Researching Center Consoles - need suggestions

[BillR]

I am seriously thinking of getting a center console, because I hear they are easier to maintain and easier on gas. But I wonder if what I want exists.
Here is what I would like:

Looking for 32 - 36 foot
Not looking to fish from it at all!
twin engines
needs to run 70 - 75
Want it to look more like a go fast boat - graphics, bolsters, Livorsi gauges as well as smart craft
Needs to have a vacuflush or similar - no porta chitter
Needs to have a good solid ride.
Don't want to spend alot on it - 100K (ish)
New or lightly used
I just want a boat that is EASY to care for and is ultra reliable.
2 stroke or 4 stroke and why?


Love the looks of Concept - heard good/bad things about them - would love to learn more
Drove a 32 Donzi ZF w/ 300 verados - rode nice, but was set up more as a fish boat, and would only hit 65.
Looked at 32 Sonic, nice set up, but I think it was over priced
Looked at Glasstream, seemed cheap

Need to check out Fountain them out.
Spectre wasn't at Miami show - need to check

Deep Impact, Midnight Express, Cigarette, Nortech - more than I want to spend.

What should I look for? Are my expectations too high?
Those of you that have CC; do you like them? How do they handle snotty (confused) water?

Looking for detailed advice and suggestions. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sunsation96]

Great topic Bill, my Favorite CC is the Scarab Sport but they do have a floor rot issue on most. As far as newer CC the Fountian CC does have a very nice look to it. Love the lines of the Fountain CC which is crazy because I do not like the look of thier regular boats too much. Keep us posted with what you find out.

 

[Indy]

Probably my next boat too, I'll be interested in the responses.

 

[xlr8by]

Bill,
I might upset some with what I am going to say, but first off the boat you are looking for will be difficult to find. I was in a similar situation to yourself I bought a 30' Scarab Center Console new back in 2007 because I didn't want a go fast but I was looking for space, reliability etc. I never once went fishing, and the Yamaha 4-strokes were great motors (250hp each), and the boat would hit 60 under ideal conditions. I just upgraded to a Top Gun though for a couple reasons. If you are going to be running in the Ocean, with more then a couple people the center console makes things tough. The open bow is useless once the waves start kicking up, and the back seat is so far back on the boat and uncomfortable that you spend all your time wishing for a nice bench with some grab rails. A CC is great to cruise around the back bays or take a blast down the coast in calm water though. Regarding graphics just have the boat wrapped in Vinyl and call it a day for a few seasons. Deep Impact, Midnight Express, Cigarette, Nortech, would have probably addressed all my issues, but it is much easier/cheaper to just buy a used Go Fast than to purchase one of these IMO. My 2007 Scarab is for sale from the dealer I bought my Top Gun for $75k and has 88 hrs on it, if you are interested PM me (I do not have any interest in the boat anymore, just would like to see it go to a good home). As an aside make sure you get a CC with Livorsi controls it really cleans up the look of the boat. Also, I thought a CC would be easier to clean, but I was just as anal as I have been about any of my prior boats. Having a full cover would have helped, but the prices I was getting to have one made were crazy. I might miss my CC after running the Gun this season, I will find out soon.

 

[BillR]

Bill,
I might upset some with what I am going to say, but first off the boat you are looking for will be difficult to find. I was in a similar situation to yourself I bought a 30' Scarab Center Console new back in 2007 because I didn't want a go fast but I was looking for space, reliability etc. I never once went fishing, and the Yamaha 4-strokes were great motors (250hp each), and the boat would hit 60 under ideal conditions. I just upgraded to a Top Gun though for a couple reasons. If you are going to be running in the Ocean, with more then a couple people the center console makes things tough. The open bow is useless once the waves start kicking up, and the back seat is so far back on the boat and uncomfortable that you spend all your time wishing for a nice bench with some grab rails. A CC is great to cruise around the back bays or take a blast down the coast in calm water though. Regarding graphics just have the boat wrapped in Vinyl and call it a day for a few seasons. Deep Impact, Midnight Express, Cigarette, Nortech, would have probably addressed all my issues, but it is much easier/cheaper to just buy a used Go Fast than to purchase one of these IMO. My 2007 Scarab is for sale from the dealer I bought my Top Gun for $75k and has 88 hrs on it, if you are interested PM me (I do not have any interest in the boat anymore, just would like to see it go to a good home). As an aside make sure you get a CC with Livorsi controls it really cleans up the look of the boat. Also, I thought a CC would be easier to clean, but I was just as anal as I have been about any of my prior boats. Having a full cover would have helped, but the prices I was getting to have one made were crazy. I might miss my CC after running the Gun this season, I will find out soon.

I hear ya, but there are additional reasons for getting a CC. I am as anal as they come for maintenance. My back is really getting bad and I am a big boy too! Trying to crawl into the bilge to keep spotless and crawling over the motors hurts! Plus I literally keep my boat looking LIKE new, and it is just too much work. I wash and dry the entire boat EVERYTIME it gets run. I am thinking the center console will be much less work. Spray / mop out inside, quick wash and good flush - should cut my cleaning time by LOTS!!!

 

[TxHawk]

The speed you are looking for with twins is going to be hard I think. I have a little experience in the 34 and 38 Fountains. The 34 with 3x250's is a 65MPH boat. The 38 with 3x300's is a 73-74 MPH Boat. The 38 feels a lot bigger than 4 feet. My friends that have them might have fished out of them once. The use them as performance boats. I think the best upgrade is another stand up bench right behind the driver bench.

 

[catastrophe]

Ride in it YOURSELF to confirm the speed.

 

[OldSchool]

Check your PM's Bill!!! :cheers2:

 

[Steve 1]

Jack/Jaguar usually has one around if you like Cats.

 

[elvisali]

I hear ya, but there are additional reasons for getting a CC. I am as anal as they come for maintenance. My back is really getting bad and I am a big boy too! Trying to crawl into the bilge to keep spotless and crawling over the motors hurts! Plus I literally keep my boat looking LIKE new, and it is just too much work. I wash and dry the entire boat EVERYTIME it gets run. I am thinking the center console will be much less work. Spray / mop out inside, quick wash and good flush - should cut my cleaning time by LOTS!!!

I went through this same decesion process last year. Had the 24' Superboat, loved it, but we were outgrowing it. We knew wanted something in the 30' range, that was also easily trailerable.

I started out looking at Contenders, Regulators, etc, but they werent fast enough ( I wanted 75 + minimum)

I looked at a few concepts, and liked the boat, but as you mentioned...reviews ranged from 'great' to 'cant wait to sell it'. I did look at some Fountains, but with the condition of the company at the time, was a little leary, and you really needed trips to make it run at the higher speed ends. I also didnt need a 'fishing machine', I just wanted a nice mix of speed for me, and space for the family. And all the above were heavy boats, trailering was doable, but not without beefing up the truck a little

I ultimately went with the 30' Superboat CC. Its a new model, so only a few out there, with twins, we expect 80+. It wont have all the little amenities you would want, but if you are willing to take some trade offs, could be an option

Here is a pic of mine...

 

[BillR]

I went through this same decesion process last year. Had the 24' Superboat, loved it, but we were outgrowing it. We knew wanted something in the 30' range, that was also easily trailerable.

I started out looking at Contenders, Regulators, etc, but they werent fast enough ( I wanted 75 + minimum)

I looked at a few concepts, and liked the boat, but as you mentioned...reviews ranged from 'great' to 'cant wait to sell it'. I did look at some Fountains, but with the condition of the company at the time, was a little leary, and you really needed trips to make it run at the higher speed ends. I also didnt need a 'fishing machine', I just wanted a nice mix of speed for me, and space for the family. And all the above were heavy boats, trailering was doable, but not without beefing up the truck a little

I ultimately went with the 30' Superboat CC. Its a new model, so only a few out there, with twins, we expect 80+. It wont have all the little amenities you would want, but if you are willing to take some trade offs, could be an option

Here is a pic of mine...

Looks nice - any inside pics?

 

[elvisali]

Looks nice - any inside pics?

Some taken from day of delivery

 

[G. Faulk]

I started with a 32 Concept twin 250 Verados, never ran over 67mph. Great starter CC, now I have a 08 38 ZFO open Donzi triple 300 verados. Great boat, runs 71mph in Miami, 72 in Lake Havasu. When it was built I had Donzi do 14 custom changes to the boat. They were able to pull off 12. Now that Craig Barrie is running the show you can for the right price do alot of custom changes. My Donzi I had put just enough fish crap in it to sell in the fishing market, but enough customs to make it feel like a performance boat. I will never fish from it. I have two rows of bolster seating, custom built back seat and the up front area in 2 to 3s you can sit up there just fine. My Donzi sits 12 very comfortable with plenty of room. We had 17 people in it one day and it would still run 68mph. It has a toilet that pumps out, never used it. If you get a Windlass anchor don't get one that sits on the top front of the nose, make it flush with the lower front nose of the boat. I keep my boat very very clean. I've Had Nortech Skater and some other similar boats that I kept very very clean. Cleaning these boats compared to a CC aint no different. It still takes a day and 3 people to really keep it looking new. Do yourself a favor ride in alot and go right to the top when you buy. Nortech Donzi Cig Fountain Midnight Deep Impact, one of these you will not go wrong. Out of all mentioned, if you have the money do the new Nortech. That Terry Sobo guy is a horrible salesman:bump: but what a great boat. And another thing I would stick with the Merc 300 Verados, I've ran the **** out of those things and had 0 issues.

 

[JupiterSunsation]

I went through this same decesion process last year. Had the 24' Superboat, loved it, but we were outgrowing it. We knew wanted something in the 30' range, that was also easily trailerable.

I started out looking at Contenders, Regulators, etc, but they werent fast enough ( I wanted 75 + minimum)

I looked at a few concepts, and liked the boat, but as you mentioned...reviews ranged from 'great' to 'cant wait to sell it'. I did look at some Fountains, but with the condition of the company at the time, was a little leary, and you really needed trips to make it run at the higher speed ends. I also didnt need a 'fishing machine', I just wanted a nice mix of speed for me, and space for the family. And all the above were heavy boats, trailering was doable, but not without beefing up the truck a little

I ultimately went with the 30' Superboat CC. Its a new model, so only a few out there, with twins, we expect 80+. It wont have all the little amenities you would want, but if you are willing to take some trade offs, could be an option

Here is a pic of mine...

Very sleek looking rig!

 

[Seafordguy]

I assume there are no Top Fishes in that price range yet?

Have you sold the Gun yet?

 

[Tom A.]

The 30 Superboat is a great running boat but with a 7' beam I think would be very limited in space for what Bill is looking for. The best boat in my opinion would be the Donzi 35 ZFX. I am not sure what it would run with a pair of 350s but it would be fairly quick. It also offers the outside wet bar, j shaped seating in front of the cc and a useable cabin.

 

[elvisali]

The 30 Superboat is a great running boat but with a 7' beam I think would be very limited in space for what Bill is looking for. The best boat in my opinion would be the Donzi 35 ZFX. I am not sure what it would run with a pair of 350s but it would be fairly quick. It also offers the outside wet bar, j shaped seating in front of the cc and a useable cabin.

I like that forward bench, pretty nice set up

 

[JupiterSunsation]

The 30 Superboat is a great running boat but with a 7' beam I think would be very limited in space for what Bill is looking for. The best boat in my opinion would be the Donzi 35 ZFX. I am not sure what it would run with a pair of 350s but it would be fairly quick. It also offers the outside wet bar, j shaped seating in front of the cc and a useable cabin.

I thought the Yamaha's were real heavy and hard on gear cases so the performance boats don't come with them.......

Bill,

This may be a little slow but a nice piece anyway: http://yachtauctions.com/listing.php?vessel=4865
38 Jupiter- Might get closer to the speed you wish for with a new pair of 350's

On a different note, I saw a quad engine 41 Venture scream out the Jupiter Inlet today. Boat looked and sounded great. I believe it had quad Verado 300's, I couldn't tell for sure since it was going so fast but the motors were black!

 

[BRD]

I went through this same decesion process last year. Had the 24' Superboat, loved it, but we were outgrowing it. We knew wanted something in the 30' range, that was also easily trailerable.

I started out looking at Contenders, Regulators, etc, but they werent fast enough ( I wanted 75 + minimum)

I looked at a few concepts, and liked the boat, but as you mentioned...reviews ranged from 'great' to 'cant wait to sell it'. I did look at some Fountains, but with the condition of the company at the time, was a little leary, and you really needed trips to make it run at the higher speed ends. I also didnt need a 'fishing machine', I just wanted a nice mix of speed for me, and space for the family. And all the above were heavy boats, trailering was doable, but not without beefing up the truck a little

I ultimately went with the 30' Superboat CC. Its a new model, so only a few out there, with twins, we expect 80+. It wont have all the little amenities you would want, but if you are willing to take some trade offs, could be an option

Here is a pic of mine...

beautiful ! :sifone:

 

[Not Right]

here are my choices for ya Bill, congrats on the sale, Intrepid 323, Donzi 35, Jupiter 31, Powerplay 33/Latitude 35

Never been in any of them but I think they all would be the quality you are looking for, what about Billys yellow 38 Donzi?