Does anyone have any experience with large bow riders? I've looked at few and found an Azure 298 very reasonably priced. Looks nice in pics.
Any info?

HI, The Active Thunder 29 Defiant is a great boat, Performance Styling and ride, lot's of seating, check it out! Call me for more details.

http://www.dolleroffshore.com/active...7245&type=2717

I had an Azure 22 deck boat.
It was an 07 or 08.
I got it with less than 2 hours on it so it was a brand new boat still really.
Very sharp and cool design.
Family loved the layout and features.
The flip flop rear seat and huge swim platform are still missed.
I liked the Volvo dou prop drivetrain real well too.
Boat just did not seem to be built very solid.
Mine was made by Bennington (pontoons) when they owned the name and molds.
Azure has been through a few owners since.
After owning an older Chris Craft, a Powerquest, and a Regal; all were better builds and more solid.
Construction of the Azure was more along the lines of a Rinker I had.
That Rinker Captiva (2003 202) was the lightest cheapest built boat I have owned.(not to be negative too bad, just a different class of quality)
Don'y know what year you are looking, who built it, or how it was put together.
Mine probably was fine for anything I was going to do with it, but just did not see the quality of my better boats.
Take a look at the hull and through the bilge and see how it looks to you...
Good luck.
My wife says that she still misses our AZ220 and it's amenities.

Thanks for the replies. It's a 2012 so I'm not sure who built it. I think they are now owned and built by Cruisers Inc. I've been a Formula owner twice and a Fountain owner now but I'm looking for more room for a growing family of grandchildren without having to go to the dreaded pontoon!
This Azure 298 has everything were looking for and at the right price. I just don't want to sacrifice quality.

Thanks for your help.

Some love them and some hate them....We have a 36 Envision esp. They don't make them any longer. Deep, heavy boat. Not super fast. If powered with 496 Mags or HO's you can cruise 40-45. They handle water well, in particular rough water. We have had 16 adults in ours comfortable. Fits 10 very easy with plenty of room, full head, and two sleeping berths. I think a 2005 is for sale now on LOTO.

I bought a Sea Ray 270 SLX brand new in 2007. (Now called a 280) Nicely fitted boat, great boarding platform, probably one of the more expensive bow riders. Mine only had the 6.2/Bravo 3 which wasn't very fast but depends what you're looking for.

Only bad thing was rough water handling. The water where I go boating is usually pretty choppy, 2-3's on a good day, more likely 4' confused chop and a 27' boat (26' true length) is too small. Looking at so many of the similar style bow riders, they don't have a fine entry at the bow but rather a 'broader' flared bow which hits waves head on with a smack. It gives you lots of space up in the bow but really not an ocean boat. The Active Thunder mentioned above looks very different because it's an offshore style fine entry that's been modified to an open bow.

My Sea Ray was a great boat but disappointing in the rough. If I lived on a placid body of water I would have held onto it. It all depends where you play boats.

RR

just saw the formula 35 bowrider with 3 350 mercs hanging off the back .huge

Cove neighbors have a 29 Sea Ray maybe SLX. Bought new last year. Very family friendly. Pretty nice riding boat. Seems quality build too.

Check out the Advantage boats. I have a 28 Victory bowrider and had a 27 open bow. Both in the 80mph range. I have also seen their 32 in a bowrider version. Lots of room and also relatively fast. The 32 is the fastest hull that they have. Fairly easy to get to triple digits with mild power.

Been in a few Formula bowriders. Family member has a 330CBR. Really, really nice boats. Lots of $$$. But I think they offer them from 20 something feet to 35 feet.

Here's Formula's Youtube page:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQ...ivh2x7Q/videos