Boats???

[BlackViperRam04]

Any boat owners in here? I am looking into buying a performance boat. I have been looking at Donzi, Chaparrel, and Baja boats. Do any of you guys know of any problems with any of these? Any suggestions on what to look for when purchasing one of these? I owned an 18' Flat bottom v-drive a couple years ago (with a 426 Hemi, dual quads and a solid lifter cam in it...it was NASTY...was clocked at 108mph), but have no experience with the larger V-hull boats.

 

[newmexicoviper]

I would stay away from Chaparrel & Baja there what you would call bottom of the performance ladder. Check into Advantage,Howard,Eliminator,Schiada,Ultra. Something along those lines also pick up a copy of hot boat I know a few of the editors great guys that tell it like it is.

 

[stick]

I would stay away from Chaparrel & Baja there what you would call bottom of the performance ladder. Check into Advantage,Howard,Eliminator,Schiada,Ultra. Something along those lines also pick up a copy of hot boat I know a few of the editors great guys that tell it like it is.

:dito: :dito: :dito: :dito: :dito: :dito:

 

[Black1]

How big are you looking to go? What do you want to do with it (Poker Runs, Cruising, Overnight Stays, etc.)?? What Price range? New or Used??? :dontknow:

Can't go wrong with Donzi, Welcraft (Scaraab), Fountain, Apache, and Hustler... IMO.

 

[shade]

I would stay away from Chaparrel & Baja there what you would call bottom of the performance ladder. Check into Advantage,Howard,Eliminator,Schiada,Ultra. Something along those lines also pick up a copy of hot boat I know a few of the editors great guys that tell it like it is.

Sorry but I have to disagree. I have been in the boating business for many years, I work for the largest marine dealership in the country which also sells Baja's. Frankly I would tell you if Baja's were not good boats but they are awesome boats; extremely well designed and manufactured. For the price vs hp/quality I dont think there is a better option, I have taken many trips to the manufacturing plant for Baja to see the quality vs other manufacturers. There's no comparison. JMO

If you decide to look at a boat and you have questions I can help. I am the Operations Manager for the Western US I can help you out if you would like


Sorry but the 405 Outlaw has the best feature of any boat. Look at the chair at the bow. Its a no doubt, 100% BJ chair

 

[Scrambler1]

Give us a little more info on size, $$, and speed goals. There are a ton of different options out there. Like said above, pick up an issue or two of hot boat and flip through it. Also boattest.com has some performance tests, at least give you some real numbers with whatever powerplant.

Joe

 

[eddie102870]

cant tell you about performance boats, the only one ive ever owned was a jet boat with a ford 490 in it with twin turbos had it about 6 mo.s its was like any other hotrod. take a little cash to keep it up. the newer ones are probably not as expensive to keep up being new and all.

 

[areuv]

a friend of mine owns a fountain and although I don't really know about differeces in boats, his fountain is always the nicest boat on the water, my $02:dontknow:

 

[spe_chati]

Does a 1967 37' Chris Craft count as a perfoamance boat? It has 2 engines right? I mean 22 knots is prety fast for pushing 11 tons through the water. Right. We water ski behind it with pontoons strapped to your feet.

 

[ViperTruck2933]

I used to ski behind our (Army SF) Zodiac F-470 Rubber Raiding Craft with a submersible 35 hp Evinrude, does that count? :dontknow: :dontknow: :dontknow:

 

[SinorSwim]

From the 3 you mention go with a Donzi-check out a slightly used 38'-these things depreciate faster than our trucks, however the xl 38 is a desirerable used boat-if I was buying it would be a Fountain or older Cigarette-

I would not buy a boat that has been in salt water-but you may have no choice-look for used in and around Windsor, Ontario or Detriot, Michigan-the current situation with the US Auto Industry has brought about some good deals on property and boats.

 

[eddie102870]

i agree with the salt water, id travel farther to get a fresh water boat, there's a 38 donzi on the lake here where i live and that sumbitch sounds badazzzzzz when it comes by us, my lil 20 ft crownline with a 305 has captains call exhaust and sounds good but nuthin like a donzi or cigarette. got a friend that hangs out with us has a stingray that hes had for years. also got a neighbor with a fountain that has fresh paint and motors, if your interested in a new boat, he owns a bodyshop and he is looking to get rid of it. i can find out details if you would like. its about a 28 to 20 footer. boat looks brand new with the fresh paint. all youd have to do is put on decals .

 

[newmexicoviper]

Sorry but I have to disagree. I have been in the boating business for many years, I work for the largest marine dealership in the country which also sells Baja's. Frankly I would tell you if Baja's were not good boats but they are awesome boats; extremely well designed and manufactured. For the price vs hp/quality I dont think there is a better option, I have taken many trips to the manufacturing plant for Baja to see the quality vs other manufacturers. There's no comparison. JMO

If you decide to look at a boat and you have questions I can help. I am the Operations Manager for the Western US I can help you out if you would like


Sorry but the 405 Outlaw has the best feature of any boat. Look at the chair at the bow. Its a no doubt, 100% BJ chair

Like i said low on the performance scale i thought since this is the VTCOA that we were talking about going fast like 100+, i have never seen any (what i would call fast) Baja's there not made for that, 1000+hp, big drives, and the most important part hull tech to handle the speeds nope not hapening, but i will say the cuddy cabin pic is nice maybe ill trade up and take more women for rides. But like others said you have to ask yourself how fast you wana go, how much you wana spend, And in the end how many times a year are you going to make it to the lake. Either way get wet its the season Havasu is on & cracken.

 

[Floor]

if you want it to go REALLY fast I recommend bernico. They just built a 21 footer with twin inboard of each 1000 HP. Have a look at bernico.be
He's got a high reputation in the racing world. But then again it might be too far away....

 

[shade]

Like i said low on the performance scale i thought since this is the VTCOA that we were talking about going fast like 100+, i have never seen any (what i would call fast) Baja's there not made for that, 1000+hp, big drives, and the most important part hull tech to handle the speeds nope not hapening, but i will say the cuddy cabin pic is nice maybe ill trade up and take more women for rides. But like others said you have to ask yourself how fast you wana go, how much you wana spend, And in the end how many times a year are you going to make it to the lake. Either way get wet its the season Havasu is on & cracken.

Agreed. They do have 1000+ HP though, but will not do a 100+. Damn thats sickening fast on a boat.

 

[Black1]

......... Either way get wet its the season Havasu is on & cracken.

I thought it was bad luck to mention "Cracken" on the water!

 

[Black1]

From the 3 you mention go with a Donzi-check out a slightly used 38'-these things depreciate faster than our trucks, however the xl 38 is a desirerable used boat-if I was buying it would be a Fountain or older Cigarette-

I would not buy a boat that has been in salt water-but you may have no choice-look for used in and around Windsor, Ontario or Detriot, Michigan-the current situation with the US Auto Industry has brought about some good deals on property and boats.

Although I think the Cigarettes are really overpriced (you're paying for the name).... I agree w/ Sinor here....

If your looking at something smaller, the Donzi ZXO 28 is a great little sport boat. Look for a used one w/ the "Scorpion" package. This gives you twin (Balanced and Blue printed) 377ci. Mercs...... should be good for about 80mph. :rock: And bragging rights. As they are quite rare.

I love Fountains..... and you really can't argue with their winning records.... but the damn throttles are on the wrong side of the helm! That always bothered me.

 

[spe_chati]

I own a storage facility here, and we store about 250 cars, boats, jet skis and bikes here every winter. I have a buddy that has a 22' (I think) single engine Donzi ZX with almost no hrs on it. Last year he was trying to sell it, and I think he only wanted $25-30k? Seemed like a good deal, since he paid like $45 three seasons prior. Let me know if you are interested, I can get you in touch. We are on lake Erie, so the boats are in the water here for about 4 months each year, and dry stored the rest of the year.

 

[VIPER D.N.A]

Get a tunnel hull (cat), they look so much cooler. My pops has a 33 eleminator cat w twin 502s. Very mean looking/fast boat. and you can get an open bow one know if it suits you better.

 

[Scrambler1]

One of my favorite little go fasts is the Donzi Classic 22. I have an 18 and it is a BLAST but more like a big jet ski than a boat. Tops out around 70 and is a handful. The 22 is more predictable and with a 496 will break into the mid 80's I believe. Throw a supercharger on it and some are close to 3 digits, not bad for a 22'er.

Not really a go fast but my dad has a Cobalt 28 bowrider with twin 496 mercs and breaks 70mph. Not bad for a family boat. I outrun some of the go fasts who opted for the little motors. Kind of like beating a corvette in a sedan.

Honestly for a smaller lake where the waves aren't that big a prefer a cat, for bigger water like a great lake or the ocean I like a v-hull better. Eliminator and Skater are two of mt favorite cats. Outerlimits and Cigarette are my favorite v-hulls but you could buy lots of cool shit for that kind of money. Fountains are ok, I hate that they use DECALS on the sides, ever seen one bump a dock... ouch, decal is ruined. I've looked hard at the fishing models and the fit and finish just isn't up to par with some others, especially for the price.

Joe