Looking at buying a 26 Prowler
 

Just looking for some insight I am looking at buying a 26 Prowler, I have found a few different ones. One that I like has a 454 MPI Mag.. I have heard Sonic needs hp to move wondering if it would be underpowered.
thanks

If you are looking for speed, Sonic is not for you. Sonics have the rep of being slow but very comfortable. I bought a 1999 Prowler in January 2011 because I got tired of my 1996 Scarab 22, with a 454 carbed motor, beating me to death. The Prowler was a 1 owner boat with a 502 MPI MAG. Motor had 336 (ECM) hours on it. I love the ride and the layout. Did a lot of electrical work on the boat and installed a Livorsi GPS Speedo. It is a stock 502 (with a MSD ignition), Stilleto 23P 3 blade S/S prop and K-planes. My best speed with approximately 80 gallons of gas, 10 gallons of water and two people aboard is 62 MPH. That is with about 6-8 chop. Probably would be a few MPH faster with more chop.

Ed

If you're looking to handle Lake Michigan water, the Sonic IS for you.

Ed you should try a Bravo 1 4 Blade. My brother in law runs a 24 on his. Got better performance out of it.

To the original posters questions- If your going to be running the great lakes, I would suggest atleast a 31 Sonic.

Lots of people may say Sonics are slow, but thats not really the case. Compare a boat of equal size with the same power, and speeds will be pretty comparable. If anything the Sonic may be a few mph slower in calmer water, but you put the same similar size boat in bigger water- guess what, the Sonic will leave them behind.

Remember it is usually rough out more often than calm, so in the majority of times, if speed is a concern, the Sonic will hold its own. In flat water, the Sonic will be slower. Rougher conditions will always limit top end speeds, this is more so true in the smaller boats.

Sonic has more ammenities than alot of other brands, so there is a weight difference due to that. Plus they are built like a tank. If you want a good solid boat thats not gonna break apart or require you to tighten every screw on the boat everytime you come back in, then Sonic is the boat for you.

There is a brand new Unrigged 26 at Arrow Marine in N.J. PM me if you want some info.

A virgin 26 w/a 496 on e-bay right now. As far as speeds, compare the creature comforts to any other boat in it's class and you'll see where the difference lies.
Personally I think the 26's and 31's are two of the sharpest boats out there.

If you're planning on running Lake Michigan and the Bay, I would suggest looking at the 31. I think you'll find that with a 26 Prowler, you'll have to "pick" your days to go out. Anything 3' or above and you'll be wishing you went bigger! That said, we owned ours for 8 years and it was a great all around boat for what it offered in it's size range.
Steve

That 26 on ebay was listed in past weeks, bid up without reserve to 33k or so and then poof relisted.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/?cmd=...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

This is interesting as well... an accepted uship bid to move it http://www.uship.com/shipment/2006-s...ler/541491416/

Another listing for it in Oregon... http://www.usedboatshub.com/view_boa...hp?Stock=22903

Just some interesting events :flag:

Interesting........
 

I know I was following it last auction. I assumed buyer backed out.
May be another case of a car dealer taking a boat they thought they could make money on :helmet:

Small used car lot by me just got in a very clean 31' IMP that they want $40 K for! Didn't have the heart to tell the guy.

Another one has something big /w/flashy paint and triple #6's that I haven't even stopped for ;)

Mine came with a B1 22P. I got 66 MPH out of it with the OEM speedo. I may have been able to get more but I had not learned the handling characteristics of the Prowler. I did not try it with the GPS speedo and I can't think of why I did not. Brain dead. Anyway, the Stilleto 3B 23P outperformed the B1 24P I had on my Scarab 22 so I guess that is the reaon I did not go there.

What kind of speeds is he getting? Are they GPS speeds?

Ed
'99 Prowler/502
'96 Scarab 22/454 - SOLD!

Not sure on the speeds, It runs real well. I know he has had good results with the B1 24. I know he also uses a 26 or 28 depending on conditions for the day he will be riding in. The Scarab & Prowler are 2 different boats and hulls. The 26 is alot heavier.

Get ahold of Brett at BBlades, he can hook you up. They did have a prop loan program going.

I have a super clean,freshwater, 2003 26,496 mag ho,hyd steering,silent choice,just over 200 hours,on a tandem axle bunk trailer,looking for $36,900

I sold my 2001 26 prowler 496 ho with 200 hours and was IMMACULATE for 27 k. Sold in in about a month and had three people ready to buy. As far as the boat goes I liked the boat alot. Great lines, very good ride, attention to detail in my opinion was second to no other brand ive bin on. The cons of the boat were prowlers are SLOOOOOOW. The boat trimmed just right in the right conditions with a light load was a true 60 mph boat. Accasionally it could tap 62-63. Those are realistic numbers, if someone tells you 66-68 mph they are lying or they go out on a 1/4 tank of gas and alone which I dont know a soul that does that. The boat liked to porpoise also but if you know how to drive then its not a big deal. If you are boating with the big boys like I do then you will get sick of being the slowest of the bunch but you will get alot of compliments because they are pretty boats and they will take a beating and handle everything you run in.