Is there such thing as an entry level cat anymore ?
 

As the title says, is there any manafacturer building entry level cats ? Seems everything now is at least a 36 with a price tag above 400k

I've always considered the American Offshore 3100 the ultimate entry level cat. You can get a clean 100mph plus boat for less than 100K. I'm talking used market but I've always liked the concept of this hull for performance per dollar.

Likely West Coast guys, Eliminator, DCB, and of course Liberator ( Home )

Pretty sure he was talking about new boats. AO has a website but their facebook page has the newest posts from 2019 so not sure how active they are.

Jupiter I think you’re right however as soon as you start shopping new performance boats the price tags lead most of us to the used boat market.

Agreed, went to in water boat show locally about 3 weeks ago. Holy Cow! Big time sticker shock. Best deal there was a Doug Wright with 450R's 499K

Was that brand new ? A 32 ?

MDS

Yes, I think so. It was Red. Told the guy, "that's the best deal here". His reply was, come over and sign some paperwork and take it home.

There is no "entry level cat" in the new market any more imo. The best "bang for your buck" is still a used 28 Skater. They can still be bought for under $150k (the price of a new 22'-24' single) and are a very capable boat, even when compared to today's $500k 32' cats. I just purchased a used 24 Skater (last one made, 2003) and I'll have less than $80k into it when it's ready for the water with a low-hour, used 15" 300XS - half the price of buying a new cat of similar size with a new 4 stroke on the back.

Sounds about right for a no-frills, no paint-job 32DW with a set of out-of-production 450s or new V10 400Rs. I highly doubt you'll get a new 32DW w/ a pair of 500Rs for $500k though. Keep your 28 Mike, you'll regret if you ever sell it!

Eliminator is building some nice small/mid sized models these days!

As far as new goes, this is probably the most bang for your buck that you'll get.

Liberator 30

Where`s the pricing?

$250K new probably considered "entry level" in which case I would suggest a new 28 Skater, Eliminator has some good options, Nordic, and Howard has some good options as well. I think the red dragon 36 Spectre with 700's and #6 drives is good deal at around $150K.

The fatcat dw28 with 300Rs would have been it, but I’m not sure who builds them now or if they made very many.

Unfortunately, you're not even close to getting a new 28 Skater for $250k - not one with engines already on it anyways.

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Trick Powerboats



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Been keeping my eye out for a 30 or 32 spectre/skater. Looking for outboards or maybe even convert I/o but rather something that is already setup. The advertised market is slim pickings and the prices are still minimum 150k for a 20 year old boat with outboards. Hopefully can find something decent in the near future

I'm not sure if the Texas owner of Dale Rayzor's ex. 2004 Skater 30 Prototype is still loving the boat. After three seasons he might want to get another Skater having come from a Skater 36 that he traded with Dale. That 36 is an I/O so he might have realized outboards are not for him. That 30 might be $250k plus, but I find it worth every penny, it's simply stunning. Maybe reach out and see about its status?


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Sadly a young lady lost her life in a horrific accident involving Dales old 30. Boat was destroyed

Yeah things are just crazy, IMO if I were to have 500k id buy a used boat like Skater30s 36 with 700s or something like it instead of a OB cat.

I love the sound and the power, but reliability and less things that can break/down time are worth IMO to go outboard

I understand the economics of builders tailoring to specific markets (higher dollar) and power. Just puts the smaller guys looking to get into performance boating at an extreme disadvantage

May She rest in peace.
 

Truly horrific to hear. Just awful for family and friends. Guess the owner had lots of experience in his Skater I/O that Dale took in exchange.

There is no "entry level" cat that is of good build quality. After running Lake Michigan, all my life and now LOTO extensively for the last four years, I can tell you that build quality shows up front and center on any boat that is run fast.

The best option "new" that I am aware of is going to be a Skater. You will still have potential "wood core issues that many have dealt with" or the Doug Wright designed 28' that Performance Powerboats now owns. Again, is 300K entry level? When I was new to boating, 300K might just as well have been 50 Million-"I had the same chances of obtaining both at that time (NOT)". A Doug Wright designed 28 just sold for 275K with twin 300Rs (boat was new "zero hours"). Again that is not what I would call entry level.

I have had several used skaters, Spectres, and smaller cats as well. If I was doing it all over again today, I would look for a 32 DW (maybe an ex-race boat conversion), a really clean 30' Spectre or 30' Skater with 400Rs. After having 4 stroke motors (for the amount of boating we like to do, and overall performance), two strokes are a thing of the past. Going a touch smaller would leave you with a 28' Skater and I would want 300Rs on it. Anything smaller then this would prevent me from being able to participate in many group runs and or allowing me to boat on the waters that I really enjoy. There is not a "entry level size cat" better suited for rough water then a 32' DW, or the 30' Skater.

If you are not constantly running rough waters and pushing your rig, then there are a couple other options.

Joe

also have to factor in insurance.......

This was mine! 17' Speedliner. Insurance was cake. :D I sold it last year after putting a new transom in it, had it painted, and had a new interior made. I just never got around to putting it back together as other hobbies took over.

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I completely agree Joe. I would add a 32' Spectre to your list above and also wouldn't shy away from any 28', 30' or 32' with 300XSs for power. I know the 4 strokes are more user-friendly and more reliable being so much newer, but my experience with 300XSs has always been really good.

That’s a great point. I tried to buy an entry level twin engine cat this Spring/Summer and insurance priced me out of the game. To use the boat six months out of the year max and pay 20K in insurance was just not going to happen out of principal.

Curious what model cat and power was 20k a year?

American Offshore 3100 w/ twin 850s

if a AO is 20k whats a new 28-39 ob cat with 300-500s on them?

I have a Spectre 30 with 300X’s that I am going to sell. It is a2002 boat, engines and trailer. That boat need’s nothing and has been meticulous maintained. I am selling it due to some health issues and getting a little too old.😖 If anyone is interested give me a call at (219) 670-0082 or send a message. The boat is at LOTO.
Thanks, Al

Holy crap for real?? 20K for insurance :eek:

Some of the problem is the seller’s ad claimed a 140mph top speed. The specialty insurance companies that will insure fast cats are sophisticated in boating and read the ads. In fairness the seller told me he only paid 8K a year in insurance. I think it’s a much smaller field of companies willing to write new policies on these boats and pricing has gone way up. I paid 2K a year on a 100mph AO 2600 just five years ago.

The older boats are going to be a problem to insure for many, lack of cat experience and ownership also attributes to high premiums. My current 36 DW with 450s is around 8K with a value of around 500K. Then you need an umbrella policy above and beyond to cover yourself for liability.

Joe

Trick Powerboats 23 Widebody
 

162,500K with twin Mercury 300R's. $127,242 with a single 300R.

vimeo.com/878439657

I do like this, but its too short for big lake use and too tight in the cockpit for rear passengers. 28-30 feet, comfortable seating for 6 (maybe three rows of two with a center isle?) with a big open cockpit. Love the down low seating and the windshield, and its a slick looking boat. I could really get behind something like that for 200k ish.

Starting to look at Cats again and the search feature dredged up this old thread. Wifey finally accepted the fact that the cat ride is better where we normally run.

Top of the list is an MTI 390X but I'd give a consideration to Doug Wright because they are right in my back yard.

How does the DW compare to the MTI in build quality and features?

Tae this comment as you want, because I'm not 100% experienced in every detail of both boats. This is word of mouth comments from a few people in rigging and paint from a large performance boat dealer at LOTO who sells many new and used boats. I was told the DW brand needed lots of work when delivered for rigging and paint. They said the build quality was not very good and lots of work was done to them to be prepped for completion. The MTI's they said were top notch in build quality and rigging. Like I said these were comments I was told, and I have not witnessed this personally.