gmgearhead454

So I've been looking at a few Sonics for sale, particularly 28ss, 30ss, & 31ss. Two of the ones that I've seen that I liked was a 28ss and a 30ss, both of which were single big block (with small blowers) boats. I was really leaving towards twins next, but am staying open minded to nice looking singles. Big thing is I do NOT want an underpowered slug that can't get out of the hole or run at least 65-70. Anybody have any experience with these and how they preform? Thanks

Plum_Crazy

Sonics are heavy boats. Singles in 28 and up are rare. Personally, I wouldn't want to put that much strain on a single drivetrain. I'd go with twins.

Sydwayz

There were only a handful of 28 Sonics built with single engines; never anything bigger.

My 1999 26' Sonic with a single HP500EFI ran 74mph as a best. It was 7280 lbs, on aluminum trailer full of fuel.

gmgearhead454

The two I found are definately both singles, and the hulls look identical, so I was wondering if maybe the "30ss" was really a 28ss and maybe it was just a typo or something. I'm moving up from a Formula 242ls, so I'm used to a solid heavy boat, but it always felt underpowered and was super slow to get on plane, especially when loaded up with fuel and passengers, and I hate that. What do you think a 28ss with a single weighs? And what would you guess it would run (guessing apx 500 real world hp)? The one guy I talked to said his did 60mph @ 5200 rpms, and that was with a 26p 4 blade. That seems like an awful lot of prop and rpm for only 60mph don't you think?

Sydwayz

Look closely at the Sonics. The 31 & 30 are the same boat, just varies on when the US Coast Guard rules changed on how boats are measured. INTEGRATED swim platforms count in overall length. Bolt on swim platforms do not,

Sonic 260 Prowler is really about 25' long, AND it has a notched transom which shortens the running surface by a few more inches.
Sonic 28SS is really about 27' long. Transoms were made both ways, square and notched.
Sonic 30/31SS is really about 30' long. Many of them have notched transoms, but a few do not.

Lots of history with the Sonic brand, all the way back through Coyote and Banana boat company names; all using same/similar/derivative molds. There are some old posts here on OSO about the lineage. OSO member "Brownie" is THE EXPERT on this topic.


The best speed in my 26' Sonic as mentioned above was with a labbed 24P Bravo 4 blade. 26P does sound like a lot of prop, but it could be worked in any number of ways.

The 28 is probably 1000 lbs heavier than the 26, maybe 1250 lbs.
260 Sonic Prowler 1998-2002 or so "Dry Weight" was listed as 5050 lbs. but I bet it was closer to 5500. (They got a bit lighter after the company started with infusion/vacuum bagging.)

going bigger

I own an 89 sonic 30SS. It handles waves phenomenaly. They aren't the fastest boats. It takes big power to get them "fast". But fast is relative. I have twin 454's in mine, and it does upper 60's. With a sonic, the cabin layout is great. You can sleep 4 adults (or 2 adults and 3 kids in my case) and be comfy. I would never buy a 28 or 30/31 with a single engine. Would take forever to get on plane and would be stressing the drive all the time. Look for one with twins, and buy it, you will not be disappointed.

gmgearhead454

The cockpit room and cuddy layout is the first thing that attracted me to them. I can't BELIEVE nobody else has thought of the pull-out bed panel that those have, that is huge plus for me. But yeah it's sounding like it would be a pig with a single. Back to either looking for a nice twin or back to looking at scarab 31's

Jeff P31

You will want twin's in a 31 Scarab as well and you will hate the cabin unless you are only 4 feet tall.

mike tkach

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gmgearhead454

"Oh Lord Jesus there's a faarrr!!!" Lol