Performance Cruisers
 

I have been a member for some time and enjoyed lurking. I now am ready to graduate to posting. My questions is that I am looking for a performance cruiser, no it is not an oximoron.;) I know this is mostly a high performance group but I am hoping that you can help. I need to get out of my current high performance boat and change gears for some time to accomidate my family. I am looking in the 35 plus range and trying to spend no more than275k. I want a boat that can run in the 55-60 +mph range( is this unrealistic) but yet have plenty of room in the cockpit for lounging out and entertaining, and extremely comfortable accomidations in the cabin. I have three children who enjoy being out on the water but also we want to spend every weekend at our marina on it. I have looked into pure performance offshore boats but found that the cockpits are small and the cabins seems to have no headroom. Any suggestions, I know Formula makes a SuperSport.

You might want to look at the Cary 50. They are older boats but very accomodating. Power is usually 4 big-blocks, but you can find them with diesels. Most run in the 50-55 mph range and many have had engine upgrades from the 420 horse engines.

Fountain, Formula and Sunseeker come immediately to mind.
(Priced in that order, too)

Each have models which can be considered 'high-performance' cruisers having both decent speeds, yet don't sacrifice the ammenities.

fountain express cruiser or donzi ZCX

You didn't say new or used, or where you were going to use it.
Formula makes a pretty fast 40' cruiser. Very nice boat. Theres a supercharged one on LOTO (Owned by owner of procharger) that runs around 70.
38 or 42' Bajas can be bought with Gen and AC. May be a little cramped, but very fast for a large boat.
Wellcraft makes a 40+' Excalibur. Quite a bit of room, including headroom, all the amenities for the wife anf kids, and runs around 50mph.
Fountain 38 cruiser. Raised deck gives more headroom, but it may be a little small. Very fast though.
Those are the only ones I've ridden on, so that's my $0.02.
Gary

If you haven't seen a performance boat with good head room, you MUST check out the Sonics and the Black Thunders. Boat have boats with over 6' of headroom. I have a feeling that the Black Thunder is exactly what you are looking for and it's still a performance boat.

Sonic
 

I remember someone had a 41 Sonic for sale at one hell of a price.

Your description of what you want has FORMULA 400 SS written all over it. The FORMULA has everything you are looking for and can be had "new" in your price range.

Keep the suggestions coming. I really appreciate all the feedback. I want something new or at least a 2001 or newer. I like the black thunders but I would want to change the seating. I really like the area of the cockpit in the formula supersport where it has the rear wrap around seating, the table in the back. But I wonder if black thunder, would do something like that? What kind of Power would you need in a Formula SS to hit 65, what about the black thunder?

Thanks

I don't own a Black Thunder, but I have been on them at the boat shows. Check out their website:

http://www.blackthunder.com/

DIESELBRI64
A couple of questions:
Do you want a boat to stay overnight in for the weekend, and how old are the kids.
You may want to consider a cruiser with a separate sleeping area for the kids.
"extremely comfortable accomidations" Does this mean AC, Gen, Galley, head with separate shower? BTW, if you'll be staying overnight, a separate shower, from the rest of the head, is a must.
Gary

Gary,

We do most of our boating in the Bays and oceans, we make a few weekend trips to Atlantic City, Cape May, but a lot in the chesapeake. My children are 12,9,7. Your defintion of comfortable is right on. AC/ heat, hot /cold water, tv/dvd player/ refridge and micro/ genny, galley. I am not real concerned with the seperate shower area because we keep the boat in a marina with those types of facilities. I am concerned about weekend sleeping in a dock, ability to "hang out" on the boat while docked. The other issue is that I think the boat is going to be kept in the water so I am going to have to do something(I did not type it) to the bottom. Has anyone ever seen a black thunder bottom painted? Dare I say that?;)

I think the Sea Ray Express Cruisers are some of the nicest boats that would fit your needs but maybe a bit slower. There are alot of them on the used market.

No bottom paint. Around here, they keep them on lifts.
I've been on a 43 Black thunder, and It might be good enoght for an overnighter for 2, but forget about the kids. Not sure about the 46. I think you might be happier with a V berth and an aft sleep cabin tucked under the cockpit for the kids.
Time for you and your boat to grow up, you've got kids.
As for "hanging out" room for 5. Any sport boat layout is going to have a bit of a cramped cockpit. Especially when people are moving around (kids are always moving around). Consider more of an express cruiser layout like the Formula or Wellcraft Excalibur. Both of thse have the tuck under kids sleeping area too (is there a nautical name for this?).
Baja used to make a 35' express cruiser with this layout that could be powered to run in the 60s.
Sea Ray also used to make a 38SS express cruiser like this too that would run in the 50s.
Check out the formula, wellcraft, etc. on boat trader, you'll see what I mean.
My $0.02
Gary

Be very careful when buying a performance cruiser. If you are not going to put the boat on a lift or keep it on a trailer you must consider the that if it has outdrives they will become very expensive alka-selzers out there and may corride quickly even with zincs and other corrosion protection.

Also bottom paint will be a must which will slow you down.

Troutly is correct on the price of a FORMULA 400 SS in the Midwest, however, the dealers in your area generally will be around $285,000-$290,000 with the 496HO's. You will need the 500HP's to get over 60mph. Contact Trenton Marine in Trenton, NJ. or Full Tilt Marine in Grasonville, MD. or Woodbridge, VA.

I have a 1996 45' Wellcraft Excalibur that would fit your needs perfectly.Air, Generator, Heat, autopilot and 51 mph. Blowout priced at $129,000 call me at 410-463-3626

the formula 370SS has the same cockpit space as the 400SS and the rear berth opens into the main cabin area, sorta sharing the space which majes it have as much USABLE room inside as well. The 400SS has a rear berth that is separated from the cabin.

Price is better on the 370, performance is better on the 370, USABLE room is the same.

Keep it on a lift, though.
A neighbor has a 400SS w/HP500's and it runs 60. You'll get similar speeds form a far cheaper 370SS w/black 496HOs.

I've got a Sea Ray Sundancer with lits of room and all the tvs and dvds and ps2s and a/c etc. Runs diesels, but tops out a little over 35. Longrange cruise is 31 mph.

Active Thunder 37 has a lot of room in it.

I also would take a look at the wellcraft excaliber.
I believe Riviera still makes it for em. Also the Sunseeker Hawks would be definately worth checking out. Donzi has the 39

lots a great choices, wish I had your problem...

Excalibers are now sold as Four Winns but are still made by Riviera. They are nice but not as fast as the Formula. I can only agree with all the other Formula comments here. 2 of my friends are interested in them right now so I have spent a lot of time learning about them. It is as close to what you want as anything on the market and a good value for the money. Troutly is right though, resale could hurt you with these wild a$$ finanace deals they have going. I suspect there will be a lot of Formulas for sale at too high prices in about 2 years when the finance plan terminates.

I think there was a 50' ish Sunseeker in one of the ads in this month's Powerboat & Motoryacht. Triple 575sc's, about 80mph if I recall. Now that's stylin!

The wellcraft excalibers I rode in have no stringers, be careful.

I'd look at a Fountain 38 Express cruiser. www.fountainusa.com (Pier57) had one listed that is sold, but $239k. That leaves money left to buy a lift and avoid bottom paint. Raymonds had one that we looked at a few months back. It is SWEET! Charlene may be willing to make you a deal on that one!

I don't know if I'd ever be able to bottom paint a boat.

speaking of a 50'Cary this baby is sharp look at the engine
bay no bottom paint dry stored

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/4/9/2052349.htm

Look at the new 38 Wellcraft Excalibur. Real nice. I loved the 45 too but never really looked at the engine bay.

My buddy just got a 99 45 Searay with Turbo Diesels. AWESOME ride. Pure luxury and about 225 or so. It goes about 35mph which seems fast enough for something so smooth.

check your email :D

Donzi 39
 

Donzi 39 runs in the low 60s has 500 EFIs with headers has quick and quiet exhaust, boat sounds awesome when you flip the swith to open exhaust. I know typhoon has one in stock.
http://www.typhoonperformancemarine.com/

PowerQuest makes two performance cruisers. The bigger on will run 60+.
I've never rideen on one, but briefly looked at one. It was nice. Formula also has a nice one.

If I had the money it would be the formula no doubt, very good lines, comfortable and solid.

WITH 3 KIDS YOU NEED MORE DECK SPACE THAN MOST BOATS LISTED ABOVE IN THE OTHER REPLIES EXCEPT THE CARY 50. IF YOUR KEEPING YOUR BOAT IN THE WATER AT A MARINA YOU WOULD LIKE THE CARY'S, BUT THE FUEL & UP KEEP OF THE QUAD ENGINE PACKAGE IS MORE THAN MOST BOAT PEOPLE CAN STAND.. I KNOW I OWN A 1989 CARY 50..THE OPEN SPACE DOWN BELOW AND UP ON DECK IS THE LARGEST AREA OF ANY BOAT IN HER CLASS. TOP SPEED ABOUT 55 MPH AND CRUISE SPD 40 MPH..A CARY IN THE WATER WILL TURN HEADS LIKE A BLACK THUNDER W/ TRIPS AT 1/2 THE PRICE TAG AND TAKEN CARE OF YOU WON'T LOSE MONEY WHEN YA SELL HER... I KNOW OF MOST OF THEM THAT ARE FOR SALE SO CALL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFO..

I agree with Hotrod 2.

I have a Baja 42 and it is great for my wife and I but I don't think it would fly for a weekend with 3 kids. Same with the Black Thunders.

Fountain is making a New 47 sport cruiser with a nice layout. On top. I have not seen one in person.

You will need to step up to a Formula, Sunseeker or Cary.

Happy shopping!

Steve

Fountain 38 or 48 Express Cruiser. They will cruise at 50 all-day and top out between 60 to 73 mph depending on power. You have speed and comfort.

AC
:D

You can also get a Donzi 38ZX with the same set up, AC TV DVD Geny, Shower 7ft head room galley and all the comforts of a big Cruiser with the true Performance of an Offshore Powerboat 75-90mph debending on powerplants. The 39 shown on my last post has all the whistles and bells geny with AC central vac system, Flat Screen tv with dvd and a second tv in the sleeping quarters with a vcr.

trust me check out a suneeker. It sowrth takign a look. They are a top quality boat. YOu will eb lookign on eth smaller end of thier range. They are really a yacht biulder that make smaller boat instead of a perforamnce biulder expanding into larger hulls. Th interior finish work is top notch and the performance is pretty good depending on the configuration you choose. FYI don shead the had designer for sunseker is a very accomplished racer in europe an dthey do actually sell a little hot rod calle dthe XS2000 it has buzzi surface drives an twin 420 yanmar diesels. She will run 80 all day. From what i keep hearing they are all the rage in the mediteranian. They are used as "tenders" for the mega yachts. :D

drop me a line [email protected] if your in the northeast i might know of some things that might interest you. :D

Re: Performance Cruisers
 

Checkout my 45' Excalibur, built by wellcraft. It will run 50+ mph all day long, passing all your friends. 2 staterooms, sleeps 6. Awesome....

Asking $229,000

I have attached a flyer for your review. If you can't open it send me an email and I'll send the file directly to you.

Or call me at my office 800-421-7310 or [email protected]

You've gotta see this fast and kick butt boat.

Twin 502's, Bravo III drives, Gen/air/heat, vacumm flush, loaded. Only 266 hours

Thanks Rocky Heinrich, Tulsa Oklahoma

If you can find a 2000 or newer 40+Sunseeker for less than $300,000 that would be worth looking at. I do not think you are going to find one. If that is the direction you want to go, you might also look at the Fairline 43 Targa. I like its layout better than the Sunseeker

The 38 Fountain has a very small cabin and would most likely not fit the bill for your 3 kids. The larger version would be the one to look at, but it is big bucks.

One thing to consider is privacy. The performance cruisers like the 400 SS do not typically have a separate state room.

Cobalt makes a real nice boat called the 360 that is very similar to the Formula 400 SS.

Regal makes a nice cruiser, the 3860 that has two state rooms and comes with 3 TV's and two heads. It is also fairly fast for a cruiser. With 496 HO's (420 HP) the boat will run in the low 40's. These can also be acquired new for less than $250,000.

You have lots of options..........and looking is a lot of fun.:D :D :D

there is a 38 fountain on boattrader asking 199,000... after seeing it at ft lauderdale its awsome nicer cheaper and faster than formulas 40ss.. the cabin is not small just compartmentalized... TWO staterooms, head shower and galley in a 38fter

I like the Fountain because it is divided up into two staterooms, With three children the Donzi is out, the 2nd berth will only sleep 1. It is the nicest of all of them though.

The formula is probibly the best allarround though space, sleeping capacity and decent performance.

WOW! That 50-foot Cary is awesome. However, I can't afford to fill up the (700 gallon) gas tank! :(

With a 14.5-foot beam, the Cary will be VERY roomy.

I too am struggling with the performance cruiser thing. Currently have Baja 38 Special with 496HO,s and it is a great boat until we go away for the weekend as it becomes crowded and sucks for entertaining. I have two teenagers(that take friends often) and we also enjoy doing some of the regional Poker Runs that if you can cruise 50-55, then you can still have a good time and usually won't be the last one to the dock. Due to length restrictions we are looking in the 40-45 foot range and have looked at Baja, Black Thunder, Sonic, NorTech, Donzi, Formula, Excalibur, Fountain. If Fountain built a 42-44 SC that would probably be the best choice but they do not build it. The 38 is too small and the 47 too big. Unfortunately, the Baja, Black Thunder, Sonic, Nortech all suffer from the lack of ease for entry. I am trying to get away from people constantly climbing all over the interior to get into the boat ( and the wife is constantly griping about how hard it is to get in and out of). The 400ss appears to be a good all around choice but i am struggling with the dash layout, speed concerns and there are so many on the market for a relatively new boat. I was looking at one with 500HP's and the owner was bragging about almost 55 at WOT. This is definitely too slow and I would be miserable if that is all it can do. Does someone have an accurate (GPS reading) for the 400ss with 500 HP's. Also any Pros/Cons from current owners?