Opinion: 45/6 Sonic or 51 Outterlimits ?
 

Was going thru my boat mag issues & came across the 1/03 issue of Power Boat magazine with the 51 OL on the cover.

After re-reading the article on the 51....with 1200 Sterlings she ran 110mph and cost $981,000.00. With a $904,201.00 base price. A very nice boat indeed.Weighs in at 16000lbs. 110mph in a boat of that substance in no small feat, quite an accomplishment.

But in reality the new 46 with 1100 Cobra's went just shy of 100mph and that was with fuel delivery problem. So guessing the problem was fixed and conditions were better, she would have topped 100. According to a board member, he has seen the 46 go over 100 and were still playing with props.

Question: If you had the money and could afford either, which would you buy and why ?

Personally, I would go with the Sonic. I cant justify almost another $500k for 10 more mph & 6 more feet of boat length & a 9'3" beam over an 8'6" beam.

If the Sonic had 1200's she would go atleast 5 more mph. We need to to find out how fast the new 46 goes after dialing in.

The Sonic was tested in 96 degree weather. The OL in 89 degree. The 40-60mph times were slightly faster on the Sonic than the OL. Grantide the Sonic is almost 5000 lbs lighter too.

Bottom line, is the OL really worth almost twice as much as a 46 Sonic. Not knocking and Not disrepsecting the OL, The Fiores build an awesome machine, just out of the price range of most individuals.

What do you guys think ?

I don't think another 200hp is going to give you 5 mph. The OL was the old lay up, with the new epoxy lay up you should see about 5-10 more mph and 2k less pounds. The cabin on the OL is just awesome, fit & finish. The Sonics is the same as our 42's. But the Sonic has a ton of bang for the buck. What I want to see is a bunch of 42's and 46's coming out running over 95 mph. Just to make sure this isn't a one off way more than the next guy is going to get boat.

If I had the coin to do either brand new I would go with the OL for two reason's. I already have a Sonic, the other the first time I rode in an OL I wasn't expecting it to ride better than my Sonic, boy was I wrong.

A OL setup like one in the mag could be had for around 800K.
This is Sonics first shot at a real big motor fast boat, and they did an awesome job but let's see what happens with the price. Remember OL's were a lot cheaper when they first came out but it takes a lot more work to make them go over 100 mph.

I haven't really done a lot of research on OL's other than all the hype. I believe in getting the most for my money and that's why I'm on my second Sonic. I can't see spending almost 2x's the $$ for the OL.

With the 400k savings of not buying the OL, you could buy a nice vacation home on the water somewhere and dock your Sonic there. :D

On the flip side, if Sonic starts to increase their prices significantyl, I think that they will begin to lose part of their niche. Sonics are very well built and you get a lot of boat for your $$.

BN thats a great plan, but what do I need two homes on the water for.:D

I would like to have one in warmer climate but that will have to wait till I retire.

Totally apples and oranges comparison folks....

How so Dano, they both say they make the finest boats on the water. Not the finest boats on the water for the money. Don't get me wrong I love my Sonic and the way the company treats you but the are both in the same basket. You don't have to get Two different magazines to read about them.

Lapse just different entities thats all. I love Sonic but they are not in the same class as OL. Now for the money etc, etc....well that is a totally different thing. To each there own...it's just not a valid comparison on it's own merits my friend.

I will go with you on that for the smaller lower power ones but when your talking the two boats we are talking about I think it's fair to compare.

If you can afford a 500K boat than you can probably do a 800K boat. Most of the time when your spending that kind of coin on a toy 300K ain't much.

Dude...we need to talk.

OL doesn't make those and I'm not promoting that product in any way. As I said before Sonic $ for $ is a damn hard boat to beat. That is why I have owned a ****load of them and currently have several of them. Investment+performance= good go-fast boat.

I don't type that fast and I'm sticky on spelling. Anyway hope this is social...what are you running? I have a couple I'm selling and I firmly believe in those boats. The issue was a comparison of a Corvette to a Ferrari...just different.

I have a 2000 42 with 5oo efi's. I love the boat but want to go about 50 MPH faster, so I am looking to buy a 42 OL with big power and 5's or 6's.

I think we have talked on the phone before about a year ago. Did you have a 02 386 with 575's for sale?

If price is no object, which is the premise on your post, why not buy the best. Period. The 51 OL is like a flying palace. Its huge, gorgeous, you know you'll have a killer paint job and it goes 110 MPH. I don't think you can set the bar much higher.

Whel this is off tabo here but how about the 50' Nor-Tech or the Hustler 444 for that range as well?? But I would do a sonic over an OL. you get the same wow factor in any big boat. (and most of the people that are in aww will call it one of them cigar boats:p :p :p :crazy: )

I think the OL will hold its value better if you turn boats farily often. I think the boats are really at two different levels in the food chain. OL, as its name implies is out there. Sonic is much more reasonable, but will not carry the same mystique or exclusivity.

Dano, good to see you on the board. Are you still selling Sonics ? After a couple of years to think about it, we should have bought that 386 from you........it would have been killer.

Lapse...nice boat dude! Got a couple 575's for sale! Lil' spruce up on the power my friend? Yup that was me now I remember...hope that 42 is working well (and yes I can understand the 42 desire). As said above check out that NorTech as well...

H20 how ya' been? Hope the lovely wife and kids are good. See from your avatar you have moved to NC? What happened with the Active? Still gonna be doing the Lake C run? Give me a shout some time...it's like the North Pole here so not much boating going on right now:eek:

I like the Nortech's but there isn't ANY 43's for sale used in my price range, and OL's a few and far between.

If I was going to make my boat faster I would go big with 6's and that would be a huge waste of $$$. Its just not worth redoing everything for something you can go out and get. I have a great boat now and for somebody that wants a turn key 70+ mph boat it's waiting for ya.

Dano, We sold our Active Thunder in October to a great couple that live in Minnesota. We are in the process of purchasing a cruiser. Yes, I did say cruiser. We have it narrowed down to a Searay 380 Sundancer, a Regal 3860 and a Formula 40PC. I just love shopping:D :D

We would love to do the Cumberland Poker Run......if someone would ask us to ride with them........I would pay for gas, etc, etc:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :D

As they sit I would probably go with the OL. But I would have to seriously think about the Sonic for 500K and investing the other 400K in more power! Maybe turbines.

Lapse...good points, something about 6's and huge power my friend. The Sonic 42 is a great boat good luck on the upgrade!

H20...well, well. That is a tempting offer...that could be a 3-400 dollar afternoon:eek: Seriously, we can get ya' hooked up down there...come on up to the Cincy one as well.

Go4Broke...naaahhhhh dat's da gas monies!

:p

Sonic no question about it.. then buy yourself a waterfront home to dock it at with the savings..