Hello all, just looking for a little input , just sold my 2005 baja islander 20ft this morning to move up to a 25 or 28 Nordic, was just wondering how much of a difference in ride I will notice goin to a 25 from the 20? And also I found a 06 rage with the 496 and 50hrs for 40k that is within 8hrs of me, good price? Also found a 02 heat 496 170hrs for the same $$, but would have to Buy sight unseen and have shipped. Both are open bow mid cabs. what you guys would do? Thanks Ted

I don't care what they say but SIZE DOES MATTER!

I was faced with pretty much the same decision a month ago. The advice I got was to focus on intended use. For us, there are seven of us, it was about family fun and watersports. For that purpose I was advised to go with the Rage. I got a pretty good deal so I pulled the trigger on an '05. I was also intrigued that it was the faster of the two boats due to weight. If you are just going to go fast up and down the lake and encounter some bigger water I understand the Heat would be the better choice.

I do a lot of boating on the ohio river so the waters not usually to rough, i do like the added speed of the rage, but the heat just looks like a big beast. Side by side how much larger does the heat look?

I am 6.2 and tried sitting in the cabin of the rage my head would hit...In the heat there is much more head room..Also the cabin is much longer for laying down....

If its speed you need just get the heat with a 525

The Heat has very good manors. Get one with a 525 and you will not be dissapointed. Eventually you will want to step up in size anyway. It is not that much larger and it will handle the rougher stuff when you come across it.

There will be a huge difference between your 20 footer and either a 25ft Rage or a 28ft Heat. Both boats will be much smoother over rough water than your 20, and have lots more room.

I think that an open bow is a must for my family of seven when doing water sports.

Regarding a Heat vs a Rage... That depends on the size of your family, and where you do most of your boating. If the lakes and rivers where you boat are fairly smooth, then the 25ft Rage will be slightly more manueaverable, quicker, and faster per given horsepower. If you sometimes boat in 2-3ft plus chop, then the Heat is a no brainer. It is much smoother riding than a Rage, in most of the conditions that I boat on. With tabs, I easily pull my 9 year old on an innertube at 13 mph with my Heat.

I also go out on the ocean around the SanJuan islands, and I feel that the Rage is just too darn small for that.

Lastly... If you get a Rage... there will definately come a time when you will be looking at a Heat. I feel that the Heat is one of, if not the, best multi-purpose single engine boats made today. It does everything pretty darn exceptionally.

I would agree with the others, that the Heat loves power, and if you can swing the extra money... I would get the biggest engine possible.. definately at least a 525.

Every once in a while (quarterly), I get the itch to get another boat... but everytime I start looking, and go test driving these other boats... I discover that I am not willing to give up the versatility of my Heat.

For me... it is the speed bug that keeps biting me.. I just want to go faster... who doesn't? My wife says that I should just quit screwing around, and build a 598 with a 5.0 whipple on it, and be done. But I am just enjoying the chase... besides... the economic climate has not been very hospitable this year, and I just dont have the extra coin to spend at this time.

Hope all this rambling helps,

Chris

Hey thanks for all the input guys, I Guess the main thing for me is speed, so I think at this point I'm goin to start with the rage(maybe whipple it), I think the heat with big power will be far out of my budget. I'm sure I'll find myself getting the 5 foot blues in a couple years and be looking to move up. But for now the 70-75mph range sound good, I'm tired of gettin passed at 55 like I was stopped hahaha.

That's what we like to hear

WHIPPLE IT!

One visit to Mr. Whipples Magic Kingdom... and you will never want it any other way!

Chris

P.S. See if you can find a Rage with a 525 in it... that will hold your attention for quite a bit longer than a 496 motor. The one thing I have learned about buying a boat... is that you should buy as much motor as you can streatch your finances to obtain when buying the boat in the first place... it is always cheaper and better in the long run.