Boat buying 101
01-26-2002, 11:20 PM
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Boat buying 101
I have a 97 classic 35. I love the boat but with the current prices being low I wanted to get a new 2002. I've been trying to purchase a 2002 35' classic since mid November. The only hold up was I wanted the ITS boxes. I spoke with Steve Harrelson at Fountain about pricing on the ITS. I was hoping that Fountain would give me a break on the price since they have not used it on any of there boats yet. I was supposed to be called back the next day. After waiting three days I started to call the factory but could only get Steve's answering machine. I have left a number of messages and never gotten a reply. 
I went to the Chicago boat show this past Thursday and talked with my Fountain dealer.
He gave me the final figure that Fountain gave him. I told him to tell Fountain to keep it. It was a difference of $1,500.00.
About an hour later I'm passing the booth and my dealer pulls me back into the booth and introduces me to Tony Esposito, a sales manager from Mercury. I told him my story about getting the ITS and Fountain not really wanting to use it. He has a chat with my dealer. The dealer comes back and says I'll make your price work, call me tomorrow and we will finalize things. Cool I've got a new toy, WRONG! I call the next day to find out that mercury won't put the ITS with 496 HO's only the 500's and the 575's.
It would have been nice to know this up front.
End of story, I wasted 9 weeks trying to make a deal happen that wasn't meant to be. This is not my dealer’s fault. I consider him a friend and would buy another boat from him, probably not a Fountain. My original plan was to buy this 35' keep it for 5 years and then buy my dreamboat, a 42' with staggards. Oh well.
On a good note, My wife and I fell in love with a 38 Sonic at the show. Sonic isn’t afraid to put some wild paint on the sides of their boats. I plan to compare the Sonic to the 37 Active Thunder and go from there.
Sorry for the venting,
Dan
BTW, We need an Active Thunder dealership in Chicago.
I went to the Chicago boat show this past Thursday and talked with my Fountain dealer.
He gave me the final figure that Fountain gave him. I told him to tell Fountain to keep it. It was a difference of $1,500.00.
About an hour later I'm passing the booth and my dealer pulls me back into the booth and introduces me to Tony Esposito, a sales manager from Mercury. I told him my story about getting the ITS and Fountain not really wanting to use it. He has a chat with my dealer. The dealer comes back and says I'll make your price work, call me tomorrow and we will finalize things. Cool I've got a new toy, WRONG! I call the next day to find out that mercury won't put the ITS with 496 HO's only the 500's and the 575's.
It would have been nice to know this up front.
End of story, I wasted 9 weeks trying to make a deal happen that wasn't meant to be. This is not my dealer’s fault. I consider him a friend and would buy another boat from him, probably not a Fountain. My original plan was to buy this 35' keep it for 5 years and then buy my dreamboat, a 42' with staggards. Oh well.
On a good note, My wife and I fell in love with a 38 Sonic at the show. Sonic isn’t afraid to put some wild paint on the sides of their boats. I plan to compare the Sonic to the 37 Active Thunder and go from there.
Sorry for the venting,
Dan
BTW, We need an Active Thunder dealership in Chicago.
01-27-2002, 12:00 AM
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Follow-ups, and accurate information! Its to bad to here them drop the ball. You wonder sometimes how people get to there professilonal positions. Not to mention in a somewhat soft economy, you better chase every lead possible in the big ticket market. What is the real connection between A.T. and Sonic? I always thought they must have some combined heritage do to their similarities. And it must be nice to be sizing up new, thats cool, I think I'll need another 10 years.
01-27-2002, 12:48 AM
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MIdnightRider,
We launch out of Hammond marina and also Alsip, IL, which is on the river connecting to Lake Michigan. We do most of are boating from Chicago to Wells St. beach. We also try to make it over to St. Joe, Michigan City and New Buffalo a couple times a year. I don't think I'll be able to do Smoke on the Water this year. I am way to busy that time of the year with business. I didn't splash the boat until July 4 Th last year.
I was looking to put a little money with my boat and pickup a new boat with warantees and all. Now I'm thinking stupid thoughts with the low interest rates. Hopefully I'll come to my senses.
A good friend of mine is removing a nasty name from his boat. It should be a great time. I don't know if he is going to rename it.
I may make it up to Coast Guard Fest this year. Everyone says it's a great time.
I don't believe there is a connection, except for appearance, between AT and Sonic. I like the side walkways there like the classic Fountain's. The cabin in the 38 Sonic is fantastic. It does get a little claustrophobic towards the nose. Do you remember a hot pink AT called "Running Hot"?
Bobby use to beat that boat in 8 footers and never had any structural problems. They are very strong boats.
Dan
We launch out of Hammond marina and also Alsip, IL, which is on the river connecting to Lake Michigan. We do most of are boating from Chicago to Wells St. beach. We also try to make it over to St. Joe, Michigan City and New Buffalo a couple times a year. I don't think I'll be able to do Smoke on the Water this year. I am way to busy that time of the year with business. I didn't splash the boat until July 4 Th last year.
I was looking to put a little money with my boat and pickup a new boat with warantees and all. Now I'm thinking stupid thoughts with the low interest rates. Hopefully I'll come to my senses.
A good friend of mine is removing a nasty name from his boat. It should be a great time. I don't know if he is going to rename it.
I may make it up to Coast Guard Fest this year. Everyone says it's a great time.
I don't believe there is a connection, except for appearance, between AT and Sonic. I like the side walkways there like the classic Fountain's. The cabin in the 38 Sonic is fantastic. It does get a little claustrophobic towards the nose. Do you remember a hot pink AT called "Running Hot"?
Bobby use to beat that boat in 8 footers and never had any structural problems. They are very strong boats.
Dan
01-27-2002, 09:21 AM
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Hey Midnight, We do boat out of St Joe....well, we put the boat in in Benton Harbor, what I like to call the "ghetto drop" rather than "boat launch". LOL!
I was thinking of doing SOTW this year, and wanted to talk to them in Chicago about it, but I'll try to read up on the website on that. It's pricey for a run, but it's close to home.
You just bought a 42, right?
The owner of AT used to work for Sonic. The way I heard the story was in 1988 or so, he was in Chicago area and went for a ride in an Active Thunder and liked it a lot, and bought the company.
Candyman,
I'm in the same "boat" as you, but not at this time. WE'll be looking to move up, and nothing Fountain has anymore appeals to me, and my wife and I have done much more trips to South HAven, New Buffalo, Ludington, etc. for weekends in the 32 than we did in our 27 Baja. So, we're looking for more cabin space. So far, all I've seen, I'll be looking at Sonics, AT, and maybe Cigarette if we hit the lotto
Couple 32' AT's around here, and those things do ride well, and when it's 3'ers and bigger, they love to run. We're a couple years away from moving up yet, but I'd likely wind up with a 37 AVH, cause you can still go with 490HO's and run 78 or so. Cant' do that in the Sonic. You need 500's in the 358 to get that speed, not sure about the 386. Both nice boats, though. I'm not sure pricing differences in the two, but not going with 500's is easy to do with taht huge price difference, and you have to double it with twins. Ouch.
Mark
I was thinking of doing SOTW this year, and wanted to talk to them in Chicago about it, but I'll try to read up on the website on that. It's pricey for a run, but it's close to home.
You just bought a 42, right?
The owner of AT used to work for Sonic. The way I heard the story was in 1988 or so, he was in Chicago area and went for a ride in an Active Thunder and liked it a lot, and bought the company.
Candyman,
I'm in the same "boat" as you, but not at this time. WE'll be looking to move up, and nothing Fountain has anymore appeals to me, and my wife and I have done much more trips to South HAven, New Buffalo, Ludington, etc. for weekends in the 32 than we did in our 27 Baja. So, we're looking for more cabin space. So far, all I've seen, I'll be looking at Sonics, AT, and maybe Cigarette if we hit the lotto
Couple 32' AT's around here, and those things do ride well, and when it's 3'ers and bigger, they love to run. We're a couple years away from moving up yet, but I'd likely wind up with a 37 AVH, cause you can still go with 490HO's and run 78 or so. Cant' do that in the Sonic. You need 500's in the 358 to get that speed, not sure about the 386. Both nice boats, though. I'm not sure pricing differences in the two, but not going with 500's is easy to do with taht huge price difference, and you have to double it with twins. Ouch.
Mark
01-27-2002, 10:00 AM
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Dan, that SONIC has your name written all over it. Something told me you would be interested so I snapped a few pics for you.
You can see them here !
That is a sweet boat. I love the interior as well, very bright, big, well layed out etc. Ahh, the v-berth isn't that bad.
Go for it.
Jeff
You can see them here !
That is a sweet boat. I love the interior as well, very bright, big, well layed out etc. Ahh, the v-berth isn't that bad.
Go for it.
Jeff
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01-27-2002, 11:09 AM
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Candyman, the 4th last year, dam I was already putting in my second motor of the year. I like the sonics, Ron that owns manning trailers has a 45ss and it's really nice. The paint jobs they use are also cool, less money to spend later.
Coast Gaurd festival in GH has basically become a religous holiday for me. X-Mas, C.G, Thanksgiving etc. The second weekend is the best, it falls the last weekend in July, first weekend in August. The Boardwalk mooring area is packed, 6-8 boats out(you raft out till the cops tell you to stop). Then Saturday is a party from like 10am till daylight. Its the best weekend of the year, well SOTW is battling for the best.
Smoke on the water is absolutely a great time. I've been to some half assed poker runs, this is top notch. The food and parties are great, lots of good people, and those full page add magazine advertising boats, ie tom cat, houist, sourcerer, 900sc Jaguar skater, cat can do, f40, on and on. That motivated me to buy a new boat. Though my boat is a hoopty on a run like that. We were in my buddies 90' 42 signature last year and it was like an 78' sleekcraft there, LOL. But we had as much fun as anyone. In fact we were going to pay the $500.oo for four us to ride in sourcerer, but he broke a cam saturday. This year I'm running with six, three couples, we just split the cost, its like $650 a couple with gas, worth every penny. The article was just in the last PRA, if anyone wants it, I scanned the pages to disk.
Coast Gaurd festival in GH has basically become a religous holiday for me. X-Mas, C.G, Thanksgiving etc. The second weekend is the best, it falls the last weekend in July, first weekend in August. The Boardwalk mooring area is packed, 6-8 boats out(you raft out till the cops tell you to stop). Then Saturday is a party from like 10am till daylight. Its the best weekend of the year, well SOTW is battling for the best.
Smoke on the water is absolutely a great time. I've been to some half assed poker runs, this is top notch. The food and parties are great, lots of good people, and those full page add magazine advertising boats, ie tom cat, houist, sourcerer, 900sc Jaguar skater, cat can do, f40, on and on. That motivated me to buy a new boat. Though my boat is a hoopty on a run like that. We were in my buddies 90' 42 signature last year and it was like an 78' sleekcraft there, LOL. But we had as much fun as anyone. In fact we were going to pay the $500.oo for four us to ride in sourcerer, but he broke a cam saturday. This year I'm running with six, three couples, we just split the cost, its like $650 a couple with gas, worth every penny. The article was just in the last PRA, if anyone wants it, I scanned the pages to disk.
01-27-2002, 12:28 PM
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Hey Jeff,
Thanks so much. I now have new wallpaper. The only downside to the Sonic, besides the V-berth is the power necessary to go fast. With the 500EFI's you’re talking 75 on a good day. Dustin would like to see me buy it. I don't want to be broke and still need to buy Whipple chargers. Any luck on that 34’?
MIdnightRider,
Where is the best place to stay for CG fest?
You may have saved me allot of money. For $500.00 for 4 on the "Sorcerer" who needs a boat.
32fever,
I forgot about Pat working for Sonic originally. I met him at one of the Thunder Runs. I was actually thinking about the 32' after seeing what Running Hot use to do to his boat. : Eke: Pat was moving from Chicago at that time and could only broker the boats. I had two boats at that time. BIG Mistake! I couldn't sell either so I was trying to find a dealer that would take both as a trade in. I've always loved the look of the 35' and with the wife's full support we took the plunge. Tim and Terry at Riverview to the rescue.
I still love the boat and was planning on putting in 540's, boxes and XR's. After researching the project and searching the Internet I found a left over 2001 35 at Raymond's. For some cash and my boat I would have a new boat with warranties and no worries. I called Tim at Riverview and told him what I was doing. He specked out the same boat except a 2002 that I could build the way I wanted. The only extra thing I wanted was the Mercury ITS.
So now I'm just Hot at Fountain. I still like the boats but am very disappointed by this experience.
Dan
BTW, I think we need a Midwest dealer for Active Thunder. Any ides Tim?
Thanks so much. I now have new wallpaper. The only downside to the Sonic, besides the V-berth is the power necessary to go fast. With the 500EFI's you’re talking 75 on a good day. Dustin would like to see me buy it. I don't want to be broke and still need to buy Whipple chargers. Any luck on that 34’?
MIdnightRider,
Where is the best place to stay for CG fest?
You may have saved me allot of money. For $500.00 for 4 on the "Sorcerer" who needs a boat.
32fever,
I forgot about Pat working for Sonic originally. I met him at one of the Thunder Runs. I was actually thinking about the 32' after seeing what Running Hot use to do to his boat. : Eke: Pat was moving from Chicago at that time and could only broker the boats. I had two boats at that time. BIG Mistake! I couldn't sell either so I was trying to find a dealer that would take both as a trade in. I've always loved the look of the 35' and with the wife's full support we took the plunge. Tim and Terry at Riverview to the rescue.
I still love the boat and was planning on putting in 540's, boxes and XR's. After researching the project and searching the Internet I found a left over 2001 35 at Raymond's. For some cash and my boat I would have a new boat with warranties and no worries. I called Tim at Riverview and told him what I was doing. He specked out the same boat except a 2002 that I could build the way I wanted. The only extra thing I wanted was the Mercury ITS.
So now I'm just Hot at Fountain. I still like the boats but am very disappointed by this experience.
Dan
BTW, I think we need a Midwest dealer for Active Thunder. Any ides Tim?
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01-27-2002, 02:40 PM
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GATORONE,
Welcome to the board. A 99 35' single step boat with Stellings boxes, 500EFI's and large tube headers ran 92 out of the box from Fountain! This was his second 35 Fountain. The owner said he thought the handling also improved. The down side with the stellings boxes was the extra strain put on the drives. They loved to eat the top caps on the Bravo's.
The ITS only has a 7" setback so the effect won't be as great. Unlike the Settlings they still use the engine coupler which will be easier on the drive train. They look great and thought it would be neat to try. It shouldn't be this hard.
Dan
BTW, I have seen allot of larger Formula’s using the Stellings up here in Chicago. I don’t know what kind of effect they have on them but they look great!
Welcome to the board. A 99 35' single step boat with Stellings boxes, 500EFI's and large tube headers ran 92 out of the box from Fountain! This was his second 35 Fountain. The owner said he thought the handling also improved. The down side with the stellings boxes was the extra strain put on the drives. They loved to eat the top caps on the Bravo's.
The ITS only has a 7" setback so the effect won't be as great. Unlike the Settlings they still use the engine coupler which will be easier on the drive train. They look great and thought it would be neat to try. It shouldn't be this hard.
Dan
BTW, I have seen allot of larger Formula’s using the Stellings up here in Chicago. I don’t know what kind of effect they have on them but they look great!
