Rough water? Sunsation?
 

Hey everyone, I'm new to this site. I'm in the research stage of buying a new to me boat. My budget is 70k. I know an open bow is the only boat my wife will approve. Boats I'm currently looking at are as follows:
Checkmate 270br
Baja Islander 277
Sunsation 288 mcob

The sunsation is the only boat that does not have a 24 degree deadrise at transom. Will the 288 ride as well as the others in 3-4 foot chop? My wife and I want a smooth ride in rough water. I know Sunsation is a much better boat in terms of overall workmanship and quality.
But how is it in the rough compared to the others? Thanks for your input!

You can find a 32 openbow Sun under the 70k mark. The 288 is 24 degree pad bottom boat. Should run better than the other 2 mentioned.

You'll need a bigger boat then 27' to 28' to get a smooth ride in 3-4'ers no matter the builder.

None of the open bows you mentioned are going to be good rough water boats, if you are set on sunsation (I wouldn't be) then for 70k a first generation dominator would be the way to go. Still won't be a great rough water boat but manageable. Sunsations are laid up light to get more speed and with the pad bottom on top of that the rough stuff just isn't where they shine. To each their own though. Good luck with your search

I've owned both the 288 & 32 over the course of the last 11 years and logged hundreds of hours in each on the lower Chesapeake Bay (call it the Atlantic Ocean) and been caught more times than I care to remember on return trips from long runs in some crazy snotty stuff, and I'm just not getting all the it's a light boat therefore equals bad ride. Tons of very large, heavy boats that run like crap in the rough (Black Thunder comes to mind). All those comments couldn't be more wrong or presumptive. Half the battle in any size/weight boat in washing machine snot is the experience, skill, and general boat handling skills of the driver. Guarantee the lower Chesapeake rough stuff trumps anything a lake (Superior in a gale aside) can dish out. Let's just say i have no problem with mine and decided against moving up a few years ago cause I'm satisfied. As with all purchase decisions between makes, go ride, use your gut instincts and "feel" test driving and you'll be able to tell.....again, experience and boat savvy plays heavy in how a boat handles.

Take a look at the 292 Islander also. My wife would only approve an open bow also but the 292 also has a decent size cuddy. My 292 Islander handles rough water at LOTO great, will hold 12 people (8 people can spread stretch out everywhere), and still hit decent speeds for a big single engine boat.

At the KY lake fun run, BigRedBaja was there with his 288 Sunny MCOB. While I was topped out at 50mph with 8 people and 120 gallons of fuel, he easily ran off and left me (65+mph I would assume with 3 people). When we tied up later that day, I realized that a 288 hull would fit inside my 292 hull (for comparison). Due to the very rough water at LOTO, I'm glad we went with size over speed.

As far as the 277 Islander, its based on the 26 Outlaw hull so it performs pretty well but... My wife and I checked out a brand new "leftover" 277 at the St. Louis boat show this year. After spending some time inside, we were both unimpressed compared to our 292.

I am still getting used to the sunny, but I had it out this weekend from the Chaboygan river to Mackinaw Island. I think about 13 miles, We hit some 3 & 4 footers, It took a bit of time to get the trim right, but when we got it dialed in we ran great at about 55 to 60 mph.

Granted Reckless driver input is needed with the Sunsation but he's asking the impossible out of that size boat if he's going constant 3-4'ers.
Not a light lay-up on the 288 considering it's a fairly small 28'r as to other 28' hulls, as is the early 32's and like most moderen hulls their balsa cored yet very capable, the 32' will supprise many in what water it will handle but he's not asking about a 32. I personally wouldn't touch a Baja liner built boat and having been in a 270 mid cabin Convincor and 288 Sunny I'd take the 28 Sunny for the rough though the Convincor is a close second.

A 29' Laveycraft is a hair smaller than a 32 Sunny and way bigger than a 288. It's less expensive and IMO is better in the rough. IMO Sunny makes the best looking boat, but Lavycraft is a better performer in the rough. If you are in constant 3-4' remember to constantly checking things, your are going have parts come loose and break more often than others in smaller water. What ever boat you decide to get, make sure you ride on it first, especially if you're gonna be in that kind of water consistently. Good Luck

You want a boat in that size that is better in rough water look sonic, active thunder, pantera or even Baja for that matter...... if top speed is the name of your game then you want sunsation, velocity, fountain.... step or pad bottom vs. An old school strait V. Even the fountains are slightly heavier the the other two mentioned. If 70k is you budget id go 32 dominator or 31 sonic, 32 fever. Plenty of running surface and the 32 dominators have nice cabins in them also. All nice boats but if your going for rough water comfort I personally would stay away from a sunsation288 and go strait to the dominator with that type of budget. Just my 2 cents good luck and they all are fun and nice boats!

a baja? dont get me wrong i own a 272 baja , i am just surprised you put that in with those other brands . i was thinking of moving to something a little better built but am undecided.

I wouldn't consider a Baja the same quality but I guess I was just saying heavier hull.

I would go with the Sunny of the ones mentioned. My buddy has a 288 and I have driven it. It handles the moderatley choppy stuff well. A totally different ride than my Velocity. I like it though. Just needs a 700SCI and an NXT drive and it would be perfect.
:boat::boat:

This would make the about the ultimate rough water setup in a boat that size. Convincor 300 with twin 496 HO's http://www.performanceboatcenter.com...sp?boat_id=575

Not sure why you would put the checkmate on the sunny forum, its a nice boat and im sure it rock and rolls. Im guessing 80+ mph. I also never thought of checkmate as a great rough water hull.

Why? Have you been in both?

powerplay j, if that question was directed towards me then yes ive bin on both. Friend of mine has a 280 checkmate single black 502 efi and ive bin one it many times and ive also had several friends with 288 sunny's and one friend with a 32 sunny. I like both brands. Prefer the sunny over the checkmate for several reasons mostley cosmetic. I live on the chesapeake bay where rough water is always one of the first issues that go fast boaters bring up when talking boats. I also never heard these two brands brought up when the ? great rough water hulls come up. Not a knock on either boat, just an observation that I made over the years. When I think of GREAT rough water hulls I personally think of well documented wave crushers. I.E. Apache, sonic, cig, and even the fountain owners seem love love there boats when it gets rough around these parts. I do think that 30 checkmate with twin ho's looks to be a great buy for someone interested in that brand. Im pretty sure it will scoot with that power also.

Just curious. I've owned both brands.

J, I could be mistaken but I believe what was once called the 28 checkmate in now called the 30 checkmate??? Maybe you being more familiar with the brand you could clear it up? That being said I certainly wouldnt consider the 30 checkmate a great rough water boat. Just wondering

My opinion is just get a ride in all of these boats. Case of beer gets a ride on mine. And personally I'm board as hell in calm water. Getting a little air under my boat is when it comes alive... And I've left a number of "faster" boats behind when it got a little snotty.

See you have a single in your 2001 Dom. Sunny as I always wondered how well a single motor would be in a 32 especially the current models. Any comments on handling, rough water ride & speed ?

I like the cabins in the current 32 's but wished they opened up the cockpit more instead of the extra swim platform room.

The 32 has a running surface 29' and a few in. Pretty close to the CM. They are both in the same league.

The boat is very impressive, bin on it several times. still kick myself in the a$$ everytime I think about the fact I let one get away. Speed with the 500 efi is low 70's any day. Not sure about rough water but I can tell you that it at my sonic and my buddies sonic for lunch everytime we all went out together. Water conditions didn't seem to matter either.

* ate

You'd be surprised what $70K can buy the right person that has spent time doing some simple Due Dilligence!
I think it's summed up here best by sonickevin95.....except I'd throw in Formula and absolutely remove Velocity!! Not that I don't like Velocity as I owned a 2004 Velocity 29OSC 29' with a 496HO and LOVED it immensely!! A Pad Bottom bottom boat is not only fun to drive ....but they are VERY safe to drive as well!! (And Lb. for Lb.......are one of the fastest Hulls out there,,,,) But if your gonna run this boat in 3-4 footers and your looking to keep the old Lady happy (and keep her teeth in her head).....I would offer the following:

29 Formula FasTech with Twin 496's or HP500's .....Plusses++WAVE CRUSHER, Nice cabin, Quality builder' Heavy Hull ....minuses- Slower vs. competition because of weight- Gauges and Dash somewhat dated looking

28 or a 32 Donzi ZX with Twin 496's or HP500's- Plusses++ see Formula avove Minuses- Ditto above


31 Sonic with same as above power. (Same Dillio as two above)
Lot's af Cabin Height and space but smaller Cockpit is sacrificed!

32 Fountain Fever with Ditto above.
Plusses++ Fast Hull-Wave RUNNER!! Nice Ride at Higher speeds comparatively..
Minuses- No Cabin space, No storage, sticks on the left, Bolsters designed for "Reggie Height Drivers"

or you can go get yourself a 32 Sunsation Dominator with Ditto the power mentioned above and get (In my Biased opinion) the Biggest bang for your buck!!
Plusses++ Fast Hull-Wave RUNNER!!.....nice ride at higher speeds (because most of the boat will be out of the water) Quality Boat builder with the BEST Management/Customer service in the industry, Big Cabin compared to the competition. Most Bling for your dollar......the Wife willl Love the room in the Cabin, ..............and ALL Sunsation Owners LOVE their boats!!
Minuses- Cockpit is slightly smaller..and Trying to find one for sale...........

Good Luck with your descision!

Thanks, I would personally throw sonic out of the window IMO. Sunsation is a much more efficient haul design and so are the others. My rpm's, fuel consumption and anything else you want to mention was always through the roof just to keep up with the pack. I was just getting on plane and the rest of my friends where 1-200 yards in front of me already. Then it was all catch up from that point on!!!! Used to drive me insane. Then someone that went to the bar on my boat would ride back on one of the other boats that went with us and rub in how much faster there boat seemed then mine!!!! When I was half in the bag at the next stop it was tough to eat.