34-36FT Performance Center Console Advice
 

We have two waterfront homes, one is Lake Norman, NC and the other in St. Petersburg, FL and we split our year about 50/50. We are looking for a performance/luxury type center console that we can bring back and forth, and use in both salt and fresh water. Budget is $200-350K. We really, really like the layout of the Sunsation 34CCX because it has the large under cabin where kids can get a break from the sun, etc. and it just looks fairly roomy under there on a Sunsation compared to others? What other boats should be looking at in this price range? Nortech? Statement? We want something we can salt water fish off occasionally with family, and take offshore, but we do not want a spartan interior like alot of the fishing CC's have. Any downsides to the Sensation 34CCX? They seem to offer alot for the $$$?

Consider a 33 Ocean Hawk. It has a large extended cabin to get out of the sun comfortably and it may be closer to 36ft. Price is at bottom of your range.

I’m looking for the same thing and meeting with Renegade next week to discuss.

Statement has a few already rigged for fish and comfort, I would give Nick a call and he is local here in St. Pete.

You are right in the ball park on price too.

Sunsation, Statement and NorTech make a great 35' CC.

Renegade, Concept, and Ocean Hawk are also great boats but have a narrow 8'/9' beam. Great for speed but you loose some cabin and cockpit space.

Also, you might want to look for a good used Donzi 35/38 ZF or similar with a traditional cuddy cabin and update it with new motors, interior & electronics and be all in for $200K. My friend and I are doing that now. We bought a clean 2003 35' with low hours and will be updating it with new Verados, electronics and interior next winter. We are enjoying it as is now. We spent $65K on it.

You can also go check out a 34 Fountain CC and Concepts 36 (Narrow Beam).

I had seen some chatter in other threads about the Sunsation 34CCX having wood construction compared to others and how that was inferior? Valid concerns there or people making something out of nothing? The Nortech, others, etc just doesn't look as nice in the cabin and seating than the Sunsation.

With Statement there will be no cabin other than the bathroom below, it is large and great for storage and bathroom use but you will not be sleeping there ever. So something to keep in mind.

Seating in the statement is up to you if you build new, They have many layouts you can choose from and also they are willing to try new ideas as well so also another thing to think about with them.

That's a main reason why we like the Sunsation 34CCX layout better, honestly. That said, I've never been on a 34CCX, wish I could take a look at one and get on board.

We went with the Sunsation 34CCX - purchased in Oct, so really haven't used it yet. But a good friend on our lake has one, and we've spent a lot of time on it. Love it so far (previous was 42 Fountain 700/6). This ones got triple 400r's. Good luck with your search.

For a relatively in-expensive airline ticket, LOTO has all the boats you are looking at between the dealerships.

Big Thunder has Statement, Fountain and Donzi

Performance has Sunsation

Midwest Boating Center has Nortech

Marine Concept Motorsports has Renegade

Besides.... It could be a couple days mini-vacation, just be careful, you may not want to leave...

$350k doesn't go far at Intrepid

Well like I said...the layout on the Statement is up to you, it isn't a one style is all. Only thing that isn't changing is the sleeper cabin is all. If that is a must then ya I get it for sure.

Cockpit layout though is what you want it to be with statement which is nice

It fits the bill in the used market though.

Call the factory and talk to Joe or Wayne..............you will buy the Sunsation.

The wood thing wouldn't concern me for 2 reasons:

1. Most likely you won't own the boat decades from now when it rots out (if it is actually in the boat, I do not know if they use it or not in current models)

2. All performance boats had wood at one point. Look at the restoration projects on OSO (when the wood is rotted, the boats are likely from the 80s). With OB's you have less hull intrusions (no drives, exhaust holes, etc).so rotted wood is less likely anyway.

And they are realllllllll proud of their product$$$$

A neighbor built a new 40, triple 400s..........900K boat! Delivered late, sea keeper inoperable, when you trimmed the outside 2 motors they would sputter like they were going to stall. Boat was custom, it was going to be used as a dingy for a 80 ft Viking. Owner has owned a dozen high end yachts/tenders so this wasn't a guy that didn't know what he wanted. He was fine in the end but wouldn't race back to order another. Viking is sold, moved on to a 106 ft aluminum yacht that can hit 30 knots!

Used 38 Fountain with moderate bling.

+1 for the Cig/Ocean Hawk. I really like the one that Stu Jones of FPC built a few years ago.

It just came on the market this week.

Nice! Wish the timing was right.

I have a 36' Sonic CC Cuddy off market, its MINT! The boat was stored in a barn and BARELY used, boat and motors only has 250-300 hours.

So nobody has anything bad to say about a Sunsation 34CCX for salt water use around the St. Pete, FL area? How does Sunsation compare to a luxury center console brand like Edgewater? My neighbor knows someone at the local Yacht dealer and they are trying to push Edgewater on us, but they are alot more $$$.

Renegade has come into the market over the last 12-18 months VERY strong. They spend your money wisely. An OSO member recently went from a plush 37AT to a new 36 Renegade, and he could not be happier. He was shopping Cig and NorTech, and others.
I personally like the NorTech and the Sunsation, but I would look hard at Renegade before I personally bought something in the segment.

https://renegadepboats.com/38open/

Edgewater was founded by Bob Dougherty who created the iconic 13 Boston Whaler. Bob ran Whaler for decades, left and started Edgewater, then sold it and started Everglades. He died last year and Everglades was sold to a hedge fund group. His son Steve started another boat company called Solace. Like go fast manufacturers in the 70s, Whaler/Edgewater/Everglades were all built on the same block in Edgewater, FL.

None of Bob's designs would be considered performance boats, they are heavy and ride nice but are not step bottomed and are sleds. The flagship Everglades 435 with quad 425s runs about 60 mph, a Nortech/Sunsation would run 75+ with triple 400's. I like Everglades, I thought they were a step above a Edgewater boats. They are all expensive..........

A good friend has a Sunsation 34CCX with triple 400R on it. He loves the boat and is very happy with it. It has a large amount of space, and a ton of freeboard so its a nice dry ride and handles bigger water adequately. The triple 400R keep it punchy and it runs strong. Every time I have been out on the boat it has been a great time and I feel that its a good value for the money spent.

For that budget I'd buy 2 150k boats and leave one at each house. Lot of boat can be bought for that.

Thats some multi dimensional thinking right there.

Absolutely agree!!! See them all from some of the best dealers in the country!

I will add that one thing that I do not like about some CC's is when the supports to the T-tops go to the gunwales instead of to the center console. Managing ropes around a dock can be a pain, and if you use it for fishing at all the gunwale supported t-tops will always be in the way. There are times that you have a big fish on you need to move to the front and back as you fight it, sometimes even going around the boat (especially at anchor where you have little control). Passing a $1000-$2000 fishing rig around these supports with a 350 pound grouper, a 7-8 foot shark, 80 pound amberjack, or 4' barracuda would be a handful. It is a moot point if you do not fish, but still feel like wrangling ropes could be a pain.

I'll bite, I think they are ugly as hell. :poopoo::D

Not a bad plan, but what center console boats would be in the $125-150K price point that are 35FT?

This is great advice, I agree. I'm actually from St. Louis, MO originally, and my parents had a cabin at LOTO until like 2004-2005. So I spent a lot of summers of my youth at LOTO, it's a great place for sure. I just couldn't handle those cold Missouri winters, no way!

If your going to go this route which is really good advice make some calls and see whats in inventory. Just got back from LOTO where I took my CC over to PBC for its 100 hour service, inventory is getting low and/or is non-existent in some cases with manuf.. I think a few of the CCX models are still available at PBC, but I think it a long shot to find some of the other models that are used. Not that your looking but there isn't a single used PWC on the lake and new ones are spoken for. That in and of itself is insanity !!!!! What boats that are left won't be by Memorial Day IMO. Like yourself we are considering a 2nd boat for FLA but coming out of the wu-han has changed the entire dynamic of the used market and I don't want a dedicated fishing CC. .

If your going to go this route which is really good advice make some calls and see whats in inventory. Just got back from LOTO where I took my CC over to PBC for its 100 hour service, inventory is getting low and/or is non-existent in some cases with manuf.. I think a few of the CCX models are still available at PBC, but I think it a long shot to find some of the other models that are used. Not that your looking but there isn't a single used PWC on the lake and new ones are spoken for. That in and of itself is insanity !!!!! What boats that are left won't be by Memorial Day IMO. Like yourself we are considering a 2nd boat for FLA but coming out of the wu-han has changed the entire dynamic of the used market and I don't want a dedicated fishing CC. .

Concept, Renegade, Ocean Hawk used of course... I have a 2010 33’ ocean hawk which is actually a 35’ boat and not for sale. I’m in Clearwater, when you’re in town you’re more than welcome to look at it and if time allows we can take it out.

Your gonna have to look for used...

Used Marlargo...fantastic boat too.

How about a 36 Invincible 2017. We have this one
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...a008e3bc23.jpg

Ill consider selling, once I get a 280ss and 330ss sold. I’d also like to have my next one lined up first. Really don’t wanna be boatless, and this market is tight.

Still looking and planning this guys. Will be in LOTO next week but I doubt many used boats will be available for us to get on board. Anyway, a good buddy of mine is a Nortech fanatic and keeps pushing them. How does a Sunsation 34CCX compare with a Nortech 340 Sport? He claims the Nortech is "on another level" and I shouldn't even be thinking about Sunsation?