Looking for boat ideas
 

I want to get back into boating after a few years of being away and I'm looking at early 2000s Fountains, Formulas, Scarabs and Bajas around 29-31', is there anything else I should be looking at? Something with a reputation for being well built and comfortable enough to spend the night on the water. Looking to spend $50k. Thanks in advance

Lakeglider,

Don't overlook the PowerQuests. Very well built boats that run very well. We love our 280 and it sleeps two comfortable enough for an overnighter. There are a few around. Contact Neal at PQ. He told me he's been brokering a few.

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

Thanks for the info, I'll certainly give them a look

Active Thunder, Sunsation, Pantera, Powerquest

Not a bad way to go but I'm looking for a cuddy

Thanks. Anything specific to look for in those?

The 28 and 29 Velocities have deep cockpits and decent size cabins.

Padraig

If looking at Fountains have the transom and stringers checked. If the tailpipes come through the transom with beauty rings, its highly likely the transom is wet.

Lakeglider,

Whereabouts are you located?

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

The cabin of a 31’ Sonic is hard to beat!

I'm seeing a couple of velocities that look good. What's the build quality like? Any known problems? Anything to look for?

Yes, this is info that I need. I've been looking at the 32 fever in particular. I plan on having a survey done before I buy something, I want to make sure there's no rot anywhere. I don't like those kinds of surprises.

Hey Brad, I'm in Austin Texas. I plan on boating almost exclusively on lake Travis, although I may travel around to some of the local lakes for a weekend trip.

A sonic 358 just popped up in my area and it seems really nice. I feel like that's a little too much boat for my needs honestly. What's the build quality like on those? Any known problems?

The more I look the more I'm feeling bougie in my old age. I'm leaning toward boats with a nice 2 berth, couches (settes I guess), fridge, microwave, a/c and a comfortable ride over lighter boats made for all out speed. I plan on spending a lot of Saturday nights sleeping on the boat so comfort has jumped to the top of the list. I'd still like to pin 75+ but I'm seeing boats that top out under 70 and I'm not taking them off the list.

If cabin space is needed I am surprised no one has said DONZI 33ZX, wide beam and lots of room. Like others have said SONICS have large cabins as well.

As for rot and issues. Let's face it, 50K and what you are looking for means ALL these brands are old, and all can and will rot.

I bet there are a tons of boats out there with wood rot and people never know because they have not taken them apart yet.

Lakeglider,

I'm not a huge fan of the PQ 290 Enticer. I kind of feel it was one of their rare misfires. It's just barely big enough to warrant twins, but it doesn't perform like a twin. With twice the fuel consumption, it falls well short of the performance of the 280, and with damned little more amenity space. My recommendation would be a 280 if you're wanting to stick with a single, or a 330 if you're up for twins.

My dad had a SeaRay 260cc that slept pretty comfortably for such a "small" boat, and it ran pretty well for such a "large" boat. If performance is not on your "must haves", the 290 Sundancer probably can't be beat, as far as amenities and build quality.

As for overnight comfort level, it all depends on how you gage comfort. If you're looking for lodging, performance is probably gonna have to be scratched from your list of priorities. If you're up for camping on a boat, most boats of any real size can accommodate two adults well enough. My wife and I used to stay on our Rinker 236 Sport Cuddy overnight on Saturday night for the PokerRun on Cumberland every year. Our PQ 280 is considerably more comfortable, but still nothing like a real bed.

Everything about a boat is a trade-off. Space for something "here" is lost space for something else "there". We specifically looked for a boat WITHOUT a fridge because we didn't want to sacrifice that space, but we don't overnight much. We are primarily day boaters.

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

the platform sits in the water and tend to leak at the run rail.

To add to the list:

303 Formula SR-1.
311 Formula FASTech.

34 Superboat would be on my shortlist but I don’t know anything about the cabin.




https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...114c69f60.jpeg

I looked these up I like the checkmate, powerquest and scarab. Donzi is on my list but not in a center console and the Sundancer seems like more of a cruiser, unless I missed something. I know that my requirements are seeming to increase while my budget is staying the same and it's making it near impossible. I'll probably have to increase my budget. Thanks for the suggestions

I have my eye on a donzi 33zx right now but it's across the country and a little older. It seems updated and well kept, it's on my short list right now.

Good point about the age and my budget, I'd say you're probably right and wet wood is going to be hard to avoid. As long as it's not anything detectable I'll just have to plan for it in the future.

Cobalt 343, but you'll need to increase your budget.

Thanks for taking the time to help me out. First let me say that I'm not looking for something as plush as a cabin(cuddy?) cruiser. My 20s are gone and I can't be comfortable curling up on the cockpit bench under the stars anymore. From what I'm seeing the 30-35 cabins are plenty spacious and comfortable. I'm looking for settes on either side for the crew to get out of the sun for a while with a v berth behind it. The bougie part of me wants a microwave, a/c, fridge, tv, etc. for those nights I want to spend on the lake. It's seeming like I need to lower my expectations or change my budget. I think the budget is slowly creeping upward.

I'll check out the PQ 33, I feeling better about 32-35' meeting my needs. Twins isn't a must but it would be REALLY nice.

Honestly, I keep coming back to a Baja 342. There are a couple for sale that meet my needs although out of my price range. I'm not a huge fan of Baja (no shade on Baja) just because of aesthetics I think. Everything else on the list is low slung and sexy but the Baja doesn't seem to have the look that I like. Again, no hate, just not my taste. It's not enough turn me away, just enough to be hesitant.

The 31’ sonic I had was a good ride in rough Lake Michigan water. The build quality seemed very good also. They are available with all the amenities you are wanting too. The seats in the cabin have a panel that pulls out from under the V birth to create a nice size bed too.

The Velocity's can take a beating and hold up well and are a light and efficient hull. I get about 3mpg at 55mph in my 280 and I've had it out in 8' waves, it's real solid. My wife and I spent the night in it and I'm 6'3", it was tight but I'd do it again. For what you want I would look at the 32 Velocity.

They are definitely on the list, thanks

Thanks, I'll definitely check these out

This is cool but yeah, a little out of budget. There's also a 293 that's more in range. I'll keep an eye on these, thanks for the suggestion.

Sonic is definitely on the list, I really like their cabins from what I've seen. If I can find one that's equipped I will go see it in person. Thanks for the review, it's nice to hear from an actual owner on them

Lakeglider,

https://www.offshoreonly.com/classif...-s-o79766.html

Don’t know what you’re “new” budget is, but this one seems to fit the bill pretty well.

I wouldn’t be to keen on the fact it’s most likely a salt water boat, but a survey may prove it to be sound.

Thanks. Brad.

i was gonna mention exactly this model too !

A 353 is getting to be a little big, in the fastechs I'm looking at the 312. The new budget is probably $75k max and I'm going to need a trailer included in that. I'm currently looking at how hard it is to retrofit an a/c system that can run off battery power. If I can save $20k+ on a boat and install my own a/c that would open my search quite a bit. A/c seems to be the hardest thing to find in this size/budget.

Even more so an ac running on batteries!
must need many many big big batteries!
not even sure it exist!

There is a company called Mabru that claims they have a system that will run on batteries. I'm sure it's a bunch of batteries but if it costs $10k to install and saves me $25k on a boat I'll come out ahead. I'm looking into it.

Does anyone have any insight on a Nordic Heat, or a1997 or a 2005 Advantage Victory? The heat seems to only have a single engine design and the cuddy is pretty bare but there are a few around. The 1997 is a 32 and has twin 496s that seem to be an update, that's all I know about it. The 05 is a single 496 mag ho

For what you want be careful about spending $50K or will find yourself wrenching instead of boating. Recently saw a 33ft Scarab AVS posted on Powerboatlistings.com with new transom/stringers lots of work done, well worth the asking price IMO. Nice cabin for what you want to do and good size not too big for smaller TX lakes like Lake Travis. West coast boats don't do great resale around here. Velocity 29 not a bad choice for these lakes either and usually priced well. Formula pretty popular, 353 good choice, cabin little small on 292 for overnighting.

I had a 28 Heat, west coast boat in an east coast environment. The Heat has the roomiest and best cabin in any 28 I've ever been in, it was even better than my 33 PP. They're kinda slow, only got upper 60s with the 496HO no matter what prop I used and that included labbed. In the end a stock 24 worked best with leading edges sharpened and balanced. It liked some cup.

Not my first choice for chop, taking that out in 5s is a laugher, OSO 5s or real ones. Tried it and turned right around. Nice workmanship being a west coast boat, side saddle gas tanks kinda bothered me. I liked it a lot but only kept it 3 years before I moved to a boat more suited to my waters. If you're always boating in chop you're better suited to some of the east coast brands.

I have had 2 Advantage Victories, a 27' and a 28' and wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. I also owned a Nordic 35 Flame. The build quality is definitely better with the Advantage boats. The 32' is their fastest hull and handles the rough much better than the 27 or 28 which have the same bottom.

I think that's supposed to be 312 FasTech - the 311 is a much older boat as is the 303 (both SR1 straight-bottoms).