28' or 32'
 

Hi all. Pretty new to the site. I have narrowed my search down to a few brands and Velocity is one of them. In your opinion, which is the better boat as far as performance, handling etc? Alot of people say that the 32 is a hand full to drive due to the pad size is the same as the 28. What do you guys think would be my best option to go with?

Where are you going to be doing most of your boating?

Do not be concerned about a 32'.

It's only a handfull until you learn to drive it properly.... and only at WOT. Tame as a kitten at cruising speeds or under 65 MPH.

I have one for sale on the swap shop with lot's of goodies.

Shoot me an email and give me your number, I can explain all the in's and outs of a 32 over the phone.

If you want a fairly large useable cabin with an enclosed head and storage (also large cockpit and engine bay... it's a BIG 32), it's the way to go.
You also won't get 2 foot-itis quite so soon.

Dave
[email protected]

I love the surfing on the pad feeling at 70 plus in my old 30 :)

I personally think the VR-1 is the best handling.... low center of gravity and good balance..... especially compared to the 290SC, which is the same hull with a taller deck.

I will do most if not all my boating on Lake Michigan. She can definately get rough at times

If your are going to be on Lake Michigan, I would go with the 32. My brother has a single engine 32, and we boat on the Chesapeake bay, wich gat get pretty nasty as well. I have never ran the boat at WOT, but cruising, it drives like a dream!

come on guys the question is 28 or 32

hands down the 280 is the best hull stepp ever put together. I've been in all of them except the VR-1. The VR-1 is a small boat compared to the 280.

I've been on the great lakes from one end to the other the 280will handle them as good as a 320. The cruise will be a little slower because it's a single but your go alot father on a tank of gas.

Don't get me wrong I love the 320 with about 1200hp it's a rocket. ( Check out 1Hyper1) 100mph and one of the fastest gettin there.

$$$ 4 $$$ buy a 280 with 600 to 750 hp, you'll run 80 to 87 and love every minute of it

that's my 2 penny's

I happen to have one just like that for sale...(shameless plug)

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o18056-en.html

I have a 280 and do 90% of my boating on Lake Michigan. I've made numerous trips from South Haven to Chicago and have even made trips over to Milwaukee and Sheboygan. I've been out in some pretty snotty weather and the 280 handles it well. The body does take a beating running at speed in 2-4's but the boat handles them fine. I've ran in a 32 before and they handle very well also.

KRUM

The 280 i'm looking at has an hp 500 in it. Does anyone know what kind of comp. ratio they have?? If I buy it, I was wanting to put a blower on it (Wieand 256) until I got a good handle on it... Then put some real power in it:cool-smiley-011: :D

I have a 1998 Mercury Racing brochure which lists the HP500 at 8.75 to 1 compression. I think a HP500 with a 256 blower will generate plenty of power for your intended use on Lake Michigan. The 280 most definitely is a great hull but when it gets rough - bigger is better. Good luck!

Hey Vicious, I am not doubting the 26/280 by no means!! I have been over 100 mph in one and never got beat up in the rough stuff! But size will always prevail. As Nadledvinka said above " the body does take a beating", and not everyone is into that!

anybody know of a 320 in the IN,IL,MI. area?? The 320 seems like a very hard boat to come by in my area. Mid to late 90's would be in my price range!!! Thanks for all the replies guys!

rev, dk good point the extra 4 feet does make a dif when your talking about any other brand.

the 280 is a much more driver friendly boat, the 320 has to be driven all the time.

I like the 320 hull but I think the 280 is a much more balanced boat.

OK, 2 Velocity boats side by side, one is a 28 footer and the other a 32 footer. You can have either one. You are backing up to latch on to one of them. Tough choice? Not really.

I have owned a 280,and currently own a 320,the 280 was and is the best balanced boat that Steve Stepp produced and with decent power pound for pound is a great boat and I would buy another in a heartbeat.The 320 that I currently own is a great boat as well but it is a boat that requires some getting used to,by that I mean you have to find the correct set up and the boat can not be under powered or it wants to fall off of the pad.With the current set up apro 1200 Hp and a set of Imco Extreme Sc drives turning 32 bravo 4 blades I will put money on it that there is not another boat of its size that will out perform it in the flat or rough water conditions,the boat runs flat and level in the rough and with the power in it it runs like a 22 on steroids,it will let the nose fly high and keep the stern planted to the water,great boat.Just my 2 cents.:cool-smiley-011:

I love my 26 TBred (28 Velocity) I just popped my 675 H.P. 509 Blown it ran 82 with that power running a 28P Hydromotive. I have a ton of fun with that. I did have a some chine walk still trying to figuer that out. FYI if anyone has info on chine walk please let me know. At any rate 26/28 is the way to go. Also a drivers boat but really nice when you dial it in. Now im Running a 572 Blown 10-71 with a chiller set up. Dyno at 900H.P. but plan on gettin a few more poneys out of it. Hope that helps a little

Sick Stinger, I am assuming the boat has full hyd. steering on it???? You need seat time on these boats to get use to them. I will probably get corrected on this, but you can/need to drive through the chine walk.

I have been in one of the quickest accelerating and fastest mph 26/280's in these parts, and trust me it had to be driven!!!!

Hey Sting,you have to drive through the chine walk,it becomes a balancing act from that point on and once you figure it out you will be running faster and smoother than ever before.:cool: Also am I hearing you correctly,you are running 900 Hp in the boat with a standard Bravo drive,you will be breaking and blowing the floors out of drives on a regular basis,that will now become your weak link but you should have enough power to drive through your chine walk,good luck.