Power choice is totally a personal thing. The boat performs very well with the 496HO, but obviously better with more power. The hull handles well at any speed. There are a few Heats that run near 100 that I know of with no handling issues. I consider trim tabs a must if you get an open bow. Reason bing is people are constantly moving around because of the open design and you need to adjust the tabs to keep the boat level.

Thanks again for the information. I'm sure the cabin will be stuffy, no matter what brand boat you have. I really like the closed bow boat and am leaning more towards that the more I think about what we will be doing with the boat.

My wife likes the sunpad on the engine cover. Oh yeah, all of these boats seem to have the same problem with access to the bow anchor. How do you guys get to the anchor?

I would love to order a new boat, but it's really cost prohibitive with my wife. I don't want to have a 20 year note on a boat, either. I'm thinking in the 50-60K range. Another thing I like about the Nordic is that it is almost 2 thousand pounds lighter than the Donzi I'm looking at.

I've got some time while I'm deployed to do more research. I don't want to be pressured into buying a boat when I return, so I figure I might as well do some of the research here.

How are the insurance rates on these boats? I'm sure it is more reasonable than the quote I received on the Donzi.

Again, thanks for the help.

You can definitely put in a 12V ac unit and run it off of two batteries--Velocity offers this on their 290SC. Or maybe add an opening window on each bow side for cross-ventilation :drink:

Now that would be something to look into. I wonder if a separate battery were installed for this application would help? I would have to do some more research on this topic. I do like the idea, however.

-Steve

Hey 47 ...... where are you located in US ?

Had a 2001 open bow. LOVED the boat. Great family boat. TONS of room in the mid-cabin. Best 28' Vee on the market, still! IMO.

I'm currently in a small country bordered by Pakistan and Iran, but live on the west coast. Looks too far from NY!

About the open bow, I still like the idea, just not that it is always open in the middle. Unless I am mistaken, it looks like the cockpit area is pretty much wide open.

I'm in the same balk park on pricing as you. I am also interested in knowing the difference in insurance between the 496 and upgraded power packages. A friend told me that insurance goes pretty high once you get the 525 EFI. True or False

Also, whats up with the anchor talk?

Anchor talk
 

I brought this up in the Donzi forum, also. I think it's funny to have a bow anchor when you can't really access the bow (unless open, of course). I am curious as to how people get to this crucial part of the boat. That's all.

-Steve

Anchor talk
 

I brought this up in the Donzi forum, also. I think it's funny to have a bow anchor when you can't really access the bow (unless open, of course). I am curious as to how people get to this crucial part of the boat. That's all.

-Steve