They offer custom paint jobs as well!

hughandlinda,

Thanks (Joey too)! I'm glad the boat's running the way it should have all along.


Good luck with whichever boat you pick.

I've got a 2002, 288 with the 496HO and plain Bennett tabs. No rattles, groans, stress cracks doors banging loose, nothing, nada! Oh, excuse me...I had a set screw come loose just the other weekend in my cabin door latch mechanism. Of course I used to run with it open aggressively and typically in 2-3+ (ocean) footers for over 252 hours just since last June 26. I operate in the southern Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean. I HAVE run it in waters not fit for those weak of heart simply because I wanted to be somewhere bad enough to take it out of protected waters and cross'em. I have done this numerous times with total confidence and with passengers, along with one or two like-minded individuals in their boats. Never babied it at all, and have at times intentionally pushed the boat to find it's envelope. Rock solid for a boat it's length and weight.

To date I am thoroughly satisfied and impressed with the boat's handling, construction, trailerability, fuel economy, appearance, impressions by other people/passengers and the dollar I spent buying it. I was going to buy up to a 32 Dominator this past winter after getting caught up in a buying frenzy by friends. But I did a gut search and realized other than more speed with stock motors I wasn't going to increase my boating capability or frequency to warrant the extra expense, so I'm sticking with the 288 for another year maybe two, and possibly simply do a pro-charger for the speed later into the warranty period...

Now I know this all sounds like Sun-owner, loyalist gobblety-gook. But I'm no mfr. loyalist. Show me another boat that looks better and has the same qualities and standards of construction/product back-up for an equal or better price and I'm there bubba...That being said, Sonic's have a fine history and reputation and that's irrefutable. PERSONALLY, I simply never liked the lines/looks of the Sonic. Other than that, I couldn't hit'em and know nothing nor heard nothing of factory support.

Simply got to ride'em, compare'em, price'em and buy one of 'em and forever be satisfied with your choice...Good luck, it's tough...

Rick

Reckless288,

Well put! It all comes down to personal preference.

" and have at times intentionally pushed the boat to find it's envelope." wow...i can't help myself....ANY and i mean ANY boat can be broken!...my guess is you don't even have full hydraulic steering??...you can't even run a boat SOMEWHAT hard w/o it!!!! those bennit tabs,,i have no idea how they stay on??? my comments here have nothing to do with boat manufacture vs. manufacture, it has to do with what people look for in a ride....what they are willing to compromise, what they are willing to trade off...i think people always change their mind once they are in it though...just like you did.

O,,,cap,,,that's one simple KICK ass paint job on your boat! very cool!

Audacity
496HO stock single engine boat can be pushed without hydraulic steering. I'm not an eighty + mph boat and I don't race it (couldn't anyway with this configuration) and the envelope I spoke of is relative to not trying to break the outdrive off. So your comments are out of context, as well as the context of the post. I believe I'm speaking relative to the recreational driving community/person. Plus it's relative to the environment I run in, which for the rec-machine population, is pretty challenging.

Bennett tabs? Never seen a set broke off yet. You may have. I have not and I've seen them run hard by many different aggressive driving boaters. They've always worked pretty well for me and appreciatively I don't have to use'em much. I know they don't look sporty, but they work sufficiently for a sub-75mph, sub-30' boat...

Again I reiterate back to my previous comments of my experience with this make/model. It's a solid boat and a solid buy should one choose to purchase it...

Rick

Thanks all! I'm looking for a fast family boat! I have 2 boys ages5 & 3 and looking for a solid boat that will last and can cruise at 50 all day. I'm think either would be an excellent choice. I think a single engine boat is the most practical with little league school soccer and golf our boat time may be limited. I like the walk around on the sonic and I think the cabin is bigger on the sonic, If anyone knows of a sun owner in Fl I love to see one,
Joey you have a killer thunder, your choice is ......?

PS Great looking sun, maybe the best paint sceme I've seen

Cap071,

I had a 2000 28 Sunsation and that's my custom design. Did you buy our boat new or used. I just wanted to know if that was my boat I sold. If you bought it new - Mitch is using my design.

AC

I bought The boat used with 62 hours on it and yes it is a mitcher design graphics everyone asks about them and it shows up other 100,000 boats when it comes to quality. bought it up in brewerton Ny. Thinkin about a 32 real soon with even more crazy graphics.