How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

I would like to get opinions on how the 26 and 31 sonics compare to the other boats out there like fountain and baja and other boat makers, are sonics up there in the tops of boats, im looking to buy my first boat this off season and would like help in my desision, my main goal is the ride, would like to find a smooth ride and a great made boat, with a little speed thanks guys, also where are some good boat dealers out there for sonics?

Re: How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

Baja & Fountains are good boats but you get more for your money with Sonic, Better standard features and better cabin space. You may be sacrificing some speed compared to fountain power-to-power. I owned a Baja as my first boat and Sonic will be next.

Re: How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

I own a 31 sonic and with 496's and it runs 74 on GPS cabin is huge, and it will take what ever the water can give it. The biggest thing is when it lands it lands soft and sturdy

Re: How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

Sonic has a bit more fit and finish quality, in my experience than Baja. Fountains are well made boats; however you pay quite a bit for the name, and the boats are always smaller than others in the class, as Fountains have a molded in beak, and integrated swim platform. (Sonic's platform is molded in and counted in the overal length too, but Fountain raids this loophole more.) Donzi also makes a fantastic boat. Their list price tends to be a bit higher though, and so does their resale on the back end.

My personal opinion: If you start off in a Baja, you are going to find yourself wanting something bigger, badder, and more unique in a relatively short time. If you start off in a Fountain, you are going to be very happy with the fit and speed of your boat, but the size just is not going to be what you want. Bite off a bigger piece than you think you can chew when you leap. It will be worth the effort. You will tend not to get 4-foot-itis (wanting a 4 foot longer boat) so quickly. Remember there is a huge difference in running a 31 twin compared to a 26 single, from insurance, to gas, to oil changes, to all other maintenance.

My first boat was a 26' Sonic with an HP500EFI. I was the third owner. Each previous owner had it for 1 season, and each of them bought 31' Sonics. I kept the 26' for 3 seasons (sold it literally 3 years to the week later), and jumped from a 26' Sonic to a 37' Active Thunder. I could have afforded the 31' Sonic or 32' Active Thunder earlier, but saved my pennies and efforts, and went big when I jumped. In the mean time, I upgraded my truck to something that would pull whatever I ended up buying.

Now, if I could get to you consider an Active Thunder for your first boat... you have no idea how amazing these boats perform. I have seen this boat in person, and it is phenominal:

Brand New 2005 28 Active Thunder

As far as dealers go, Frank Marchone at All Pro Marine is the only dealer for Active Thunder, and he has probably sold 70% of all Sonics in the past 15 years; some several times like mine. All Pro reps Sonic, AT, and Fountain. They are in Grasonville, MD, outside of Annapolis by a few miles.

All Pro Marine

If you wanted to go Donzi, there is only one place I would talk to: Offshore Performance

Don't pass up Formula either. Very nice amenities, albeit a little more geared toward performance cruising, i.e. windshields and things the wife/gf likes better.

Re: How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

Hey Sydwayz over all how did the the prowler ride and over all would it be a good starter boat i want an nice ride, im up here on the chain o lakes in chicago and it would only be used there, my back isnt the best but i want a good first boat i appericiate the response look foward to anyother info thanks

Re: How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

You would be absolutely fine on the Chain with a 26' Prowler. Its been years since I have been on the Chain, but I can attest that you will never see the limit of the 26' Sonic on the Chain. We were out once in the Chesapeake Bay and still comfortable in consistent 3-4 foot slop. When we came out to a bigger portion of the Bay, we saw 5-7s, and headed in, only because my sister's neck was getting tender. She is a pilot, and I did not want to risk her being hurt. The boat was handing the water just fine.

Check out this picture below. Its my 26' Sonic on the Potomac River, about 50mph with 4 people on board, and full of fuel. We were cruising, tabs up, and a very abrupt set of cruiser wakes happened upon us on a Poker Run. We ended up with this amazing shot from the Helicopter. We were at least 2-3 feet higher, as this shot was taken on re-entry. The boat landed very well, like a warm knife falling into soft butter. Yes, the nose is pretty high; what you don't see is that we skipped over two swells, and landed in a trough; and drove up the third swell like a sheet of plywood.

Sonic flying

http://www.offshoreonly.com/gallery/...1904osofly.jpg

Re: How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

The month after the new owner of my Sonic took delivery, in Montana, of all places, they had a freak wind storm near their house producing 6 foot waves at times, and their neighbor's son was lost for a time out on a Sea-Doo. The Sonic was the only boat that anyone was comfortable taking out in that water. They took the Sonic out and that is how they found him.

I never had a complaint about it being a rough pounding ride. The 26' Sonic is heavy boat, and will not be as fast as competition in your size range with similar power. However, the 2003 and newer hulls are now vacuum bagged with the 'infusion' process, making the hulls lighter and stronger. This has improved the top speed of the Sonics. Even that being said, the Sonic has the tendency to wave crush, rather than wave skip, (well maybe not above), but for your back, I think the Sonic would be a good choice. As for a starter boat, yes I do recommend it as well. Its tough, and forgiving, meaning you can make a few mistakes, and the boat will be there to help correct you.

Another word of caution. A lot of Sonics come with Rocket Trailers. They are crap, and I mean crap. Cheapest piece of aluminum you can put under a boat. If you can swing having a Myco trailer, or basically anything but a Rocket, I highly recommend it. I had to rebuild my Rocket from the ground up. Once I did that, it did become a nice trailer, and made a 100% event free haul from VA to MT.

Re: How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

I agree with sydwayz, except the part about the trailer. I bought a Manning for my 42 Sonic and difference in the way it trails is amazing and at a much more reasonable price than Myco. You pay for what you get, sometimes you have to pay for the name.

Re: How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

Manning are great. I could not think of any other names at the moment I was typing. My AT is on a McClain Custom Trailer out of TX.

http://www.mcclaintrailers.com/

Re: How Does Sonic Compare To Others?
 

I have a 31 sonic (it's for sale) and have owned a 20' baja and a 25 baja outlaw. I have buddies with scarabs, formulas, active thunders, and I think the sonic is the best boat for the money, ride quality, cabin space storage. I would buy a sonic over just about anything well an outerlimits would be nice but I don't have that kind of scratch.