Hard Charger
New member
Where does Sonic rank on the spectrum of performance boats? I have a 28' and love it. I run it in the Albemarle Sound and Atlantic where its always choppy or rough.
Headlines
Sonic Boats
- Thread starter Hard Charger
- Start date
Top Banana
Icon/Founding Member
The Sonic 42 is really my old 38 Banana Boat.
Check out the Why is the Apache so great thread.....or go to the website at www.bananaboatco.com
Started as 38 banana race boat called Top Banana. Then Coyotes were made out of the same mold in both 38 and 34 foot sizes, then molds were sold to Sonic.
It took Cigarette 2 years of hard work to get the 38 Top Gun (Ajac Hawk) to beat my hull design. That bottom is a great rough water bottom.
Check out the Why is the Apache so great thread.....or go to the website at www.bananaboatco.com
Started as 38 banana race boat called Top Banana. Then Coyotes were made out of the same mold in both 38 and 34 foot sizes, then molds were sold to Sonic.
It took Cigarette 2 years of hard work to get the 38 Top Gun (Ajac Hawk) to beat my hull design. That bottom is a great rough water bottom.
Fever Mike
Charter Member
I always considered Sonic to be a very well built higher end boat. They just do not have the race heritage as other brands.
I used to get upset when people thought my boat was a Sonic. I actually looked @ Sonic before I found New Moon, my 28AT. They are a large solid hull, with a comfortable cabin and nice lines. Well built and rigged...Tough to make a hull like that go fast, but a nice ride in the rough. The 42 & 45 I see on the St.Lawrence River ride the 2-3's quite well.
Hard Charger
New member
It seems AT and Sonic are very similar hull and quality. Or is AT considered an upgraded Sonic like an Escalade to a Tahoe.
45Sonic
Charter Member
Hard Charger
New member
Yeah that hurt me as well being that I own a Sonic. Let me re-phrase that analogy. Is AT and Sonic more like a Tahoe is to Yukon.
Jassman
Charter Member
No, totally two different boats, and I like both for different reasons in their marketplace. The Sonic has a higher deck line which yeilds more headroom in the cabin. The 38' Sonic is also non-stepped, which rides great in the ruff stuff, but not quite as good as the 37 A.T... A.T. is more customized, uses different materials in their lamination schedule. It is a good value for what you are paying....I've owned a 03-37 A.T and a 00-42 SS...But my last 3 boats have been an 04, 07, and now a 08 43 Nor-Tech.
Madcow
Charter Member
Sydwayz
Charter Member
You would need the companies to be sister companies or under one leadership to make the Chevrolet/GMC analogy. As such, that analogy does not make sense.
Management between both companies has always been pretty friendly. But that's pretty much where things end. Pat, the owner of AT has a separate business that does some painting for Sonic. Also, there is some joint marketing going on with the 33AT as a 34 Sonic OB model for overseas, however its just marketing at this point.
Sonic's best business as of the past few years has been the Dakota line of Center Consoles which now bear the Sonic name; all under CSI Marine. Years ago, Sonic's main market was somewhat of a cookie cutter production boat, similar to the Baja line. Options were few, and dealers use to stock them. Now Sonics are built a little more custom, and you don't see dealers stocking them as they are almost all sold Factory Direct. Jay Ross left Sonic several years ago, and went intp the tobacco industry. He built the best Sonics hands down. Sonic under the following leadership basically went all downhill. Now that Sonic is under CSI Marine, they have new direction, and some great boats; again. Lenny Noble is in charge of all sales and marketing, and is a genuine gentleman.
Jay re-entered the marine industry for a while with Active Thunder, but he has since gone into a new business venture outside of the marine industry.
Active Thunder is alive and well under Pat, as always. Boats are still being built and the factory doors are open everyday. Active Thunder boats are all sold and built factory direct; and completely custom. You can basically chose just about anything you like for/on the boat. Even though the untrained eye may think the Sonics and ATs look alike; the only similarity is the walk rail; which is actually quite different on both boats.
That about sums it up.
Hard Charger
New member
Brian and all thanks for your input. Without these sites you would never get all of this great info.
Macklin
Charter Member
Not really because the AT molds were cut LONG before Jay started work there.
Sydways, get off your high horse man!
You have to admit the 28 AT looks almost identical to the Sonic. (Not so for the 33 or 37.) I do agree with you that AT builds a better boat. :sifone:
Smitty1035
Charter Member
I've got an 04 35 and when it gets rough on the Bay and the Fountains turn around the Sonic is perfect.
SONIC WATER BABY!!!
SONIC WATER BABY!!!
ActiveThunder
Sponsor
I can honestly say the paint and graphics quality is equal on the Active Thunders and the newer Sonics!
clayinaustin
Charter Member
Jassman
Charter Member
:nopity::bump:
Sydwayz
Charter Member
Sydways, get off your high horse man!
High horse? My first boat was a Sonic; built by Jay Ross. I loved that boat. I remember informally racing a 25' Baja Outlaw with similar power back to the ramp on the Potomac River years ago. The Baja was pulling me in the flat water of Mattawoman Creek, but once we got to the channel crossing the Potomac, I kept it on the dash and he was no where to be seen.
I sold the boat to a great couple in MONTANA, who still have it. They put a Whipple on the 500EFI a couple seasons later, to get the speeds back at altitude.
A short time after I sold the boat to them, a very bad storm blew onto their lake. Their neighbor's son was out on a Sea-Poo PWC at the time; and he was no where to be seen. They only boat that could take the rough water (4-6s) on the lake was the Sonic, and they went out to find him. Come to find out the Sea-Poo's hatch cracked open, and was going down. No one is sure what would have happened to the boy had the Sonic not been able to go out that day, but Jim told me the boat was priceless to him after that afternoon. True story.
Attachments
Sydwayz
Charter Member
Not under the Sonic name, but the molds were originally Coyote, and the boats were a strong force to be reckoned with way back in the day. There was also a P-class 358 Sonic a few years ago out of NJ that did very well on the circuit; won at least one championship.
Similar threads
