Help Me Find a Unicorn

copb8tx

copb8tx

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 26, 2008
2,836
Highland Village, TX/Port Richey, FL
Boat Info
SOLD 2005 420 DA w/T-8.1S Horizons
Engines
2018 Sea Hunt 255se w/Yamaha 300hp
I'm now considering our next boat for Florida but it's not as easy as you'd think. One thing is budget, I find a lot of crazy nice boats I'd love to have but they're just too expensive.

Our objective is to find a boat that has these characteristics:
  • Length between 32-35'
  • Best cruise speed between 30 and 35 with >1.0 mpg prefer >1.3 mpg
  • Needs to be rack storable. Closest facility has a 16K limit.
  • Some type of habitable overnight capabilities for 2. Nothing luxurious but has to have a comfortable head, AC and genset
  • Outboard power preferred but will consider IO's and their increased maintenance cost
  • 100% must have Joystick controls
  • More cruising than fishing
  • More 'sporty' than cruiser is a big plus.
  • Seaworthy in the gulf in modest conditions. We'll stay mostly close to shore and have the ability to dive into a protected area if necessary but if it's blowing 10-15 mph I want the boat to take the 2-3 footers without hesitation
  • Prefer lightly used. 2015-2020 range.
  • Budget is $250-$300K

2 boats come to mind but are hard to find and often very pricey. That's a 2017+ Formula 350 SS or CBR. Neither of these are affordable to me if they have outboards. I'd only consider them if they had 8.2 freshwater cooled motors and saltwater drives. Wife loves the CBR with it's bow seating but the accommodations are tighter than the SS, which is closed bow. I haven't ever been on either of these boats but did climb all over their 330CBR at the boat show and was very impressed with fit and finish however accommodations were very tight.

I did look at the Sea Ray 320 but was a bit underwhelmed and most are over budget. That said, not completely ruled out.

If the budget would allow it I'd pull the trigger on this 350SS with outboards and hardtop. It really rings my bell.

upload_2021-5-7_7-43-0.png
 
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what about a fountain 38 express? - great boat - a little more performance oriented with more loa and less beam - weight is about 15k
 
Are the 31PC's too heavy/large for dry stack? with IO they probably tick all your boxes but I think dry weight is somewhere around 13k

Edit, realized you're probably looking for new not used?
 
Maybe a Pursuit OS 355 or something in their lineup ? Maybe little out of the price range with the year 2017 and above.
 
Strecker25 said:
Are the 31PC's too heavy/large for dry stack? with IO they probably tick all your boxes but I think dry weight is somewhere around 13k

Edit, realized you're probably looking for new not used?
Click to expand...

100% looking for lightly used. Probably no older than 2015.

I'll update my criteria above to reflect this.

I like the PC's a fair amount. Not quite as sexy as the SS but more practical. I need to be able to climb on these boats to get a feel for them but they're in such short supply no one has one sitting around.
 
OllieC said:
Maybe a Pursuit OS 355 or something in their lineup ? Maybe little out of the price range with the year 2017 and above.
Click to expand...

I actually got on a Pursuit DC365 and OS 355. The DC is the preferred layout but has practically non-existent overnighting capability. Liked the OS but it was $$$, especially considering the triple engines.

I'd consider going older than 2015 for the right boat but probably not too many years older.

BTW, I want joystick control 100% so I'll add that to my criteria above as well. Resale on boats in the future without this option will plummet whether you intend to use it or not.
 
I have a 350 CBR and love it. The sleeping quarters are tight but we are mostly day boaters. Fun for the intracoastal and Gulf. Cuts chop better than my 330 DA. Gets on plane instantly. Lots of seating. My dog loves the bow....Whatever you choose get outboards. The salt air is rough on the IOs.
 
copb8tx said:
100% looking for lightly used. Probably no older than 2015.

I'll update my criteria above to reflect this.

I like the PC's a fair amount. Not quite as sexy as the SS but more practical. I need to be able to climb on these boats to get a feel for them but they're in such short supply no one has one sitting around.
Click to expand...

I rode on an older 29PC and the thing was crazy fast, solid too
 
skunkman said:
I have a 350 CBR and love it. The sleeping quarters are tight but we are mostly day boaters. Fun for the intracoastal and Gulf. Cuts chop better than my 330 DA. Gets on plane instantly. Lots of seating. My dog loves the bow....Whatever you choose get outboards. The salt air is rough on the IOs.
Click to expand...

You're boat is my unicorn. I'd love to see a picture of it. I also see that you boat in the same general area of the world we'll be boating. BUT, as you're well aware it's WAY above my budget with outboards.

So where do I compromise? Do I just write it off, or do I go IO's and just plan on $6K-10K of additional maintenance every 5 years? if I own the boat over 10 years (typical for me) I'm out $20-25K in additional maintenance but saved $100K over the initial purchase price. Of course resale will be a ding as well. One good thing about IO's is that I love their extended platform.
 
Don’t discount cigarette. They make a nice center console cuddy. A good friend had model in pic with triple 350’s. Really nice boat

2E9A9144-89C6-4AFB-BBF5-FF0E44A8E09F.jpeg
 
Blueone said:
Don’t discount cigarette. They make a nice center console cuddy. A good friend had model in pic with triple 350’s. Really nice boat

View attachment 104695
Click to expand...

Just looked on boat trader. Nothing 2010 and newer close to my budget.

Something to keep in mind is that we really only use our condo 2-3 weeks every other month at the most. So our opportunity to use the boat will be a bit limited and that's why I don't care to stretch too much for something super fancy.

If budget be damned I'd LOVE to have a Formula 380 SSC with quad outboards. Oh my, just thinking about that boat gets me sweaty! :)

I'm not totally sure I'll be pulling the trigger this year unless just the right deal falls in my lap. I'm recovering from a motorcycle accident and will be very limited on being able to use a boat for a while. But, just like my ex-420, if the right deal presents itself I'd pull the trigger today and just let it sit until I recover.
 
copb8tx said:
You're boat is my unicorn. I'd love to see a picture of it. I also see that you boat in the same general area of the world we'll be boating. BUT, as you're well aware it's WAY above my budget with outboards.

So where do I compromise? Do I just write it off, or do I go IO's and just plan on $6K-10K of additional maintenance every 5 years? if I own the boat over 10 years (typical for me) I'm out $20-25K in additional maintenance but saved $100K over the initial purchase price. Of course resale will be a ding as well. One good thing about IO's is that I love their extended platform.
Click to expand...
Whatever the price differential today, you will get back when you sell (less depreciation on that differential). So don't think of spending an "extra" $100K as compared to $20-25K. More like $50K compared to $25K and you get the convenience and ease of maintenance of outboards. (love spending other people's money!). I will never own another boat with I/Os, and I am talking fresh water. In salt - there is a reason OEMs are going to outboards on bigger and bigger boats.
 
Creekwood said:
Whatever the price differential today, you will get back when you sell (less depreciation on that differential). So don't think of spending an "extra" $100K as compared to $20-25K. More like $50K compared to $25K and you get the convenience and ease of maintenance of outboards. (love spending other people's money!). I will never own another boat with I/Os, and I am talking fresh water. In salt - there is a reason OEMs are going to outboards on bigger and bigger boats.
Click to expand...

Oh, I 100% get the depreciate recovery angle but a $100K is a $100K on a toy used a 1/2 dozen times a year. At some point you start to make compromises and that can be on length, year, manufacturer, or propulsion.

Sigh....life is SO hard!

;)
 
copb8tx said:
Oh, I 100% get the depreciate recovery angle but a $100K is a $100K on a toy used a 1/2 dozen times a year. At some point you start to make compromises and that can be on length, year, manufacturer, or propulsion.

Sigh....life is SO hard!

;)
Click to expand...
If to try to get too logical and justify your toys, you will never have any. You are clearly not using your toys enough. Set a goal of using it more and I can work with you to justify just about anything. We can get it down to "only" $XX per hour more, and that is less than you pay on a per hour basis for a good dinner at your favorite restaurant. :rolleyes:

You are buying a unicorn. You want this one:
upload_2021-5-7_11-41-56.jpeg

Not this one:
upload_2021-5-7_11-42-38.jpeg
 
copb8tx said:
If budget be damned I'd LOVE to have a Formula 380 SSC with quad outboards. Oh my, just thinking about that boat gets me sweaty! :)
.
Click to expand...
I got this 430 in front of me at the marina.... you want me to give him a few beers then throw an offer at him?
7F434F03-8CC1-4D92-A5E5-43A1690ACCF6.jpeg
 
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