Velocity 260 or Nordic Rage?
 

I'm thinking about picking up a bigger boat next year. I like both the Velocity 260 and the Nordic Rage. I would like to hear some pros and cons for each. I don't really boat in big water. Mostly in the Ohio river near my house. A few times a summer I go to a medium sized lake, but it's not too rough. I currently have a 21' Checkmate Starflite with a 260.

Not sure what your budget is but I've got a 28 Nordic Heat for sale. It is in excellent condition and will soon be sitting ontop of a brand new alum trailer. The boat is an 05 with a merc 525 efi with xr drive and ITS setback. 190 hrs. Closed bow, Dana tabs and a good list of extras. $85K. Email me at [email protected] or call my cell at 917-468-9882 if interested. Located on Long Island.


Ray

I have a friend with a Rage, it is a nice boat. He has the 498 HO, it runs about 68 MPH with a 26pitch Bravo. Personally, I like a little deeper boat with a bigger cuddy. He has the one with the small cuddy then the open bow in the front.

Anything Nordic is quality

The first Nordic I ever saw in person was a Heat. I love the Heat, but it's a little more boat than I really need. I'm looking to stay in the 24'-25' range.

I suggest that you post your question in both the Nordic Forum and the Velocity Forum on this web site.

The Rage is the best combination of performance, handleing, style, ride, quality, price and general usability for water sports (in the open bow version) that I can imagine for inland water. Of course I am prejudiced.

The Rage is the best combination of performance, handleing, style, ride, quality, price and general usability for water sports (in the open bow version) that I can imagine for inland water. Of course I am prejudiced.[/QUOTE]

I love the open bow version of the Rage. That's the biggest reason I'm leaning more toward a Nordic. If they made an open bow Velocity 260 I think It would be a much harder decision for me. I'm sure that the Velocity would ride a litte rougher with the pad on the bottom, but would also be a little faster with the same power because of it. The Nordics have a stepped hull correct?

I love the open bow version of the Rage. That's the biggest reason I'm leaning more toward a Nordic. If they made an open bow Velocity 260 I think It would be a much harder decision for me. I'm sure that the Velocity would ride a litte rougher with the pad on the bottom, but would also be a little faster with the same power because of it. The Nordics have a stepped hull correct?[/QUOTE]

Correct.

I rode in a bigger Velocity ~28' on our lake and it was a noticably rougher ride.....do to the larger pad I would suspect. I have to wonder how the manuverability of a Velocity would compare with a Nordic Rage which is awsome. Best thing you could do is take one for a drive.

You might want to consider a Hallett 240-S as well. Super high quality and a "big" boat for the size. If you wanted to go a little smaller you can find a Warlock 23 XRI with both mid-cabin jumpers and open bow seating.

Taking a quick look at the OSO Velocity forum it seems the 26 is in the same ballpark speed wise as the Rage ie high 60's low 70's depending on conditions and elevation.

Note, the open bow Rage is 1-2 mph slower than the closed bow do to aerodynamic drag. With the open bow cover installed that 1-2 mph short fall is recovered. All Velocity numbers are closed bow.


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/v...ity-260-a.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/v...0-finally.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/v...ity-260-a.html

I'm not too familiar with the bigger boats. I am just learning what's out there. I guess I should be asking what performance boats are out there in the 23'-25' range with an open bow. I'll definately be buying used. Hoping to find something in the 30K or less range.

Check out BoatTraderOnline.com for used boats.

The Velocity 260 is only a 24' boat. That is the old 240 and the old 260 is now the 280. They just included the swim platform in the measurement and called it 2' longer. Just keep that in mind when comparing boat sizes and speeds.
Eddie

Good point on the added "length" of the swim platforms.

If the front bowrider area is a must and you still want a performance hull it narrows down the choices quite a bit. If you do not need mid cuddy seating as well then there are a couple of mint Howard 22 Offshores in open bow format. They are super high quality. I personally think that if you are looking for the best "all around" the Warlock 23 XRI is the shortest hull that offers front AND mid seating and can still do 70mph with a 496HO package. I have not yet seen a hull that is less then 24' that offers the Warlock's flexibility.

I only wish they made it in a closed transom OB format!

When I was looking at that size range boat in a bowrider, I narrowed it down to the Howard OB 25 and the Nordic Rage. I think that the Howard is the faster hull.

When I decided to go bigger, I chose the Nordic Heat because of its increased freeboard and larger interior (I have five kids). I am sure the Howard would have been faster, but in the 28 size boats, it is a much smaller boat than the Heat.

I think that the best 25 is still the Howard.
I would choose the Rage as number two.

Chris

I assume that you are referring to the Howard 25 Bullet? Incredible hull but as he is on a budget and wants less then 25' I was suggesting the older Howard 220 Offshore with open bow format. Standard 8' beam, 24 degree V and great build quality. Next bigger would be the Warlock 23 XRI, and then next bigger would be the Hallett 240-S mid 90's vintage.

Again, the assumption is he wants a boat that is 24' or LESS and about $30,000

I also liked the Nordic's when I was looking for a new boat. It is very hard to get on the bow from the cockpit. Low freeboard so you can't really stand up in rough water.

The Velocity isn't as pretty, but has lots of good features.
Deep cockpit, stand up bolsters, easy to walk around outside edges of boat, flat sun platform, larger cuddy with more headroom, flies nice and level, has a great racing history. And it will be much faster in any water.
Get in and drive them both, I did. I bought the Velocity and love it.

Thanks for all of the help guys. I now have a better idea of what to look for. I wont be ready to buy til at least this time next year. I'll have to try to find some of these local to look at. I live near Pittsburgh, PA. I have not seen any of these boats around except for a Nordic Heat, which is a little bigger than I need/want.

there is a velocity 260 for sale in Weirton wv with a 540

i boat on the monongahela, dock at mile marker 27.5. I hope to have my 2002 velocity 260 delivered by friday. It has a efi 500hp and a xz bravo. take a trip up the mon and check it out.

There is a new 09 28 foot Nordic at a dealer in Lewiston Id. Guy's Outdoors I think is the dealer. It has a 496 and B1 runs about 75 mph. Was thinking of buying for my son. I think you can steal it on the trailer for about $85,000.00

Let me know when it comes in. I'd love to check it out.

Is that the velocity i saw on ebay last week? if so nice looking boat and you stold that babby.

ya it was the ebay boat. thanks. hope it is as nice as it looked in the pics.

There is a 98 260 Velocity with a 496 and a B&M 250 Blower in Va Beach Va for $30,000. This is an 87 mph boat on gps.

That was a great deal. Good luck with it!

Just curious how do you like the boat? any unexpected surprises?

i like the boat a lot, not very good at driving it yet tho. No real surprises, not as clean as it looked in the pics but that could be in part because there driver brought it up with out the cover on it, in a rain storm no less. Now all i need to do is learn how to drive the dam thing.

Congratulations on your new boat! Driving a pad bottom boat is a little different than the normal V's. It will take a little practice. Once you figure it out it's easy. I went out on an open lake and make several passes until I figured it out. On mine the boat wanted to fall off the pad in the mid 70's. Usually to the port side. You want to give the steering wheel a quick bump to the right as its starts to roll off the pad. It will flatten right out and your on your way. I think it will be easier to learn in some mild chop, rather than calm water. Set your drive and tabs at neutral. You did get a great deal on that boat.

Nordics are awesome boats however I am a huge velocity fan...I have been in a 260 on seneca lake with 5' caps...the boat took it like a champ...as far as control they are great