Hi,
I am looking into purchasing a V-bottom soon. I am in the market for a 35, 38, or 42 ft v-bottom boat. Brands i'm considering are Donzi, Fountain, Cigarette and Formula (would like something with a stepped haul). Since i don't have an unlimited budget, maintenance and repair costs is a big factor i am considering. I'm looking into 496hos, 500efi, 575sc, or 525efis. I also wouldn't rule out a reputable built "lower hp" custom motors. I am pretty new to the powerboating world so any recommendations or experiences on maintenance, life expectancy, boat brands, repair costs, etc. would be very helpful. Thanks.

353 Formula Fastech...of course I'm a bit biased but it is the best of all worlds IMO.. great cockpit room, very comfortable cabin with tons of amenities, many different power options available with tons of working room in bilge, twin step hull, great riding boat...Formula is not a speed demon but they sure are amazing rides in luxury.

If Fountain tickles your fancy, this one is a steal and an amazing boat. It is at our marina and it is pristine....great price super clean with reliable power

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...er-o68401.html


Good luck

Not enough information to even think about making a recommendation:

• Where do you boat?
• Overnighter, never stay on the boat, week-long trips?
• As above - intended use. Day boat? Poker runs? High speed trolling?
• Kids? How many people will you normally have on the boat?
• Will you trailer? Rack store? Keep it at a marina?
• Spin the wrenches yourself, or pay someone to do it?
• Most important - what is your budget? Budget and intended use are *the* most important questions to answer. Once you have that, you can start shopping. Anything else is a waste of time.

Thanks for the reply badmonkey.

Here is some addition info :

-I live in Michigan so the boat will be used in the Great Lakes and large inland lakes.
-I will occasionally stay on the boat, but cabin amenities aren't a high priority.
-The majority of my boating will be for pleasure but plan on doing a poker run or 2 a season.
-No kids but the boat will be full most of the time (5 to 6 people).
-The boat will be on a lift but it will also be trailered periodically.
-Simple maintenance (oil changes etc.) will be done by me but anything major will be done by a mechanic.

Most importantly, my budget is around $100k.

Have a good survey done on all. We've replaced 4 full transom and stringers (to the first bulkhead) on 99-04 fountains in the past year. None had sank, they simply weren't rigged correctly. No wood left at all, just mush. 2 27s, 1 29 and 1 35. Awesome running boats, and any boat is susceptible to rot, but Fountains seemed to be plagued with them lately.