floatingphil

I presently own a 26' and would like to one-day move up to a larger used (approx. 10 year old) boat. My main reasons would be to get a better ride and more cabin space.
Is it just me or does a 39' boat not make sense due to the sheer size and weight and the bucks to run it? Do I just need to go for a ride in one to convince me? The classifieds have more 38/39's for sale than anything else. What do you other owners think?

bob

I have had all but the 34. My 31 ran in mid 90's and it would get your heart going and was a great rough water boat. I hear the 34 is also great in rough stuff. Any Sutphen for that matter is great in rough stuff if you get the boat on top. The 31 ran mid 90's with 620 hp motors and Bravos. The 39 will run around 80 with same hp through speedmasters though. Bravos will not run very long across 3 footers at 90 with a decent pitch wheel where speedies will except they take more hp to run. When you want to run 90+ in a 39 you will need 800+ hp and 4,5 or #6 drives. Difference between the 31 and 39 at 90 mph is comfort. The 31 takes some driving where the 39 is cruising! Look back at some tapes of the 31 race boat in bad water. Boat does extremely well for a 31 foot boat, but it is tough to compensate for an extra 8 foot of length. Two different worlds...both super!

floatingphil

What I get from your comments is that all the 30+ footers will deliver, but that said the 38/39 is King.
Would there be a big change in ride from a 26 twin small block boat to a 30/31 or is it better to look at 34 footers.
Phil

bob

Sutphil/ I had a 26 with 2.5 efi offshores on 20" centers on a 20" setback bracket. Boat was mid 80's and very well balanced if you flew it. Big nose keeps you out of trouble. 31 just gives you a little more comfortable ride and still runs super. Can't speak about the 34 but it would be great to have a 34 setup like Zubaz had with some 800 hp motors on a full stagger with 6's! For the money, probably the 31 is the best route for performance and excitement. When you get a little older and want to be kinder to your body then move up in length!

Darkhorse468

Hey Sutphil,
My 30' is almost done with 575's and TRS's...Bill tells me mid eighties as his is the sister to mine, and I was at the Beverly run in Sept. with an 87 31' with roughly the same exact set-up as mine. I was in a 38' KV "Smith" Scarab with 800s (detuned) and #4s doing 85 over some weird water and that Sutphen hung right with us and looked very stable all the way until he cranked it up to catch us in the flat and lost oil pressure so he backed off. The thing was, we're almost 6000lbs heavier and eight feet longer and it still went over the same stuff as us...no problem. Took any worry I had away.

tsunami

I have owned 3 Sutphens, all 34's.In talking with Knowledgable owners the 34 is probably the best balanced of the 3 larger sizes .I still own the 34 in Fla for sale with twin 525hp.engies and speedy 3 drives. A great ride. Our race boat Tsunami was rigged as a B boat initially with Speedy 4's on boxes and 700hp each side, again a great ride although not as stable turning in. It is now F2, Bravo,s on boxes, again a great ride but needs tab to keep that big nose down which bleeds speed. If interested in the 34 for sale, g.s.t. is paid on the boat and trailer. See the classifieds.

floatingphil

tsunami,
Thanks for your input. I have seen your boat in the classifieds, it looks great. Is the boat kept in Florida year-round?

tsunami

The pleasure boat (the one for sale) will run 76mph with 4 blades, 80mph with labbed 3 blades. The drives are mounted low in the water for great rough water handling. The boat winters in Florida and spends summers in Canada. The 34 would make a great replacement for a 26.
The race boat ran 98-99mph as a B-class boat, now with the Factory II set up, it runs 90 mph.

floatingphil

Hmmm...., Now let me see, who has a 26, wants a bigger one, is Canadian and lives twenty minutes away for you?

tsunami

Sutphil; We will be working on the race boat this Saturday in the shop at the house 3800 Derry Rd. between Walkers Line Guelph Line if you want to come over and talk Sutphens. Our phone 905-335-6369