26 sonic vs 25 active thunder
#2
Registered
both are very nice will probably ride about the same the sonic has the integrated swim platform which I prefer and the sonic has an enclosed head I don't know about the active. Both can be towed with a half ton truck , I would just go look at both close up and see which one you like better you can't go wrong with either
#3
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
I agree with Andy 25. I had a 26 Sonic and have never been on a 25 AT, saw one at LOTO and it looked small compared to the Prowler. The AT will be faster with equal power, the Sonic's cabin can't be beat in that size of boat. Everything in life's a tradeoff!
Steve
Steve
#5
Charter Member # 545
Gold Member
Pat builds a good boat, unless its been misused or dogged, I would go with the AT. Sydwayz On OSO will be along shortly, once he's seen the thread. He had a Sonic 26 I think. He knows AT's also. He could give the the plus's or minus's for each model.
#6
Registered
iTrader: (3)
Owning a 25-26FT boat on lake michigan, will limit the days you can go out and enjoy boating imo. Personally, i dont mind getting a good pounding once and a while in some rough water. Its when you have company with you that it becomes a problem. Guys i know with decent HP engines in single 25-27FT boats who regularly run on lake michigan, tend to go thru drives too often. The boat spends the majority of time out of the water while running, and real hard on drives.
One of the local guys has a 25 AT with a merc 600SC. it is a really nice boat. I'd pick a day come next season, when the lake is a little choppy, like a 1-3FT day according to noaa. Go out on someones 25-26, and see how you like the handling/ride. Then go on a 30-32, and compare.
My buddy Chris had bought a 28 pantera for lake michigan. There is no doubt Pantera's are one of the best running boats in that size range. However, we would run side by side when i had my old 40' Formula at 65-70mph thru 2-3' waves. He kept up , but when we stopped after a 30 minute run or so , my crew would be on their 2nd or 3rd beer, and his crew looked as if they just ran a triathalon. I also remember my buddy Tony in his 271 Formula going for a lunch run with us from hammond indiana, to new buffalo michigan. (about 40 miles away). We ran thru 2-3's the entire way. He had blue jeans on, and he literally wore thru the skin on his upper a$$ from the bolster seat, and was bleeding a little when we arrived.
Sorry if i sound like im preaching. I just have been there before. I had a heavy old Four Winns Liberator 241 with a custom 540CI motor. First time i took it out on lake michigan on a rough day, I stuffed it twice, second time almost blowing the windshield out. Ended up going to a much bigger boat, and for not much more money. We have a large group of offshore boaters in our area here, and most of us had smaller boats, and now larger boats. From a cost standpoint, im sure they would agree, it woulda been cheaper to go straight to the larger boat from the get-go.
#7
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#8
Registered
iTrader: (28)
i owned a 2000 26 prowler with a 502 mag. Very very nice boat, gives a real big boat feel for only 26 foot. The only thing is that it is a slow hull. If you are looking to go fast the active thunder would be the better way to go. If your ok with 62-63 mph and a just plain comfortable boat then the sonic. i towed mine with a 2003 chevy 1500 with 5.3 v8 at the time. You can tell there is some weight there but if you have a good trailer with working breaks you should be ok!!!
#9
Registered
iTrader: (1)
Mild, I looked for months, theres no way i could find a 30-32' with the same top speed performance, age, hours, quality, or shape in my price range as my Tantrum. Not even close.
My budget is higher now hence the sale
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o36977-en.html
but I`m still unsure if bigger is really worth it to me.. twice the headache as far as drives/motors, need bigger tow vehicle, find new storage (wont fit in garage)..
We were out every weekend, there was only one day we got really beat up it was like a washing machine, Id like a bigger boat (midcabin) for more room, ride quality would just be a nice plus.
I do agree thou Lake Michigan is a drive killer.. I think having 2 is a plus since they help each other out as far as breaking them
My budget is higher now hence the sale
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o36977-en.html
but I`m still unsure if bigger is really worth it to me.. twice the headache as far as drives/motors, need bigger tow vehicle, find new storage (wont fit in garage)..
We were out every weekend, there was only one day we got really beat up it was like a washing machine, Id like a bigger boat (midcabin) for more room, ride quality would just be a nice plus.
I do agree thou Lake Michigan is a drive killer.. I think having 2 is a plus since they help each other out as far as breaking them
#10
Registered
iTrader: (3)
Mild, I looked for months, theres no way i could find a 30-32' with the same top speed performance, age, hours, quality, or shape in my price range as my Tantrum. Not even close.
My budget is higher now hence the sale
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o36977-en.html
but I`m still unsure if bigger is really worth it to me.. twice the headache as far as drives/motors, need bigger tow vehicle, find new storage (wont fit in garage)..
We were out every weekend, there was only one day we got really beat up it was like a washing machine, Id like a bigger boat (midcabin) for more room, ride quality would just be a nice plus.
I do agree thou Lake Michigan is a drive killer.. I think having 2 is a plus since they help each other out as far as breaking them
My budget is higher now hence the sale
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o36977-en.html
but I`m still unsure if bigger is really worth it to me.. twice the headache as far as drives/motors, need bigger tow vehicle, find new storage (wont fit in garage)..
We were out every weekend, there was only one day we got really beat up it was like a washing machine, Id like a bigger boat (midcabin) for more room, ride quality would just be a nice plus.
I do agree thou Lake Michigan is a drive killer.. I think having 2 is a plus since they help each other out as far as breaking them
So what you lookin at if the AT sells?