26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

Im in the boat market to buy my first boat and need help, im wondering how nice the 26ft. Prowler is ride wise? Im mainly lookin for a boat to use on the chain of lakes in northern il, but due to some back problems i need to know if the 26 ft. proweler rides well, its my first new boat and would like help with this, or should i try to save and buy the 31 ss? I can buy a new 26ft prowler from a dealer in Maryland with trailer for around $66.000 so can you guys help me out and whats the best motor combos on both the boats thanks. :cool:

Re: 26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

I had a 1999 26' Prowler, with an HP500EFI, and it performed very well. I had it in 5-7 footers, and I won't say it was comfortable, but it was not scary. It rides much better than any other boat in its size class, and the cabin blows away all competition.

However, if you have the option to save up and snag a 31, I would go for the 31. The 31 is more boat than a 35 Fountain, and its definately top of its class as well.

Re: 26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

I had a 24 Baja on the chain and did fine. I never felt my boat was to small for the chain, however there were boats that were to big for that water. The 26 would be an awesome boat for the chain, the ride and cabin make it feel like a 28 footer. If you want to go to Lake Michigan occasionally I would wait and get the 31. The HP500 with ITS is the best package for the 26. low to mid 70's. With the 496HO's your looking at mid to high 60's stock and some minor bolt on's and labbed prop 70. The 31 with 496HO's will run in the mid to high 70's all day.

Re: 26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

Huge difference!! For instance the smallest recommended boat on Lake of the Ozarks is a 31' . The ride is much much smoother in a 31 in rough water or large cruiser wakes. I have had both sizes in Formula's and the 31 Fastech is incredibly different than a 25/26. The extra weight also contributes to it's ride. With back problems I would defintely go with the 31.... I also have a 31SS Sonic, so you can see where I like to ride. My wife was also a big consideration for that decision also.

Re: 26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

I called ex sonic dealer about a31 (didnt know that they didn't sell Sonic's anymore) and he said that the 2003 on with the new process is having a lot of problem with stress cracking, just wondering if that is true? You guys with the newer boats notice any cracking?

Re: 26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

i have heard that, something to do with they switched the way they where building them that year and had not perfected it i had a friend with 2003 35 and had to have glass work done but Sonic took care of it. Most stress cracks were in the cockpit not the hull, i have a 2002 31 and love it in big water, always lands softly.

Re: 26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

Save up and buy a 31 you won't be disappointed.

Re: 26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

My 2003 was custom built for me. I stood at Sonic with Jay Ross, and took pictures of mine in three pieces. The 2003 hulls were the infused or Sonics anwser to vaccum bagging, the insert and top half were Sonics conventional build up. I have had very little cracking, Sonic was more than happy to fix the problems that I had. Show me a Sonic that has no cracking on the decking. (It must be new). Remember most 26's are single engine, all 31's are twin.

Re: 26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

Genmar has the same problem. Their Vec process is crap. I have a Larson dealer on the books thats had nothing but problems. They were the first to come out with that process and Sonic and a few others followed there lead. The hull layup is more uniform and lighter, hense its stronger and by being lighter you'll go faster. The thing they elect not to mention is this allows them to speed up the production, inturn saving costs, cutting corners that type of thing. The problem is by speeding up the curing process the gel and in some cases the hull become very brittle. They've had boats stress crack in transit to the dealer. Believe it or not, they crack on the trailer. And some of those cracks go past the gel into the glass. The dealer I broker has replaced 2 boats under warranty because of this. By the sounds of it, if the customers got there way 2 would turn into 102.

From what I've Been told Genmar has a tech school just for this problem and you can now order the mat, resin, and gel out of the parts dept from your local dealer.

Re: 26 OR 31 How Big a Diffrence in Ride?
 

Like everyone said, the 26 is a great single engine boat. The 31 is a great twin engine boat. The older 31's felt like you were on rails, stayed nice and flat if it came off a wave, road nice and soft as well as it has a lot of space. And as always, unless you can walk on water, 2 engine are much better in case something was to happen to one of the engines.