Best Boat For Speed -Search of new Boat
 

I'm contemplating a new boat next week; a 2001 312 FasTech or a 2002 292 FasTech.

My goal in this new boat purchase is speed, however, been reading through the site and realized Formula may not be the fastest. It seems some Cigarettes are pretty darn fast.

SCENARIO: I may have a buyer for my 38 Special, therefore need a new boat. I want to stay in the 27-35' range, with a goal of breaking 70mph, trying for 80+mph.

I'm noticing Formula FasTechs are great quality, yet hit speeds of 70's. Is there a brand or should I focus my search efforts to a different brand.

Thanks in advance for your help!

How about Fountians, how do they stack up with the competition?

A 29' Fountain will hit 70 with small blocks. With a blue motor probably close to 80. Staggered 525s in a 35' Fountain will be somewhere in the 90s. The FastTech is a nice boat but they said in the online ad that they were not looking for ultimate speed.

Do all 35 lightnings have the staggered setup, or did that start in a certain year? The lightning is fountain's fastest hull model?

My Velocity 280 runs low 90's with a single 700hp 524 and that still needs some tuning yet of the carb and prop. The 292SC or the faster VR1 will get you the most speed per hp on the water. If I would have built my garage bigger I would be looking at the 322 for a better ride on Lake Huron. Handling is great and you don't have to worry about blowing out the back end in evasive maneuvers.

"evasive maneuvers" ???

laveycraft or howard in a mono hull are fast
revolution performance marine in a cat is fast

Being that you are coming from a 38 special I don't know that you would be happy with a bigger single engine boat, you might not like the ride.

My 38 with 575sci side by side is 89.4 mph 32 pitch 4 blade bravos, gps stock engines and lowers. 3300 rpm cruises at 60 mph.

Fast is a relative term from what you are coming from.

All of my notes reference Stock blue power with bravo drives, if you are looking at surface drive boats with huge power ignore the below :)

IMO find something that goes thje speed you want stock, and leave it that way :)

Everything is a trade off, my cabin doesn't have much to offer. A 382 fastech with 525 is not much slower at mid to hig 70's with a lot of features similar to your 38 specail.

Fast boats with moderate power, and good big water performance IMO

42, 38, 35 fountian
344, 388 hustler
38 zr donzi

There are many more.

Want more speed than your whale with similar cabin comforts?
Look into Donzi 33zx, 38 zx
Sonic 358, 386
Formula 353, 382

Whoever told you stock cigs are fast lied :) They are wave crushers tho, fit and finish on newer cigs is amazing

So true, none of the hopping up this and that.....something said for reliability and just a nice high speed cruise ability.