I'm looking for a nice trailer boat to run on Lake Michigan along the west MI shoreline, and I'm wondering if there are any big advantages with the Nova II over the Nova XL 23. The wife and I plan to do an occassional overnight and the boat will be kept on the trailer and garaged (we live 3 minutes from the launch). We won't be doing any long trips and if it's fairly rough, we'll just stay home. I really don't want the added hassle and expense of two engines, so I'm leaning toward a 350 or 454 in the 23 and a single 454 in the Nova. If anyone has experience with the late 80s 27ft Mach 1 and how it might compare to the Novas, I'd really like to hear about it.

Thanks!

for what its worth I had a 26 nova II and the guy that bought it sold a Mach 1 to get it. It's getting harder and harder to find these older boats in decent condition. Never been on a 23 but the 26 was tight sleeping quarters so I can't imagine the 23 would be to comfy. I would go with a twin if your on lake Mi most of the time. The stock 350's were pretty much bullet proof and maintenace was very low, if you can find one well taken care of. They were real easy on gas as well

Spent my formative boating years on a 26 NovaII, nice solid boat if you can find one in good shape.

I've been looking for a boat for our lakes here in NZ. I finally settled on a Nova 230XL. Some, mine included come with a water tank and sink in the cuddy. My criteria were: Must look good, sleep two, be able to over night on it for two people, be able to handle a reasonably choppy lake.

The one I have purchased will arrive in NZ this month. I found a very nice 1985 boat on a aluminium trailer. The plan is to rip out the 350 Indmar Vortec engine / Alpha One and bracket an outboard on the transom. This will give us more internal volume and make it more suitable to trout fish from with a kicker motor. I have also purchased a nice Johnson 300hp V8 which will go on the bracket. I will have a "camper" covers fitted which will make it more suitable for overnighting.

From my perspective the 23ft Nova will do all I want to do and is more user friendly from a parking /storage perspective.

Good luck with your purchase. If you decide to go with a 230XL I can put you onto a very nice one that is for sale in your end of the country. Drop me a PM.

Why not a Nova Spyder ? Nice boat in all.