What year?

speedfreak2030

New member
What year did Cigarette go to a notched transom and step hull. Also what was the last year for a Cafe. What I am looking for is a fast hull that can take the pounding of lake Huron in Canada which is one huge lake(mini freshwater ocean) Anynoe have a boat for sale under 50-60k without power?
 
The T/S boats started in 2000. You could get a straight bottom or T/S in this year. On the notch transom's is depends on which boat your talking about.
 
The last year for the Cafe's were 1996, but they are few and far between. There has been discussion over one 1997 I believe. They changed the cabin layout "around" 1990 - There are some 89 and 90 boats with either cabin, it just depends on when they went out the factory door.

I just learned (thanks to General Lee) there are a FEW notched transom Cafe's; EARLY models. I believe most guns are notched, but again, there are some that are NOT notched.

Most people aren't cross shopping Twin Step boats and Flat bottom boats due to budgetary constraints. There is a T/S playboy hull with 496's that just popped up for sale for 80k. I believe it is the subject of another post in the CIG section but I have no first hand knowledge of the boat.
 
I'd be looking for a Twin Step without power, if I were in your position.

Seafordguy is dead on, on the timeframes.

If you can't find a TS within your price, go for a LATE 90's model Top Gun. They started vacuum bagging their hulls around that time, so you'll have the lightest, and strongest straight bottom Gun.

The TS will BY FAR be the best option for what you want. You will have a fast boat, that can run the rough water. For what you want, I'd probably stay away from the 35TS boats. Only because they aren't designed for big power, and they don't carry the bow high enough to handle the rough near as well as the Top Guns. The 35TS also does not have a notched transom, and aren't as fast of a hull as the 38TS.
 
, I'd probably stay away from the 35TS boats. Only because they aren't designed for big power, and they don't carry the bow high enough to handle the rough near as well as the Top Guns. The 35TS also does not have a notched transom, and aren't as fast of a hull as the 38TS.
Interesting comment, I owned the 1st 2001 Play Boy Cig built, I did 7-8 poker runs with Stu and could out accelerate TS Bravo Top Gun’s even if they had 575’s. A lot of this had to do with the fact that the 35 hull did run a lot flatter and accelerated quicker allowing you to get back on the throttles much quicker when running in rougher water. I also had Tres set up the boat and put some different props on that helped.

Cig built a Play Boy to have 750’s Cobra/Bravos XR installed, when they went to put the the motors in there was not enough clearance for the engines, later the boat was fitted with 500 EFI’s.

Tres did put some big power in a 35 Top Gun straight hull with #5’s.

Biggest water I had my boat out in was 8 footers, boat did fine but if you run big water all the time get a gun or tiger.

The 35's are not holding their value as well as the 38's, new a 35 was about $30K cheaper than a 38 in the yearly 2000's.

My $.02
 
Interesting comment, I owned the 1st 2001 Play Boy Cig built, I did 7-8 poker runs with Stu and could out accelerate TS Bravo Top Gun’s even if they had 575’s. A lot of this had to do with the fact that the 35 hull did run a lot flatter and accelerated quicker allowing you to get back on the throttles much quicker when running in rougher water. I also had Tres set up the boat and put some different props on that helped.

Cig built a Play Boy to have 750’s Cobra/Bravos XR installed, when they went to put the the motors in there was not enough clearance for the engines, later the boat was fitted with 500 EFI’s.

Tres did put some big power in a 35 Top Gun straight hull with #5’s.

Biggest water I had my boat out in was 8 footers, boat did fine but if you run big water all the time get a gun or tiger.

The 35's are not holding their value as well as the 38's, new a 35 was about $30K cheaper than a 38 in the yearly 2000's.

My $.02

I don't disagree at all with your experience. I remember you having a nice 35. I knew the guy that owned the 35 with the Cobra's, and it did run well. No doubt the boat will run the rough water well, I just don't think on Lake Huron he'd be as happy with how flat the 35 runs, in comparison to the 38.

We've had a few 35's on the lake here that I've spent time behind the wheel of. When those 35's ran next to the 38's with 500's, the 38's were always just a few mph ahead. The 35's seemed to consistently run in the 77mph range, where the 38's would pull 80-82ish. Granted, none of the boats I'm talking about had any prop work, or specialized dialing in like your boat.

I based my earlier comments on where he plans to boat and the conditions, rather than strictly performance. Anyone would definitely enjoy the hell out of a 35. :cheers2:
 
ive got a 2000, 38' top gun, twin step, carbon fiber top gun that was built to take a pounding, XR drives, trailer, no motors, 65k cash

in upstate NY

call me 904-497-3214
 
ive got a 2000, 38' top gun, twin step, carbon fiber top gun that was built to take a pounding, XR drives, trailer, no motors, 65k cash

in upstate NY

call me 904-497-3214

Jesus - Drives and TA's included. That would be an easy boat to drop a couple motors in and be boating in a TS gun relatively cheap. Would be a complete steal if you had motors lying around....
 
The guy that was having that boat told me the Cobra's did not fit.


They were in there for at least 5 poker runs, because the guy that owned it originally ran around with us quite a bit. He bought it from National Marine if I remember. They were natually aspirated, and it was fast. :cool:
 
I personally like the 35 T/S boats and would own one no problem. But I have to agree they don't seem (at least in my experience) to run as well as a 38 T/S. I've had lots of seat time in a 35 T/S and in 38 T/S's and when in rough water there is absolutely a noticable difference in the ride quality between the both. That extra 3 feet (roughly) is definately missed.

We were coming back from Key West a couple years ago. I was in Dan's 35T/S (Heater Up / 500's & Bravos). We were running with Tom (Hot for Teacher / 38 TS / big power & 6's) and Tim (Smokin' Deal 38 TS / 525's & XRs). Once we were at Biscayne we went outside to run to Govnt Cut and back to Phils. The water was nasty! 5-6's, confused, white caps, etc. Dan's boat ran really well for the conditions but Tim's boat straight walked away from us! (Tom hung back with us but he was taking it easy).

Again, I wouldn't say "stay away from a 35 T/S". But I'm a firm believer in there is no substatute for size in big water.

Just my .02
 
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