I wanna go fast and be comfortable
 

OK, here is where we are at...sailed for many years, have a comfortable 30' pilot cruiser, but now I want to take the wife and kids (13 &15 years old) and do some wicked cruising out of Narragansett Bay to Block Island.
I'm Thinking sell the Alura 30' for about $35 and buy a used performance boat for under $50.
What are my options? Formula, Fountain, Sutphen?
Do any of these boats come with an interior that is not full of fuzz? What is sensible horsepower? Can I be looking at Formula 35.7 or is that wishful thinking to find a good used boat within my price range?
Thanks for any help that might come my way. John Gov.

Need more facts. What speeds are you looking for? Do you want a single engine or twins? Do you want something newer with a warranty or will an older boat work? Are you willing to do some updating and rework or do you want to get in and drive? How much maintenance are you willing to put up with? How often will you use the cabin and for what purpose?

I can do maintenance, we get some 3 to 5 foot seas running into them or following. and I don't think we need more than 40 knots speed. The cabin would be for minimal rest, snacks, toilet, possibly sqeeze in some overnights but the idea here is to get a room. A ten year old boat should be ok. I like simplicity and clean lines.

Best bet, tell Too Old what your favorite colors are and then you can buy his next project! :D Just kidding.

You should be able to easily pass your 40 knot speed target and run in the mid to high 60mph range while staying in your targeted price range. A Formula 336 SR1 with 502s, Scarab 31, older Cigarette 35 or 38 and several other models if none of those suit your needs. Good luck with your search.

Miller's got it. Cig, Formula, Fountain, Formula

Carefull what you get for Ocean running.

Thanks guys. This is helpful. GL, what are some of the things to be careful for in ocean running?
I have never had outdrives before but over the years I have heard different things good and bad about different types. Any drives in particular to stay away from?
Oh, GL, are you the GL in the construction management business??
Thanks for the help. John Gov.

There was a 35' formula for sale in RI a couple of weeks ago I will see if I can find the number. You want to stay a way from any big block bolted up to an Alpha drive Merc did it for one year 1987. Then they stopped. The alpha is good for small blocks.

There are plenty of good candidates in the boats for sale section of this forum to get you started (and yes, mine is there too if your interested).

-Greg

An older 31 Sonic sounds RIGHT up your alley.

If you want 30 feet, then 28 Pantera, 31 Cig, 28 Apache would all fit your bill to a T and were built for ocean running. A 28 Pantera is the same size as a 32 Fountain as are the other 2. If you want bigger, then 35 Cig, 33 Powerplay would be my choices. Those two however would be over 50K unless you go 15years old on the cig. You want to run in 3-5s consistantly and have a comfortable ride then thats where you want to look.

As for drives you want Bravo drives at least and probably don't want to have more than 5-600hp running through them with 600 behing on the high side but still OK if you don't hammer it. The Pantera will run about 70ish with a single 500, I would say the apache will be about the same speed. The cigs only have twins which the other two can be had in single or twins. Twins might be nice for ocean running.

Go take a ride on these as well as a formula, fountain, Sonic and Sutphen, I think you will then be able to see what fits your needs best

I have 4 Formula's that are for sale

1987 311SR-1 T-465 with trailer $42k

1989 311SR-1 T-330 with trailer $42k

1989 357SR-1 T-600 with trailer $75k

2003 37 PC $225K warranty

All are in dire need to move these
Please let me know and I will provide more information and possible pictures

Bill

301-674-2773

Yes,
John we met earlier this year I think regarding a 125 Apt. unit project in MA.

What I meant about running in the ocean was to make sure you have a first class ocean boat like the brands miller mentioned, some brands are less expensive to purchase size wise but tend to suffer badly in what the ocean can dish out. By suffer I mean they will require more maintenance and so forth, screws coming loose, hinges loosening, doors openning...

You are in the right spot to get all the information you need here, you might want to get a gold or platinum membership to get all the massive information this site can dish out.

Give me a call John if you want 802-734-8284.

john gov.

You are gonna get alot of opinions here, so here's one more... :D

I am currently selling my 22-foot boat because I want/need bigger. I have done alot of searching, and my #1 choice (right now) would be:

Sean's 35-foot Cafe Racer (Cigarette)

Once I sell my boat, I will take a trip to see his boat (if it is still available).

Good luck! :cool:

I've been doing a lot of research on powerboats and ended up buying a new Donzi. I noticed that most of the recomendations include Fountain, Formula, Panterra, Apache and of course Cig.

Did I miss something when I went with the Donzi?

I am starting to get some post-purchase remorse/concern.

Seans Cafe Racer is your boat Jon Gov.

Just Add Water: Donzi builds a fine machine. I would have a Donzi before a few of the other suggestions.

i second and third the vote for seans 35... and im the one who bought his last project!!!

P.S. i still get calls about seans old 28ss... people were getting into a bidding war trying to buy that thing from me AFTER i sold it!!! go with seans new project you will love it and you WILL NOT lose money when you sell(ok well maybe a little)... also nothing rides like a cig!!!

Oh man, I gotta learn a whole bunch of new stuff...Tall Decks, Team G intakes, 1050 Dominators, CMI exhaust. I'm way back at Holley carburators, and Osco manifolds, and that was a step up from genoas and boom vangs.
I've learned more of how much more I need to learn... here in just one day.

I see the TRS drives mentioned in many ads. Is that a brand other than Mercury?
What are the thoughts regarding beam to length? I see a lot of 8'4" beam and some 10' within the same overall length. Do some manufacturers use overall length while others use waterline length in their specs?
Finally, I've got an old computer on a phone line but the classified section here seems to load real slow. Am I doing something wrong.
Thank you, John Gov.

John TRS is TRansmission Sport. It's the prebravo drive that has a transmission to shift rather than a clutch in the drive itself.

A lot of debate on which is better. Still has parts available for both the drive and transmissions from several sources.

Transmission

Here you see a coupler instead of the transmission already bolted to the back of the engines for use with the Bravo drives

Trs Drive

Bravo XZ drive

My wife and I use our Sonic 30 SS to fish (yep) and cruise extensively in the northeast. We love it. Just got back from our latest cruise from Long Island to Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, Montauk, Sag Harbour, etc. etc.

Oh yeah, did it all in four nights. Cruised between 40 and 60 miles an hour. Try that in anything but a performance boat. <gg>

Last year we spent 10 nights on the boat and got as far as Nantucket. Battled seas up to seven feet, but if your wife does this, she may not ever go boating with you again. Likely a good idea to get full canvas with a plastic windsreen you can put up in a storm.

The good news is that with a narrow beam, many marinas will find spots for you that other "fat" boats won't get.

The bad news is that it is a real problem finding premium gas, so plan your fuel fill ups VERY carefully. In addition, you may want to get a hotel room and moorage, but often you cannot get them unless you reserve well in advance. Hence, you are going to be anchored or on a mooring ball. Best have a cmfy boat inside.

Personally, I would not consider any other boat than a Sonic for serious high performance cruising. Why? The non skid walkaround!! It is no fun dealing with anchor or dock lines in a storm and I'd likely be dead if the non skid walkaround on the Sonic was not there. Also, many of the boats mentioned have silly hatches. You need large hatches that you can climb in and out of easily. We have custom made screens that pop over the tops of open hatches so you can stand up and look out to see if you are drifting at anchor etc. Hatchmaster in New Hampshire.

Have fun, and you can read about the crazy stuff I have done with and to our Sonic at www.hyperfishing.com

Try and find a 280 or a 320 Velocity,well built boats,eats up big water,affordable and alot of fun to run,all of the other boats mentioned are also very nice choices.Seriously I would look at Velocity.

Hey CBR, that sounds like just my kind of boating...High performance cruising.
Question: In a five foot following or quartering sea, with an abundance or horsepower available, in a 30' Formula, Sonic, Cig, Velocity, Donzi, Pantera, Sutphen, Fountain, Powerplay, etc, what kind of speed can you maintain? John Gov.

I guess the answer to how fast can you go is going to depend on the wave spacing. If they are far apart, you aren't going really fast. If the waves are close together as they often are, you can go faster and scream right across the tops of them.

The answer also depends on your crew. At high speeds, you are going to fall into "holes" once and a while and that will get screams going from your squemish crew.

Sometimes in bad conditions I used to tell my wife to get inside the cabin and brace herself. that way she can't see how fast I am going. Now she sits in the rear seat as she can't see the scarier holes that fscare her (and me).

Of course the best way to handle bad seas is to leave the boat and take the ferry home or wait it out.

The worst seas we have been in were ten foot breaking seas during the tail end of Hurricane Kyle. That was no fun but we made it. Power up the front of the wave before they broke, and chop the throttles to surf down the backside. Minimum planning speed or even lower that time.

just end all this debate and buy seans 35 cafe... you will LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!

SEAN call this guy before he makes a misake!!

John,
You will not be disaointed with Sean's rig.
http://www.thunderboatalley.com/albu...35_b.sized.jpg

And here is a picture of my family enjoying our Cigarette same hull as Sean. If you want to try one you are more than welcome to come up to Burlington and we will go for a ride. Call me.

John: I've been where you are coming from, and I are where you are going. My background is hardcore race sailing in Europe, Baltic and North Seas, mostly grueling, wet and cold affairs. I live on Eastern Long Island, Shinnecock Bay.

I had a 23ft little racy number. That's when the speed bug bit me. I wanted something for the Ocean. Montauk and Block Island on the outside. I got myself a 29ft Kryptonite and I am very happy.

I never sleep on the boat, I never used the potti on the previous one, the Kryptonite was ordered without kitchen and bathroom.

Speed: I know, 40mph may sound like alot when you come from sailing, but it really isn't a lot. Any new Grady can do that. If you like to go fast, you probably want to go faster after a while. And speed improvements after the fact are very costly. I'd get something that does at least 60-70mph under ideal conditions.


Sean: Great guy, great boat. His boat is at Falcon in Hampton Bays, close to the Shinnecock Canal. Recommended.

I hear you guys on Seans Cigarette but I wanted to keep this ride under $50,000. He wants 67 and I would still need to stick a triaxel under it.
I just put the Alura in the Providence Journal. It should go fast.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...threadid=56255

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...threadid=56690

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/7/4/52960174.htm
http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/8/35048998.htm
http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/1/4/53211314.htm

Welcome to powerboating----especially performance powerboating! :) When trying to keep under the $50K mark, I would maybe look for an older 30'-2" Formula---or even a 31' Sonic. They are well built boats that give a good solid ride, and I think there are quite a few out there.

Glad to hear it! If you don't buy it, it may still be available when I can get it! :D

http://www.boattest.com/boats4sale-s...p?BoatID=24451

http://www.boattest.com/boats4sale-s...p?BoatID=60794

Go to pantera's forum page and you will find your boat...angel is selling his 28 footer ,its beautiful with twin 350s and he just had it completly reriged and is selling it for 45k check it out...you will be happy

Any of the boats mentioned would do you just fine. The Pantera or Cig would probably be my first choice but all the rest are equally great. There is a 35 foot Cig for sale at National Marine in Ohio. I had called about it once before and they still have it. The price should be around what you want to spend because it is a mid 80's boat. Good luck with you choice.

Any of the boats mentioned would do you just fine. The Pantera or Cig would probably be my first choice but all the rest are equally great. There is a 35 foot Cig for sale at National Marine in Ohio. I had called about it once before and they still have it. The price should be around what you want to spend because it is a mid 80's boat. Good luck with you choice.

Here's another idea. It might sound a bit far-fetched, but it is very workable: Due to recent changes in specifications, the market is swamped with used F1 (Factory 1) race boats. They typically are 4 or 5 years old, have a HP500 engine, and they usually are impeccably maintained. These boats usually have their own dedicated crewchief, their oil is usually changed after every race, and they have extremely low hours, because they aren't used for anything different than racing.

These boats are inspected before every race, and they receive a thorough inspection (sometimes with headers pulled etc.) if they win.

My friend Randy's 1998 Kryptonite, winner of three World Champion titles, would fit your budget with money left for gas.

The only drawback is that these boats are set up for racing. Their cabin is usually unfinished. Their rear seats are taken out etc. This is a minor irritation and would not be expensive to fix. Imagine owning a 3x world champion for what you would spend on a 8o's vintage boat ....

One thing to keep in mind , If you are used to a cruiser , you probably had much more room in the cockpit area then most performance boats have . Think about it real good .Put the whole family in it and see if you all can live with the room / or lack of it . Some boats do have more room but most do not . Hard to beat a Cigarette for ride and value .

You might consider GregP's 40' Formula . I haven't seen his in person but I had one and I don't think anything can compare to that thing for ride and it has a full house and the price is right !! :D

Also do a search on www.yachtworld.com . just type in the year range and price range . See what there is .

You WILL find something . Good luck , Joe