In the end All 3 listed would be great to own.

Actually I meant you made Good Counter Points!

Too me a narrower helm w/ less wind / foul weather protection isn't a personal dislike, more so factual.
No different than I feel like the NT cabin is sparse at best, the absolute Achilles heel of the NT line in comparison to other 34-40' CC's.

2nd row seating on a 34 is a mistake, only know of one NT in production to date, on a 39' no issue.
Can tell you my passengers very much appreciated the 2nd row and large top on a snotty / rainy return from the Bahamas.
Obviously depends on the buyer and intended use

My boat was the first 34 w/ the U-shape seating and traditional lounger. I went to the factory, sat on a std length lounger & found it to extend over a foot beyond my feet so we cut it back 13" & 45* the corners to allow for plenty of walk around room.
I thought it achieved the best of both worlds and is now the standard NT offering on a 340.

Kids, Kids, no arguing...LOL.
Just buy a Cigarette CC, and rule the world...

My only negative on the Nor-Tech would involve the standard lounge seating in front of the windshield. If you have a large family or always take a lot of guests and would like a couple folks to be able to ride comfortably there (given appropriate water conditions) then the standard lounge fails in providing comfortable seating while underway. Riding up there will find you constantly sliding forward on the seat with wave action and when you are fully up against the seat back your tailbone will be on an unpadded section of lower cushion. Other manufactures offer “peaked at the knee” abbreviated lounges that better hold you in place while underway but you will sacrifice seating on anchor. I know NASCAT has worked with NT to change that front lounge so options do exist depending on your intended use. Otherwise, it is hard to find fault with NT except for the long wait times for a build if your dealer doesn’t have unsold slots available.

All are great options. If you really want a great boat, just find one of the used ones NASCAT built. I would buy one of those 34s for sure.

Don't get me wrong, I ABSOLUTELY love our 2016 390 Nor-Tech, but I can list quite a few flaws. We use the boat for 99% cruising/ fun runs. I can post pictures of most of these, if anyone doesn't believe me.

1. I had to pull the toilet out to replace the cabin bilge float about a month after taking delivery (no biggy, it happens). However, the amount of zip tie scraps, wire scraps, and a snickers bar wrapper was ridiculous
2. The rigging behind the helm leaves a lot to be desired
3. Some items behind helm have actual labels, some have nothing, some have sharpie
4. The way the $11,000 stereo is wired is a joke. 2 of the JL subs are going to speaker channels. Not bridged channels, one sub on one 75W speaker channel.
5. Labels on the amps are in sharpie and green tape
6. No actual 12 VDC panel
7. No actual 120 VAC panel
8. No way to run the air conditioning off of shore power, until I engineered a source selection switch to be able to
9. Not a ton of storage
10. Only 20 gallons of fresh water and no tank level monitor
11. No black tank monitor. Actually, no black tank. Its built into the toilet (gravity fed)
12. No refrigerator option
13. Terry Sobo was extremely hard to work with during the build process. It was very hard to do custom one off options with him. Very nice guy, but he did not want to do what a custom boat builder should do.
14. Lots of construction dust in covered areas. They did a terrible job of cleaning up before buttoning up things during the build.
15. No windshield wiper option. It is annoying to have to stop to wipe off salt spray on windy days.


Now, the above items may sound like a lot but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Nor-Tech. The 390 has been a great boat and the ride is unbeatable in this size range. Im really starting to love the Nor-Tech 450, and am really starting to want one. I just now know the process better and will have to be more involved in any future builds.

I would also highly consider a Mystic 38 or 42 in your search.

Feel free to ask me anything specific on the 390 Nor-Tech.

Well Well.. . all great boats for sure but you pay for what you get. Nortech 39 s are on hull 250 plus that tells you something. I’ve owned 2 so far hull 17 and 110 both great boats hull 300 not too far away for me. I do think the 39 needs a bit of a refresh it’s time.

Everyone has made great points.

OP do you have a budget (or willing to share what you're looking to spend)?

To respond to Nate5.0, you did make great points about boats being in the same range and 5mph isn't that big a deal etc. I personally think of various boat manufactures the same way as vehicles as it pertains to build quality, amenities, comfort, performance (speed/handling), and ultimately COST! By that, I would say nearly all manufacturers in the "performance center console" market will get your boat within roughly 5mph of each other with the same power. There is absolutely no federal or industry regulation in the boat building world. Meaning, any manufacturer with a customer willing to pay for 300-450R motors can get that. Heck you can find an old Ocean Hawk hull, and get someone to rig triple 450s and be well in the 80's for 1/3 the cost of a cigarette or Mystic or Nortech. However, that ocean hawk is basically like a KIA with an LS engine....and the hull is not designed to run at those speeds.

Case in point, you've figured that 85/15 is your ratio. So take away all the nice fishing oriented center consoles (yellowfins, Freemans etc), now decide for boating do you want to buy a Honda, Lexus, Mercedes, Mclaren, Porsche etc. By that list along you can mentally prepare yourself for expectations. Start there, then when looking at boat manufactures you can asses what the pros/cons are that we have all listed. And when you narrow it down to 3-4 or 2-3 make those brand reps work for you. Get out there, and have the dealers send you pictures, ask them questions, go on sea trials...go on some more!! Get members of this community to take you out. Be SOLD on a boat. That way whenever you spend your 300-800+ grand, you will always remember why you chose it and you did the research to be happy with your decision. PremierPower made the best point of us all, even after listing 15 ISSUES with his 39 nortech, he would still buy another one and, and if thats not blatant honesty then nothing is.

I personally think that Nor-tech is a category higher than Statements. Like comparing a mustang GT350R to a Porsche 911 GT3 (both track cars...not NASCAT cars but he'll appreciate this). For 70K a GT350 gives you nice interior, nice infotainment, and the best performance you can currently get for 70 at the track, and if the driver is good he can come fairly close to a GT3. But at the end of the day, its not a GT3. the Porsche is better engineered, faster, sexier, and more luxurious...you got it, just like Nortechs. It comes with a price tag. For the money, MTI, Cigarette, Mystic's, and probably Outerlimits (soon) are all up there in comparison. But it ultimately comes to personal preference and budget.

Deep Impact is a very different ride than a Nortech or Cigarette. The beam is extended all the way to the bow, I feel as though it slaps waves a lot more than cutting them. Almost the feel you get in the back row of a suburban or minivan. Just felt odd to me. But hey its very popular with the party crowd in South Florida as are the Midnights. I just dont like the finish on those two brands. Midnight boats are UBER customized and have a lot of finish work to improve upon as a result. Although performance is great with their Carbon hulls, I couldn't see myself spending 700K and see paint drips everywhere and uneven edges, etc. Not for me. More inexpensive manufacturers like concept, renegade, glass stream are stepping their games up in the category but, I personally regard them much lower in category, think honda/toyota etc. Ive seen some of the new 38/39 fountains come out, and let me tell you with trip 400Rs they are running low 80's just about 200-300K cheaper than the top brands.

Is it worth the price difference, I have no idea. I will tell you this, Im in love with my 39 Nor-Tech. But, as I am learning Sh*t happens, and it's a boat. There will be issues no matter how much money you spend on it. But at the end of the day, I look back at my boat on the dock 10x before I leave it. I would buy another one.

I agree 100% on Midnight. They look good from 10-15' but start climbing around on them and they appear thrown together. Even the 60' had a terrible fit and finish IMO.

Cigarette doesn't make anything under 39 feet. Great boats but I thought he wanted something smaller.
Don't over look Intrepid Boats. They have a really nice 37

Ive been on a few intrepids, they are nice boats, not much in terms of high end performance. I would strongly lean towards a Boston Whaler 350 realm/outrage if I was considering a boat like intrepid. Amenities are pretty nice on the BW but, it is by no means a high performance anything.

Resale Value is important to, i am hoping to get a used boat around the 200k mark, I could stretch a little. I dont know alot about any of these boats and the feedback on this forum has been very nice to hear, any opinions on what engine set up and options are important for future resale value, as well as how many hours on the engines to try to stay under?

I don't think I have seen a 390 at the $200k mark yet. Most of the originals (2011) are still in the mid $200's from what I have seen.

I m looking for a boat between 32-37 foot range, I wasnt looking at the NT390, was considering the nor-tech 340, deep impact 36, statement 350, and was asking the community for any other recommendations in the 32-37 range.

I would also consider Donzi and Fountain in your search

I walked down the line at Iconic last week and it was really cool to see it bustling with activity. They have a FOUNTAIN 38 CC with 4X400s that runs triple digits coming off the line very soon!

Hard to go wrong with twin Merc 350's. They are proven as can be and you can prob find some with warranty left on them from factory. I would look for 500 hrs and below but really that isn't a lot.

As long as they are properly maintained, Verados will go 1000's of hours. Plenty of guys on thehulltruth.com have several thousand +

the first thing we need to know is how much to spend helps put us in the right aisle in the store. so we can send you to kmart or nordstroms good luck make sure you go out in any boat your considering before you buy

Just curious- why do you hate 2nd row bolster? I would think it would be much better to have enough bolsters so everyone can be secure while underway.

I’ve actually been considering buying one of the used NT 39s, moving the bolster row back and adding another one behind the helm. It doesn’t look like it would be that complicated, not sure if any of the NT specialists on here have considered that as well or have any thoughts.

I'm not 100% sure where the entire 5 feet of space is gained on the 390 vs 340. I know some is the bow, but I imagine some is aft of the helm. The second row might be pretty cramped in a 34. I LOVE the second row on our 390, along with the extended hard top. Are you meaning having 3 rows of bolsters on a 39? I suppose it could be done, if you have the drop down rear seat option or no rear seat (fish package). You've also got to worry about blocking the bilge access panel. I think there would be enough space without the rear seat option, just not sure how many out there are available in that configuration.

FWIW, we went out last weekend in the pouring rain in Naples, and 4 of us stayed pretty dry in the 2 rows of bolsters. Now if only it had a windshield wiper...

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Strictly my opinion but they look horrible and these are not strictly poker run boats and I have never had an issue with being "secure" while underway in the lounger set ups.

I enjoy the relaxing nature of a sport CC and for that the rear lounger in Statement is EXACTLY what I enjoy and want to have. Also I have rode on the rear lounger more times than I can even remember at speeds of 40-50 mph area and never once felt unsettled or in danger of falling off.

To me the rear bolster set up is a odd feeling on a boat and really takes away from the idea of a luxury CC and tries to keep some sense of a poker run boat which is out of place on these in my opinion.

Now on say a 45 or a larger CC, that idea of a 2nd row is more accepted to me as you can still place them as well as other lounging and relaxing areas inside the boat. But on a mid 30 foot boat it just feels cramped and looks wrong to me.

Second row bolster is a must. I would not buy a CC without that option. When we are running 50 mph plus I want my crew looking forward so there is no surprise when we hit a big wave.

If I ever get a Nor-Tech 45, Ill for sure get the 2nd row but so far there are very few 45's with it. There looks to be less space between the rear seat and 2nd bolster on a 45 compared to the 39. On the 39, you are able to slide the cooler all the way out (and use as another seat if desired). On the 45, you have to hinge the second bolster forward to access the cooler or to use it for a seat, so you cant use the bolster seats and cooler as a seat at the same time.

We modded our 340 NT by replacing the cooler with a rear facing seat with an electric footrest. It seems to be the favorite seat for the girls while we are underway ever since it was put in. 4 bolsters are nice, but this has worked out well also.
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LOVE that!!!