sonic260 vs 288 sunsation
 

Looking at the 28 sunsation with 496 HO. any comments on how the boat feels, one person told me that a sunsation is a better lake boat but the sonic is a better offshore boat, he said the sunsation will have more rattles than the sonic, having a solid boat is very important to me, and I boat Ft Lauderdale mostly down to the Keys. I would like feed back from you sun guys I've spoke with Dave & Joe but looking for input from owners

Thanks :)

Both are very solid boats. The Sonic has more cabbin space, freeboard and an enclosed head. Best bet is to go take a test drive in both. Personally if I could afford it I woud have a Sonic 358 the 25 degree V cuts through some heavy stuff.

I have a 2001 260 Prowler with a 496 HO and love it. As turbo2256 said, it has a really nice cabin for the size boat. Don't know much about the Sunsation (never owned or been in one), but the Sonic is a very solid (heavy) boat and handles crappy water really well.

I recently repropped my with a labbed 24B1 and depending on the load, am close to 70 on the GPS.

You can also get some really neat and unique graphics.

i must say that is ONE sweet look'n ride! it DOESN'T look like a small boat either!...down there,,,,my vote would be.....

I have found the cabin in the 28 Sonic and up great for me in that I tend to be clostrfobic (sp) at times. If I ran alot in blue water Sonic would be my choice. Sorry Dave and Joe if your there.

"porpose up and down all the time"...that's not a great statement! so at any speed, at any trim angle, any wave/wind condition...i don't think so!...hurry call sonic and tell them how you can fix all their problems...

ps...i do like the sun boats a lot...they make a cool boat! aside from that they are cool to work with!

Funny when I have seen eveyone else having a rough ride bobbing and bouncing along here comes a Sonic cutting right through the stuff like a freight train on rails. Not to say there the ultimite but ........ tabs are standard on that boat for a reason.

thanks for the comments, I know from this forum that both Wayne and Jay Ross are great boat guys, Im leaning toward Sonic because they are in my backyard, but the Sun is the best looking boat in that size. :p :p

sonicdude, your boat looks great good to see your speeds are up, I saw you were having trouble earlier:cool:

I love my 2000 28 sunstion. 100% stock with 415 HP. 502 mag it does 70 MPH with 2 people and 1/2 tank gas and yes I have had it offshore up here in NJ where the waters seem rougher than any I have seen down in keys. honestly take them both for a test ride. both are great boats I looked at the 26 prowlers also but chose a sunsation Just liked it better ride, comfort all around :D

They offer custom paint jobs as well! :cool:

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
:D

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.:p

AC where are you from ? ever in penns landing area? :D

I'm not going to give an opinion...how about some facts.

"496HO stock single engine boat can be pushed without hydraulic steering. I'm not an eighty + mph boat" HOW?? i think you may have "pussing the envolpe and reckless confused ....hmmmm...take a look at the average speed of a F1 boat...nowhere near even the speed your boat can run. personally I would never purchase a boat with out quality steering...at the very min have a single ram ass...this would offer a large safety factor. having a salt water boat I would look for DETAILS...my opinion would be go visit both co.'s and go take some rides...the more you do this the more educated you will get!!....you may see stuff you want to combine in a boat that 3 different builders do but none that incorporate all 3!

32 Dominator 500 EFI single screw
 

Looking for 75mph+ single screw, look no more!!!
Have 32 Dominator 500 EFI ( 2003) single for sale.Options include, Merc ITS extension box (7" setback w/full hyd. Ext. steering).XR Bravo 1 Drive,K-planes w/mec. indicators, dual batts, raised color match bezels, McLeod interior, 4" stainless exhaust, Depth finder,compass, Gil sea strainer, swim ladder, transom shower, Sony total sound w/sub 800 watts w/10 disc changer, drive shower, labbed finished prop, upgraded graphics(purple & yellow) fresh water flush w/valve,and a full custom cover.also included is a tri axle alum. trailer W/disc brakes and torsion axles.Never in saltwater only 20 hours. Pending divorce, need to sell now, $80,000.00 OBO. Call (863)528-2757 any time!! Under
factory warranty until december.

sounds like a kick ass ride!!...there you have it...someone that has an idea about what an offshore boat should be!!!...this thing would be a blast!

Single - put a picture on... Sounds like a sweet deal and it may just be right for for some boaters looking to move up

...take a look at the average speed of a F1 boat...nowhere near even the speed your boat can run. personally I would never purchase a boat with out quality steering...

Excellent! I run faster than the F-1 race dudes!!! And I do it using the highly unstable, unsafe, standard steering systems!! I'm calling the lawyers now to sue all mfr's for hap-hazardly installing these god-awful killing machines.....:rolleyes:

Single-32
Sounds like a nice rig. If I could I'd jump all over it at that price. I know someone who's looking so I'll forward your post right now...Good luck

funny...you just don't get it...looks like i need to spell it out!...average speed of the WINNER at the Cape race for F1 was 48.6MPH!!! i would hope your boat, in its ideal conditions, could go that fast?....the carnage after that race was incredible! ...you opened up the can by saying how hard you push the envolpe!...i guess if your name was tres martin i could understand the statement.

Dude, no you don't get it. Don't be so delicate. IN THE CONTEXT OF RECREATIONAL BOATING (this is getting tiresome) my comments were meant to be consumed. If you feel my "pushed the envelope" statement means little ole me has been crossing the threshold by which Sunsation and Mercruiser should set the standards by, well then...............well then that's simply the way it'll be I guess...

Also I understand F-1 speeds (duh!) due to the nature of the course and traffic. I was only trying to stick a plug in the opening provided for a little hoot...

Otherwise, I stand by what I said and this boat (conventional steering & all) passes a pretty good test thus far for construction and sturdiness. And I still don't like the looks of the Sonics. Just my own humble opinion, that's all. That's why we all own different boats, houses, and cars, etc., etc...

Rick

Cap071,

The graphics on your boat is my design, when had my 28 Sunsation built I had Mitch put my design on the boat. He must of saved the template and used it on your Sunsation.

What size engine is in your Sunsation. I live right outside Philly in Springfield Pa originally from Philly. I have my Cigarette on the Chesapeake. Where do you boat?

AC

My boat has the 502 mag I looked at 5 before this 1 but all had 454's I boat on the del. are you ever in the penns landing area?

I have a 97 Sunsation with conventional bottom up here in Debary, FL, with twin 550hp which runs around 90. You are more then welcome to see and take for a ride. I have always liked Sonics as well for their durability, looks and cabin room, so I would never put them down. You really need to weigh out what type of boating you will be doing, location for service and more importantly history of service rendered from the manufacturer. I purchased this one used and all I can say is that they have been more then helpful, although it has only been for technical questions since I do all work myself. But, you truly need to see what fits your needs and definitely take for a ride.

I have 3 good friends locally with Sunsations, a 288 with 800HP blower motor, a 288 with 454/whipple, and a 25 with a 600+HP 502.

The Sunsation is an awesome boat. I really like design, and craftsmanship, and in some aspects they are better than my 26' Sonic. However, given the water you want to ride in, I would recommend the Sonic. My 26' has the HP500EFI, and it is pretty well darn bulletproof. I have Bennet tabs, on mine too, but I wish I had K-planes, just for more versatility.

Two weeks ago, we took a ride in consistant 3-4 footers, back to the trailers from Fairview Beach, on the Potomac. It was unreal water for the Potomac. I ran side by side with the 288 with the 454/Whipple, and he only walked me because he had more HP (prick, JK, LOL). Both boats handled the water AWESOME. We had the throttles WFO, or close, for over 5 miles. I do not think the Sunsation will let you down, but I think the Sonic may serve you better, and you definately have to weigh in that you have the best place for Sonic service, in your back yard.

Always on the Chesapeake bay/ CD canal. If you ever decide to make a run down we can meet at Schaffer's/Chesapeake Inn?

AC
:D

Well put Brian. The backyard aspect could be the main deciding factor for these folks. As I had mentioned before, the Sonic rep is irrefutable as is Sunsation's growing notriety. It boils down to particular taste and which dealer belly's up to the best deal, after all, money is an important aspect of buying...isn't it??....;)

Rick

Hopefully out cutting a killer deal with somebody....:D :cool:

Rick
www.littlecreekregatta.org
www.HRPA.homestead.com/homepage.html
www.hrpba.topcities.com/hrpba.html

I have been stuck at work, we have had rain 14 days in a row, that might be a record for FT. Lauderdale. I'm taking a trip to Orlando to look at the 32 sunsation has 20hrs with a 500efi if that doesn't work out I'll go with the sonic. I like the freeboard, the walkaround, the cooler, and that they are local.
I'll get mine with a 496HO xz drive, transom shower , a pump out head, capt call, smartcraft gauges and no paint
Possible steering? maybe single ram. I'll keep you guys posted:D

Thanks for all the input!!! Crongrats to Joey, I was watching speed vision and there Joey wins the F2 races in Daytona! As for my needs I have a wife and 2 boys ages 5 & 3 so I'm not out running real hard alot I don't know if I need external sterring? I think bennet tabs will be fine. we want a boat that can take us down to the keys cruising at 50. Thanks again for all your help:D

hey,,thanks!...don't get the xr drive! you will not need it...put the money into the steering and then go with k planes...i'm not even sure sonic will build a boat with bennets!....a smaller boat with the hydrulic steering and k-planes will always be a better setup and handle water better than a larger one w/o...drive a boat with and then w/o!! hydrulic steering and good tabs r expensive to do after the fact....02 are these are VERY basic needs if you are going to be in your area...i have spent a TON of time there!!! keep us posted bro!

Hope this works I went local