Input for new boat buy needed!!
 

Hi all.

I am new to this forum. Had a chris craft 380 continental 15 years ago. After getting our first child the chris craft had to go. A couple of years later we bought a sea doo 200 speedster which has been great fun and it has given me a new opinion on boat life. Before, I wanted a boat on which you had complete kitchen, bathroom closets etc. etc. Now, having had the sea doo for some years I am more into speed, a boat that is easy to tow and handle by yourself. Now when the kids are older, I´m thinking of getting a boat in which you can go for longer offshore trips than what is possible with the sea doo.
If you guys getting an idea of the perfect boat, please feel free to let me know your thoughts. My criterias are (as many other boat buyers criterias) colliding, meaning I would like a boat with descent fuel economy, but it should run like the lightning, dont want it too big to be easy to handle, however it should be big and reliable enough for going on trips of 50 miles in open water, to nearby islands. And it must definately look good.... All of this without costing a fortune.:drink: . I guess I will end up, having to choose where to delimitate my criterias.
Here are my criterias:
Length: 25-28ft, (maybe 30ft, but then I will have trouble to fit it in my garage wich is a small problem, of course:D)
Weight: Less than 5000lbs
Maximum speed: At least 65mph, but preferably more.
Fuel consumption @ 30-40MPH: 15GPH, (some boats have of course other speeds that are optimum cruising speeds).
Money to spend: Love to find a boat around $35k but $60k might be more realistic.
CE conformity is a major PLUS since I live in Sweden, Europe.
Year of manufacturing 2005 - 2020 (preferably not older than 2010)

I started with checking the Sea Ray Pachanga 22 (2009) out. Fits most of my criterias, but is a little bit to small. After that, Stingray 225SX (2012) also, a boat that meets most of my criterias except fot the length... After that, Eliminator 300 eagle, Cobra 290 Viper SXT, Adrenaline V30. Have looked at several other boats as well of course, but keeps coming back to the "mono-V-hull-cuddy-go fast boats". The outerlimit SV29 is the boat of the day right now, except for the price:drool1:

That was a long story, all ideas and thoughts are more than welcome.

Velocity 280 or 290. I think there is a VR 1 in the classifieds.

Padraig

I’m partial to the fastech like...true gentlemen’s performance boat. The 292 is a nice reliable turn key package.

If you're shipping to Sweden, Size matters!

Standard container, up to 7'7" beam.
Hi Cube container, up to 8'4" beam fits sideways. That's how my Donzi 27 was shipped. Anything wider would be flat rack or roll on-roll off, a lot more expensive.

My boat was 8'4" beam and fitted tightly. that's about the maximum, an 8'6" beam won't fit. Containers are easy, everything else is customized shipping.

A 30' Y2K Superboat is 7' beam and a great boat offshore, plenty of speed and well built. Down side, there's never a lot for sale.

Happy shopping!
RR


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...6210de93d.jpeg

Many thanks for the wise ideas and suggestions!!
Have been looking at the fastech, velocity and also the cryptonite boats. They are the right size, but not the design i´m looking for. Never seen them IRL though. Over here, high performance racing boats are not that common...
Haha, remember when I got my CC 380 from US (Iowa). Had an offer on a small boat shipment, but went for the 380. When I got the updated shipping quotation I got an heart attack! Instead of $3000 it was $15 000 or something... "Learning by doing"...

More suggestions, anyone?

I sold a 30' Superboat to a guy in New Zealand. I thought he checked into containers, but the trailer was the issue. He ended up doing RoRo.

Yes, I did roro on the seadoo as well. Can’t remember the beam right now, but I guess it is as wide as a container. However, since it sat on a trailer I guess shipping was something like $1500.
if I find the right boat, then the shipping will be solvable... again, after shipping the cris craft from Iowa to Newark to Rotterdam (Holland) to Bremerhaven (Germany) and from there by truck to my location (southwest of Sweden). Everything will be possible and cheap in comparison😎. Found a couple of other high speeds today that could be interesting..
anyone with experiences from
- B&H Performance water rod
- Sunsation 288
Seems they go well over 70mph. The sunsation is within my budget as well.

The Sunsation is a lake boat, you aren't going to run it 50 miles in anything over a 1 foot chop

Baja 26 Outlaw.

Rak rua! Sorry for me being a bit slow... I did not understand until now that Suberboat Y2K was a boat (again, I´m new to this and there are a lot of lessons to be learned I guess). Damn, that thing looks sharp! Have to read more about it. I found on this forum that a guy here in Sweden has restored one. I have to see if I can get a hold of him to get more input.
Activator could be an alternative to the Y2K..? I have checked the Baja 26 as well. Perfect size for me I guess, also very interesting boat!

29 Warlock
28 Pantera
28 Active Thunder

There is a user on here that goes by Mange. I believe he has the molds to Activators, I am not sure if it has the cuddy you want but it should be in you size and he is in Stockholm. If anything he might be able to help with getting something already near by or in the states.

Wow! This forum is just so valuable! Thanks for all the great input! The answers and ideas above has given me so many new ideas and questions.
From the beginning, without any knowledge in these type of vessels, I was really into Adrenaline SV30, Eliminator 300 mainly because of the curvey design. I like it. Many other vendors have a V-shaped design in the bow where the front windows are/should be... I guess there is a reason for that (?) since you can see that on many boats (Donzi, Cigarette, Pantera, etc. etc.). When Rak Rua linked to the Suberboat Y2K I just loved the design. And the more I look at the different Panteras, Bajas etc. I like the design of them as well...
However, most important is of course how the boat handles.
I have therefore started to think if it could be a cool thing to look for a project boat. I guess many of you can tell me if boatprojects are worth the input in general....
Having experience in cars, I know that starting out on a "project" wich you think will be a quick fix and affordable, often ends up the opposite way. Meaning more money and time is spend than originally planned. And you would be better off if you just purchased the right car/boat from the beginning....
After having seen the "ilmore V-10´s" i´m thinking, I have one Viper SRT-10 engine sitting in a crate, actually, I have two V-10´s. Are the Viper engines rebuildable to marine engines? Is it wise? Or should a reliable offshore boat have a professional Ilmore, Mercury racing etc. engine...? Next question, does it make sense, buying the "right model" if I find one and do the complete rebuild (upholstery, instruments, engine, outboard drive etc.).
My wish would be to have the boat in water summer 2022...
Anyone with experiences to share? Is building or buying the way to go? Pros and cons are more than welcome

Have been reading different forums and threads. Found some old threads here on this forum where the Activator 27, Pantera 28 and DCB FX-28 keeps coming up. I will only be running in the ocean, and where I live the waves are pretty choppy.
I have send "Mange" a text message since I saw he had an almost finished Activator 28CPR showroom boat a year ago. Dont know if its sold. Only thing missing was the engine. Started thinking it could be a nice thing to throw in my V-10 maybe... However, after reading a bit, many stated that for example the activator is like riding "on top of the boat, not in the boat". Also the Activator does not have much of a cabin so I guess models like the DCB 28, the Pantera28 or the Y2K are the most interesting ones for me.
Am I getting it right with the following:
- Stepped hull for less "friction" which gives higher speed/less fuel consumption. But the downside will be more unpredictable, especially in choppy sea?
- Padded hull, pretty much the same..?
The more I read, the more I understand that I have alot to learn:cool-smiley-026:

Pretty much right.
Stepped hulls are faster but it's argued there's not much benefit in the rough. They are more temperamental when turning hard, that's where some people have come unstuck. Learn slowly and never push harder than you're comfortable with.

Pad bottom will sit on top of the water rather than slice through it. (A flat surface is more buoyant than a sharp edge) Not a major issue with offshore boats, they're built tough and you'll slow down a bit in the rough anyway.

Havent read a lot about Activator, but Pantera is a great offshore boat and the Superboat is perhaps even better. They are 29'8" long (plus boarding platform) and 7' beam, will cut the chop very well. Narrow beam (for its length) trade off is maybe a little less stable at rest.

Never a lot of the boats you've mentioned listed for sale, may have to wait a while to find the right one.

RR

P.S. Project boat? If the satisfaction of building up your own boat is top priority then go for it, otherwise, it's a long hard road into a huge money pit.

Yeah, then I think I skip the "satisfaction of building my own boat", and go for something turnkey ready. Im in the finishing process of an AC-Cobra build and I feel pretty fed up with "projects" for a while now... Again, I guess I will keep my Seadoo for next summer as well so I am not in a rush. However, I have given it some thought and I´m looking at the Lavey Craft 24 Nuera (maybe 26 or 2750), and the Nordic 25 Rage (or maybe 28 Heat). I have found a couple clean ones for less than $30k. But then, they are older than I originally wanted. Never mind, they look really good and I have seen numbers of over 90mph on both models (maybe not the ones for less than 30k). My questions are:
- Are they as badass as Pantera suberboat etc?
- Is cuddy with open bow a thing that you guys can recommend. Im more used to either open OR closed bow. And my thinking is that offshore/high speed= closed bow.

Have found an interesting boat. However, impossible to upload pics unless you have ten posts

This will be post no 9....

And this would be no 10... anyone who has experience in bernico boats..?

If you're leaning toward new with great value try http://www.norwestermarinegroup.com

The Chaudron 27 is a single outboard and fits your criteria and is very well priced. Single 300R will get into the 80s, 400R the 90s.

Norwester Marine Group can get you a Rage 28' or 30' outboard or sterndrive as well, inquire with them.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e75cd9b8_b.jpg

Highly interesting. Never heard of them. However, they are made of “my side of the pond” (I live in Sweden) and Malta is only a few hours by flight from here.
thanks for the info!

Found my old thread. Again, searching for the optimum high speed boat.
Demands:
- Below 30ft
- Top speed >100mph
- Preferably open bow

Priority:
-Handles well in 2ft waves
-Decent fuel consumption (considering +100mph)
-Design
-Price

have looked into chaudron, Graunner stilette and Bernico f1 or ftx27. But also US brands and catamarans such as nordic Thor, eliminator etc.

Anyone that has done the same research and what have you come up with?

A less than 30' boat that goes over a 100mph and open bow.
I don`t think that exists.

If you can find an older 32’ Sunsation Dominator with twin 525EFIs and the open bow, that will probably be mid-high 90s. Whipples on top would be over 100. 525s punched out and worked to 650HP or so will likely do 100.

The 32’ measurement includes the molded in swim platform, so the hull is really only 30-ish feet.

You DO know that you can’t run people in the open bow at any kind of speed, right? I think Sunsation has a placard that says max speed 35mph with forward passengers.

DCB and some of the other west coast builders make 28-30ish foot cats that will do triple digits too.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3955460af.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...97c4aaa32.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...453436a85.jpeg
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https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...841abcf43.jpegK

Thanks for the feedback.
Yes, I’m aware of that running with passenger in the bow is not an option when running with speed.

Yes, older sunsation dcb etc I considered earlier and could be a nice project to update one of these. However Im considering going for a more recent model (preferably not more than 10years old). When I read the article below, I got my eyes on the nordic 26 and 28 deck Boats where 100mph might be reasonable.

https://www.speedonthewater.com/nord...-400r-engines/

Modern 30
 

If you want something more modern in that range, The Phantom 30 and 32 made in Sarasota are fast, narrow OB or IO. Also, Lilly Boats is making their 29 race boat as a pleasure boat now, with a wrap around windshield. Very cool design.
The 29 kryptonite built by rage and the 28 Rage are also excellent options.
If you want a used hull I always liked the Lavey 27 and 29 nuera.

DM me if you want to build something

thanks modern30. The Lily 29 with wrapped Window looks really cool but I did not find so much about it. How much would a bare hull be..? I kinda like the design from trick Powerboats, also with the wrapped window. However the 23 is too small.